“To be sensitive is to be alive.”
Zaho de Sagazan is a sensitive young girl.
At 24, she initially seemed lost, in tears, as she came to collect her first trophy of the evening.
Then she puts words to her emotion, her sensitivity therefore, which allowed her to make music.
Hers, devoted four times during these 39th Victories: stage revelation, female revelation, album and song of the year for “La Symphonie des éclairs.
» Four in a row.
Only M had done the same in 2005. The coronation of an artist still unknown a year ago and on her way to glory.
A breath of fresh air and fresh air for this ceremony which starts outside.
Should we sing there?
We dance there first.
The event begins with a waltz.
Cyril Féraud and Léa Salamé, the two masters of ceremonies, all in elegance on the square of the Seine Musicale before the camera rushes into the room in the middle of a deluge of percussion reminiscent of Zazie's “Je suis un homme” .
Also read Victoires de la musique: the complete list
Zazie is not far away.
And for good reason.
Twenty-four hours before returning to her red chair as coach of “The Voice” on the front page, here she is honorary president on the second of a ceremony that she launches with her hit “Rue de la Paix”, salutary in these times of war.
“If you want to know a people, you have to listen to their music,” she first asserts, echoing Plato’s words to celebrate all music, “of all colors.”
The evening promises to be indeed mixed looking at the list of nominees who move between song, pop, electro, hip-hop.
“Come on, are you ready?
», asks Léa Salamé to her evening accomplice.
“I’m super ready,” replied Cyril Féraud.
Sober, friendly, impeccable tandem.
Shy applause for Rachida Dati
And it starts strong with Vianney with “Now”.
The bandana attached to his microphone reminds us that he first recorded the song as a duet with Renaud.
The wild chetron is not there.
But the teenagers from the Maîtrise de Radio France replace him for a great moment of emotion.
A few minutes later Louane does the same and offers an impressive performance alone, on the piano first on the sensitive chord, then surrounded by keyboard and drum machines for an explosive conclusion.
Ovation provided for the young lady.
Shy applause, however, to greet the presence of Rachida Dati, brand new Minister of Culture.
But standing ovation, obviously, to pay tribute to Bernard Lavilliers crowned with a Victory of Honor presented by one of his fans, Sandrine Bonnaire.
He wipes away his tears when he sees young and old singing it: Jeanne Cherhal, Olivia Ruiz, his compatriots from Saint-Etienne from Terrenoire.
But also Catherine Ringer that Lavilliers joins during the time of the stripping “Idées noirs” and Faada Freddy for a collective finale on “Noir et Blanc” and its famous refrain: “from any country, of any color, music is a cry that comes from within.
Gazo and Vianney both won Male Artist of the Year.
LP/Frédéric Dugit
Almost a declaration of intent before awarding the first big victory of the evening: that of male artist of the year.
Four nominees and only one winner?
No, two: Vianney and Gazo, the most popular singer of the moment on one side, the new French rap star on the other.
A perfect equality which seems improbable in such a ceremony.
And yet.
The final vote for the Victories is done within a college of 32 professionals (journalists, programmers, representatives of streaming platforms and major cultural brands).
Sixteen therefore voted for Vianney, 16 for Gazo.
A result illustrating what French music is today, from pop to hip-hop or r'n'b saluted through the Victory of Aya Nakamura, singer of the year and absent from the evening.
And this French production shines brightly during this Victory evening: a rainbow party for the euphoric Julien Granel who ends up in the audience, stroboscopic class at Étienne Daho, Raphael's elegant tribute to the deceased Jean-Louis Murat, demonstration of force with flame throwers by Gazo, breathtaking melting pot rap, jazz song by Yamé, crowned male revelation of the year.
A way to combine music in all time.
Past present Future.