Once Upon a Song – Discover the story behind She !

Recorded in London in 1974, Charles Aznavour’s song “She” became a massive hit in the UK, yet was curiously overlooked in France. Now considered a cult classic around the world, discover the story behind the track.

In 1974, Charles Aznavour recorded “She” in London — a song written in English as the theme for the British TV series Seven Faces of Woman. Surrounded by English-speaking musicians, he also recorded versions of the track in French, Italian, Spanish, and German. But it was the English version that triumphed: the single reached No. 1 on the UK charts and stayed there for four weeks. Largely ignored by French radio and unknown to the general public in France, “She” is nonetheless a gem of sentimental pop, infused with folk elements and the cozy atmosphere of jazz clubs. Its poetic, universal lyrics celebrate the mysterious magic of womanhood.

Despite its lack of success in France, the song went on to enjoy remarkable international recognition — notably thanks to Elvis Costello’s cover, which brought it back into the spotlight in the 1990s through the film Notting Hill. In 2011, Aznavour reached out to Thomas Dutronc to create a new French adaptation titled “Elle”, featuring new lyrics — but once again, it failed to resonate with the public. Still, “She” remains a powerful symbol of Charles Aznavour’s global influence: beloved abroad, yet still underrated in his homeland.

With our playlist “Who Sampled Aznavour?”, we invite you to (re)discover a curated selection of his songs that have been sampled by artists around the world. After each original track, you’ll hear one or more songs that were built from it.