“c’est Si Bon” – Yves Montand

“C’est si bon” by Yves Montand is one of the most famous French love songs. It has been covered by various jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Eartha Kitt over the years. Initially there were concerns over its title because Charles Trenet released a song called “C’est bon” a few years earlier. However, the songwriter Henri Betti argued that the “si” made all the difference. And indeed the song is “so good”!

The singer Yves Montand, was a French-Italian singer and actor. He began his career as a music-hall singer, but was discovered by Edith Piaf and his fame grew. During his acting career, he was in various films and on Broadway. One of his most famous roles was as César Soubeyran in the film Jean de Florette.

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Lyrics

Je ne sais pas s’il en est de plus blonde,
Mais de plus belle, il n’en est pas pour moi.
Elle est vraiment toute la joie du monde.
Ma vie commence dès que je la vois
Et je fais “Oh !”,
Et je fais “Ah !”.

C’est si bon
De partir n’importe ou,
Bras dessus, bras dessous,
En chantant des chansons.
C’est si bon
De se dir’ des mots doux,
Des petits rien du tout
Mais qui en disent long.

En voyant notre mine ravie
Les passants, dans la rue, nous envient.
C’est si bon
De guetter dans ses yeux
Un espoir merveilleux
Qui donne le frisson.
C’est si bon,
Ces petit’s sensations.
Ça vaut mieux qu’un million,
Tell’ment, tell’ment c’est bon.

…

This song describes the wonderful feeling of being in love. Yves sings “C’est si bon” and follows it with something that he appreciates about being with the woman he loves. The song also uses contrasting values. For example: “ Des petits rien du tout. Mais qui en disent long” meaning “The simple words which say it all.” Or “Ces petit’s sensations.Ça vaut mieux qu’un million” meaning “These small sensations which are worth more than a million.” These lines remind us that everything seems exaggerated when in love. Even the simpler things seem more beautiful or one word speaks volumes.