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.

[mitchum]

1. That's pretty much the take on it...

and has been for decades

[Darth_Kitten]

2. Edith Piaf was Edith Piaf and Billie Holliday was Billie Holliday.

n/t

[mondo joe]

3. I think Piaf was considered a national treasure in a way Holliday should have been.

[Fran Kubelik]

4. one quick correction

Billie Holiday was beautiful.

[Lindsey]

5. After I saw the movie, I was so blown away that I started listening to both

of them and I'd agree. They both had that incredibly real soul. I'm starting to feel that Amy Winehouse has it. Her CD Back to Black is unreal.

[mitchum]

6. I don't knowif Winehouse really has "it", but that is certainly the angle that she...

and the multinational corporation behind her, are working.
It is a tried and true schtick.