The first class of singers from the Star Académie in Quebec are no longer at the beginning, despite what is written in the anthem by Stéphane Venne that has stuck in their memory for two decades. On Friday it was time for reunions and nostalgia at the Bell Center. Led by Marie-Mai, Annie Villeneuve and Marie-Élaine Thibert, the troupe, which conquered the province 20 years ago, put on a show full of positive energy.
Published yesterday at 11:47 p.m.
“And it’s not over yet,” said the message on the two large screens next to the Bell Center stage during the break. The academics had just performed the show's theme song, with choreography from yesterday as the background, but Wilfred, Marie-Élaine, Marie-Mai, Annie, Suzie, Maritza, François, Émily, Jean-François, Martin, Dave, Élyse Stéphane and Pascal still had many surprises and wonderful memories in store for the large crowd that applauded and sang along.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jean-François Bastien, Wilfred LeBouthillier and Dave Bourgeois
A good half of the show was still a long time coming, but the audience was already convinced. It actually happened when yesterday's up-and-coming artists appeared one by one, most of them in the stands of the Bell Center, each performing an appropriate piece of an appropriate song by Patrick Bruel, Place Great Men. The only adjustment: It was no longer “meeting in 10 years” but “in 20 years”.
Wilfred, the first performer to win the competition, then continued with Amène-toi chez nous, a song by Jacques Michel that he sang 20 years ago.
The rest was a mixture of songs found on the records of Marie-Mai (C'est moi, Sans cri ni chasse), Annie Villeneuve (Tomber de haute), Marie-Élaine Thibert (Le ciel est à moi) and Émily Bégin (Urban Legend) as well as cover versions from the French and English repertoire.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Marie-Mai and Marie-Élaine Thibert
The duo Marie-Mai and Marie-Élaine Thibert – Simply the Best, borrowed from Tina Turner, was particularly exciting. Dave Bourgeois delivered a very good version of Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton and François Babin recreated Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd, with which he was already a hit at the Star Académie. Zombie by Élyse Robineault was significantly less successful: when I heard it, I could hardly believe that she regularly presents a show in homage to the Cranberries…
Julie Snyder on stage
The second part of the show began with the stage visit of Julie Snyder, who had the idea of importing Star Académie to Quebec. She herself was celebrated as a star and remembered that the reality TV show had enabled unknown singers without any contacts in the world of show business to make their voices heard and make a career.
The wave that brought with it the first year of the Star Académie was enormous. And never achieved. More than half a million copies of the album Star Académie (2003) were sold.
This band wasn't their first performance at the Bell Center: they've been on stage together 14 times. A feat that is undoubtedly unparalleled in the Quebec music scene and is perhaps close to only one person: Marie-Mai, who remains the Star Académie's biggest star to this day.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Marie-Mai remains the biggest star to emerge from the Star Académie, all versions combined.
The former academics began the second part of the show with excerpts from Star Académie's famous first album, before returning their focus to covers. Martin Rouette, who was quite pale in the first part of the concert, particularly stood out in Uptown Funk, Émily Bégin did well in Bad Romance – with the support of the audience, who happily sang along to the “ooh ooh” of the chorus – but also better Where are the women? by Patrick Juvet.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The dynamic Émily Bégin
A cover show is almost always uneven and Star Académie was no exception. One of its great qualities is that it cast a wide net: it was a journey through decades of French, Quebecois and Anglo-Saxon pop. And in the best case scenario, there was also mega karaoke. The audience generously accompanied Dave and Suzie as they covered “On My Shoulder” by Cowboys Fringants as a tribute to Karl Tremblay.
The show will be shown again on January 19th at the Videotron Center in Quebec.