Monday Musical Moment: Les feuilles mortes

Who doesn’t love this time of year?

I know that living in Houston means sometimes perseverance rather than enjoyment of weather, but there are a couple of times of the year where the city really shines. As the heat begins to dissipate and humidity slowly fades, often slower than we all would like, the leaves begin to change colors and the coolness of fall sets in, even in the heart of Texas… *clap clap clap clap*

Since last Wednesday, I have been spending time with my family in Louisville along the Kentucky/Indiana border, sampling some local cuisine, slow riverside living, and yes, a few of the local bourbons… Yesterday and today, while traveling down the southbound highways through Tennessee and my home state of Alabama, I was struck by the almost idyllic weather: the temperature hovering around the high 60’s-low 70’s, the sun shining gently on the hilly landscape of northern Alabama, and the still mostly green trees starting to show small but definied sections of orange coloring. I was reminded of how nice this time of year is, and of course, it also reminded me of one of my favorite songs! I bet some of you already know which one I am aluding to…

Many know the classic tune from the Great American Songbook, Autumn Leaves, composed in 1945 with lyrics by Johnny Mathis over a thousand recorded versions since, but you may not know that it was originally written by the Hungarian-French composer Joseph Kosma and was first popularized with lyrics by French playwright Jacques Prévert. The original title is in fact Les feuilles mortes, or “Dead Leaves,” but I tend to like the poetic translation better! The text is one of remembrance and longing, equating memories to the leaves that fall from the trees, and paired with a simple melody that is truly timeless. The original text and translation can be found below the video.

The video I chose for today is famed Italian/French singer and actor, Yves Montand, who became famous by singing in a crooning style in many popular French films in the mid-20th century, similar to the way that Frank Sinatra achieved his fame in the States in that time. Their styles are also very similar, and like Sinatra, Montand approaches each lyric with sensitivity and tenderness that communicates the message of the text even if you do not know a word of French. I had never heard the original French lyrics, but I don’t think I’ll ever go back!

I hope you enjoy the music, and here’s hoping that the weather continues to be spectacular for us in Houston!

Justin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7cL1gn5Nq4