I never thought that I could sympathize with a woman who threw furniture. Edith Piaf is so full of love in her honesty about her wretched start in life, that after a few chapters I was ready to forgive anything. Drug addiction, alchoholism, squandering money, desperate liasons, you name it, and this was the '50's. Is that Piaf singing on the old record in the subway scene in Amelie? Maybe that's why I bought the book but I liked it, anyway.

Even though Edith Piaf herself faded into a history and became less famous in our generation, most of her songs are still alive in people's heart. Her songs like "La vie en rose" or "Autumn Leaves" have been sung by many famous artists in many different ways. If you still don't know who Edith Piaf was, think about recent Intel's TV commercial which a college kid boils water on a empty pot and takes a digital photo of it, then sents it to his mother for asking some money. The background music of that commercial was one of Piaf's songs "Non, je ne regrette rien". Even her songs and her career were like life of roses, her personal life itself was awful. This book introduces you almost forgotten French legend who was once known as a queen of French music industry...Great book. m.o.

Edith Piaf:Many things come to mind.A legendary singer,a tragic figure,and a woman whom "Never gave a damn what others may think, or say about her." She was an outspoken woman who was a total perfectionist. But there was also a bundle of contradictions,and vulnerbility about her. If you are a fan of Edith Piaf and her life story, read the play by Pam Gems. It has the answers to some questions that you have probably been asking about Edith Gassion AKA Edith Piaf. A word of caution though.This play contains certain mature subject matters and may contain words inappropriate for children. But then, so was Edith Gassion.Better known to the world as the legendary French Sparrow, Edith Piaf.

She illustrated a voice that reflected her pain and struggle troughout her existence.But she also had the health of a Samson,to have been able to drink and party the hell out of her. When at the beginning of the book her sister Simone Berteaut "Momone" said: "Je peux t'y entendre rire et pleurer"(I can hear you laugh and cry)well so could I.And God what a cry and what a laughter it was.You can feel Piaf vibrate troughout the book.

I wasn't as disappointed with the limited content of this book (10 songs) after I was made aware how hard it is to get music for Edith Piaf. But surely the popularity of "Non, je ne regrette rein" (sung by mice in the "Pig in the City" soundtrack) must be leaving its copyright holders (whoever they are) with regrets if the number of people chasing this song unsuccessfully is anything like what I'd suspect.

The only other book of Piaf music we've found is "Edith Piaf, album commemoratif". More (twenty-two) songs and still no "no regrets" to be found.

The book has the name of the chords but doesn't have the guitar chords as I would prefer.

Tip: You'll find the Contents pages for many of the Hal Leonard titles sold here through their web site. If I had found this sooner, I would have saved myself a lot of guessing what songs were included.

Now if I can only find the dots (music) by Bastille Day, we'll be set ... no regret.