Every day in the summer we talk about a great love song. Monday, July 3, one of the oldest romantic successes that we remember: “Mignonne let’s see if the rose”
“A point perdu ceste vesprée / The folds of her purple dress, / And her complexion similar to yours” : even if you didn’t get a good grade in French at the Brevet, chances are you know this poem well – one of the most famous poems in French literature, Sweetheart let see if the Roseby Pierre de Ronsard, first published in 1552.
Even if you weren’t very attentive in class, you probably remember that the poem is dedicated to Cassandre Salviati, a 15-year-old Italian girl whom Ronsard met at a ball at the court of King François I. He is 21 years old and cannot think of marriage since he is a clergyman. Nevertheless, he writes a warning to Cassandra: she must pluck the present love because her beauty will fade.
In this episode of These songs that make the summeryou hear excerpts from:
The Minstrels, Sweetheart let see if the Rose, 1969
Georges Brassens, Marquise, 1962
Juliette Greco, If you imagine yourself 1950
Serge Gainsbourg, Ronsard 58, 1958
The Minstrels, My little Colombelle, 1969
Ludus Modales, Sweetheart let see if the Rose, 2012
The Big Mouths, Sweetheart let see if the Rose, 2012
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And you can also find on this link the podcast Behind our voices, with the writing and composition secrets of eight major artists of the French scene, Laurent Voulzy, Julien Clerc, Bénabar, Dominique A, Carla Bruni, Emily Loizeau, Juliette and Gaëtan Roussel.