In 2017, Michel Sardou, one of the biggest record sellers in French song, announced his decision to stop singing, determined to devote himself to theater.
“Earth scorched in the wind” And “stone moors” projected in cinemascope: after the controversy over Connemara LakesMichel Sardou sang his most famous hit in front of 5,000 fans at the kickoff of his new tour I remember a goodbye, Tuesday evening October 3. No mention on stage of the controversy which stirred up the summer, after comments from singer Juliette Armanet expressing her detestation of this popular late-night song. On the other hand, at the Zénith de Rouen store, fans could purchase a “We don’t touch Connemara” T-shirt for 25 euros.
63 concerts planned
“Thank you and good evening! I’m really, really, very happy to see you again! It’s been a long time. It’s really heartwarming!”launched Michel Sardou, 76 years old, before thanking “a person who hides in the room and makes me come back”. A barely veiled allusion to his wife Anne-Marie Périer who threatened to divorce if he did not return to singing, he recounted several times.
His last tour, completed in 2018, brought together more than 450,000 spectators. His new tour of more than 60 dates will stretch until March 2024, including two dates at Paris La Défense Arena, the largest closed venue in Europe (up to 40,000 seats). Five years later, here he is back, also decided by the success of the musical comedy inspired by his great hits, I will love you. He sang this title with the power we know for him, with a dedication that made the audience laugh: “the song that comes risks destructuring Sandrine Rousseau!”, in reference to the ecofeminist MP.
22 musicians and six singers
About his farewells which he finally renounced to the delight of his fans who rushed to the ticket office with 100,000 seats sold on the first day, the singer recalls in the program of his new tour “that you should never say never”.
A girl with light eyes, Marie-Jeanne, Le Bac G, The River of our childhood, Vladimir Ilitch, I fly… Accompanied by 22 musicians including guitarist Pierre Billon, his childhood friend, and six backing singers, Michel Sardou, black suit and matching shirt, belted out his hits, with his intact voice, embellishing some with anecdotes but also XXL digital animations.
With Today maybe, a song created by his father, he leads the room in the first of the many karaokes of his singing tour which includes 22 songs including a 15-minute medley that was applauded for a long time. Remembering a memorable duet during a concert at the Parc de Sceaux, Michel Sardou paid tribute to Johnny Hallyday with Something from Tennessee, against a backdrop of a starry sky, accompanied only on guitar by Pierre Billon – also 76 years old – who also worked with the idol of young people.
“The Lakes of Connemara” as an instrumental finale
In a fifty-year career punctuated by 26 studio albums, 18 live albums and 350 songs, Michel Sardou has produced dozens of hits anchored in collective memory, sometimes arousing controversy, as in 1976 with I am for, perceived as a plea in favor of the death penalty, becoming the bête noire of the far left, and which he no longer sings on stage.
With As per usual, he begins his finale but it is again on the instrumental of Connemara Lakes that he closes a 1h40 concert without leaving the stage or intermission, greeted by long standing applause.