Julien Clerc, who participated in the creation of Emilie Jolie, was one of the first artists to react on social networks to the disappearance of Philippe Chatel: “My dear Philippe, you've gone to the end of the sky, on the wings of big bird ”he writes, taking up the lyrics of the song“ Emilie et le grand oiseaux ”which he sang in the musical and still sings.
The inventor of Emilie Jolie has passed away ... since the release of this album, I sing his words and his music with the greatest joy.
My dear Philippe, here you are at the end of the sky, on the wings of the great bird.
Eternal thoughts.
Julian
- Julien Clerc (@JulienClerc_Off) February 19, 2021
During the tour of his 50 years of career, Julien Clerc sang it every evening with a little Emilie cast in each region.
“It's an important song in my life and this musical was a great adventure, in the studio but especially for me during its televised recording by Jean-Christophe Averty.
There was an incredible cast, Georges Brassens, Françoise Hardy, Henri Salvador… ”, he insists.
“Philippe Chatel will remain as one of the pioneers of the musical.
Emilie Jolie is the work of her life, but I also really like her song “J't'aime bien Lili” and the album from which it was taken
(Editor's note: her first, “Analysis”, in 1976)
.
"
Jean-Marc Ghanassia was the producer of "Emilie Jolie" in two different versions (2002 and 2017).
He met Philippe Chatel at the Parisian private high school Fides, in his final year.
“We were very close at the time, we went on vacation together in the mountains.
He seduced girls by playing the guitar.
He was not very talkative, he liked walking and poetry ”.
"He wanted to awaken the child who is in us"
The two friends lose sight of each other for a while, until the producer wants to bring “Emilie Jolie” back to life on stage.
“He was a very great musician.
He was the forerunner of multi-artist albums by bringing together big names in French song in two different versions.
L'Oiseau
was sung by Julien Clerc, then by Johnny.
In
Emilie Jolie,
Philippe Chatel wanted to awaken the child who is in us.
This musical tale is very touching with its symbolism of death.
Emilie wants to go with the bird to paradise.
It is a moving work about the night, the loneliness.
"