{"product_id":"josephine-baker_jai-deux-amours_2020","title":"J'ai deux amours","description":"Born into a poor family in St. Louis (Missouri), Joséphine Baker would quickly become the first international black diva. Forced at a young age to do housework to help her family, often mistreated, she soon left them for her love of dance and performance. A chorus girl in a theater troupe, she landed on Broadway in 1921. A simple chorus girl in “Chocolate Dandies” in 1924, she danced and clowned at the Plantation Club in “Shuffle Along,” the revue of the great singer Ethel Waters in 1925. Engaged in a troupe of 25 artists, she left New York for France on September 16. On October 2, the day of the premiere of the “Revue Nègre” at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, everything changed. Arriving anonymously within the troupe, and aided by the sketch of Paul Colin who drew her on his poster, Joséphine immediately imposed her feline and graceful character, her mischievousness and comedic talents, and made her physique and antics admired by a stunned audience, sometimes indignant, often dazzled. Scandal and triumph! Within a few months, at the age of 19, Joséphine Baker became the darling of all Paris and a huge star. In 1926, the Folies-Bergères hired her for the revue “Folies d'un jour.” It was there that she unveiled her famous banana belt, which should not overshadow, in addition to her innate talent, the contribution that Joséphine brought to the music hall: dancing the charleston, she became the ambassador of the new black music, hot jazz. Next came “Un Vent de Folies” (CD1\/3) in 1927, followed by “En Super-Folies” in 1936 (CD2\/16-17). A dancer and entertainer, the “Black Pearl” became a singer and was quickly invited to record records, revealing a voice as supple and airy as her stage choreography, a pure and light soprano with high vocalizations. Starting in September 1926, she recorded a beautiful series of American songs from the standards repertoire. In turn, the Casino de Paris called for her: “Paris qui remue” in 1930 where she created her first French songs on stage (CD2\/1-4), “La Joie de Paris” in 1932 (CD2\/8-11). The cinema sought her out as early as 1927; she would appear in a few films, including “Zouzou,” with Jean Gabin, in 1934 (CD2\/12-13), and “Princesse Tam-Tam” in 1935 (CD2\/14). These songs, composed especially for her and which she performed with perfect diction, gave her a Parisian image while also playing, in this Orientalist art deco period (Colonial Exhibition in 1931), on a manufactured exoticism of which she was not deceived. But beyond appearances and her sumptuous costumes as a revue star, Joséphine Baker, who became a French citizen in 1937, showed a strong character and displayed an intelligence and awareness that led her to engage from the beginning of the war, then resist and work for Free France in North Africa – she would be promoted and decorated – before taking her pilgrim's staff back to her country where, uncompromising on the issue of racial discrimination that her status as a well-known artist did not spare her from, she did not hesitate to demand mixed venues long before the civil rights struggles. Married to conductor Jo Bouillon in 1947, she undertook a tour of the Americas that same year. During a second trip to the United States in 1951, where she was applauded in Harlem, she caused an incident in a club that enforced segregation. In 1955, at New York airport, she faced difficulties being accused of anti-American propaganda. These returns to her country were not easy, despite the welcome she received from the public in 1960 and 1961. In 1963, she came to support Martin Luther King during the great march on Washington, later participating in a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. A successful one-woman show on Broadway the following year would finally bring her recognition. And she celebrated her 50th career anniversary during a final tour in 1973. But her heart remained in Paris. Joséphine returned to the Folies-Bergères in 1948 in “Féeries et Folies” (CD3\/7-8). Later, she triumphed in “Paris mes amours” at the Olympia in 1959\/60 (CD3\/16-18). Ensuring her role as an ambassador of French song, she chose a varied repertoire, less personal than before the war, which also reflected her travels: she sang in Spanish, English, Italian... and French, her song Dans mon village recounting the wonderful adventure of the Château des Milandes acquired in '47 and the adoption, with Jo, of twelve children from all corners of the world. An undoubtedly utopian image of universal brotherhood that would end in failure in 1968. The Vietnam War added to this disillusionment and inspired her song: Quand je pense à ça. She returned to the stage for a final revue at Bobino. The premiere took place on March 24, 1975. But, while the show's poster adorned all the Morris columns in Paris, Joséphine Baker, exhausted, passed away a few days later, on April 12, at the age of 69. Entering legend during her lifetime, she remains unforgettable. Joséphine Baker: a great lady, a free woman, a queen.","brand":"Joséphine Baker","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58239989776728,"sku":null,"price":24086112.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/4943\/0360\/files\/3540139870459.jpg?v=1787438734","url":"https:\/\/vinyles.com\/en-us\/products\/josephine-baker_jai-deux-amours_2020","provider":"Vinyles.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}