Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs

If you love Piaf, do not bother renting this. It is ruthless self-promotion by a bad impersonator of the "Little Sparrow". Raquel Bitton's versions of Piaf's songs are a struggle of mockery and mime. She forces her voice into its most narrow confines to eek out sounds that just barely approach the original.

To make matters worse, the full orchestra, rather than just a piano, drowns out any chance of intimacy. Bitton uses Piaf's legacy to mold her own career and it is heart-breaking to watch. The only silver lining is the anecdotal information between songs - so if you see it have your finger ready on the FF button!

What an excellent film this is. What you get is a filmed version of the popular stage show that was written and performed by Raquel Bitton, one of the greatest interpreters of music from the Piaf repertoire, in which she is performing the songs of Piaf. As well as the music you also get shots of Ms Bitton in Paris chatting with close friends of Ms Piaf. Though these scenes are in French with sub-titles, you get the feeling you are listening in on these secrets. The best of these scenes is the large group of friends (Ms Bitton managed to get together) that are sitting around a large table sharing their memories of Piaf. This is totally recommended for anyone who loves that kind of music and would like to know a little more.

PIAF: HER STORY, HER SONGS Tears flowed down my eyes through at least half of Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs, a documentary about the famous French chanteuse. Not that it is a particularly sad film. It's just that Edith Piaf's life, expressed mostly in her songs, is full of the passion that stirs all kinds of emotions. French singer Raquel Bitton feels an equal passion for Piaf. Bitton's show of the same name as the film was critically acclaimed internationally. More than just singing Piaf's songs, though she emulates her style and voice, Bitton becomes a storyteller, weaving that inseparable tapestry of Piaf's songs with her life. Bitton casts a moving figure in her little black dress and short hair.

"Piaf..Her story..Her songs" is an astonishing triumph. Bitton's voice is powerful and emotional. The presentation is exquisite. BITTON is superb in sight and song. I could listen to her combined English/French renditions for hours, not minutes. Her intensity and authenticity are utterly overwhelming. She loves to sing, she loves the songs she has selected and loves the crowd that shares her delight in the songs she does so brilliantly. One wishes along the way to come up for air, to shout and clap and whistle in tribute to the glorious music and to the captivating BITTON." And to see on film those people that had known Piaf,been her lovers,composers,friends talk about her over food and wine was a tour de force. This is truly one of a kind film,never to be duplicated,it beats having an actress portray Piaf and lip-synch to her original recordings. Raquel Bitton is quite extraordinary,she channels Piaf vocally and spiritually like no one will ever achieve.

"PIAF..Her story..Her songs" Bitton sings material that she does better than anyone else in our midst - the songs associated with Edith Piaf. Piaf and Billie Holiday shared a poignancy in their delivery that few others have mastered; Bitton, here, is one. Phil Elwood. San Francisco Examiner/Chronicle

On the subject of Piaf. You are no doubt over qualified from your clips and the sound of your CD (The Golden album). Your CD is terrific and I will be glad to say so." Liz Smith New York Newsday

"Passion is at the core of the "Piaf" Persona, in this case there is a surrogate, she is RAQUEL BITTON." Anna Kisselgoff. New York Times

"PIAF..Her story..Her songs" "The great French jazz singer Raquel Bitton has fashioned interpretations of Piaf's songbook that are the best thing since, well, Piaf herself sang them."

Janice Page Boston Globe

"PIAF..Her story..Her songs" Bitton's homage to Edith Piaf PIAF..Her story..Her songs". Raquel Bitton created a lovely homage to Edith Piaf . Piaf's songs were sung with high artistry and knowledgeable flair. "Bitton, for all her dignity and elegance is an excellent, refined singer .The jaunty ''Milord'' came across like a jubilant burst of street-wise confidence. ''Mon Dieu,'' the song Piaf sang for her boxing champ boyfriend the night he died in a plane crash, held high drama. ''Hymne a l'amour,'' Jean Cocteau's favorite Piaf song, showed how truly accomplished Bitton is." Daniel Gewertz Boston Herald Saturday

Raquel Bitton's remarkable French articulation of the lyrics to such classics as "La vie en rose" and "Non, je ne regrette rien" is Piaf-like, but Bitton's phrasing and her sound are her own. The result is a glorious contemporizing of one of the classic 20th century musical styles. DON HECKMAN Los Angeles Times

-The stance was familiar: legs rigidly astride, hands on hips and fingers splayed below the waist. Diminutive, with cropped hair and wearing a plain black dress, Raquel Bitton took center stage and re-created the imagery and the magic of the legendary French chanteuse Edith Piaf. Bitton, who discovered Piaf's repertoire in 1982, has subsequently shaped and molded the material into a thrilling program of song that goes beyond imitation. Bitton infuses her performances with her own musical richness and instinctive sense of drama and storytelling. VARIETY Raquel Bitton Sings: Edith Piaf - Her Story, Her Songs By ROBERT L. DANIELS

"A phenomenally good singer, BITTON can rasp with the best, and on the softer tunes be crisply, sensationally Rhapsodic". Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle

"Piaf..Her story..Her songs" is an astonishing triumph. Bitton's voice is powerful and emotional. The presentation is exquisite. BITTON is superb in sight and song. I could listen to her combined English/French renditions for hours, not minutes. Her intensity and authenticity are utterly overwhelming. She loves to sing, she loves the songs she has selected and loves the crowd that shares her delight in the songs she does so brilliantly. One wishes along the way to come up for air, to shout and clap and whistle in tribute to the glorious music and to the captivating BITTON." Philip Elwood San Francisco Examiner

PIAF: HER STORY, HER SONGS Tears flowed down my eyes through at least half of Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs, a documentary about the famous French chanteuse. Not that it is a particularly sad film. It's just that Edith Piaf's life, expressed mostly in her songs, is full of the passion that stirs all kinds of emotions. French singer Raquel Bitton feels an equal passion for Piaf. Bitton's show of the same name as the film was critically acclaimed in New York. More than just singing Piaf's songs, though she emulates her style and voice, Bitton becomes a storyteller, weaving that inseparable tapestry of Piaf's songs with her life. Bitton casts a moving figure in her little black dress and short hair.

Bitton Leads Edith Piaf Revival Thank goodness Raquel Bitton has taken up the cause for reviving Edith Piaf's mystique and talent as a singer and a performer. Although Edith Piaf (1915-1963) is a popular name in the French music genre, her special performing talent is at risk for suffocation, especially for the generations who have grown up without knowing much about the amazing person Piaf was during her hey-day. Bitton's revival of Piaf's life and work is an accompaniment to the feature length movie of the same name now showing in artist circles and film festivals. It's Bitton's passion to keep the candle of the little sparrow's memory alive, a feat she easily takes on as her repertoire of Piaf's songs is lively, charming and portrays a deep understanding for the way Piaf would like to be remembered in her music. Raquel Bitton returns Piaf to life, as though the singer never left us prematurely in 1963. Although Piaf's hallmark La Vie en Rose is one of the selections on this CD, the sparkle in this rendition of Piaf's work comes through Bitton's selections of other highly entertaining songs, especially Mon Dieu, an invocation evocative of Piaf's painful biography.

I highly recommend Bitton's portrayal of Piaf's songs, especially for those who enjoy chantons en française. Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs is a fine tribute to an unforgettable singer. M.Barber.Miami Herald

Following are comments from composers, authors and close friends of Edith Piaf shown in the film in support of Raquel Bitton and her Film "PIAF...HER STORY...HER SONGS"

"Raquel, the film is magnifique, I loved it, you did a fantastic job, you should be proud of yourself." Francis Lai, legendary composer who wrote for Piaf and wrote the theme song in collaboration with Michel Rivgauche for Raquel in "Piaf- her story..her songs."

"Raquel, today when I think of you, and it's very often, I am very proud of you, I know that Piaf also is proud of you. A thousand Bravos and thank you for your extraordinary film, so right on, so tender!" Rosalie Dubois, famous French chanteuse and a dear friend of Piaf.

Thank you infinitely for your film"Piaf..Her story..Her songs." You have succeeded in capturing the essence and myth of Edith Piaf with Bravado. What a beautiful interpretation, it's not an easy thing. You have an intonation that reminds me of Edith. It's a compliment coming from me, because we were together so much, being the wife of her conductor. I traveled with her for years.

Monique Chauvigny, wife of life long Piaf conductor Robert Chauvigny.

What a beautiful gift you gave Edith on her 40th anniversary of her death. The images, the sound, you and us are all PERFECT! It's for us a great honor to know that she is loved and honored in the USA.

Bernard Marchois, curator of the Piaf museum in Paris (Les amis d'Edith Piaf)

I saw the film and it filled my heart with joy. What a magnificent interpretation of "T'es beau tu sais." I have goose pimples! Your film is very important to me and is particularly dear to my heart. Thank you again a thousand times for this gift, it's magnificent! Doris Contet, wife of one of Piaf's favorite composer Henri Contet.