A few notes of a song by Paul Piché are enough to immerse many in their memories. In honor of the artist’s 70th birthday (his birthday is September 5th), here are five unforgettable songs from his career.
Thanks to his openness, his authenticity and his ease in making crowds sing, Paul Piché quickly entered the hearts of Quebecers and undoubtedly marked the end of the 70s and the decades that followed.
In more than 45 years of career and more than ten albums later, the singer-songwriter has lost none of his commitment and sensitivity. Far from diminishing his talent, the passage of time has allowed him to pursue different paths.
An arduous exercise to select just a few songs from the impressive repertoire of this monument to Quebec music, which was also inducted into the pantheon of Canadian authors and composers in May. However, some stand out from the crowd and are considered classics of Quebec music.
Here are five unforgettable songs by Paul Piché:
Happy for a spring
The very unifying song Heureux d’un Printemps has become a true anthem for Quebecers and is undoubtedly one of the key songs from Paul Piché’s first album, released in 1977. The very popular work has sold more than 100,000 copies. It’s almost impossible not to create a chorus by humming the words “Happy with a spring that warms my bark” in public!
There isn’t much in the sky at night
Y a pas grand-chose dans l’ciel à soir, also from his first album, has been an integral part of Saint Jean Baptiste Day for decades! The song is a call to celebration, but above all a great opportunity to laugh at yourself and society’s failings. It has made generations of Quebecers tap their feet.
The stairs
Released on the album of the same name in 1980, The Staircase is a fine example of Paul Piché’s commitment. Born out of an emptiness the artist felt, the song took on an atmosphere of collective hope and the possibility of changing the world together. A message that has lost none of its refreshing side over the years.
I call
Even more melancholy, I call for comprehensive awareness of the environmental crisis. This success, which we find on the 1988 opus On the Path of Fires, unfortunately resonates even more strongly today.
do not do that
Far from limiting himself to folk and traditional music, the singer-songwriter has always enjoyed exploring new musical avenues. This is particularly evident in the fallen love song Ne fait pas ça, which we find on the 1999 album Le voyage and which flirts with Latin American rhythms. A reminder, if at all needed, that Paul Piché was never afraid to innovate.
It is also impossible to mention in passing the songs My Joe, His Eyes, A sand castle, Because I love you….
Good to hear!