During the 1920s, a fervent desire for freedom and carefreeness took hold of society. Through song, women embodied a different idea of femininity: forget corsets and conventions, long live short hair, long pants, and new ideas. Along the path to liberation, amid protests for voting rights, they appeared on cabaret stages, in music halls, on dance floors, singing texts that resembled them, revealing them as eccentric and sincere.
Accompanied by Norman Barreau-Gély, author of the beautiful book and interpreter of the show “Femmes des années folles” (currently on tour), let’s discover the leading singers of the decade, icons of a freedom that still inspires us a century later.
Music Program
- “C’était la Miss” (Henri Salvador at the Alhambra, 1960) (lyrics: Bernard Michel, music: Henri Salvador)
- “Valencia” (Mistinguett) 1925 (from the show “La revue Mistinguett” at the Moulin Rouge) (lyrics: J. A . de la Prada, music: Josée Padilla) (adapted by Lucien Boyer and Jacques-Charles)
- “Qu’est-ce que j’ai donc?” (Mistinguett) 1929 (from the revue “Paris Miss” at the Casino de Paris) (lyrics: Léo Lelièvre, De Lima, Henri Varna, music: J-B Forrester)
- “Certains soirs” (Florelle) 1927 (from the show at the Moulin Rouge “Ça c’est Paris” 2nd version) (lyrics: Jacques-Charles and Jean Lenoir, music: Jean Lenoir)
- “M’sieur prenez moi” (Jane Aubert) 1927 (from the show at the Moulin Rouge “Paris aux étoiles”) (lyrics: Jacques-Charles and Mauricet, music: Maurice Roget)
- “Bonjour Philippine” (Dollie & Billie) 1927 (from the show at the Moulin Rouge) (lyrics: Jacques-Charles and Géo Koger, music: Vincent Scotto and Fred Mélina)
- “Blue skies” (Joséphine Baker) 1927 (lyrics & music: Irving Berlin)
- “Parée” (Jenny Golder) 1927 (from the show at the Palace) (lyrics & music: unknown)
- “La violetera” (Raquel Meller) 1926 (lyrics: Eduardo Montesinos, music: José Padilla)
- “Nuits de Chine” (Berthe Delny) 1923 (lyrics: Ernest Dumont, music: Ferdinand-Louis Bénech)
- “Adieu Paris” (Berthe Sylva) 1930 (Adios muchachos) (lyrics: Cesar F. Vedani, music: Julio Cesar Sanders) (adapted by Lucien Boyer)
