A new health crisis, 22nd edition of the NRJ Music Awards (NMA) unprecedented.
The ceremony organized by NRJ and TF1 to reward the artists and songs of the year, takes place exceptionally in Paris and not in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).
This Saturday, the show which will begin at 9:05 pm in both media, will not exceptionally be live.
It is recorded without an audience and over four days at the Seine Musicale, a large performance hall in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine) in which TF1 is a shareholder.
Backstage report.
Usually behind the scenes of NMAs, it's crowds, noise and excitement.
Thursday, December 3, the Seine Musicale is on the contrary incredibly calm and empty.
After two sworn statements, a temperature measurement and freezing at the entrance, we arrive masked while recording Amir's performance… without an audience.
The only spectators applaud from home and appear on giant screens that the artists see.
28 performances recorded in 3 days
"We hoped until the end to have 1000 people distanced and masked, but it is still prohibited," says Jacques Grimal the coordinator of the NMA.
There are holes in the decor to accommodate them.
To respect the daily quotas, the numbers are reduced, the artists have a limited time slot on stage and in their boxes.
That's why we need three days for the rehearsals and the recording of the twenty-eight performances.
"Because this year, they are all" ampexed ", or recorded in televisual jargon.
And the awards ceremony, which are also taking place this Saturday afternoon under live conditions with Nikos Aliagas as master of ceremonies.
VIDEO. NRJ Music Awards 2020: The official list of nominees
“I'm more zen than usual,” smiles Jacques Grimal, who has coordinated the event since its inception.
I have thirty-five pages of sanitary protocol to follow, but I don't have to deal with all of them, the 2000 spectators in the room, the hundreds of guests backstage, the hotel rooms, the valets… This year, there was a fierce desire to keep the event going, to support the music industry, but economically and healthily, it was Paris or nothing.
Here, artists and technicians sleep at home.
And because of the curfew, the live was not possible.
Except for the price of the French-speaking performance of the evening, which is awarded by the public during the show, and which will be revealed at the end by Nikos, with the winner.
"
All the French are there… except Aya Nakamura
What also surprises, and pleasantly, are the decorations.
The Seine Musicale, which also hosts the Victoires de la Musique, is larger than the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, which allows for a larger and higher stage.
Here, it is circular and surrounded by 500 square meters of giant screens, which rise to almost 10 meters and give a lot of depth to the images.
“It's probably the most expensive set we've ever had,” comments the coordinator.
It's really not a degraded show.
Foreign ceremonies have opted for clip-on services, without unity of place.
We prefer reality to augmented reality.
We will have fifty-six artists including those who present the prizes.
All the French named played the game, except Aya Nakamura.
The performance of Gims, which will open the evening on the terrace of the Seine Musicale, is bluffing!
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Remote Sia, Angèle, Elton John, Mariah Carey
The DNA of the NRJ Music Awards is three quarters of French artists, a quarter of foreigners.
“These latter not traveling, we asked them to record their services,” explains Jacques Grimal.
But they are very expensive - up to 90,000 euros - and the record companies, which finance them, are also suffering a lot this year.
Especially since some albums are postponed, like that of Sting, which we should have welcomed.
"
Singer Elton John will receive an honorary award this Saturday night at the NRJ Music Awards.
LP / Fred Dugit
But at the international level, there are "very good people," continues the coordinator.
Sia, the Black Eyed Peas, two sequences with Dua Lipa, including his duet with Angèle recorded on Saturday December 28 in London, David Guetta, DJ Snake, who will award a prize… And two surprise guests.
Mariah Carey and Elton John will receive honorary awards.
The first will be in duplex with Nikos, the second will send us a message.
Rather chic, no?