Released 1947 (1947) Recorded 30 October 1947 Length 2:45 | Format 10-inch 78 rpm reocrd Genre Foxtrot Label Odeon | |
Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ? is a French popular song composed in 1947 by Henri Betti with the lyrics by Édith Piaf. The English lyrics were written in 1949 by Harold Rome.
Story
Henri Betti composed the music of Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ? with the lyrics by Édith Piaf who had written them for Yves Montand. When Henri Betti offered the song to Yves Montand, he also proposed C'est si bon he had composed with the lyrics by André Hornez the same time as Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ?.
On 9 October 1947, Yves Montand sings the song at the Alhambra and he records the song in studio October 30, 1947 with Jean Marion and his Orchestra. In 1958, he sang the song at the Théâtre de l'Étoile with Bob Castella and his Orchestra.
In 1949, Harold Rome wrote the English lyrics and the title song became What Can I Do ?.
In 1952, Nila Cara recorded the female version of the song in Chile for the album Les Chanteuses de la Place Pigalle in which Suzy Delair also recorded songs.
In 1953, the melody of the song was featured in the movie Soyez les bienvenus in which the melodies of C'est si bon and The Windmill Song were also featured. These three songs are the biggest hits of Henri Betti.
In 1965, Raymond Berthiaume recorded the song with Roger Gravel and his Orchestra for the album L'inoubliable. In 1958, he recorded C'est si bon with his instrumental group Les 3 Bars for the album Rêver.
In 1985, Nelly Gustin sang the song with Robert Quibel and his Orchestra at the TV show Thé Dansant presented by Charles Level.
In 1993, Stéphane Chomont sang the song with Jean Sala and his Orchestra at the TV show La Chance aux chansons presented by Pascal Sevran.
In 2013, Clark Baxtresser recorded the song playing the Wurlitzer electric piano.
In 2015, Lambert Wilson recorded the song with the musical arrangements by Bruno Fontaine for the album Wilson chante Montand.