One of my favorite wedding songs to play is Edith Piaf’s 1940’s opus to love, “La Vie en Rose.”
I don’t speak French, but I can tell by the way she sings, that it is a love song of the most high devotion. She is smitten and lovestruck to the core. As she sings, she idolizes her lover, seeing him through rose-colored glasses. This is why I love playing that tune at weddings and recommending it to people even if they say they don’t know the song. Once I start playing for them, they soon realize they’ve heard it in some movie or commercial. The thing is, “La Vie En Rose” is sort of timeless.
The song plays to our highest ideals, not just about love, but about life in general. “La Vie en Rose” is looking at life optimistically. It is living rosie dreams and seeing the beauty in every day life. It is stopping to smell the roses. It is embracing imperfections and loving despite them. La vie en rose is “live and let live.” It is having ideals. Dreaming big. Finding joy in one’s life and being in the present moment. In literal translation, la vie en rose means the “pink life.”
Some say the meaning of the song is that of naïveté, that everything will be fine without paying attention to details. Assuming that situations will unfold in your favor doesn’t inherently mean that you are not paying attention, or working towards a positive outcome. In fact, I have found that the more I am invested in my situations, the better I feel through involvement.
Recently, I was looking back at my own wedding photos from 13 years ago. I was younger. I had ideals. I had dreams (and still do!) – how many of them have been lived out? I like memories of that day so much not just because I love my partner, but also because I was very present on that day. I can continue to enjoy each moment I am currently living and practice “la vie en rose.”
I’m playing harp for two year’s worth of weddings this summer, 2021. Several were booked back in 2019, postponed by the pandemic. Two couples I played for were already married, eloped by justice of the peace during lockdown. Those people still wanted a big party to celebrate – who can blame them?
Several more couples opted for a backyard wedding, a simpler affair than what I have seen to be most popular in the past. One bride got married in her childhood backyard, and it was one of the sweetest ceremonies I have played in a long time. I think the pandemic has encouraged us to pare down, and make use of our local resources when it comes to things like big plans.
Even though last year was difficult, very hard for some, we can still put on rose colored glasses to help us find new perspective. Seeing through rosie eyes will offer new visions, clarity, optimism, and romance that we will need to help us through the future changes.
Try this:
Put on the Edith Piaf’s song or my version for solo harp. Wear something pink, get some pink flowers, or something pink to look at. If you can find them, wear actually red or rose colored glasses! Then, sit down with a nice glass of something cool (rosé wine, pink lemonade, hibiscus tea). Sip your beverage and drink in the music of the moment. Be present with the pleasant things that surround you and enjoy your present life in pink.