​

In 1969, Charles Aznavour worked with Herbert Kretzmer on the English version of Aznavour's song "Hier encore," featured elsewhere on this website. In 1974, they co-wrote the song "She" that Aznavour performed as a theme for a BBC series (“The Seven Faces of Woman”). This show highlighted the different facets that women display in various stages and roles of life. Kretzmer later became the lyricist for the English-language version of "Les Misérables." 

Barclay Records released “She” in English on Aznavour’s Album “A Tapestry of Dreams” in June 1974, where it appeared with 9 other songs, many of which were collaborations with Kretzmer. It also appeared as a single that year. Later in 1974 (December), Barclay released a French version as “Tous les visages de l’amour” on Aznavour’s 25th studio album “Visages de l’amour” and as a single (B-side “De t’avoir aimée”).

Under its English title “She,” the song reached the top spot on the UK Singles Chart and in Ireland.  In France, it never broke the top 40. Technically, therefore, the French version "Tous les Visages..." was an adaptation of "She." It is unclear whether Aznavour wrote the French lyrics himself or collaborated with Kretzmer.

There are notable differences that can be viewed here in three versions as "She," "Tous les Visages," and "Translation" (of the French). Specifically, the English lyrics are written in the third person and they carry throughout an adoring but indirect description of “She’s” many faces and sometimes contradictory humors. The French lyrics are second person familiar (“toi/tu”) and directly address the other party although the context (“quelque soit ton âge et ton nom”) makes clear that the intended addressee is actually the impersonal category of women-in-general. The first two French verses resemble the English ones in describing women’s various attributes. The third verse of the French version, however, unexpectedly flips the focus to “Me” with an assertive description of “manliness” that nevertheless shifts abruptly in the fourth verse to supplication and pliability. The incongruity highlights differences between the sexes and implies ultimate female supremacy but leaves a confusing message.

​In 1999, “She” returned for a second round in the UK when Elvis Costello sang it over opening credits and the final sequence of the British film “Notting Hill,” starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. At that time, it enjoyed reflected brilliance from Julia's appearance as the female lead and reached #19 on British charts.