"Pay homage to the music of our country",
indicates Élisabeth Barriol, the musical programmer.
This is the editorial lineage of “La fête de la chanson française” broadcast this Tuesday, November 29 at 9 p.m. on France 2. Orchestrated by Laury Thilleman and André Manoukian, this celebration brings together 23 artists.
A great well-established musical meeting since this is the 17th edition organized by the public service channel.
A program that required no less than two days of rehearsals and filming, on November 6 and 7, at the Palais des Arts et des Congrès in Issy-les-Moulineaux in the 92.
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H-6 before the performance hall, named after Charles Aznavour, was filled with 3,000 spectators.
The rehearsal schedule varies according to the arrival of the artists... And not everything always goes as planned.
Scheduled at 3:00 p.m., Christophe Willem only takes the microphone half an hour later.
The singer performs his title PS
twice : I love you
and allows the teams to catch up with previous passages.
We find him in boxes off-stage, accessible via a secret corridor.
The experienced artist is delighted to participate in the program and salutes the professionalism of the teams.
“It's a pleasure to perform live with a nice sound, almost like a festival.
We go beyond the framework of a television program”,
“Hyper flattered”
to be a regular on the sets, Christophe Willem laughs and understands that he has been in music
“for a while”
.
What he appreciates in this program is
“the eclecticism of French-speaking music”
.
If "The French Song Festival" defends an intergenerational character, Christophe Willem salutes
"this new generation whose impulse is stimulating".
Kad Merad among the singers
Words that echo the artist who relays it on stage, Adé.
The former singer of the hit band "Therapie Taxi" has embarked on a solo career.
She comes to interpret
Tout savoir
.
Surrounded by her musicians, the fluidity and professionalism of the young artist are reminiscent of her predecessor.
After her, pass Soprano, Amel Bent, Emma Peters, Patrick Bruel, Michel Polnareff…
“Our programming must be reassuring and ambitious”
, deciphers Élisabeth Barriol.
After a career in a record company, the casting manager wants the viewer to
"find well-known singers with long careers"
but also
"discover new nuggets in development"
.
Emerging artists whom she calls
“the future Zazie and Kendji Girac”
.
While some artists' presences are negotiated for nearly 20 hours of conversations, the approach of the music programmer does not stop there.
“Sometimes I negotiate for almost 20 hours the presence of an artist”
Elizabeth Barriol
"After the validation of their participation, we have to talk about content"
, she says because "The French song festival" is not only promotion but
"a tribute to music"
.
In addition to personal titles, some duets, trios are formed among the artists to sing
"heritage titles"
.
On stage, Amel Bent and Soprano pay tribute to Charles Aznavour.
Patrick Bruel is alongside Emma Peters to sing
Déjeuner en paix
by Stephan Eicher.
If the young woman confides
"to be honored to be invited and to sing in duet with Patrick Bruel"
, she adds laughingly that this title
"was not quite part of her repertoire"
.
Freshly landed in the landscape of French song, the artist who will also sing his title
Time passes
in guitar / voice, understands why the melody of Stephan Eicher dating from 1991 is
"listened to and loved so much for years"
.
"Music binds generations, maybe tonight some people won't know me but I'm here to proclaim that music is universal"
.
While waiting for the arrival of Patrick Bruel, the singer revises her text and attends rehearsals.
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A spectator like no other
Two rows away, a seat is occupied by a member who does not appear to be part of the team.
This is Jean-Marc.
Discreet, he gets up from time to time to applaud the artists.
This octogenarian is the guest of producer Daniela Lumbroso.
Fond of the programs produced by his host, he tells us that he attended the very first "fête de la chanson", at the time at the Zénith de la Villette.
“I have always followed Daniela's shows.
With a couple of friends and my wife, we were able to forge ties with her”
, he tells us proudly.
Present since the day before, Jean-Marc came especially from Angers.
He attends both rehearsals and filming in the evening.
Invited each time, this viewer like no other tells us that living these experiences
"sufficient for his happiness"
.
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In the front row, we see him applaud and dance on a few passages, especially on that of Matt Pokora and Jenifer.
The duo shares the stage on a title of the Telephone group.
After a first visit, they are encouraged to
“go and find the public”
.
At first studious, the artists want to make sure that everything is perfect vocally.
After a third rehearsal, they begin to sing in live conditions, jump, dance, play with the show's orchestra.
A complicity with the seven musicians that seems innate.
“It's special, but we seek to have a form of link with the artists.
In fact, we sometimes meet them a minute before rehearsals”
, says Hervé Rakotofiringa, pianist and musical director of the program.
“For more than a month and a half, we have been working to make everything fast, fluid and comfortable with the artists,”
he summarizes.
The latter is in charge of an orchestra composed of bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, piano and completed by two singers.
It happens that certain artists come with their own musicians, like Michel Jonasz, accompanied by his friend the pianist Jean-Yves d'Angelo.
To sublimate the passage of the artist, the musical director proposed the special addition of three brass including a saxophone, a trombone and a trumpet.
More surprisingly, to share the stage with the artist and the orchestra, Kad Merad is announced in the casting
.
“We always choose a guest who is a step aside
,” explains the music programmer.
After Elsa Zylberstein or Sandrine Kiberlain, the UFO of this edition is the actor.
"He brings something flamboyant"
, welcomes Élisabeth Barriol.
After the evening, the atmosphere among the artists and the
“over-motivated”
public is compared to
“a housewarming party”
by host Laury Thilleman.
The song has the meaning of celebration.
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