“Taratata” celebrates its 30th anniversary with more than 80 artists

From Ed Sheeran to Nile Rodgers via Juliette Armanet, more than 80 artists responded to Nagui’s call to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Taratata” with great fanfare, proof of the tenacity of its host and the “confidence “connected with the music scene.

Recording in front of 40,000 people

“I sincerely hope that this anniversary will be seen by as many people as possible”, explained the master of ceremonies in October, a week after the recording at Paris La Défense Arena of this concert broadcast Friday evening on France 2 at 9:10 p.m. The figures speak for themselves: 84 artists for 3.5 hours of concert in front of 40,000 people, 1.2 million euros raised for the foundation for medical research and the fight against cancer, 970 people mobilized, 18 cameras, 96 tons of equipment … “Everything lay like a sort of house of cards”summarized Nagui during a press conference. “I don’t say it often but we can be proud of it”. Especially since the production managed to fill the largest indoor hall in Europe without revealing the list of participants.

No fees for artists

In addition to regulars like Zazie, Pascal Obispo and Bernard Lavilliers, all three present during the first issue of the show in January 1993, artists of all ages and all styles responded, Ed Sheeran the first.

“This huge star”who claims that “Taratata” is her favorite musical show, was asked even before “my teams are informed”relates Nagui. “I said in his ear, before the credits of the show that he had come to record in February or March: here we are going to celebrate the 30th anniversary, it would be cool if you could come.” When he responds positively “two seconds before entering the set, you want to cry”he enthuses.

Among the other notable surprises of the evening are the “trio of groups” Dionysos-Louise Attaque-Texas for “Siffler sur la colline” by Joe Dassin, a freestyle by French rappers for the premiere of Nile Rodgers, legend of funk, in the broadcast, or even a title composed especially for the occasion by Mr.

“There is a deep mutual respect, trust, kindness” and “values” municipalities “important to defend” in the current context, justifies Nagui, recalling that no artist has received any fees and that“no cent” was taken from ticket sales to finance the show.

30 years of existence, a great victory

With a traditional budget (unspecified) for its time slot, France Télévisions contributed to “less than half” of its cost, the rest resting on the audiovisual juggernaut Banijay, to which Nagui’s company, Air Productions, belongs.

Whatever its audience, the event marks a new victory for the co-creator of a program which has experienced many “meanders” since its creation and resists the spirit of the times, where social networks supplant TV for promotion of artists.

“Sauvée” for the first time by the composer of its credits, Jean-Jacques Goldman, who participated at short notice in its second number, “Taratata”, once presented by Alexandra Kazan, was resurrected several times on France 2, France 3 and France 4.

Suffering from a late schedule (12:30 a.m. on Friday), the show was canceled from France 2 in 2013 for budgetary reasons, before being reborn on the internet in partnership with the Vente Privée site, then on the air in 2015 under the aegis of the president of France Télévisions, Delphine Ernotte. In recent years, its audiences have ranged from less than a million to three million viewers.

Two years ago, Nagui’s telecrochet “The Artist” did not have the same success. But the music lover can boast of “do an hour of music every day on TV” with “N’ Forget the Lyrics”, audience leader at 7 p.m., far ahead of talk shows like “Quotidien” and “TPMP”.