The late afternoon drizzle did not put off the thousands of spectators who flocked to Maisonneuve Park on Saturday to attend the big show of the National Day of Quebec in Montreal, presented by Pierre-Yves Lord.
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Placed under the theme “We’re going to love each other, we’re going to dance”, the evening got off to a strong start with an eclectic and timeless medley, ranging from “La danse à St-Dillon” to “Entr’deux joints”, in passing by “St-Han Quinzou” and “Oxygène”. The fleur-de-lis floated in the wind in Maisonneuve Park, while the crowd was in high spirits.
The artists of the evening went to draw on their repertoire to find songs that would resonate with the public. “We are never alone when we are in a gang”, launched Garou, before starting his great success, “Seul”, followed by Isabelle Boulay who immersed us in “End of October, beginning of November”.
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Inclusion
The national holiday is also an opportunity to celebrate our language, French from home, but which is also spoken in several Canadian provinces, as far as Haiti, highlighting in passing the diversity that characterizes Quebec. Mélissa Bédard demonstrated this with her magnificent interpretation of “The heart is a bird”.
The Aboriginal nations were obviously represented for this celebration of all Quebecers, with Scott-Pien Picard, who notably interpreted “Nitauassim” in the Innu language. Marjo then joined him on stage for an original duet on “The Wild Cats”.
Tribute
Garou and Isabelle Boulay paid a vibrant tribute to Jean Lapointe and its author Marcel Lefebvre, both of whom died last November, through the success that everyone knows, “C’est dans les chansons”. We were then able to see an archive of Isabelle Boulay as a child performing “Chante la ta chanson”, which they took up with several artists on the stage.
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In the tradition of Saint-Jean shows, rock is omnipresent, and this year does not change the custom. Justin Boulet, Gerry’s son, joined Marjo to sing “The Eyes of the Heart”, before taking part in a medley of hits by Offenbach. “Ayoye”, “Two other beers”, “Promenade sur mars” and “Chu un rocker” finally resonated through Maisonneuve Park.
Rapper Souldia also made a fleeting appearance with his song “Valentina”.
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Inspired speech
Lydia Képinski, Isabelle Boulay and Marjo united their voices to cover Robert Charlebois’ anthem, “Ordinaire”. Three voices and three generations for a very symbolic number.
From the top of her 98 years, Janette Bertrand came on stage for an inspired speech on the word of women. “Thank you women,” she said. Men change, but not quickly. It looks like it’s hard to get off their pedestal.”
She also said that the Quebec flag did not exist when she was born, it only arrived in 1948. “Quebecers, we are Quebecers” closed the number, performed by several artists of the evening.
Our national rocker
With her contagious energy, Marjo has returned to stir the cage, proving that at almost 70 years old (she will be 70 next August), she has lost none of her energy. She chained “J’lâche pas”, “Amoureuse”, “Sème la vie”, “I know, I know” in duet with Pierre-Yves Lord, to end with “Illegal” and “Provocative” in front of an unleashed public and admiring.
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The TV broadcast of the show ended with a number bringing together almost all the artists of the evening on “La Basstringue”.
Extensions
However, the show continued in Maisonneuve Park, with an exclusive broadcast on the web. The atmosphere was at its peak as Mélissa Bédard returned to sing “It’s vacation time” with Fouki, the latter continued with “SPALA”.
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In front of a cheering crowd, Souldia and Jay-Jay delivered “Red Light” and “Malewa”. The public was also treated to a fusion of rock and rap with an improbable and incandescent duet between Souldia and Justin Boulet on “Le vide”. One of the highlights of the evening.
After a nod to the memory of Michel Côté, the big National Day show in Montreal ended with a magnificent medley of French songs, including “Formidable” by Marjo, “Ces soirées-là” and “Je danse le Mia” by Fouki and P’tit Béliveau, or “C’est la vie” by Mélissa Bédard.