Many singers bring to mind the pathos of times past or a period of turbulence. Gracie Fields symbolised the austere but homeliness of a pre-war Britain far removed from what it has since become. Gracie lost her citizenship when, during the war in which Italy was at war with England, the Lancashire nightingale married an Italian (the enemy) and departed for America. 

Would Vera Lynn have won the nation’s hearts had her career not coincided with World War Two?  Vera’s White Cliffs of Dover and We’ll Meet Again evoke the sadness of war rather than they do the singer. Lynn’s German counterpart was chanson singer Lale Anderson.  The Doris Day look-alike made famous her wartime ballad Lili Marlene.  Her ballad stole hearts wildly beating beneath over fifty different types of military uniforms.

Anna German is surely the world’s most beautiful ordinary woman.  However, I am not convinced that the Russian claim on this soulful balladeer is justified. Anna was of Soviet persecuted Polish-German descent. 

Who qualifies for the Edith Piaf of Russia?  I asked the question of a Russian musicologist.  She reeled off several names of singers whom she claims rival the great crooners of other nations.  We opted for Lyudmila Zykina.  However, Russian soul singers must include Klaudia Shulzhenko and Isabella Yurileva.

Edith Piaf is characteristically French. The Little Sparrow’s Non-je ne regret rien remains unrivalled as a soulful ballad extraordinary.  Her haunting melodies bring to mind Parisian nightlife during the 1940s and 1950s.  The first chords of her chansons evoke romantic bars and wet cobbled streets weaving through the Left Bank of Paris. 

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Portugal and Latin America fell at the feet of Amelia Rodriguez.  The Spanish took this greatest of all Portuguese fado (destiny) singers straight to their throbbing hearts.  When yet another movie was made of Amelia’s life Spaniards queued for hours to make sure of their seats.

Nana Mouskouri is a Greek legend. As soon as one hears her voice a thousand Greek islands with necklaces of whitewashed cottages spring to mind. 

The Athens-born singer’s voice conjures up images of basking fishing craft, beautiful bays and carefree café society.  Listening to Nana one breathes the fragrances of mimosa blossom and bougainvillea. Many of these sadly departed nightingales now warble to Elysium lyres. 

Does Spain have a rival to match the women whose music lives on in our hearts?  I posed my question to someone who, had she sung as well as she danced would have undoubtedly made the grade.  Raquel Peña is arguably Spain’s most enduring flamenco artiste.  “Raquel,” I asked. “Does Spain have an Edith Piaf or Amelia Rodriguez?”

To my mind, Spain does of course have a rival to any of these fabulous artistes.  In fact, I stick my neck out and say that Spain’s Maria Dolores Pradera is the only singer to match Edith Piaf. THOSE WHO CARE SHARE