Thousands of Quebecers gathered Saturday evening at Maisonneuve Park to attend the National Day concert. From Jay Jay to Marjo, there was something for and for all ages.
The rain stopped in time for Montrealers to enjoy the evening. Hosted by Pierre-Yves Lord, the show under the theme “Enter the dance of happiness” brought together on stage FouKi, Garou, Isabelle Boulay, Lydia Képinski, Marjo, P’tit Belliveau, Mélissa Bédard, Scott-Pien Picard, Justin Boulet, Souldia and her 14-year-old colt, Jay Jay.
Among the highlights, a speech by host and author Janette Bertrand on the history of fleurdelisé, the frenzied interpretations of Marjo, and the classics of Garou.
The festivities opened with a medley by Robert Charlebois, Gilles Vigneault, Diane Dufresne, among others. FouKi and P’tit Belliveau entered side by side, performing their collaboration St-Han Quinzon. ” It’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ” And ” I dance reggaeton / on rigodon “sang the duo.
“Even if we squabble sometimes, we should above all not forget that it holds together, a nation! said Pierre-Yves Lord, setting the tone for the rest of the evening, which took place against a backdrop of unity and Quebec pride.
Garou then performed Only, from his debut album. “We are really happy to see Garou and Marjo. We are old, huh, so we like old people more,” said Marie-Claude Sirois laughing, a few minutes before the start of the show. Sitting next to her friend, she hopes that the Quebecer will interpret Downwind.
Her wish will be granted to the applause of the crowd, and one can imagine that Mrs. Sirois will have been just as happy to hear Beautiful in the late evening, during which fireworks were shot into the crowd, despite the warnings in force because of the forest fires. These were launched at the expense of the organizers, who had not planned any fireworks for the evening.
“I didn’t come so much for the artists, I really came because it’s Quebec Day,” said Maude Lapointe-Rioux. We are proud to be Quebecers, it is important to celebrate among ourselves. »
Arrived in Quebec three and nine months ago, Théo Michel and Andy Carpentier see the evening as a “new start”. “We want to invest a little”, say the French.
Several tributes
Julien Boulet performed with Marjo The eyes of the heart, which her father, Gerry Boulet, sang in the late 80s alongside the rocker. Moving moment, because the duo displayed a real complicity, dancing a slow dance to the tunes of saxophone. Will follow a little later another cover of a classic of his father, Still alive.
Julien Boulet also offered a vibrant tribute to Offenbach, performing several titles from the Quebec group, alongside Garou, Isabelle Boulay and Mélissa Bédard.
Broadcast at prime time, the evening was also an opportunity to pay tribute to singer-songwriter and former senator Jean Lapointe, who died last November, but also to his lyricist friend Marcel Lefebvre, who died a little more than a week later.
An extract of CRAZY broadcast on the big screen, in which we see Michel Côté sing Yesterday again d’Aznavour, served as a tribute to the actor.
The evening ended with a message of unity. “Let’s not let the gang divide”, launched Pierre-Yves Lord, before all the artists – with the exception of Souldia and Jay Jay – began to sing Love each other.