Charles Aznavour talks about songwriting in multiple languages and the place of sadness in his work.
Charles Aznavour is a French singer and actor of Armenian descent. He performs in five languages, some more fluent than others and writes all his own songs. He recalls his first encounter with the singer Edith Piaf, whom he toured with extensively. He has sold in the region of 150 million records and has gold records in different languages. He puts his success down to his sad and melancholic songwriting.
To know the price of happiness, we have to know the price of sadness first.
He talks about the impact that people have said the song 'You've Let Yourself Go', written about the changes in the relationship between a husband and wife, have had on them.
Charles Aznavour describes himself as being a weak man when it comes to women, but a strong man in life.
Each time I was in love, I was in love a hundred per cent even when it was for one day.
He never grows tired of singing the successful songs as he constantly reinterprets them. While touring, he writes, reads and loves to watch television, which helps to become more familiar with the language.
Charles Aznavour performs the song 'How Sad Venice Can Be'.
In a break from the traditional live interview and performances that were part of The Late Late Show, Charles Aznavour appears in a pre-recorded slot without an audience.
This episode of 'The Late Late Show' was broadcast on 1 November 1975. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
