Happy Birthday, Piaf

Édith Gassion, better known - much better known - as Édith Piaf was born today in Belleville, Paris. "Piaf" is French for "sparrow", because it was such a powerful, beautiful voice in such a small body. She is pretty universally regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her personal life was something of a mess, but her singing - oh, my. Her specialty was ballads, and among her best-known songs are "La Vie en rose" and "Non, je ne regrette rien".

If you have a chance to see the recent biopic, take it. The singing is her - and wonderful.