French Frank Sinatra going strong at 88
By Chehui Peh |
June 24, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DUBBED the French Frank Sinatra, 88-year-old Charles Aznavour is one of the world's most famous music hall entertainers, known for his enduring, bitter sweet love songs.
Also a composer of a thousand songs, an actor and anti-piracy activist, Aznavour was in Shanghai as a guest at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's China Beauty Charity Fundraiser.
Parisian-born Aznavour attributes his age-defying energy and youthfulness to "energy in the mind," adding, "I do not do sports, my sport is in my mind."
In 1998, CNN named Aznavour Entertainer of the Century, voted by its viewers and Time Online. He took nearly 18 percent of the total vote, edging out Elvis and Bob Dylan.
Born in Paris to Armenian parents who he said "had nothing," he dropped out of school when he was 10 to help support the family. "I've never stopped working to make money and survive since then," he told Shanghai Daily.
Though he has been officially retired for almost 40 years, he's on the road for more than two months a year. These days he writes more than he sings.
"I'm a curious man. I like to see what people think, live and hope," Aznavour said. "I was so excited to see China that I accepted the invitation in an instant."
He finds inspiration everywhere he goes. "I like to be alone to find ideas. Then I write about people and the facts of society," he said. "Sometimes these are strong songs, but it is always about what I see."
On a trip to Macau years ago, Aznavour wrote five songs that later became hits, including "Take Me Away," in which he writes "it is easier to be miserable in a sunny country than a cold country."
Overwhelmingly, his songs are in French, but he also writes many in English, Italian, Spanish and German.
"I was on a boat from Macau to Hong Kong, and I saw the miseries of the poor in contrast to the rich people around me in this modern setting," Aznavour recalled. "I then remembered Aberdeen, where I saw the poor living in boats, but they were always smiling in spite of their difficult surroundings. This is what I call being rich from inside, the most important asset of life."
Despite writing about harsh realities, "always at the end, I write about love."
Very much a romantic, Aznavour also believes in going back to one's roots, in this case Armenian roots - he was born Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian.
"It's important to be proud of your roots and to keep this pride," Aznavour explains. "I am proud of being Armenian, and like the Cambodian people I once met who chose to return to Cambodia after the genocide, I will return to my roots because it is where I came from."
Deeply involved in charity, Aznavour aided the reconstruction efforts after the devastating 1998 earthquake in Armenia. "I helped solve the problem of electricity shortage, built 47 schools, three surgical blocks for hospitals, three orphanages and factories to build prosthetic limbs and taught orphans crafts like tailoring to give them a future. I wanted to help, and I helped," Aznavour said proudly.
Although he speaks European languages, Aznavour said that when he was young he wanted to speak Chinese. "Now my dream is being realized by my little granddaughter who is learning on my behalf."
His next project is a website to be launched in September and featuring his travel photos. "It will be about the stories of people and places I have been to," he said. "I want the world to see the stories."
Despite being a legend, Aznavour remains modest and unassuming.
"I'm just someone doing my craft," he said.
"I should live till I am 120 years old. I am not worried about dying, but I am too curious to go."
Also a composer of a thousand songs, an actor and anti-piracy activist, Aznavour was in Shanghai as a guest at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's China Beauty Charity Fundraiser.
Parisian-born Aznavour attributes his age-defying energy and youthfulness to "energy in the mind," adding, "I do not do sports, my sport is in my mind."
In 1998, CNN named Aznavour Entertainer of the Century, voted by its viewers and Time Online. He took nearly 18 percent of the total vote, edging out Elvis and Bob Dylan.
Born in Paris to Armenian parents who he said "had nothing," he dropped out of school when he was 10 to help support the family. "I've never stopped working to make money and survive since then," he told Shanghai Daily.
Though he has been officially retired for almost 40 years, he's on the road for more than two months a year. These days he writes more than he sings.
"I'm a curious man. I like to see what people think, live and hope," Aznavour said. "I was so excited to see China that I accepted the invitation in an instant."
He finds inspiration everywhere he goes. "I like to be alone to find ideas. Then I write about people and the facts of society," he said. "Sometimes these are strong songs, but it is always about what I see."
On a trip to Macau years ago, Aznavour wrote five songs that later became hits, including "Take Me Away," in which he writes "it is easier to be miserable in a sunny country than a cold country."
Overwhelmingly, his songs are in French, but he also writes many in English, Italian, Spanish and German.
"I was on a boat from Macau to Hong Kong, and I saw the miseries of the poor in contrast to the rich people around me in this modern setting," Aznavour recalled. "I then remembered Aberdeen, where I saw the poor living in boats, but they were always smiling in spite of their difficult surroundings. This is what I call being rich from inside, the most important asset of life."
Despite writing about harsh realities, "always at the end, I write about love."
Very much a romantic, Aznavour also believes in going back to one's roots, in this case Armenian roots - he was born Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian.
"It's important to be proud of your roots and to keep this pride," Aznavour explains. "I am proud of being Armenian, and like the Cambodian people I once met who chose to return to Cambodia after the genocide, I will return to my roots because it is where I came from."
Deeply involved in charity, Aznavour aided the reconstruction efforts after the devastating 1998 earthquake in Armenia. "I helped solve the problem of electricity shortage, built 47 schools, three surgical blocks for hospitals, three orphanages and factories to build prosthetic limbs and taught orphans crafts like tailoring to give them a future. I wanted to help, and I helped," Aznavour said proudly.
Although he speaks European languages, Aznavour said that when he was young he wanted to speak Chinese. "Now my dream is being realized by my little granddaughter who is learning on my behalf."
His next project is a website to be launched in September and featuring his travel photos. "It will be about the stories of people and places I have been to," he said. "I want the world to see the stories."
Despite being a legend, Aznavour remains modest and unassuming.
"I'm just someone doing my craft," he said.
"I should live till I am 120 years old. I am not worried about dying, but I am too curious to go."
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