Raquel Bitton is a warm, intelligent, creative, innovative and powerful singer! Her personality as a “woman” and as a “human being” is as strong as her voice and visions, if not much stronger, but pleasant, sweet and tender on the inside! When I told Bitton that she had the voice, the physical structure and style of Edith Piaf, Briton rejected this analogy! She made it clear to me that she is not Piaf but herself with her own style, artistic Jewish interpretation, musical autonomy and individuality. She completely distant herself from Piaf! Perhaps the individuality of her style, her “facon” meaning “her own way of singing” and above all her very strong personality constituted the trilogy of her phenomenal international success. She separates herself from the Piaf's style, from the Piaf's persona, from the Piaf's artistic essence, for the Piaf's  emotional, physical and fashionable/stylish  looks yet, when she appears on stage, a bright nostalgic "photo of Piaf" emerges on stage, intentionally or coincidentally, I don't know, for, the very first thing you notice beside her strong presence IS the dress she wears! A tiny, little back dress, almost authentic to Piaf's traditional black dress; the Piaf's trademark, The VERY Piaf's outfit. A black dress imbibed with melancholy and human drama. But, as soon as Bitton begins to sing, the phantom of Piaf is totally removed. And then, you realize that you are in the presence of a remarkable singer, almost as good as Piaf, maybe, just maybe happier, less dramatic but most certainly equally sublime with a "Bitton's style" and a "purely, distinctively Bitton's persona, talent and individual Jewish originality.

 Bitton wants you to look at her, listen to her majestic voice and REMEMBER that you are looking at a "Bitton" not at a "Piaf", for she honestly and strongly believes she has her own presence, her own style and her own talent. It is true! She does not copy Piaf nor imitate her. And that is the ingredient and factor which define a true, honest, established, accomplished, authentic and original star. And Bitton is most certainly this star.  “How else would I have gained the respect of Michel Rivegauche, Henri Contet, Francis Lai, if I did not separate myself from the subject? I never lived in the Universe of Piaf. I sang the text in French, “a ma facon” (my way), I conquered with simplicity.” Don't try to flatter Bitton by comparing her to Edith Piaf. It would be a mistake. She will not consider it a compliment. For Bitton, Raquel Bitton is Bitton, and Piaf is Piaf!! Wow!! In 1964, the entertainment division of the RTF in Paris (Radio Television Française: The Consortium of Radio and Television of France) decided to air a special show on France’s great, the late Edith Piaf. Georgette Lemaire (Born in Paris on February 15, 1943), one of France’s most respected singers was selected to star in that show called “"Télé-Dimanche", hosted by Roger Lanzac and Raymond Marcillac. She fell sick. At the very last minute, on November 21^st 1965, Lemaire was replaced by a new talented and relatively unknown singer who just won a "radio-crochet" (a singing competition) in Avignon, France in 1964. That day, on November 21^st 1965, this unknown and yet talented sort of “understudy” vedette-singer became an instant sensation, a phenomenon. The French audiences fell head over heels in love with the young girl who reminded them so much of their beloved Edith Piaf. She had the same voice, the same physical structure, the same size and the same melancholic fervor. A few weeks later, she got 5 recording contracts. And two months later, she became one of the most famous French singers in the world. She sold over 12 million records within two years. Within 18 months, the world’s greatest superstars joined her auditorium appearances around the globe, to name a few, Englebert Humperdincks when he was on the top of the world, Johnny Hallyday and Yves Montand.  Who is this French superstar? She is Mireille Mathieu (Born on July 22nd 1946 in the Provençal town of Avignon, France).  Before and after Mathieu, many very well established as well as aspiring singers tried hard to personify the art, soul and spirit of Edith Piaf. They failed. Even, the great Georgette Lemaire eclipsed in her attempts. Georgette Lemaire, the original choice of the giants of the French recording industry and national hope to bring Edith Piaf back to life lost her popularity and her many attempts and comebacks to personify Piaf remained in vain.  It is so hard to sing like Piaf. It is almost impossible to project on stage what Piaf represented and evoked through her magical-melodramatic persona, in her music, in the way she lived life and transcended it. Even Mireille Mathieu, the baptized “New Piaf” knew this, for short after her Piaf interpretation successes, she decided to sculpt her own style and forget all about singing the songs of Piaf. Only one singer in the world today, just one singer can bring Piaf to live. And this superb singer is the Great Raquel Bitton, one of the greatest singers who ever sang in French.

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