Michel Emer

Michel Emer (June 19, 1906 – November 23, 1984), (real name Emer Rosenstein), was a French musician, composer and lyricist. His songs have been performed by Edith Piaf, Fréhel, Damia, Lys Gauty, Yves Montand, Jean Sablon, André Claveau, Ray Ventura and his Collegians, Luis Mariano, Tino Rossi, and Eartha Kitt. He also wrote songs for at least one of his wife Jacqueline Maillan's shows.

The first of his songs to be sung by Edith Piaf was "L'Accordéoniste", which he composed in 1940. He went on to write more than twenty songs for her, including "J'm'en fous pas mal", "Bal dans ma rue", and "A quoi ça sert l'amour?", one of her most famous songs, which she sang as a duet with her second husband Theo Sarapo.

He co-authored with Charles Trenet the music for the song "Y'a d'la joie", and arranged many of Trenet's songs. Jean Sablon performed and recorded his song "Béguin-Biguine" in 1932.

Personal life

In 1954 he married the actress Jacqueline Maillan. He is buried in the Cimetière de Bagneux in Paris.

Compositions

Songs

(Selective)

"L'Accordéoniste" (1940)
"J'm'en fous pas mal"
"Bal dans ma rue"
"A quoi ça sert l'amour?"

Operettas

1934: Loulou et ses boys- 3-act operette by Marc Cab, Paul Farge and Pierre Bayle. Music by Michel Emer and Georges Sellers (Théâtre Daunou, opening 7 December 1934)
1939: Billie et son équipe - operette by Michel Emer and Jean Sautreuil. Story by André Mouëzy-Éon and Albert Willemetz (Théâtre Mogador, opening 6 March 1939)

Recordings

Hello, Baby, Mademoiselle / Dans les plaines du Far-West (Michel Emer et son orchestre - 78 rpm on Polydor
Chanson aux nuages / Perfidia - 78 rpm on Polydor

Soundtracks