Yves Montand on Champs-Élysées: The Timeless Charm of French Chanson
A look at Montand’s unforgettable 1989 variety show performance of “C’est si Bon” on French TV’s classic show
Yves Montand (1921–1991) was an iconic French-Italian singer and actor, known for his rich baritone, charismatic stage presence, and quintessential charm. Born in Italy and raised in France after his family fled Mussolini’s regime, he rose to fame in the 1940s, becoming known for songs like “Les Feuilles Mortes” and “C’est si Bon.” A consummate performer, Montand also starred in classics like The Wages of Fear, Jean de Florette, and Hollywood’s Let’s Make Love (with Marilyn Monroe).
Montand’s 1989 performance of C’est si Bon on Champs-Élysées captures him at his best: suave, humorous, and effortlessly charismatic, even at nearly 70. Known worldwide as a singer and film star, his rendition is joyful and nostalgic, and he is clearly an entertainer at heart.
Champs-Élysées was a popular French TV variety show that aired on Saturday nights from 1982 to 1990, a bit like The Ed Sullivan Show or The Tonight Show in the U.S. It featured a mix of live music, comedy, and interviews with top stars from France and abroad, blending high-energy performances with quirky, often unpredictable moments.
While artists like Eartha Kitt (worth listening to for her own purring version) and Louis Armstrong have performed C’est Is Bon with their own style, Montand definitely hasn’t lost his touch in this performance.
More music from Yves Montand
“Les Feuilles Mortes” showcases Montand’s soulful side. Written by surrealist poet Jacques Prévert for the 1946 film Les Portes de la Nuit, this haunting cabaret ballad of lost love became a classic. Montand’s rendition is bittersweet, evoking post-war nostalgia and the passage of time. It aws also covered by icons like Edith Piaf and Nat King Cole (as “Autumn Leaves”).
It's a very different feel from his 1989 performance.
If you want to explore his music further, here’s a great Best Of playlist:
