Album: She: The Best Of Charles Aznavour (1974)
Charted: 1
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the theme from the UK TV series The Seven Faces of Women. It was written by Herbert Kretzmer, the lyricist of Les Miserables, and Aznavour, who wrote the music.
  • Herbert Kretzmer said in 1000 UK #1 Hits: "What they needed was a song to link the seven plays and the producer thought I might write something for Marlene Dietrich as she represented the ageless woman. I didn't like that idea much as if you're going to write about a woman's mystique, it would be better if it were not sung by a woman. If she sung about her own mystery the song would be too calculated and knowing. I said, 'It should be a song about a woman as seen by a man, and what better man than Charles Aznavour, who sings about love and romance?' I brought him into the project and it turned out terribly well.

    Writing a theme song is no easy ride. The first verse could only run for 35 seconds. The time before the play began, and it had to run over the main titles and be complete in itself. Then it had to be stretched out to a record so that it did not sound like padding. At the time Aznavour was touring all over the place and it took some time to get a melody from him. The moment he played me that long, opening note, the word 'She' jumped into my mind and I knew we had the song."
  • Aznavour recorded the song in several different languages aside from English, including Spanish, German Italian and his native French.
  • Elvis Costello revived this in 1999 for the soundtrack of the film Notting Hill. It is featured over the film's closing credits, except in America, where Boyzone's "No Matter What" is played instead.
  • In an article by Laurie Henshaw published in the July 6, 1974 issue of Melody Maker, the genesis of this then recent massive hit was traced. The producer of the TV series The Seven Faces Of Woman was looking for a theme song, and was asked by London Weekend Television's Deputy Controller of Programmes: "Why don't you get Aznavour?" The French star had recently appeared on The Russell Harty Show, so the contact had already been made. Aznavour was enthusiastic; the song was recorded in London with British musicians, released on RCA and had already sold over 175,000.
  • Aznavour said: "One of my greatest ambitions is to have a #1 hit record in English in Britain," adding he took the subjects of his songs from life: "I reach for the human souls and portray them. I don't create people or problems for my songs." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

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