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Video duration: 10 min
Nelly’s life
Benjamin Illy tells you about “the life of Nelly”, 73 years old, modest retiree in Saint Denis and absolute fan of Johnny Hallyday. But Nelly is much more than that. Through her, a piece of France takes shape, with laughter, tears, rock’n’roll and Laura Smet
(GEOFFROY-J / RADIOFRANCE)
Through Nelly’s portrait, a piece of France emerges, with laughter, tears, rock’n’roll and Laura Smet.
Nelly is 73 years old, she is a modest retiree who lives in Saint-Denis and who is an absolute fan of Johnny Hallyday. She discovered Johnny on his 50th birthday at the Parc des Princes thanks to biker friends who took her onto the lawn while the singer crossed the crowd like a boxer. Mythical moment. “I thought I was going to die”remembers Nelly, “people were pulling out his hair”and then the concert starts: “I was speechless”. This is the beginning of his story with Johnny Hallyday. She now has a tattoo on her shoulder, a transfer of a dedication from the rocker, and on the day of her funeral, very seriously, she wants the song Light the fire will be broadcast when she goes to cremation.
On the fifth anniversary of Johnny’s death, in 2022, Nelly still had tears for her idol and the deep desire to go to Saint-Barthélemy to pay tribute to his grave, and finally mourn. In a piggy bank, symbolically, she slips a few coins and notes, hoping to one day finance this trip of a lifetime, without really believing in it. Nelly, 73, who lives in Saint-Denis, receives between 800 and 900 euros in retirement. She often repeats: “small job, small pay, small pension!”. Nelly worked in the factory, but mainly in catering, in the kitchen: “at the time, it was common, we were obliged to accept being declared part-time and the rest paid hand to hand“. Hence the little retreat. Nelly’s message: “This is advice that I give to future generations: think about your retirement, don’t be stupid!“.
Follow Nelly, in a series of podcasts:
Episode 1: “Reunions, an exhibition, tears”. The exhibition dedicated to Johnny Hallyday at the Porte de Versailles in Paris.
Episode 2 and 3: “Nelly and Laura”. His meeting with Laura Smet, the daughter of his idol
Episode 4: “Saint-Denis, the kingdom of Nelly”. Her city, whose diversity she wants to show.
Episode 5: “Reaching Out.” Les Restos du Cœur where she worked for seven years.
Episode 6: “Chez Nelly”, din his senior residence in Saint-Denis.
