In 2003 they gave us a date in 10 years. 20 years later, on the initiative of Suzie Villeneuve, the 14 former academics of the very first version of the Star Académie offered their 15th Bell Center to the Great on Friday evening. .very great joy of the spectators invited to this convention.
The evening began with a sense of nostalgia as the screens showed the moment the academics found out they had been selected for the show. After all the names had been listed, like an increasingly hectic countdown, the first notes of “Place des Grands Hommes”, the song with which the academics had concluded their last performance, sounded loud and clear. And when the first duo came on stage for the first verse; Madness swept through the packed amphitheater, which screamed with joy at finding her.
Some academics crossed the arch set in the center of the stage, as they did at Sunday galas, others appeared in the stands, walked down the stairs and then crossed the entire floor to return to the stage.
“Even though it's been 20 years, you still want me to bring you to us,” Wilfred LeBoutillier, the winner of the first Tele-Hook in Quebec, started quickly before singing his song “Amène-toi” to loud applause chez nous” was offered to the 20,000 spectators who gathered in the warm hall of the Bell Center.
Of course, while they sang at the top of their lungs for much of the evening, early fans were able to enjoy some of the tracks from the album, recorded at the Sainte-Adèle Academy and certified five-times platinum, such as “I'll Become the World.” change” (Jean-François Bastien), “Every Little Planet” (Élyse Robineault) or “I will love you” by Suzie Villeneuve and “When this is all over” by her twin sister Annie Villeneuve. The latter also offered her hits “Tomber à l'eau” and “Un ange qui passe”, which were warmly received by the audience and brought the performer to tears.
Wilfred and Marie-Mai also had moist cheeks on Friday, towards the end of this conventum, which looked like large-scale karaoke as people sang the suggested repertoire.
And if Émily Bégin can be proud of having made the whole arena dance with her cover versions of “Let me dance”, “Danser danser” and “Bad Romance”, then Marie-Mai, the baby of the academy, is the only one At the age of 18 in 2003 she hit the nail on the head with her hits “C'est moi”, “Chante”, “Encore une nuit” and “Sans cri ni hatred”.
“From dream to reality”
The approximately two-hour show, with breaks and some lengths, also included a tribute to Karl Tremblay, where Dave and Suzie covered the song “Sur mon Shoulder” by Cowboys Fringuants, while the producer and master of the work of the first “Star Académie”, Julie Snyder – the one who imported Tele-Crochet from France – made a surprise visit after returning from break.
Hats off to the scenography, which was “like in time”, with the same modules and the same structure on several levels on which the academics and dancers of the Danse Mode action troupe moved between and during the performances.
The 14 academics will stop at the Videotron Center on January 19th.