Hundreds of fans gathered at the foot of Mount Royal this evening to pay tribute to Cowboys Fringants singer Karl Tremblay and sing the group’s classics together with good humor and emotion.
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“There is something important and moving about coming together to pay tribute to Karl. His death has been bothering me since yesterday,” says David Gierlinger, 38, who missed a play to take part in the vigil organized at the last minute.
At sunset there were hundreds of them who, like him, decided to gather in Jeanne-Mance Park, in the heart of Montreal, to honor the memory of Karl Tremblay, the legendary singer of the Cowboys Fringants, who left his mark on a whole generation.
“Karl, we love you,” chanted a woman in the middle of the crowd to thunderous applause.
At the same time, thousands of people were doing the same in Quebec, L’Assomption or even Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.
Yesterday, the announcement of his death triggered a tidal wave of love and honor on social networks.
Cowboys Fringants’ albums quickly rose to the top of the most listened tracks on music platforms.
“Since yesterday we have been listening to them constantly, I realize how much they accompany me and how much Karl was part of my life for 20 years,” says Geneviève Fabio, her throat tight with emotion.
Sing together
By candlelight and cell phone light, the crowd sang “On My Shoulder,” “Shooting Stars” and “America Is Crying,” among others.
But to pay tribute to the great singer, fans wanted to sing with good mood and fun.
“It represents exactly what the Cowboys and Karl represented and did in their show: it was always happy! And then Karl wouldn’t have wanted us to cry,” says Isabelle St-Laurent, admitting that she cried when she heard the news.
Clara Loiseau
“I still deny it. I don’t believe in him leaving,” she added.
Many came with their children, who have always listened to these pieces of Quebec folk-rock music.
“It feels good to be here and see everyone doing this for him. “Karl, he deserves that,” says Jacob, 12 years old.
Morgane, 10 years old, attended the gathering on a statue.
“All summer we listened to my favorite song, Les Étoiles filantes,” she remembers of her time as a ten-year-old who didn’t dare join the crowd to sing it.
Since his death was announced, it has been a comfort for his parents to share these moments with other fans.
“It feels good,” says Ms. Fabio.
For almost two hours, the audience took turns singing the group’s great classics. The audience, drawn by the songs, joined the gathering, to which many brought their guitars, pianos and other instruments.
“I didn’t even know it was organized tonight, it’s touching,” admits Patryk Ludera, 21, touched.