During a National Day show that ultimately avoided controversy, emphasizing new-generation songs rather than classics from Quebec’s repertoire, it was a veteran just about to hang up his guitar that set the levels of Quebec: Abraham.
• Also read: Thousands of spectators on the plains: the Quebecers did not shy away from Émile Bilodeau and their national holiday
• Also read: National Day: Patrick Norman one last time on the Plains of Abraham
Patrick Norman, once considered cheesy, received a beautiful declaration of love as Quebecers of all generations sang with him on the hit song that marked his long and fruitful career, “When We Are in Love”.
Only two months ago, the now 76-year-old lover of six strings recalled that he underwent delicate heart surgery.
“I’m not dead,” he said. “Since I’m here with you tonight…I want to hug you tight. »
His message was heard. In the crowd, Quebecers hugged, which was the most emotional moment of the evening.
A wink to the side
The good weather helped, there was a friendly crowd by the new, more modest standards of National Day, and there was no shortage of fleur-de-lis flags on the Plains.
Despite weeks of wrangling over the political positions of the show’s host, Émile Bilodeau, we were finally offered a show free of inflammatory statements.
As promised, Bilodeau lingered at the Horne Foundry for his only rant of the evening, as he paid tribute to Rouyn’s mothers “who are fighting to enforce air quality standards because the greatest legacy we can give our children is not money, but money ‘bad health’.
We didn’t forget to pay tribute to Michel Côté, our recent great deceased. We saw him again on giant screens as the party’s spokesman in 2018, and Léane Labrèche Dor winked at him during a very inspired patriotic speech that sounded like a call to action this year. The resilience of the people of Quebec in the face of the Anglophone majority.
“We’re here, we’re proud, we’re together, we’re strong, we’re still here,” the actress chanted after describing herself as “one of those mixed threats that those walking around at night adore.” long knives. »
Indigenous artists stand out
On the musical side, the youth change that began last year was continued with renewed vigour. Result: lots of energy, rhythm, enthusiasm and guitars and few ballads.
Aboriginal artists, who attended in large numbers at the invitation of Émile Bilodeau, made a strong impression. Young Kanen was impeccable in a duet with Louis-Jean Cormier and the Maten group, accompanied by the Manawan percussion group, the Black Bear Singers.
Enthusiastically created by Émile Bilodeau and then by Muzion, who revisited La vi ti neg, the show certainly allowed many people to discover the talent of Pierre Kwenders, Marilyne Léonard and Simon Kearney, all of whom made their first appearance at the Fête National were the levels.
The old guard is not completely forgotten. Besides Patrick Norman we saw the punk group Vulgaires Machins twice rather than once, in the first part and then at the end of the TV show, and the great Laurence Jalbert who is still just as vocal. Tomber’s masterful finale was… breathtaking.
Normand Brathwate also gave a spectacular performance, playing harmonica while Émile Billodeau sang J’en a plein mon cass.
All at the same time
While the usual St-Jean classics were generally ignored, the evening ended with a song that achieved monument status in Quebec repertoire.
Described by Émile Bilodeau as “Gilles Vigneault’s heir”, Louis-Jean Cormier and all the performers ended the evening beautifully, singing the unifying Alle at the same time.
After the quarrels we saw before St-Jean, this final call to come together could not have come at a better time.