The artists who will participate in the big show on Saturday at Maisonneuve Park, to mark Quebec’s national holiday, call the affair between Émile Bilodeau and the Parti Québécois (PQ) a “storm in a teacup”. ” Do you speak ! exclaimed Marjo in an interview. It’s ridiculous to do that. We are celebrating. »
Like several singers surveyed by The Press Thursday, during rehearsals for the Montreal concert, the rocker finds the situation exasperating.
Last Monday, the PQ announced that it refused to participate in the official ceremony of the Quebec show, which is to take place on the Plains of Abraham this Friday. The party is protesting against the choice of Émile Bilodeau as host of the event, after the singer-songwriter disrespected the political party led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and attacked the State Secularism Act (known as “Law 21”).
For Marjo, the role of artists who participate in the celebrations surrounding the national holiday is to “give pleasure, make people dance and sing” people, not to “make them think”. The singer invited the PQ and Émile Bilodeau to “settle their accounts separately, not when we are celebrating”.
“Celebrating Our Nation”
Many headliners for the Montreal edition of the June 24 show seemed unfazed by all this controversy.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Isabelle Boulay
For Isabelle Boulay, this controversy is “boring”. The interpreter prefers to devote his energies to “celebrating our nation”, its “particularities” and “its great hospitality”.
“I really like Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, I also really like Émile Bilodeau. I tell myself that they may not be so far apart in their thinking, ”added the singer.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Scott-Pien Picard
“We make music, commented Scott-Pien Picard. It’s no use arguing. »
For his part, FouKi simply wants to avoid public chicanery.
“I have nothing against Émile Bilodeau, reported the rapper. I find it super lit, super funny. But me, if I have a position to take, it will be in a song that I will propose it. It’s not going to be interviewing or doing a post. »
“Counterproductive” treatment
Reactions like that of the PQ contribute to the lack of political commitment of young artists, denounces Lydia Képinski.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Lydia Képinski in rehearsal Thursday
“Today no one [ne s’engage] because everyone is afraid, commented the interpreter. Of course, if things like that happen to Émile, imagine anyone else. »
Lydia Képinski judges the attitude of the PQ “dichotomous”.
We salute the artists who express themselves from a political point of view when it suits the politician, but when it doesn’t, he is an enemy.
Lydia Kepinski
The artist also qualifies as “counter-productive” the treatment reserved for the singer.
“I find it ridiculous for the PQ to attack the only openly sovereignist young artist in Quebec,” said the indie pop singer.
Like her colleagues, Lydia Képinski stressed that above all, the national holiday is “the day when we tell ourselves that we are all Quebecers, that we are all part of a project that unites us, and that’s which is beautiful”.
The big show for Quebec’s National Day in Montreal will be held at Maisonneuve Park on June 24 at 8 p.m.