Flashback Friday: "L'amour Est Bleu".

"L'amour est bleu" was composed by André Popp and written by Pierre Cour. In 1967 it was performed by Vicky Leandros as the Luxembourgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. (The original enthralling, almost vulnerable performance can be found here).

I was born that year and even though I can not claim to remember the song as a hit, I am familiar with the later remakes of this fragile, melancholic piece, most notably the Paul Mauriat instrumental version from 1968. I knew of it for decades, but became completely infatuated with the compilation in the 90's, when I bought an album with a collection of the most romantic instrumental pieces entitled "Love is Blue", by Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra.

There are very few instrumental melodies that appeal to me, but this one envelopes my heart every time. Riddled with musical intervals that are so significant of the 60's, it nevertheless sounds ever so timeless, fitting adequately in any decade due to its reference. There is something infinitely delicate about the harmony, full of unrequited longing, hiding a certain kind of sorrow. But then again, that is the intention of this lovely musical gem I guess; to convey the endless power of love and the bittersweet sensation that this universal emotion leaves us with at all times...