Lys Gauty


Lys Gauty was a French cabaret singer and actress. Her most significant work came in the 1930s and 1940s as Gauty appeared in film, and recorded her best-known song, "Le Chaland qui passe", which is an interpretation of an Italian composition.

Biography

Born in Levallois-Perret, France, Gauty was the daughter of a mechanic and seamstress. Aspiring to be an opera singer, she worked as a shop-girl at a tailor store called the Galeries Lafayette, saving some of her earnings, and portions donated to her by Gauty's parents to receive a classical music education at Nelson Fyscher in Paris. In 1922, Gauty began her musical career as a cabaret singer at variety shows arranged by operetta composer Georges Van Parys, who accompanied her on piano. She married her booking agent, Swiss music director Gaston Groeuer, who had taken over ownership of the Theatre des Dix Heures in Brussels, Belgium. At the music hall, Gauty commenced her successful stretch in Parisian music halls, intermittently performing at the Theatre des Dix Heures for 12 years.
She became a celebrated figure in music halls such as the Olympia, the Empire, the Alcazar, and the ABC. Gauty began recording in 1927, creating her most popular recorded performance in the same year—a French rendition of the Italian love-song, Parlami d'amore Mariù, re-titled Le Chaland qui passe. Beginning in 1930, Gauty started to dabble in cinema soundtracks, singing for Maurice Gleize's Wedding Day. Another notable recording was made into the theme song for René Clair's film Quatorze juillet in 1933. Le Chaland qui passe was also introduced into the 1934 film L'Atalante when it was renamed after the song in an attempt to become more popular among the public.
Gauty was awarded a Grande Prix du Disque for her role in the French adaptation of German composer Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera. In addition, Weill supplied her with another of her popular songs, "La Complainte de la Seine". When a period of rampant antisemitism had spread across France in the mid-1930s, Gauty was one of the few artists to show her support for the Jewish people by singing the composition "Israel, va-t'en". In 1940, following a tour in South America, Gauty returned to France, which had been conquered by Nazi Germany. Under threat of deportation and questioned about her Jewish husband, she, like several other French musicians, agreed to perform in Germany throughout the Second World War. Before the war's conclusion, Gauty had escaped to Monaco where she performed with pianist Léo Ferré, who also composed songs for her.
Upon her return to France, Gauty only briefly continued her music career. Considered as a "collaborator" in the Nazi regime, she was targeted by members of the French Resistance, and survived an assassination attempt. In her later years, Gauty owned a casino in Luchon and became a singing teacher. She died on 2 January 1994 in Cap d'Ail. Her songs have been reissued on compilation albums throughout the years, including Le Chaland qui passe and Lys Gauty: Succès et raretés.

Songs

1928Paradis du rêve Haine d'amour Vendetta La Tour Saint-JacquesBecause "I Know You're Mine"Tu sais
1930La Légende des grains de beauté Une femme Mais quand c'est toiFrileuseDéjàLe Chaland qui passe, song added to a version of the film L'Atalante re-named Le Chaland qui passe for the occasion.
1932ValparaisoUne ViennoiseUn coup de riquiquiJ'aime tes grands yeuxChant de Barbara L'amour qui passeQui j'aimeCarambaTu m'as fait tant souffrirPrends-moi dans tes brasMa chérieCoup de soleilSi je vous tutoie
1933J'aime tes grands yeuxLes marins de SurcoufLe piano mécaniqueHot VoodooJ'ai tout trouvé près de toiJe te regarde dormirBye ByeDépart La Ballade du cordonnier C'est le plaisir que j'aimeMon cœur est légerLoin de toiLes deux guitaresLa prière du pauvre hommeViens ou L'amour est un capriceÀ Paris dans chaque faubourg, chanson du film Quatorze juillet de René Clair dans lequel elle apparaît.
1934Le Bistro du portComplainte désabuséeRêve d'amourNostalgieLibre de moiIsraël va-t-enChanson de l'escadrille La Complainte de la Seine Je ne t'aime pas Un soir d'hiver...tard Le moulin qui jase La Mary SalopeL'amour tel qu'on le parleDans tes bras doucementChanson du cul de jatteL'auto du charbonnierMoi et l'ImpératricePour toi je veux rêverLes larmes
1935Ça sent la fritureChéri dis-moi je t'aime La belle escaleJe t'aime, c'est toutMiragesUn jour de différenceQuel beau dimanche! Vieille balladeAu revoir, bon voyageObsessionLa chanson du brave hommeExilJ'attends un navire Sammy de la Jamaïque
1936Espoir Sur les bords de la SeineJ'ai trouvé le bonheurUne chanson d'amourCertitudeColin maillardLa Marie-LouiseManola
1937Qu'importe si tu parsEn souvenir des dimanchesSous l'enseigne lumineuseSouvenir de balAllons-nous promenerTes brasPresque rienAu revoir et adieuCroyez-moiConversation tangoLe chaland qui resteSans y penserL'heure du rêveA l'aventure
1938GentimentLe Bassin de la Villette Y'a de l'amour dans mon cœurUne femme, un accordéon, un caboulotCe soir ou bien jamaisJ'ai juré de t'aimer toujoursSouviens-toi de ce dimancheDis-moi pourquoi ? and Le bonheur est entré dans mon cœur from the film La Goualeuse by Fernand Rivers.
1939La valse au villageAmour en mineurNe voyez-vous pas?Tu sais pour qui je chanteLa rosière du régimentLa belle marinièreÉchanges
1940J'écoute la pluiePour vous, MichinaOn me prend pour un angeLes petits pavésLa chanson de NinaLes escargots qui vont à l'enterrement
1941Fumée sur le toitRevenirLa valse de toujoursCe jour-là
1942Prière au vent du soirOn en fait vite le tourAujourd'hui, bal de nuitPrière au vent du soirPas grand-chose
1943Crépuscule La chanson que je chanteLa chanson de la rueUn soir sur le port
1944Échos
1946La complainte du corsaireEn écoutant mon cœur chanterUn petit bouquet de violettesLa chanson du bonheurMondeLa plus belle chanson
1949Te voyo bennMon caboulot
1950Au fil de la SeineComme un air d'accordéon
1951Moi j'aime çaPays perduMon cœur pleure pour vousY'a tant d'amourAvec sa pommeMon cœur est fait pour t'aimerInfidèleRêver!..La garceLe bonheur n'est plus un rêveSuzon
  • ''La lettre d'un bleu''