While she was watching the movie Elvisreleased in 2022, Brigitte Boisjoli felt she had to do a tour in tribute to the legend. The next night, she dreamed about it. Then, she got up to design her look. Something stronger than her pushed her to record an album on which we can hear how the roundness of her voice and her vibrato were made to sing Elvis.
As soon as the singer set foot in the studio, the magic happened. “We recorded the album in four days and we kept the first take of several songs,” she says. “Elvis’ music sticks to my skin.”
It must be said that her father introduced her to the world of the King at a very young age. “Around the age of 6, I watched all his films. I was crazy about this guy. He was my standard of beauty, so imagine how many disappointments I experienced afterward!”
After bursting into her big, contagious laugh, Boisjoli explains that she learned to sing her songs when she was very young and that she often performed them in shows.
After Star Academymy first professional contract was to open for Mario Pelchat: I presented five songs, including Love Me TenderIt was written in the sky that I was going to do a project on his repertoire.
Brigitte Boisjoli
Describing herself as a bit of a girl tomboyfeminine with a rebellious side, she plans to go on stage wearing the hair rooster and a leather coat on which she has stuck all the diamonds for two and a half hours. “Afterwards, to be able to dance for two hours, I will wear red or gold sequined dresses, in order to respect the colors of Elvis’ costumes in his show Comeback 68. I also ordered red jackets for my boys, like the ones Elvis’ musicians wore.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ARTIST
Brigitte Boisjoli
Signing the staging of the show that she will present (without the sets) at the Festival western de Saint-Tite on September 12, before embarking on a major pan-Quebec tour in October, the singer wants to highlight the ties that unite her to the Memphis legend. “We both started in music in a gospel choir. That’s my roots. Then, we are lovers of love. That’s why when he sings his great love ballads, it touches me so much.”
More covers?
We can’t help but gently remind him that when his album came out Lie to mein the spring of 2023, she confided to our colleague Josée Lapointe that she was tired of singing covers, after having recorded several Patsy Cline songs, iconic lyrics by Luc Plamondon and big country hits. “Quite honestly, I didn’t really enjoy singing my own lyrics. I never took responsibility. It was a nice gift to give to the fans who have been following me for a long time, but I found it too vulnerable to sing my own stories. I think I’m more of a performer.”
If the song Can’t Help Falling in Love is her favorite Elvis song to listen to, Burning Love is the one she loves to sing more than anything. “There’s something that happens when I sing it!” She says, however, that she had a hard time selecting the 13 songs that appear on the album and the 25 that she will perform in front of an audience. “I didn’t want to disappoint people. Everyone has their favorites.”
The solution to his dilemma? Test the equipment in front of a privileged audience.
I went to sing at a friend’s restaurant to get feedback and special requests from people. For example, I hadn’t planned to do Viva Las Vegasbut I was asked for it six times, so I added it! The public is my best tester.
Brigitte Boisjoli
When artists delve into an ultra-known and appreciated repertoire like that of the singer to whom we owe hits like Blue Suede Shoes, Love Me Tender, Don’t Be Cruel And Jailhouse Rockthey must inevitably find the balance between remaining faithful to the versions adored by the public and the appropriation of a work. “With my director, Jean-François Beaudet, we decided to remain very faithful to the original form of the songs so as not to distort them, but we gave them my color. For example, That’s Alright MammaI took it higher so that my voice would break, while Burning Love is faster and rock’n’roll.”
If the Elvis repertoire requires Brigitte Boisjoli to have a thunderous cardio to dance and sing on stage for two hours, the scores, however, do not scare her. “Vocally, they are my slippers. I have sung songs from the 1950s-1960s-1970s all my life. It’s relaxing for me, singing Elvis.”
Brigitte Boisjoli will be performing at the Saint-Tite Western Festival on September 12, then on tour in Quebec.
Check out Brigitte Boisjoli’s tour dates