Mon Homme
"Mon Homme" is a popular song known by its English translation, "My Man". The song was originally composed by Jacques Charles, Channing Pollock, Albert Willemetz, and Maurice Yvain.
History
Although the song originated in France – where it was a hit for Mistinguett in 1916 – it was popularized in the English speaking world in the 1920s with the 1921 recording by Ziegfeld Follies singer Fanny Brice. The song was a hit, and the record eventually earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for Brice in 1999.
The ballad version recorded by Brice was modified by Billie Holiday, who introduced a jazz/blues recording of "My Man". Holiday's version was also successful, although the song continued to be associated with Brice. Over the years, other artists from both the United States and abroad covered the song, though none of the artists achieved as much success as Brice and Holiday. One notable version was a 1940s recording by Edith Piaf, the most notable recording of "Mon Homme" in its original language.
Peggy Lee recorded the song for her 1959 album I Like Men! Her arrangement is very minimalistic, with the drums predominant in the mix.
In 1965, the song was covered by Barbra Streisand on her album My Name Is Barbra and in the film adaptation of Funny Girl. Her rendition of "My Man", sung during the film's finale, drew additional critical praise to an already lauded performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1968.
Diana Ross performed the song in her final concert appearance as a Supreme at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 14, 1970. Her performance was recorded and later released on the 1970 live album Farewell. Ross adopted Holiday's jazz and blues version rather than the Brice or Streisand versions. In 1972, Ross recorded "My Man" again for the soundtrack for the film Lady Sings the Blues, in which she portrayed Billie Holiday. The soundtrack album peaked at #1 on Billboard's Pop albums chart, reportedly selling over 300,000 copies during its first eight days of release. Ross' performance in the film received critical acclaim and Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress; she won the Golden Globe award for "Most Promising Newcomer." Ross' second version of the song was a revival of Holiday's jazz/blues reading. Ross gave one of her most critically hailed performances of the song in 1979 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was recorded for an HBO concert special during her "The Boss" world tour.
On the Billboard Music Awards 1991, Whitney Houston covers the song, giving it a more jazzy-pop version.
Etta James recorded the song for her album "Blue Gardenia" (2001)
Lea Michele covered the song in the Glee episode "Funeral". Prior to the episode's airing, she sang the song at MusiCares 2011, where Streisand was honored as Person of the Year. Regina Spektor covered the song for the Boardwalk Empire soundtrack in 2011 (featured in the end credits of "A Dangerous Maid").
