C'est si bon

C'est si bon is a French popular song composed in 1947 by Henri Betti with the lyrics by André Hornez. The English lyrics were written in 1950 by Jerry Seelen. The song is also adapted in several languages.

Story

It is by walking under the arcades of the avenue Jean Médecin in Nice in July 1947 as the first nine notes of the song come to mind of the composer Henri Betti. He writes the notes in a notebook to be able to play on the piano. Once back home, he composed the melody in less than ten minutes. He then made an appointment with lyricist André Hornez at the Hôtel Powers in Paris to find a title for the song. André Hornez said that the title should be three syllables, the first three notes of the song. The next day he showed Henri Betti a list of ten titles, each of three syllables, the last of which was C'est si Bon. Henri Betti told André Hornez he liked it, but hesitated because there was a current Charles Trenet song called C'est Bon. Henri Betti told him that si made all the difference. The song was registered with the SACEM on 16 August 1947 and was published by Paul Beuscher.^[1]

Before finding a professional singer for the song, Henri Betti sings himself at the restaurant La Réserve in Nice. He first proposed the song to Yves Montand who refuses to sing October 9, 1947 at the Théâtre de l'Étoile. The publisher decided to register for the radio with Jacques Hélian and his Orchestra on 18 January 1948. Then the publisher offered the song to the Sœurs Étienne with Raymond Legrand and his Orchestra, which became a hit. Yves Montand, now seeing a good thing, recorded the song on 11 May 1948 with Bob Castella and his Orchestra. The publisher then offers the song to Suzy Delair who sings in public in the first Nice Jazz Festival on 25 February 1948. In this festival was present Louis Armstrong and asked the publisher if he could make a recording of the song in America. The publisher agreed and the song's lyrics were adapted into English by Jerry Seelen. Louis Armstrong made his recording 26 June 1950 with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra. Upon his release, the recording became a worldwide hit and the song will then be sung by leading international singers.

Cover versions

Filmography

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External links

• C'est si bon on Facebook

References