The Singers of the Roaring Twenties (2): The Golden Age of Music Hall

In the 1920s, a furious desire for freedom and carelessness took hold of society. Through song, women embodied a different idea of femininity: forget corsets and conventions, long live short hair, long pants, and new ideas. On the long road to emancipation, between two protests for the right to vote, they appeared on the stages of cabarets, under the feathers of music halls, on the dance floors, singing texts that revealed them, eccentric and sincere.

Accompanied by Norman Barreau-Gély, author of the beautiful book, the triple CD, and performer of the show “Femmes des années folles” (currently on tour), let’s explore the leading singers of the decade, icons of a freedom that still inspires us a century later.

Music Programming

• “C’était la Miss” (Henri Salvador at the Alhambra, 1960) (lyrics: Bernard Michel – music: Henri Salvador)
• “Valencia” (Mistinguett) 1925 (from “La revue Mistinguett” at the Moulin Rouge) (lyrics: J. A . de la Prada – music: José Padilla) (adapted by Lucien Boyer and Jacques-Charles)
• “Qu’est-ce que j’ai donc?” (Mistinguett) 1929 (from the revue “Paris Miss” at the Casino de Paris) (lyrics: Léo Lelièvre, De Lima, Henri Varna – music: J-B Forrester)
• “Certains soirs” (Florelle) 1927 (from the revue at the Moulin Rouge “Ça c’est Paris” 2nd version) (lyrics: Jacques-Charles and Jean Lenoir – music: Jean Lenoir)
• “M’sieur prenez moi” (Jane Aubert) 1927 (from the revue at the Moulin Rouge “Paris aux Etoiles”) (lyrics: Jacques-Charles and Mauricet – music: Maurice Roget)
• “Bonjour Philippine” (Dollie & Billie) 1927 (from the revue at the Moulin Rouge) (lyrics: Jacques-Charles and Géo Koger – music: Vincent Scotto and Fred Mélhac)
• “Blue skies” (Joséphine Baker) 1927 (music: Irving Berlin)
• “Parée” (Jenny Golder) 1927 (from the revue at the Palace) (lyrics and music: unknown)
• “La violetera” (Raquel Meller) 1926 (lyrics: Eduardo Montesinos – music: José Padilla)
• “Nuits de Chine” (Berthe Delny) 1923 (lyrics: Ernest Dumont – music: Ferdinand-Louis Bénech)
• “Adieu Paris” (Berthe Sylva) 1930 (Adios muchachos) (lyrics: Cesar F. Vedani – music: Julio Cesar Sanders) (adapted by Lucien Boyer)

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