Léo Daniderff

Léo Daniderff (Gaston-Ferdinand Niquet; 16 February 1878 in Angers, France – 24 October 1943 in Rosny-sous-Bois, France) was a French composer of the pre-World War II era.

His 1917 comical song, a foxtrot-shimmy named "Je cherche après Titine" (lyrics by Louis Mauban and Marcel Bertal), became world-famous due to Charlie Chaplin's singing it in gibberish in Modern Times (1936), especially because it was the first time his character ever spoke in the movies and Chaplin did not want The Tramp to use any particular language. The title means "I am looking for Titine", and Titine is the diminutive of some feminine first names such as Martine and Clémentine.

In the United States this song appeared in 1925 in the Broadway musical Puzzles of 1925, and was recorded by tenor Billy Jones.

In Poland, the song was initially sung as a cabaret number by Eugeniusz Bodo with original lyrics by Andrzej Włast (signing as "Willy" on the music sheet), to a major success. A few years later, in 1939, the song was adapted again, into the "Wąsik, ach ten wąsik" ("Oh, what a moustache!") number and performed by Ludwik Sempoliński. This time the lyrics tried to "decide" who was funnier and who brought more to the world, Chaplin or Hitler. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the Gestapo tried to locate both Sempoliński and the lyricist, who was either Julian Tuwim or Marian Hemar, but failed to find either.

Around 1964, Jacques Brel also wrote a song named Titine, incorporating fragments of the melody and referencing both Daniderff's song and Chaplin.

Other singers were Georgette Plana and Yves Montand.

The song's copyright belongs or belonged to Editions Léon Agel and Les Nouvelles Editions Méridian.

Daniderff's other hit song, "Sur la Riviera", was used as the theme for Jean Renoir's film Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932).

The song was parodied by Gary Muller in 1982 as "My Name Is Not Merv Griffin".

Birth and Death Data: Born February 15, 1878 (Angers), Died October 24, 1943 (Rosny-sous-Bois)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1914 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-44 of 44 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison 10280 10-in. 3/26/1925 Titina Billy Jones Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone BTR3341 10-in. 11/7/1927 Le carillonneur Jules Wolff Male vocal solo composer  
Victor (Canada) [ViC cat 263558-B] 10-in. before 11/14/1928 Berceuse tendre (Il fait al bon près de toi) Georges Beauchemin Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2107 10-in. 3/10/1930 Le patois de chez nous Armand Bernard ; Louis Lynel Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2188 10-in. 4/12/1930 Celosa Pierre Chagnon ; Malloire Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2517 10-in. 10/23/1930 L'obsédé Fréhel ; Albert Valsien Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2518 10-in. 10/23/1930 Sous la blafarde Fréhel ; Albert Valsien Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2657 10-in. 12/11/1930 Le grand frisé Pierre Chagnon ; Damia Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2798 10-in. 2/19/1931 Berceuse tendre Pierre Chagnon ; Damia Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2875 10-in. 3/10/1931 Pour lui Maurice Alexander ; Maurice Alexander ; Line Marlys ; Orchestre Alexander Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2940 10-in. 3/26/1931 Donne-moi des baisers! Pierre Chagnon ; Malloire Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL2964 10-in. 4/9/1931 Les gosses a personne Pierre Chagnon ; Nitta-Jo Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL3147 10-in. 6/3/1931 La chanson du vieux marin Pierre Chagnon ; Fréhel Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL3150 10-in. 6/3/1931 À la dérive Pierre Chagnon ; Fréhel Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL3584 10-in. between February 7 and April 6 1932 En quatre-vingt treize Eugène Bigot ; Pierre Deldi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL3697 10-in. 5/4/1932 Sur la riviera Pierre Chagnon ; Priolet Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CL5416 10-in. 6/11/1935 La chaine Pierre Chagnon ; Damia Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CL5500 10-in. 11/26/1935 Là où y'a des frites Alexander et son Orchestre ; Adrien Lamy Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CL7501 10-in. 10/10/1941 Berceuse tendre Marcel Carivan ; André Claveau Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
(Results 26-44 of 44 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Daniderff, Léo," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101377.

Daniderff, Léo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101377.

"Daniderff, Léo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101377

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