After a noticeable absence over the past two years, the Quartier des Spectacles finally regained its festive air on Thursday, on the occasion of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, celebrated in style, but above all in front of a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
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It was under clear skies and mild weather that Montrealers were finally able to celebrate the long-awaited return of the National Day festivities in the quadrangle of Place des festivals. Hand-decorated with fleur-de-lis, families and friends who came to attend the big party showed elation throughout the evening, singing and dancing to the rhythm of the “party” tunes, covers and classics that were played by the thirties. of musicians and the dozen singers who took turns on the main stage.
Hosted by Pierre-Yves Lord, the evening entitled “J’aime ma langue” gave way to sometimes touching moments, notably during the revival of “Tu m’aimes-tu” by Ariane Roy and Les Louanges, but above all festive and dancing moments, so much so that the crowd emanated a contagious electricity and feverishness.
The celebrations were launched at 9:00 p.m. with a potpourri of Quebec classics, revisited by the artists who took part in the Fête, uniting their voices on “L’étoile d’Amérique” by Claude L’éveillée.
Roxanne Bruneau then went on stage to sing her song “À ma manner”. Of course, she came back later to sing her hits “Love me again” and “Des p’tits bouts de toi” as well as the cover of “Provocante”, by Marjo.
An essential symbol of Saint-Jean and Quebec rap, the Loco Locass group, wearing their signature fleur-de-lys hat, took the stage in surprise to play “Le Mémoire” and “Le But”, where they addressed a happy nod to the blond demon Guy Lafleur.
FouKi, who took over with Sarhamée a rap version “Gens du pays” by Gilles Vigneault, notably played “Copilote” with his good friend Jay Scott, as well as “Ciel” with Alicia Moffet and “Gayé” – where everyone s is squatting to get back up better – towards the end of the show.
Ariane Roy, who was a hit at the Francos last Saturday, sang “As long as there are children” by Marjo, and “Ta main”, while Alicia Moffet revisited several songs by others, including the hit popularized by the iconic duo formed by Garou and Céline Dion “Sous le vent” and “Pour que tu m’aimes encore”.
Accompanied by two dancers, Sarahmée made the crowd dance with “The heart has its reasons”, concealing a “we will always love you Karim” in one of the last verses. Les Louanges, Patrice Michaud, Michel Pagliaro, Kathia Rock, who brought a bit of Maliotenam to Montreal, and Jay Scott also walked the stage on the main stage at Place des Festivals on Thursday.
Towards the end of the show, Pascale Montpetit, Catherine Proulx-Lemay and Patrice Michaud read an excerpt from the text “To the heirs of the year 2000” by René Lesvesque, who would have celebrated his hundredth birthday this year. The text written in 1980, still relevant in 2022, was followed by the “Hymne à l’amour”, written by Luc Plamondon and Christian Saint Roch, this time interpreted by the singer Marie-Josée Lord.
At the end of the show all the singers gathered on the stage to sing “L’Amour” by Karim Ouellet.