Would it be accurate to call Edith Piaf the Billie Holiday of France?

[Bicoastal]

Not terribly attractive physically for much of her career, not what you would call a conventionally beautiful voice...but OH that soul...

After Whatsherface won the Oscar, a friend turned to me and asked "who's Edith Piaf?" That's what I told her.

Incidentally, they were both born in the same year, although Edith died 4 years later. And yes, after a lifetime of pain and suffering, it was alcohol that finally killed both.