The death of Karl Tremblay highlighted the public’s love for the Cowboys Fringants. Proud representatives of Quebec abroad, they have also been a gateway to local culture for many European music lovers. Three fans of the group told Duty how their lives have changed thanks to them.
Immigration journey
Charlotte Prenot grew up in France, but she has proudly called herself Quebecois for around ten years. This is partly thanks to the Cowboys Fringants, who accompanied her through several pivotal stages for her.
“I discovered them for the first time in 2008, by chance, at a festival in France. They were not very well known in Europe at the time. They touched me a lot, among other things because they expressed, in their songs, their pride in being able to express themselves in French. In France, we take our language for granted, but in Quebec, singing in French is a political gesture. »
After the concert, Charlotte started listening to all kinds of local artists. A few years later, she even moved to Quebec to do an internship at the Granby International Song Festival.
“Shortly after arriving, I saw the Cowboys Fringants in concert in Sherbrooke, and I was blown away. Their energy on stage is incredible. We then programmed them at the Granby festival, at the first edition on which I worked. It warmed my heart. »
The most decisive concert for her, however, remains her first Midsummer show on the Plains of Abraham, in which the Cowboys participated. “I was so moved to see so many people come together to celebrate their belonging to this culture that they shared. During the concert, I whispered to my friend who accompanied me: “one day, I am going to become a Quebecois”. My entire immigration journey was then built a little thanks to them. »
Today, Charlotte is responsible for events at the Intercollegiate Network of Sociocultural Activities of Quebec and ensures that all middle school students in the province can be influenced, like her, by local artists.
Love of the French language
Deanna Reesor didn’t discover Cowboys Fringants by chance. She started listening to them to learn French, after settling in Quebec during her studies.
“In secondary school, an Acadian French teacher taught me that you could be passionate about learning a language. She was very touching. But she died tragically while I was still at school. I wanted to become bilingual in her honor, and because she had passed on to me her love of French. »
She did it. Deanna moved to Montreal, then to Quebec, where she worked as a barista while studying. “It’s very difficult in Montreal to practice your French, because when people hear an English accent, they immediately switch to English. That’s why I went to Quebec. At the café, I played French music to practice. Same thing when I drove several hours, alone, to return to Ontario. It was the music of Cowboys Fringants and Mes Aïeux that helped me the most. »
“These groups tell stories in their songs and talk about history and politics. They taught me a lot about Quebec culture. It’s a shame they aren’t more popular elsewhere in Canada. » Back in Ontario for ten years, Deanna still masters the language of Molière very well.
Career change
Annabelle Nicould is a former journalist and deputy director of information for Duty. His meeting with the Cowboys Fringants was decisive for his professional career.
“After spending some time in Quebec for an internship, I returned to live in Paris in 2005. Months later, I met a group of musicians in a bar. I didn’t know what the Cowboys Fringants looked like at the time. But I had heard a lot about it in Quebec. When they told me who they were, I was delighted to meet them, and they offered me tickets to attend their concert at the Grand Rex. »
Surprised by the success of the group in France, the aspiring journalist suggested The Press to cover their concert as a freelancer. “It launched my career. After doing some freelance work, I returned to Quebec to do an internship at The Press and I was eventually hired as a journalist.”
Today, the Cowboys Fringants remind him not only of his first steps in journalism, but also of memories of memorable concerts. “It was completely crazy at the Grand Rex. There was poetry and magic in this evening. It was completely unique to bring music so anchored in Quebec culture to France. »