Let’s protect our culture. These are the words that resonated in me like an infinite loop last night, in full wonder at the solo and intimate show of Vincent Vallières. It was in an old picturesque, warm and well-invigorated theater in the Laurentians, the Patriote, that I had the privilege of living a moment of pure happiness, simply letting myself be carried away by the incredible talent of this authentic and upright man, lit and animated. Completely disconnected from the hassles of everyday life and enjoying a moment of suspension in the routine of the days that pass so quickly, I experienced a host of diverse emotions leading me to feel a sometimes forgotten pride or neglected. Pride in coming from a people of strong men and strong women who built our beautiful home with their bare hands, pride in speaking French, the language of our ancestors, pride in being Quebecers and in remembering how far we come.
Let’s protect our oral traditions, our history of a people who come from the land, let’s protect our uniqueness as North American Gauls and protect our language. Let’s avoid being completely Americanized by listening to more artists from here and by encouraging Franco-Quebec culture. Let’s encourage the “little” guys and “little” girls from our area who let themselves be carried away by their passion by giving themselves body and soul on stage, night after night, often for a handful of peanuts in pursuit of their dreams. As Vincent said so well yesterday, let’s keep the eye of the tiger and the strength to fight.
Fighting for our beautiful language, the most beautiful language. Fight to make ourselves heard and shout loudly that we, Quebecers, still exist and are different in our French-speaking bastion. Let’s be proud of every verse, every rhyme, every line and every chorus. Let’s feel all these emotions conveyed and this shared experience, in our jargon, with our patois and our singular originality. Let’s celebrate our culture, enjoy every note, savor every intonation and let ourselves be carried away by every melody.
Our life is here. Our story, it comes from here. Our language is here and very much alive, and it is up to us to cherish it, to take great care of it and to respect it. As this incredible artist did last night, without artifice, with his love of the world, his voice charged with the beauty of life and his burning fire of passion for music and deep and thoughtful lyrics.
Yesterday, I laughed and I cried, I smiled and I sang, in French, in my language. Proud to be Quebecers, proud to be Francophone. Thanks to you, Vincent, and to all the others who keep our culture alive by holding the torch of our people so different.