The look of this 45e edition of the ADISQ Gala was already taking shape last September, when the nominations were revealed: this return to pop singing by Daniel Bélanger was going to pay off. The veteran won five of the six categories for which he was in the running, including these two Félixes awarded during the show hosted for the last time on Sunday evening by Louis-José Houde: Author or composer of the year and Male artist of the year . Alexandra Stréliski also distinguished herself by winning two Félix awards, and the general public discovered who this young and brilliant Kanen was, crowned Revelation of the Year and Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Originally from Maliotenam, Kanen presented his first career album last April, called Mitshuap — “house”, in Innu-aimun —, on which folk and indie rock influences intertwine. A jewel which earned him the prestigious Félix for Revelation of the Year, then that of Indigenous Artist of the Year, a category bringing together high caliber competitors, Natasha Kanapé, Katia Rock, Matiu and Shauit, the latter having won during the first Gala last Wednesday the award for Album of the Year — Indigenous Languages thanks to Natukun.
If the count is correct, Daniel Bélanger now has 28 golden Félixes to display in his living room. The five won in recent days obviously testify to the affection that the community and the public have for him, the latter having voted for him in the category of Male Artist of the Year, a third victory for him in this category – the last time, it was in 2002 (and tied with Garou), in the wake of the success of his classic Dream betterpublished the previous year.
So, after digging into rockabilly (City chic2013) and music for cinema (Traveling2020), Bélanger returns to the style of pop song that suits him so well (as on Dream better or on the most recent Paloma2016) with Mercury in May, accompanied by a tour of shows that moved the crowds, all crowned with success. Earlier this week, he received awards for Album of the Year – Pop, Album of the Year – Critics’ Choice, and Album of the Year.
Above all, he won the most important statuette of the evening, that of Author or Composer of the Year, also for the third time during his career; competing in this category were also Philippe B (winner, with Philippe Brault, of a Félix, that of Sound recording and mixing of the year for the album New administration), Philippe Brach (three Félix awards this week associated with his album The people we loveincluding Album of the Year — Alternative), Lydia Képinski, Ingrid St-Pierre and Alexandra Stréliski.
In addition to winning the Artist of the Year — International Outreach award, Alexandra Stréliski sealed a true musical love story with the Quebec public on Sunday evening by winning, for the second time in her career, the Félix de Female artist of the year, what’s more by beating the formidable Ginette Reno in the game of popularity (who won the Félix for Album of the Year – Popular Success, a prize based on album sales performance ), Roxane Bruneau, Guylaine Tanguay and Lisa LeBlanc, giving even more strength to her feat. Released last spring, his album Neo-Romance renewed his pianistic proposal by accompanying it with discreet orchestrations of strings and electric piano.
Accomplished with great honors, Michel Rivard received another one on Sunday evening: he received the Félix for Show of the Year for Around the block, an autobiographical tour of song received with praise, both by critics and the public. The victory of Cowboys Fringants in the Group or Duo of the Year category (over 2Frères, Bleu Jeans Bleu, Les Trois Accords and Salebarbes) was nothing other than a huge hug given by the music scene to singer Karl Tremblay , who continues his cancer treatments. Finally, ten titles were in the running in the Song of the Year category, won by the “supergroup” Salebarbes for Salt water ginfrom the album of the same name released more than two years ago.
This 45e edition of the ADISQ Gala, broadcast on ICI Radio-Canada, was also historic since its master of ceremonies, comedian Louis-José Houde, announced that he was bowing out at the helm of the best artistic awards ceremony presented on Quebec television. Without obviously taking anything away from the talent of the awarded musicians, Houde’s benevolent humor (with a touch of acidity) counts enormously for the success of the ADISQ Gala. A page was turned on Sunday evening, coincidentally just a few weeks after the death of one of the most important builders of the Quebec music industry (and co-founder of ADISQ), Guy Latraverse, whom the host greeted in his opening monologue.