56 years after Claude Nougaro and his famous “Ô Toulouse”, Francis Cabrel releases a single tribute to the Pink City. The song entitled “Un piece de Sicre” is a declaration of friendship to the Occitan musician Claude Sicre, founder of the “Fabulous Troubadours” and to the artist and rugby player friends who wear the colors of the city.
From the Quai de la Daurade to the narrow streets of Les Carmes via the Saint Sernin basilica, in his latest song Francis Cabrel takes us to every corner of the Pink City. This is where he started his career in the 70s. A city of importance for the French artist, where he sang and recorded his first hits.
“Sing, sing, fiery city, move, black and red city
City where the Motivated live, city where the Claudes follow each other”
The chorus sets the tone and begins with an obvious homage to Claude Nougaro who 56 before him released “O Toulouse“, a song among the most popular in his repertoire. But the other Claude that Francis Cabrel also speaks about is thehe founder of the group Fabulous Troubadours. Claude Sicre is a long-time friend of the singer. If he makes a brief appearance in the clip, it is mainly by naming his ode to Toulouse “A piece of Sicre” that the musician makes him a true declaration of friendship.
“What made me happy was that he made a song about Toulouse in which I am the hero, it’s very nice of him, confides the person concerned, flattered to be put forward in this way. What I pointed out to him is that there are very few singers in France who write songs about other musicians.”
A buddy film
And since celebrating Toulouse without talking about rugby is impossible, Francis Cabrel also invited Vincent Clerc and Guy Novès to participate in his clip. The latter, former player and coach of Stade Toulouse and former coach of Stade de France, makes a short appearance sitting on the city’s stairs, with a newspaper in his hands.
Other famous Toulouse residents invited as extras, the rappers BigFlo and Oli willingly took part in the exercise. Jean-Pierre Mader, and Émile (singer of the group Gold) also appear in the credits giving the clip the appearance of a buddy film.
“Honestly, we are happy to make this little appearance. That a great singer like Francis is doing a song about our city is a source of pride, we listened, we love the title. The general called us, we are there -you simply”
Big Flo and OliToulouse rappers
The guitar and melancholic melodies, the poetry of everyday life, A piece of Sicre, it is sure to delight fans of the singer who is as popular as he is discreet. On the other hand, no album in sight to accompany the single. In an interview with Le Parisien, the singer confides going through “a trough of inspiration. For a year, nothing, he explains. Nor desire either. We’ll wait a bit. But I always have the idea that one day or another, I’m going to start writing again.”