Guernsey Press

France pays tribute to singer Charles Aznavour

Aznavour was born to Armenian parents who fled to Paris in the 1920s.

Published
Last updated

France has paid tribute to Charles Aznavour in a solemn and subdued ceremony that contrasted sharply with the singer’s joyful character.

Aznavour, one of France’s most famous personalities, died earlier this week aged 94.

French President Emmanuel Macron stands behind the coffin of Charles Aznavour
French President Emmanuel Macron stands behind the coffin of Charles Aznavour Christophe Ena/AP/Pool)

Former French presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo were among those attending the ceremony.

Nicolas Sarkozy, left, his wife Carla Bruni Sarkozy and Francois Hollande
Nicolas Sarkozy, left, his wife Carla Bruni Sarkozy and Francois Hollande (Christophe Ena/AP/Pool)

Covered by a French tricolor flag, Aznavour’s coffin arrived in the courtyard carried by military personnel to the sound of a traditional Armenian tune.

A spray of red, blue and orange flowers – the colours of the Armenian flag – was then laid close to the coffin.

Soldiers carry the coffin of Charles Aznavour during a ceremony in Paris
Soldiers carry the coffin of Charles Aznavour during the ceremony in Paris (Christophe Ena/AP Pool)

Born Shanoun Varenagh Aznavourian, the singer cut the Armenian suffix from his stage name but never forgot his Armenian roots.

He founded Aznavour and Armenia, a non-profit organisation created after the devastating earthquake that hit Soviet Armenia in 1988.

His film credits include Atom Egoyan’s 2002 Ararat, a film that dealt with the 1915 massacres of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.

Aznavour campaigned internationally to get the killings formally deemed a genocide.

Speaking after Mr Pashinyan, Mr Macron said that “for so many decades, (Aznavour) has made our life sweeter, our tears less bitter”.

Emmanuel Macron stands in front of the coffin of Charles Aznavour
Emmanuel Macron stands in front of the coffin of Charles Aznavour (Christophe Ena/AP/Pool)

“French language is not only the cement of a nation, it’s also the catalyst for freedom and hope,” said Mr Macron, who compared Aznavour to French poet Guillaume Apollinaire.

The ceremony ended with a rendition of Aznavour’s hit Emmenez-Moi, which was played as his coffin was carried away.

Soldiers carry the coffin of Charles Aznavour
Soldiers carry the coffin of Charles Aznavour (Christophe Ena/AP/Pool)

Like her, his fame ultimately reached well outside France.

The crooner often compared to Frank Sinatra sold more than 180 million records and was one of France’s most recognised faces abroad.

He sang to sold-out concert halls until the end and wrote more than 1,000 songs, including the classics La Boheme and She.

A love ballad, She topped British charts for four weeks in 1974 and was covered by Elvis Costello for the film Notting Hill.

Friday’s ceremony in Paris marked the second time in a year that France has paid tribute to one of its musical stars after hundreds of thousands gathered on the Champs Elysees in December to mourn the death of Johnny Hallyday.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.