Charles Dumont, composer of Edith Piaf’s Je Ne Regrette Rien, dies

French singer-songwriter Charles Dumont, who composed Edith Piaf’s song Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien, has died at the age of 95.

Dumont was only 27 years old when he wrote this song in 1956. But it was not until 1960 that he was persuaded to approach the star and the star enthusiastically accepted.

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (I have no regrets at all) – expressing the desire to make peace with the past and start again – has become one of Piaf’s signature songs.

It topped the charts in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. The song is also popular throughout the English-speaking world – which is worth noting was quoted in 1993 by then British Prime Minister Norman Lamont.

When asked at a news conference whether he regretted the optimistic statements he made when the economy was struggling, Lamont replied: “Je negrette rien”, causing reporters to burst out. laughed but then caused controversy.

In a 2018 interview, Dumont told news agency AFP that he initially did not dare approach Piaf about the song because she “fired me three times and I didn’t want to see her again”.

But the song’s lyricist, Michel Vaucaire, convinced him to give it a try four years later. Dumont added that Piaf appeared extremely reluctant when the couple came to her apartment, but she allowed Dumont to play the song on her piano.

“From then on we were inseparable,” he said. Dumont ultimately composed more than 30 songs for Piaf before her death in 1963.

Edith Piaf became an international star after spending much of her early life on the streets of Paris.

She is famous for singing ballads – including La Vie en Rose, Milord and La Foule.

Dumont also wrote scripts for stars such as Jacques Brel, Juliette Gréco and Barbra Streisand. He continued to have a successful solo career since the 1970s.