La Vie Bohème

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Bohemianism originated in 19th-century France and was inspired by the nomadic lives of the Roma, commonly but more disparagingly known as Gypsies, or bohèmes in French.

Bohemians were much like starving artists and thinkers, leading free, unconventional lives, often wandering from place to place. They were profiled in French author Henri Murger’s 1851 novel, Scènes de la Vie de Bohème (Scenes of the Bohemian Life), which became the basis for Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s 1896 opera, La Bohème.

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Nearly one hundred years later, a little known composer named Jonathan Larson was captivated by that opera. He wrote Rent, which debuted in 1994, as a modern retelling of Puccini’s opera. Inspired by Larson’s experiences in New York City, Rent is the story of a group of bohemian artists living in the East Village as they face hardships of the 1980–90s, such as poverty, drug addiction, and the AIDS crisis.

One of the best-known songs in Rent is a two-parter titled “La Vie Bohème” (by Anthony Rapp), French for “The Bohemian Life.” The song—and the entire musical, really—celebrates modern bohemianism, which champions creativity and individual freedom over a mainstream lifestyle, even if that means not knowing when your next meal will be or where you will next sleep.