Sous le ciel de Paris (song) explained

Sous le ciel de Paris
Type:	song
Artist:	Jean Bretonnière
Genre:	Chanson
Published:	by Choudens
Composer:	Hubert Giraud
Lyricist:	Jean Dréjac

"Sous le ciel de Paris" is a song initially written for the 1951 French film Sous le ciel de Paris,^[1] directed by Julien Duvivier. In the film it was sung by Jean Bretonnière.

In the same year it was also recorded by Juliette Gréco, as well as Anny Gould. Thanks to Gréco and subsequent recordings by artists such as Édith Piaf (1954) and Yves Montand (1964) which popularised it, the song became a symbol of Paris for the world.

Writing and composition

The song was written for the film by Hubert Giraud (music) and Jean Dréjac (lyrics).

Other language versions and covers

The song has been also notably recorded by:

• Mireille Mathieu (both in French and in German under the title "Unter dem Himmel von Paris")
• Zaz, Belinda Carlisle, Mieke & Bart Kaëll (in Dutch under the title "Onder de blauwe lucht van Parijs)
• Hildegard Knef (in German under the title "Unter dem Himmel von Paris")
• Plácido Domingo with Josh Groban
• Florence Coste & Julien Dassin
• Lisa Angell
• Matthias Lens
• André Rieu
• Henri Pelissier
• Line Renaud
• Karrin Allyson (in French under the title "Sous le ciel de Paris (Under Paris Skies)")
• Enrico Macias
• Willy Bischof^[2]
• Pablo Alborán
• Jill Barber.

English lyrics were written for the song by Kim Gannon. The English version was titled "Under Paris Skies". It was recorded in that form by:

• Earl Grant (for his 1959 album Paris Is My Boat)
• Andy Williams released a version on his 1960 album, Under Paris Skies.^[3]
• Bing Crosby (for his 1962 LP Holiday in Europe)
• Jane Morgan (for her 1964 album The Last Time I Saw Paris)^[4]
• Sam Cooke
• Chris Connor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sous le Ciel de Paris: the story of the song. French Moments. 2013-08-17. 2017-12-11. 2013-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20130823170948/https://frenchmoments.eu/sous-le-ciel-de-paris-the-story-of-the-song/. live.
2. Web site: ultratop.be - Jean Bretonnière - Sous le ciel de Paris. Ultratop. 2017-12-10. 2016-11-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20161109131531/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/10c686/Jean-Bretonniere-Sous-le-ciel-de-Paris. live.
3. Web site: www.allmusic.com. allmusic.com. July 6, 2024.
4. Web site: Discogs.com. Discogs.com. 1964 . May 31, 2017. June 13, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130613134336/https://www.discogs.com/Jane-Morgan-The-Last-Time-I-Saw-Paris/master/557966. live.