CHARLES AZNAVOUR

The living legend of "chanson française" in a one-off concert.

Music critic Stephen Holden (Rolling Stone, New York Times) described him as a "French pop god", but there were those who kept it simple, calling him the "French Frank Sinatra".

Cahrles Aznavour born in Paris on 22nd Mat 1924 to Armenian parents, is a true legend of "chanson française". At 92, he maintains the fresh vocals that dazzle audiences across the world and win over critics from every corner. After all, few French artists can be referenced as influences by such varied artists as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Sting, Elvis Costelli, Bob Dylan or Dr. Dre, the hip-hop magnate who sampled one of Aznavour's songs from 1966 (“Parce Que Tu Crois”) into one of the biggest hits of his album "2001", the song "What's the Difference" which, in 1999, also revealed two future American rap superstars: Xzibit and Eminem.

Both French and Armenian (he is general ambassador of France to Armenia and ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland and Armenia's permanent envoy to the United Nations), singer, songwriter, actor, activist and diplomat, Charles Aznavour is known for his clean and clear tenor voice in the high notes and deep, bass voice in the low notes. He has written over 800 songs, recorded over 1200 in 8 different languages, and sold over 180 million records. He was the first French artist to reach a British Number 1. That's because Aznavour's songs have always had an influence beyond the French-speaking world; there are several covers of his songs by artists singing in other languages, from Bryan Ferry to Elton John, Carole King to Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra to Dean Martin, Sting to Marc Almond, German Herbert Gronemeyer to Italian Laura Pausini. But the song that ensures Charles Aznavour's long career was “Tous Les Visages Du Monde” in 1974, when an English version, "She", reached the UK Number 1 three times faster than Elvis Costello's track recorded for the soundtrack of the movie "Notting Hill".

In 1988, this protegé of Edith Piaff's was awarded "Entertainer of the Century" by the consumers of global media brands such as CNN and Times Online, totalling 18% of the world's votes and beating Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley. He has sung for President, Popes and Kings, but did not forget the vulnerable, and founded "Aznavour for Armenia", an NGO created in response to the Armenia  earthquake of 1988. His activism has extended into French politics, publicly supporting Jacques Chirac against Jean-Marie Le Pen. In France and in the European Parliament, he has taken part in several initiatives to defend artists' rights and copyright law. In April this year, he took part in a ceremony at the Armenian Genocide Memorial along with George Clooney and the Armenian Catholic Orthodox Pope.

It is this living legend of French song who will be performing at MEO Arena on Saturday, 10th December in a performance that will include songs such as "She", "La Bohème”, “Ave Maria” an many others that made "chanson" one of the most respected style phenomena by lover of music everywhere.

Pontos de Venda: 18 20 (24h); www.meoblueticket.pt; Lojas MEO; Lojas FNAC; Lojas WORTEN; Wook.pt; El Corte Inglés; ABEP; Bilheteira MEO Arena (em dias de evento na MEO Arena); Turismo de Lisboa; ACP; Lojas SaltPay; Campo Pequeno; IT Tabacarias; Turismo de Cascais; Multiusos de Guimarães; Altice Forum Braga