If there is a disc whose release was essential during this reconfinement, it is this “Days of Glory”, on sale from this Friday.
Rarely has an artistic project been so topical.
This album to the glory of the Republic, education and women's rights, resonates strongly after the last terrorist attacks, in particular that of the history professor Samuel Paty.
Nineteen major artists, from Reda Kateb to Sabrina Ouazani, Michel Bouquet to Matthieu and Louis Chedid, from Sophie Marceau to Jane Birkin, read founding and emblematic texts of the Republic, including Jean's “Letter to teachers”. Jaurès to music by Sébastien Boudria.
It is this 36-year-old music teacher, teacher at the conservatories of Clichy-la-Garenne and Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine), who is at the origin of this project as ambitious as it is atypical.
Pianist passionate about history, father of two children to whom he dedicates his project, he has done everything from A to Z, even convincing a record company, Pias, to promote and distribute it.
Sébastien Boudria imagined this record during a musical on Gainsbourg in 2014. “While we were performing his Marseillaise, a thrill ran through the room,” he says.
And I said to myself that we could find this emotion with other great texts of the Republic.
The 2015 attacks only reinforced my conviction.
"
"I paid attention to the diversity of the texts"
He read three hundred texts and retained twenty-three, on the right to work, Social Security, the abolition of slavery, "The declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen", "Woman, wake up -toi ”by Olympe de Gouges,“ Le droit du peuple ”by George Sand…“ I paid attention to the diversity of texts, styles and eras, from 1789 to the present day, ”the teacher specifies.
I wanted these combat texts to have an echo with the news, but positive.
And then the little teacher from a small conservatory that I am took his pilgrim's staff to find popular and committed performers, who are the face of France.
It took me six years.
"
Sébastien Boudria wanted to explain his project to the artists himself.
“I didn't have an address book, so I waited in the queues of theaters where some were playing, like Michel Bouquet, who was recorded first in February 2015, Michel Aumont
(Editor's note: since disappeared)
, Camélia Jordana… And I looked for the numbers of the artists or their managers, I called Grand Corps Malade and Muriel Robin, who brought François Berléand on the project.
Abd Al Malik, I ran into him and ran into the metro ”.
“It is inhabited, this teacher, cowardly impressed Oxmo Puccino.
There is nothing commercial in his initiative, it is an act of citizenship.
That's why we all followed him ”.
The rapper recorded in November 2018 “The letter to teachers” by Jean Jaurès, which has since become the symbol of the nation's homage to Samuel Paty.
“I have always thought that teachers and teachers were heroes,” Oxmo Puccino told us a month ago.
What this letter says is timely.
A teacher changes everything.
Nothing will save us more than taking care of our children.
"
Four videos on the Lumni educational platform
Sabrina Ouazani was one of the first to respond to Samuel Boudria's call.
"When I made her listen to La Marseillaise the first time, she cried", testifies the latter.
The actress chose François Hollande's speech after the Charlie Hebdo attack.
“I wanted to defend life and light against obscurantism,” she says.
Liberty, equality, fraternity.
It is important to bring to light the values of the Republic in these difficult times, to restore hope.
I am fond of history - I did a bachelor's degree - and my parents who came from Algeria have always praised me for this country which welcomed them.
This project is essential.
I am very proud to be of it.
"
“It feels so good that we are talking about this country and for good,” adds Louis Chedid.
He was the last to arrive on the project, with his son Matthew.
He says “Liberty, cherished liberty”, a text written for him by Sébastien Boudria and sung with the latter's daughter, Chloé, 10 years old.
“This country is not loved enough by its inhabitants, believes Louis Chedid.
This country welcomed me, I was born in Egypt of Lebanese origin.
It is not nationalism to love France and the Republic.
When we travel, we realize that it is a land of plenty.
"
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This album, whose release had been decided a long time ago, today takes on an even stronger educational dimension.
Four videos are online on the Lumni educational platform, including “the letter to teachers” from Oxmo Puccino.
“In the past week, the video has been viewed over 100,000 times and has been used a lot in class,” says Sébastien Boudria.
I say to my colleagues, get hold of
Days of Glory
.
It is a project of the people for the people.
"
EDITOR'S RATING: 4/5
"Days of glory"
, Pias, CD, 14.99 euros, the book-disk, 21.99 euros.
