Mind: Retro-ism
“C’est si bon” is a popular song, sometimes also referred to by the English translation of the title, “It’s So Good”. The music was written by Henri Betti, the French lyrics by André Hornez, and the English lyrics by Jerry Seelen.
The song was popularized by Eartha Kitt in the 1954 film version of New Faces of 1952, and by Johnny Desmond. The Desmond recording was made on May 11, 1949, released by MGM (catalog number 10613), and reached #25 on the Billboard chart. Kitt’s recording was made in 1953, released by RCA Victor (catalog number 20-5358, 78rpm and 47-5358, 45rpm), and reached #11 on the Cash Box chart of best-selling records. Louis Armstrong and Yves Montand have performed the song in English and French respectively.
Kitt was born Eartha Mae Keith on a cotton plantation in the town of North, South Carolina, a small town in Orangeburg County near Columbia, South Carolina. Her mother was of Cherokee and African-American descent and her father of German or Dutch descent.
Kitt began her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut with them in Casbah (1948). A talented singer with a distinctive voice, her hits include “Let’s Do It“, “Champagne Taste”, “C’est si bon“, “Just an Old Fashioned Girl”, “Monotonous”, “Je cherche un homme”, “Love for Sale“, “I’d Rather Be Burned as a Witch”, “Uska Dara“, “Mink, Schmink”, “Under the Bridges of Paris“, and her most recognizable hit, “Santa Baby“, which was released in 1953. Kitt’s unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in the French language during her years performing in Europe. She had some skill in other languages too, which she demonstrates with finesse in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances.
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