Gilbert Becaud's Cold War hit: Nathalie

Becaud (1927 - 2001) was a major French star, a composer, singer, and actor. He composed and recorded the original versions in French of what would become English language hits such as What Now My Love, Let It Be Me, It Must Be Him, The Days The Rains Came. He co-wrote Love On The Rocks with his friend Neil Diamond.

In the 1960s, I visited my aunt in the south of France and one of her favorite songs was Becaud's hit tune Nathalie. At that time, it was rare to see or hear any expressions of warmth towards the Russians in the West. I remember how surprised Americans were when Eisenhower hosted a visit by Nikita Krushchev to the U.S. and the fact he seemed almost like a human being, visiting Hollywood and being warmly greeted by Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine on a Hollywood movie set. The song Nathalie tells about a tourist's visit to Moscow and his falling in love with his lovely young female guide.

Red square was empty
In front of me walked Nathalie
My guide had a beautiful name
Nathalie...
Red square was white
The snow made a carpet
And I followed on this cold Sunday
Nathalie...
She spoke in sober phrases
Of the revolution of October
I already was thinking
That after Lenin's tomb
We'd go to Cafe Pouchkine
Drink a hot chocolate
Red square was empty
I took her arm and she smiled
My guide had blonde hair
Nathalie ... Nathalie.

In her room at the university
A gang of students
Impatiently awaited her
We laughed, we spoke a lot
They wanted to know everything, Nathalie translated.
Moscow, the plains of the Ukraine,
And the Champs-Elysees
We mixed everything up and we sang
And they uncorked
Laughing in anticipation
Some French champagne
And we danced...
La, la, la

And when her room emptied
All her friends had gone
I remained alone with my guide
Nathalie...
Gone were the sober phrases
Or the October revolution
We were no longer there
Finished, Lenin's tomb
And the hot chocolate from Pouchkine
It was already far away
How empty my life now seems
But I know that one day in Paris
It is I who will be her guide
Nathalie ... Nathalie