Je cherche après Titine

Léo Daniderff (born Angers, France 1878; died Rosny-sous-Bois, France 1943) was a French composer of the pre-World War II area, possibly of foreign descent.

His 1917 comical song, "Je cherche après Titine" (lyrics by Louis Mauban and Marcel Bertal), became world-famous due to Charlie Chaplin singing it in gibberish in Modern Times, especially because it was the first time his character ever spoke in the movies. The title means "I am looking for Titine", and "Titine" is the diminutive of some feminine first names like "Martine" and "Clémentine".

A few years later, in 1939, the song was (again) adapted into "Wąsik, ach ten wąsik" ("Oh, what a moustache!") Polish cabaret number, performed by Ludwik Sempoliński and which tried to "decide" who was funnier and who brought more to the world, Chaplin or Hitler. After the outbreak of WWII, Gestapo tried to locate both Sempoliński and the lyricist, who was either Julian Tuwim or Marian Hemar, but failed for both.

A year later, in "The Great Dictator", Chaplin decided to parody Hitler himself.

Around 1964 Jacques Brel also wrote a song named "Titine", incorporating fragments of the melody and referencing both Daniderff's song and Chaplin.

Other singers were Georgette Plana and Yves Montand.

The song was parodied by Gary Muller in 1982 as "My Name Is Not Merv Griffin".

The song's copyright belongs or belonged to Editions Léon Agel and Les Nouvelles Editions Méridian.

Daniderff other hit song "Sur la Riviera" was used as theme for "Boudu Saved from Drowning" (1932, uncredited).

External links

*imdb name|id=0199562|name=Léo Daniderff
* [http://www.paroles.net/chansons/22570.htm Lyrics for Titine (in French)]
* [http://www.evene.fr/celebre/biographie/leo-daniderff-18842.php Source for birth/death dates (French)]