"Nobody wanted to listen / The screams, the blows, a devastated life / That it's hard to love until you die".
For his first steps as a singer, Gérard Lanvin chose neither ease nor lightness.
On the occasion of International Women's Rights Day, he launches this Monday a vibrant “Call for help”, a country-rock song with mariachi violins and trumpets, composed by Manu Lanvin, his 47-year-old guitarist son, whose profits they will donate to the National Union of Feminicide Families (UNFF).
"Call for help" Gérard LANVIN from Camembert Production on Vimeo.
"Appel à aide" is the first single from "Ici Bas", a first album of "rock songs" written and sung by the father, composed and produced by the son, which will be released on May 21 on his label, Gel Production.
It is also the first title written by Gérard Lanvin, during the first confinement.
“This album is a social finding, we could have been called the
Year 20
,” explains Gérard.
When Manu told me
I composed ten songs, take out your notebooks and do songs together
, I wrote ten texts on today's social situation.
And violence against women is unfortunately part of it.
"
"In recent years, there have been a lot of women beaten and killed, and the confinements have only accentuated this scourge," continues the 70-year-old actor.
I was struck by these cases, but also by the speeches of Muriel Robin, Florence Foresti ... I have always been aware of this subject, because I was raised by women, two sisters and a mother, my father being went to a sanatorium
(Editor's note: he suffered from tuberculosis)
.
I was the youngest and they were very protective.
I also owe a lot to my wife, who is very strong and who gave me confidence and helped me in my journey.
We have to protect them as much as they protect us.
"
"If music can lend a hand"
Does he know any victims of violence?
“My sister lives in the country,” he replies.
And when she heard the
cry for help
, she told me that her neighbor, who apparently had no problems, came knocking on her door one day in tears and panic.
Her husband had derailed and hit her.
They called the police, he was arrested and he is in the closet.
Here it is, it exists everywhere, including in apparently uneventful couples.
"
Gérard and Manu Lanvin have chosen to join forces with the National Union of Feminicide Families, whose president and vice-president lost their sister killed by their husband.
This association works on the prevention of feminicides but also the protection and assistance to bereaved families.
"When you have a mother who disappears, what do we do for the children, who provide their psychological support?
asks Manu Lanvin.
If music can lend a hand to take action, change mentalities… It starts with education, in the schoolyard.
And it's important that men get involved.
"
