“We wanted to go even further with children’s songs,” explains Jérôme Charlebois, who is currently releasing his first album for young children. baptized Small words for big childrenThe 11-track album was produced by her famous father Robert Charlebois.
As a child, it was the song J’t’aime comme un fou that dad Robert sang to his son Jérôme in the evenings to put him to sleep. “My father pushed me to pursue this children’s album project. He ate up my songs in pre-production,” says Jérôme Charlebois, now 44 years old.
The joy of writing for children
The idea to create an album for children ages 5 to 11 came to him in the middle of a pandemic. When he initially wanted to take part in a competition to write nursery rhymes for the show Passe-Partout, he realized that this writing format didn’t excite him… but that making up songs for young people made him smile!
“I started writing and really loved it. I had a lot of fun touching something completely different. Everyone was thrilled and so was I,” adds the artist, who worked with the composer Jean-François Beaudet.
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Jerome and Annie
In a five-year relationship with Annie Roy, a primary school teacher, he found in his lover the perfect partner with whom he could immerse himself in this imaginary world. They write and refine the texts together.
Last year, his 5th grade students were eligible for baubles at the end of writing and even wrote a list of their favorite songs. The album cover shows the couple in a comic version, dressed in stage costumes. A drawing of Annie that has been digitized.
“We start with topics that we think will appeal to children and we take a different and unifying perspective, such as nature, the first blonde, the snowman or the sugar shack.” It is short, precise and has a great depth. I think everyone can enjoy these songs, even those who don’t have children,” said the singer, who is working on a new album and is not giving up his solo career.
The clips for the plays “On va danser” and “J’veux de la lumière” (which are about the environment and ecology) have appeared on YouTube and are already enjoying great popularity. Some songs were even performed and enjoyed live; because adults often come to his family concerts.
The duo is looking forward to performing the eleven songs from “Little Words for Big Kids” in full shows that will last approximately 45 minutes. “There will be a staging, real exchange, characters and costumes,” promises the artist.
“As long as we enjoy it, we will do it. It’s different, we’re both on stage, there are no musicians, it’s intimate. And then we really feel like we are bringing something that has a soul,” adds the one who wants to present a tour in Quebec in the near future.
-Jérôme Charlebois and Annie Roy will perform at the small Saint-Eustache church on November 19th. Tickets $16.
TOMA ICZKOVITS