The queen of country – and of the Festival western de St-Tite – left us on December 18, 2021, shortly before starting the tour Against all odds with his cosmic brother, Paul Daraîche. The latter honored her in a very moving way on Saturday by performing pieces from the wide repertoire of the golden cowgirl surrounded by their precious friends.
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There was emotion in the air and tears in the eyes when the show premiered. This is my story, a tribute to the work of Renée Martel on Saturday at the Festival western de St-Tite. In the company of Paul Daraîche, Laurence Jalbert, Annie Blanchard, Cindy Bédard, Émilie Daraîche, Nathalie Lord and Patrick Norman had come to celebrate the one who was a friend, a mentor, an inspiration, even a second mother. There is only Isabelle Boulay who had to miss the touching celebration, a voice problem lasting for a few days having been right for her participation.
A starry sky in homage to the queen of St-Tite was momentarily created (thanks to the flashlights of hundreds of smart phones) when this show began, all in sobriety, in beautiful moments and in smiles despite the pain, such as the one who missed her very first St-Tite festival would have liked it, but whose all the friends on stage confided to feeling the presence.
Memories
It is a life devoted to song – 70 years of career – that the band of singer and musician friends wanted to highlight. This is why pieces from all eras and all periods of Renée Martel’s life were – superbly – delivered.
From his first song In a corner of the sky at I will be backPassing by Lyin’ Eyes of the Eagles (group she adored and a piece delivered by Patrick Norman who was just celebrating his 76th birthday), this tribute show was led by generous friends, who were keen to honor the one whom Quebec saw leaving too soon.
Annie Blanchard in particular, offered particularly touching and successful interpretations of golden cowgirl and of This is my story. Laurence Jalbert made the crowd alternately sing and cry, singing the moving tell me about him.
touching moments
One of the most touching moments was certainly when Paul Daraîche shared the very last recording of the voice of his great friend with whom he had just made an album and was about to go on tour.
“If you want, for her, to sing it with me, he launched to the visibly moved audience before singing a piece from the album Against all odds. She was so proud of our album. We were close. »
It was also a great idea to bring together all the singers to deliver a potpourri of well-known pieces that the 1,500 spectators sang at the top of their voices and in unison; including the essential and joyful I have a love that does not want to die.
Surrounded by Renée Martel’s musicians, her artist friends delighted her admirers who knew each of the pieces performed by heart. Early admirers who had braved the heat and the sun to come and attend this sweet tribute, in his image.