Many don’t realize, however, that the song dates back to the ’30s, was originally a waltz, and that Edith Piaf, aka “The Little Sparrow,” made one of its most famous international renditions ever.
The Waltz
“Que nadie sepa mi sufrir” was composed by Argentine songwriter Ángel Cabral in 1936 as a waltz song. Enrique Dizeo wrote the original lyrics, and it immediately became an international hit. Throughout the years, the song has been performed by many diverse artists, such as Julio Iglesias, Agustín Irustra, Raphael, and La Sonora Dinamita. Its rhythm has also undergone several changes, which have turned the melody into a “cumbia” — a style originated in Colombia with more of a Latin flavor than waltz.
Interestingly enough, however, one of the song’s best performances came from French singer Edith Piaf in the late ’50s.
“La Foule”
In 1957, Piaf used the original melody, but sang it under a completely different title and lyrics. These new lyrics were written by Michel Rivgauche, which changed the song’s story radically. “La Foule,” its new title, means “The Crowd,” and instead of being about heartbreak and the subsequent complaints towards a former lover as in the original song, Piaf’s version narrates a chance meeting between the singer and a man in the middle of a great crowd. Though it was love at first sight, the couple is soon separated by the very crowd that brought them together. They never see each other again.
Are you familiar with this song? Both the Spanish and French versions, different though they might be, are amazing in their own right. Which one’s your favorite?
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