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 1-25 of 44 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-14560 10-in. 3/10/1914 Love's melody Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor C-14958 12-in. 6/15/1914 Sur la Rivièra Conrad's Society Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-31914 10-in. 2/5/1925 Titina International Novelty Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-32294 10-in. 4/3/1925 Titina Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-32490 10-in. 4/30/1925 Titina Eugenio Cibelli Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-32647 10-in. 5/20/1925 Titina Tetos Demetriades (Τετος Δημητριαδης) Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-32699 10-in. 6/11/1925 Tytina Władysław Ochrymowicz Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-34262 10-in. 1/7/1926 Titina José Moriche Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-35349 10-in. 4/27/1926 Titina Green Brothers Marimba Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BA-705 10-in. 11/12/1925 Titina Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet composer  
Columbia 140339 10-in. 2/11/1925 Titina Franklyn Baur ; Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 36950 12-in. 5/13/1914 Love's melody Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 140842 10-in. 8/12/1925 Titina Billy Jones ; The Promenaders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 44765 10-in. approximately November 1916 Berceuse tendre Juliette Dika Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 51072 12-in. approximately 1914 Sur la Riviera Prince's Orkestern Orchestra composer  
Columbia 87414 10-in. approximately May 1921 Sur la Riviera Pierre A. Asselin ; Blanche Gonthier Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra composer  
Columbia 87739 10-in. approximately September 1921 Le carillonneur Torcom Bézazian Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-73241 10-in. 3/16/1925 Titina Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 14850-14851 10-in. 2/7/1925 Titina Carl Fenton’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 15669-15671 10-in. 4/28/1925 Titina Benny Krueger Saxophone solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick E15927-E15928 10-in. 6/1/1925 Titina Fredric Fradkin Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 356W-359W 10-in. 2/13/1925 Titina Ben Bernie Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 3356 10-in. Oct. 1914 Love's melody Emory B. Randolph ; Elizabeth Spencer Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra composer  
Edison 3380 10-in. between 10/20/1914 and 10/29/1914 Love's melody waltz Jaudas' Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 10248 10-in. 3/9/1925 Titina Greenwich Village Inn Orchestra ; Billy Wynne Jazz/dance band composer  
(Results 1-25 of 44 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Daniderff, Léo," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101377.

Daniderff, Léo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101377.

"Daniderff, Léo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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