We had not known this thrill for fifteen interminable months.
A standing concert, arms which rise, bodies which leap and dance… This Saturday, 6.30 pm, an immense clamor rises from the pit of the AccorHotels Arena.
Some 5,000 masked fans scream like 20,000 when they arrive on stage from Indochina.
Their idols may be their saviors.
It is the concert of hope.
If this clinical experience is conclusive, it will allow the implementation of health protocols to resume standing concerts this summer.
Curfew requires, the reunion takes place at an unusual time.
When the group enters on a techno version of "3rd sex", the boxes are filled with journalists, professional observers and guests, the floor is full and boiling.
The star of electronics Étienne de Crécy has already "cleaned up" the spectators for three quarters of an hour.
Passing by the foot of the stage, to take their pulse, the Minister of Culture did not expect to be greeted by "we love you, Roselyne".
"It's very moving," says Roselyne Bachelot.
There is like a joy, a deliverance.
"
"I just came back from being there"
“I'm so impatient, I just came back from being there,” admits Jean-Baptiste, 28, who came with Élise, a friend. I, who am a fan of concerts, have not seen one since February 2020! If we can get the culture going again, that's great. "" We miss the life before, agrees Amélie, 25, resident in intensive care. I know what the Covid is doing, I've seen people die for a year, and not just old people. It's good to participate in this scientific protocol. It is very well conducted. "
A big fan of Indochina, Amélie also feels "privileged" to have been drawn from among the volunteers to attend the show.
And we imagine him extremely moved when Nicola Sirkis, the leader of Indochina, speaks.
“Well done to you for being volunteers,” he said.
And thank you to those who are at home too.
Together, tonight, we might change the world.
»The musician then proposes a« minute of noise ».
“We are not going to make a minute of silence but a minute of noise for all the caregivers and researchers, one minute for all the missing.
"
"Life is beautiful", "I asked the moon" ...
Nicola Sirkis then performs "La vie est belle" and "I asked the moon" to the audience.
“I know it's going to be difficult with the masks, but give it a try!
The result is strong, we feel moved.
“Today, we should have played at the Bordeaux stadium, he slips, referring to their stadium tour postponed by a year.
But that's okay, 2022 will be much better ”.
In the pit, Indochina fans are "privileged" to have been drawn by lot from among the volunteers to attend the show.
Arnaud Journois
After an intense and warm hour and forty and a euphoric version of “The Adventurer”, Nicola Sirkis thanks the audience one last time. “Damn, what an obstacle course. We all hope that concerts can start again everywhere, thanks to you. Be proud of yourself! "" I no longer have a voice, smiles Romain, 26, an engineer in Paris. It was incredible happiness. I danced, sang, we all kept our masks on, I wasn't expecting it. The organization was perfect. "
"This is a major step for a consensus to be found for a recovery," said Marie Sabot, concert organizer within Prodiss, a performing arts union. There are a lot of politicians and professions here, they attend and talk to each other. With England, Spain and the Netherlands, we are in the process of creating a simple and reassuring European model. "" I am optimistic about the results, admits Roselyne Bachelot. With the lessons learned from this test concert, we will be able to set up together a protocol for resuming standing concerts this summer. "
