The late afternoon drizzle didn’t deter the thousands of spectators who flocked to Maisonneuve Park on Saturday to catch the big Quebec National Day show in Montreal, hosted by Pierre-Yves Lord.
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Under the motto “We will love each other, we will dance”, the evening began with an eclectic and timeless medley ranging from “La danse à St-Dillon” to “Entr.” “deux joints”, along with “St-Han Quinzou ‘ and ‘Oxygene’. The lily floated in the wind in Maisonneuve Park as the crowd cheered.
The artists for the night drew on their repertoire to find songs that resonated with the audience. “We’re never alone when we’re in a gang,” Garou began before launching his huge hit “Seul,” followed by Isabelle Boulay, who immersed us in “Late October, Beginning November.”
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Recording
National Day is also an opportunity to celebrate our language, our native French, which is also spoken in several Canadian provinces as far afield as Haiti, while also underscoring the diversity that characterizes Quebec. Mélissa Bédard proved this with her magnificent rendition of The Heart is a Bird.
Aboriginal nations were evidently represented at this celebration of all Quebecers, with Scott-Pien Picard notably interpreting “Nitauassim” in the Innu language. Marjo then joined him on stage for an original duet on The Wild Cats.
tribute
Garou and Isabelle Boulay paid tribute to Jean Lapointe and his author Marcel Lefebvre, who both died last November, with the success everyone knows: “C’est dans les chansons”. We were then able to view an archive of Isabelle Boulay performing “Chante la ta chanson” as a child, which she recorded with several artists on stage.
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In the tradition of the Saint-Jean shows, rock is omnipresent, and this year the custom remains the same. Justin Boulet, Gerry’s son, sang “The Eyes of the Heart” with Marjo before taking part in a medley of Offenbach hits. “Ayoye”, “Two other beers”, “Promenade sur mars” and “Chu un rocker” finally echoed in Maisonneuve Park.
Rapper Souldia also had a fleeting appearance with his song “Valentina”.
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Inspired Speech
Lydia Képinski, Isabelle Boulay and Marjo joined their voices to cover Robert Charlebois’ anthem “Ordinaire”. Three votes and three generations for a very symbolic act.
Janette Bertrand took the stage at the age of 98 to deliver an inspired speech on the Word of Women. “Thank you women,” she said. Men change, but not quickly. It looks like getting off her pedestal will be difficult.”
She also said that the Quebec flag didn’t exist when she was born, it didn’t come until 1948. “Quebecer, we are Quebecers” concluded the number, performed by several of the evening’s performers.
Our national rocker
With her contagious energy, Marjo has returned to shake up the cage and proves that she hasn’t lost any of her energy at nearly 70 years old (she’ll be 70 next August). She chained “J’lâche pas”, “Amoureuse”, “Sème la vie”, “I know, I know” in duet with Pierre-Yves Lord to end with “Illegal” and “Provocative” before an unbridled audience and admiring.
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The televised show ended with a number that brought almost all of the night’s performers together on “La Bassstringue.”
extensions
However, the show continued at Maisonneuve Park with an exclusive web broadcast. The mood peaked when Mélissa Bédard returned to sing “It’s Vacation Time” with Fouki, who continued with “SPALA”.
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Souldia and Jay-Jay performed “Red Light” and “Malewa” to a cheering crowd. Audiences were also treated to a fusion of rock and rap with an unlikely and sparkling duet between Souldia and Justin Boulet on “Le vide”. One of the highlights of the evening.
After a nod to Michel Côté, Montreal’s big Bastille Day show ended with a great medley of French songs including “Formidable” by Marjo, “Ces soirées-là” and “Je danse le Mia” by Fouki and P’tit Béliveau or ” C’est la vie” by Melissa Bedard.