"Don't forget the words": coach, revisions ... the secrets of champions

1400. This is the number of songs that Alessandra knows.

Last week, this Belgian student became the tenth greatest maestro of “Don't forget the lyrics”, the musical game of France 2 broadcast every day from Monday to Saturday at 6:35 pm.

The young woman pocketed 220,000 euros in just 16 participations.

A course both fast and impressive but which actually started in April 2020. "I started to revise when I learned that I was selected", explains the young woman of 21 years.

For nine months, she had to combine lessons and words.

“I learned 500 songs intensively, in addition to my personal culture,” she reveals.

A training that more and more maestros of the Nagui game are implementing.

"We can even say that they are gifted candidates, endowed with exceptional resistance to stress," notes Leslie Blumberg, artistic producer of the show.

Cramming and statistics

One of the first to have crammed hundreds of songs, it is Margaux, the greatest champion of the program.

After an unsuccessful first stint, the young woman tried her luck again in 2019. "I had just finished a CDD so I had time to work on the show", tells us the one who won 530,000 euros.

During four months, helmet screwed on the ears, Margaux revised no less than 750 titles, of which she noted each word as and when, taking care to guard against each trap.

“There are some artists who don't articulate too much so I had to check with live ones,” she laughs.

A daily and intensive exercise easy to organize in some cases, less in others.

VIDEO.

Margaux, record holder of "Don't forget the lyrics"

Thus, Mickaël, 177,000 euros on the meter, had to optimize his revisions despite his very time-consuming job as a farmer.

And focus on a narrow selection.

"I had made statistics in order to know the most recurring songs", he admits.

400 titles thus emerged from his small study.

A technique that has its limits, faced with the 3000 to 4000 references in the show's catalog.

"And there is an important factor of luck", recognizes the Grenoblois.

For the masters, who see the great champions opposed, the cultivator has revised his copy to correct its shortcomings.

“I created playlists that I listened to repeatedly while working,” he explains to us.

A strategy that led him to the final.

A former champion turned coach

He was also able to count on the archives of Toni, victorious in 2017 and became a volunteer coach for new candidates.

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“It all started when my wife ran into Coralie, a candidate in 2019, remembers the person concerned.

For a month I made her learn the songs and put her in the conditions of the show.

“Mission successful since the young woman pocketed 227,000 euros, thus largely beating her trainer!

Since then, the former soldier has received many requests and only accepts a few.

“No more than three at the same time,” he warns.

Because Toni also needs to train and update for maestro fights every year.

Three years after his participation, he continues to watch every show and learn all the new songs.

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And like fans of "Questions for a champion", communities of aspiring candidates have been created, aided by the growth of social networks.

There are several groups bringing together thousands of fans on Facebook.

Not to mention a few dedicated sites, listing all the titles but also the difficulties of each.

"We all help each other, by updating the database, by spotting the pitfalls… It helps us prepare for the casting," says Amélie, 28, who has tried her luck three times.

Aid which Toni did not benefit from in 2017. “But these groups are relatively recent, they do not have my archives,” laughs the 21st greatest maestro of the game.

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By dint of having ever more prepared candidates, “Don't forget the lyrics” might he not tire the public?

" No.

We continue to have people who come without reviewing the casting.

And the most prepared can always come across others who have worked even harder, ”sweeps away Gaëlle Leroy, co-producer.

In addition, the great maestros always allow audiences to fly away.

Still, the phenomenon is accelerating, with an increasingly important renewal of the greatest champions.

In 2020, seven new candidates joined the top 30 such as Margaux and Mickaël but also Arsène, Maureen and Jérémy.

All well prepared.

What to give some fears to the old ones.

"I'll be sad the day I am no longer in the masters, but that's the game ...", admits Toni.

To compensate, revisions are therefore the only solution.

"It must remain a pleasure", concedes Margaux who, since her participation a year ago, has all the same worked 300 new songs.