"C'est Noël" is a French popular song composed in 1956 by

Henri Betti Henri Betti, born Ange Betti (24 July 1917 – 7 July 2005), was a French composer and a pianist. Pianist and composer of Maurice Chevalier from 1940 to 1945, Henri Betti is best known for composing the music of the songs '' C'est si bon'' (lyr ...

with the lyrics by

Jean Manse Jean Manse (1899–1967) was a French screenwriter.Klossner p.111 He was the brother of Henriette Manse, and brother-in-law of Fernandel with whom he frequently collaborated. He was also a lyricist, working with composer Henri Betti on the hit Chri ...

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In 1956, Henri Betti composed the music for the film ''

Honoré de Marseille ''Honoré de Marseille'' is a 1956 French comedy musical film by Maurice Régamey and starring Fernandel. Plot The story begins in 600 BC with the landing in a calque of a Phocéenne galley commanded by the warrior Honorius who, married by mist ...

'' in which he also composed the music of four songs with lyrics by Jean Manse, all of which are performed by

Fernandel Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (8 May 1903 – 26 February 1971), better known as Fernandel, was a French comic actor. Born in Marseille, France, to Désirée Bedouin and Denis Contandin, originating in Perosa Argentina, a town located in th ...

. ''C'est Noël'' was one of the four songs that Fernandel sings in the film, but the scene was cut in the editing. So it appears only in the record released the same year with the other three songs of the film (''Tout ça c'est Marseille'', ''Quel plaisir ! Quel travail !'' and ''Oh ! Honoré'') all orchestrated by Paul Bonneau. The melody of this song was written by Henri Betti when he became father of a girl in 1950. The scene where Fernandel sang this song was in a Christmas night decor where Claire Diamant, who played the role of his niece Josette, was sitting on her lap. The actress was six years old at the time of filming, which was the same age of Henri Betti's daughter.

Cover versions

The same year, the song is recorded by

Tino Rossi Constantin "Tino" Rossi (29 April 1907 – 26 September 1983) was a French singer and film actor of Corsican origin. Born in Ajaccio, Corsica, Rossi was gifted with a voice well suited for opera. He became a tenor in the French cabaret style. ...

with Pierre Spiers and his Orchestra and by

Georges Guétary Georges Guétary (), born Lambros Vorloou ( ; 8 February 1915 – 13 September 1997) was a French singer, dancer, cabaret performer and film actor, best known for his role in the 1951 musical ''An American in Paris''. Early life and career ...

with Jo Moutet and his Orchestra.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:C'est Noël 1956 songs French songs Songs with music by Henri Betti Fernandel songs Tino Rossi songs Christmas songs French-language Christmas carols

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See also

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