Marie Myriam is a Franco-Portuguese singer. On the eve of her 20th birthday, on May 7, 1977, she won the 22ᵉ Eurovision Song Contest for France with The bird and the child. Half a century later, no French artist has won this trophy. To celebrate this performance and his 45-year career, was published Anthology: 1977-1983 i.e. 48 recordings of original titles, unreleased tracks and rarities.
franceinfo: These reissues are a real and beautiful summary of your career. Are you moved by the release of this anthology?
Mary Miriam: Yes, because in truth, they are memories. It takes me back 45 years to my beginnings. You know, in the beginning, you can’t choose your songs and I remember those recordings. So I have the albums, but I don’t have a vinyl turntable at home, so I’m the first delighted to have the CD to be able to listen to.
You have been totally inhabited by music since your earliest childhood. You were born Myriam Lopes. Your parents arrived in France when you were six years old. And, it’s true that arriving in the capital was not easy for them, it was difficult to make ends meet.
For my parents, it was very difficult.
You lived in a rather rundown hotel that they decided to turn into a restaurant. What memories do you have of your childhood?
I was helping my parents. I really enjoyed being at the restaurant and helping them out. I remember the fado singers that I liked very much and who came there after their concerts.
“I remember the great Amalia Rodrigues who came to dine in my parents’ restaurant after singing at the Tête de l’art or at the Olympia.”
Mary Miriamat franceinfo
Is this where this childhood dream of becoming a singer was born?
To be honest, it starts in the bathroom! Then afterwards, the afternoons in the basement because there was no one there. In an apartment, I would never have been able to do voice tests, launch my voice very loudly, whereas in the basement, I didn’t disturb anyone.
There is a man who will spot you very quickly, it’s Jean-Paul Cara.
When we first met, I didn’t believe it. He is a songwriter. He comes to my parents’ restaurant, but quite by chance. I was singing in the basement and the last two customers were Jean-Paul Cara and his friend. When he hears me singing, he asks my mother who sings, so we take him to the basement. He waits for me to finish singing. Suddenly he clapped. So I raise my head. I do not understand that there is someone who applauds me. And then he approaches and says to me: “Miss, I’ll take you to Eurovision and we’ll win“.
And you will actually experience this Eurovision adventure. Looking back, how did you experience this victory?
When we were waiting for the result of the points, Michel Costa said to me: “You know, even if France votes last and gives England twelve points, we won anyway.“. And I answered: no, no, no, we wait, you never know. He retorted: “Marie, mathematically, we won“. And in fact, it was when the other candidates stood up and turned to applaud me that I burst into tears. That’s where you see me crying.
But yes, it was a joy on the evening of May 7, 1977, that’s obvious. The joy of Jo, of Jean-Paul, the tears of my father who was with us. My mother stayed in Paris and it’s funny because she locked herself in a room and put a German radio on full blast not to understand the result. And then it was when she heard the screams that she realized that I had won.
“Even today, my mother does not want anyone to win Eurovision for France!”
Mary Miriamat franceinfo
You always kept that smile. It has always been part of your life and it is also what defines you. I would like to come back to the song: All is forgiven, ranked in the Top 50. I feel like she has an extra soul in this career.
I like. It’s my ten years of career in 1987. It’s the meeting with Jacques Cardona, an author, composer and extraordinary singer. Her voice was amazing, hence the duet! I think it was really the best memory of all that I recorded in this album.
Are you proud of this journey?
Yes, of course I’m proud! Proud to have won Eurovision, do not believe. Afterwards, it’s a bit my fault if I didn’t do more because I stopped to have my children. I stopped for my life. And even so, I think I missed a lot as a mom. But I think I was very lucky. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.