To end the Francos in style, we focused on R&B… and on Corneille. The latter was the master of ceremonies (and the main course) of an evening bringing together around ten artists, a sparkling choir and a stunning band, who together honored French-speaking R&B and, above all, got the place dancing a lot Festivals, between nostalgia and discovery.
After a video introduction that set the table, presenting pioneers of R&B from Quebec, Corneille was the first to take the Bell stage, in front of a full audience. “R&B has influenced so many genres of music. And he has his story here too. R&B also has its future here, in French,” he said, thanking the crowd for their presence.
For this large-scale show, we did not opt for a crescendo build-up. Rather, we gave everything from the start. There were ups and downs, but starting with Corneille was obvious. He performed five songs, beginning with Togetherallowing the fabulous Deevine choir to immediately enliven the concert with their talent. Everyone followed, then Our year, Happiness And With class.
Algerian-Canadian singer Zaho was next on the Francos’ big stage. “ [Une Montréalaise] who made an entire generation want to make R&B,” said Corneille to introduce it. The one who created a buzz in 2008, in Quebec, but also in France, with the piece It’s weird, began his number with an improved version (by the group of numerous musicians and this superb choir which made the whole show much more captivating) of this song that many festival-goers sang in chorus. Followed the ballad I promise you (with dancers that we often found during the show), Turn the pageThen Hold My Handa Sean Paul song on which Zaho sang for the remixed version, almost 15 years ago.
YellowStraps, a Belgian neo-soul and R&B duo, came to bring a little more modernity to the show which until then had rather focused on nostalgia.
Slowdownhis song released this year, immediately had its effect on the crowd attentive to the seductive voice of the leader. Blue Then THANKS completed the YellowStraps segment which got the crowd a little less excited.
Montreal pride
We continued with the new R&B generation with the prodigious members of Rau_Ze, a Quebec duo with a promise of something great. Unfortunately, Rau_Ze was only able to present one piece, his successful The habit. We would have liked more, especially since others were given segments that could easily have been shortened…
Corneille, host of the evening, often intervened to tell the crowd what he liked about his favorite musical genre.
R&B is love and sweetness, [qui devient] a power. A power especially in the voices of those who sing it.
Crow
The presentation was entirely appropriate for Céline’s former backing vocalist Dion Barnev, whose first solo album was recently released. We were thus able to understand why he was so keen to strike out and stand on his own two feet.
Soul clearly resides in the singer, who rightly began his act with the song Weeping Soul. something about you, then, showed what we can do when we allow English and French to coexist in R&B. Barnev concluded with I try to forget, which the audience sang with him wholeheartedly.
The Kanda Gang then took the stage. Still little known, this endearing group of singers presented their song First class and was probably thus able to gain new admirers among festival-goers. This show was a family affair, it was felt: two of the members of Kanda Gang were also one finalist, the other semi-finalist at The voice… in Corneille’s team.
To finish beautifully
New favorite next: the Montrealer of Haitian origin Shah Frank was sublime. Interpreter Underground Queen Floor, she projected her captivating voice onto the Place des Festivals, accompanied by the generous house band. A technical glitch (a question of sound on stage, perhaps), apparently, unfortunately did not allow him to be as impeccable on his second song, Shahkra.
But why settle for one of the Frank sisters when you can have both in the same show? Naïma Frank succeeded her sister on stage, presenting The Queen And Dance with Mein turn putting the public in his pocket thanks to his voice and his energy.
Les Praises, just after, extended one of the best segments of the show. “Artists sometimes have such strong personalities that we can’t fit them in. Did you know that he is also a proud member of the R&B family? » The Praises began with Pitou, one of his songs which make it clear that he was able to bring something new to contemporary Quebec music, a sound that only resembles him. YellowStraps then returned to the stage to accompany him on What are you doing to me.
He finally interpreted his success Crashallowing Corneille to join him on this duet which appears on the last Louanges album.
The Frenchman Vacra had his moment to shine, introducing his unique voice (embellished – perhaps a little too much – with autotune) to the Montreal public. It started on Sequence shota song that made him known in 2021. The singer continued with Secret agent and finished with Tiki Takaanother big success (especially with the French community), his androgynous voice entertaining the crowd one last time.
Back to our local pride then, with Naomi. The singer and dancer didn’t do things by halves, presenting an energetic number, with her songs Zero stress And Phenomenon, also surrounded by dancers. New star of this R&B that we celebrated Saturday evening, Naomi was radiant.
All the artists came together for a moment that could have been anticipated, but which still did not disappoint. They sang in chorus Because we come from far away, a choice as obvious as it was pleasant to experience (despite, again, some sound problems). This sweet and dancing evening was a beautiful end for these Francos, which ended on Saturday.