Post by davidhr on Oct 14, 2007 12:53:22 GMT -5
A memorable week for Lara, but one that she would rather forget.
As you probably know, in response to requests for a list of possible baby presents, Lara's father indicated that people send an email to Eve - and that people aren't going to necessarily be happy about it. Eve's message was that one should send money instead of presents. Here's the translation of what Eve had to say:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"At the expressed request of Lara, she wants that the "donations" be sent by mail to the address of the fan club so that it will permit her to collect a sum of money (in cash, not check) and to choose a more important gift.
Lara asks as well that the people who are offering her a sum of money send an envelope with a card indicating their address (so that she could thank you) and a photo so that she could easily identify you.
Don't forget to put your address on the back of the envelop if there is an eventual return by mail.
The name of the place where the list is found will not be given. Lara asks me to coordinate the receiving of the remittance.
If you want more information, don't hesitate to call me on my phone (0479/777.419).
Good day."
Eve
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This stance on Lara's part got a mixed response from the fans (to whom it was directed), with some people understanding it from a practical point of view, and some thinking it was 'gauche'. A week passed, and then on Monday, the magazine "Voici" published the information that Lara was asking her fans to send her money instead of baby presents. This news was subsequently picked up by the free commuter publication "20 minutes", which is read by several million people. Here's a translation of their article:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LARA FABIAN WANTS SOME DOUGH, NOT SOME BABY CLOTHES
Like all future mothers, Lara Fabian has a birth list. But contrary to the majority of those giving birth, it isn't some baby blankets nor some wool slippers that the singer asks for her trousseau, but some money, in cash, exclusively.
It is the celebrity magazine "Voici" who made this disconcerting discovery. Pressed by numerous fans who wanted to know what to offer to the future parents, the fan-club managed by the father of the singer fired back a response that couldn't have been more clear: "Lara wants that the gifts be sent by mail to the fan-club address in order to permit her to collect the sum of money (in cash, not check) and to choose a more important gift". Then, one asks oneself: more important, but like what? A yacht, a house in the country?
To this day, she has sold 12 million copies of her albums and singles around the world. One might well say that the singer can hope to obtain a smart sum.
Her pregnancy is followed very closely by her fans whom she favors with a very intimate log book: "I have swollen legs, I need to stretch..", "I am in Quebec, seated in pajamas in front of my computer. ..”. So many confidences are well worth small gifts and the fan of Lara Fabian is generous it seems: "I carry your pretty bracelets and rings, put on your belts, I light your candles, eat the chocolates, I read your books…" To come on the road notebook: "I happily spent all your cash"?
What do you think? Is Lara Fabian right to want cash? Could you do the same thing?
Nadia Daam
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People responded to this article the way you would expect. They thought she was a greedy star, who didn't know what it was like to live in the real world where money is hard to come by. She appeared arrogant and uncouth for asking for such a thing (and cash yet, not even checks). It was so 'off the wall' in people's minds, that one person thought it must simply be a publicity stunt to keep her name in the news.
Lara's fans defended her somewhat belatedly (after first thinking that they should just ignore the article) by pointing out that she wasn't asking everyone, just fans who had inquired as to what they could send. When these fans pointed out that otherwise Lara would have received 100 teddy bears, etc., others wrote in and suggested she could have donated them to hospitals. All-in-all, it was a real black eye from a publicity standpoint, and one that she may not quickly live down.
On Lara's part, in response to these articles, the following item appeared in the "News" section on the official site, written by Evelyn (a.k.a. Eve). So far it has not been translated into English - perhaps it will be, or perhaps since Eve's email was in French, they may not want to get the other audiences involved. In any event, here's the translation of Eve's new message:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To respond to the questions of numerous members of the fan-club who would want to offer Lara a gift in view of the birth of her baby, Lara has agreed that I inform you that she had deposited a birth list in a store. In order to allow all to be able to participate in the gifts and to avoid certain people feeling uncomfortable in the face of the amount of selected items on the list (that, recall, was not open to the persons outside of the framework of family and friends), we proposed to interested persons to send a participation that, in the end, would permit making a pretty, common gift. It was a matter only of a simple suggestion and in any case not a requirement.
Your reactions moreover have been positive since you all well understood that Lara did that with the aim of allowing you to share her joy as for the birth to come, all the while allowing each of you to participate at the level of your own means.
The terms in the email that I addressed to you in this sense nevertheless provoked negative reactions with some of you, that were relayed by the press, which Lara bitterly regrets. She regrets it all the more so particularly, as I sent this mail without making her read it again a priori. Now she doesn't recognize herself at all in the expressions that I employed, and notably the ones of "donations" and "of cash" to send to the address of the fan club, Lara never having emitted any financial consideration of this order. I sincerely regret it and am anxious to excuse myself for the clumsy terms that I used and that, poorly interpreted, could make Lara seem a 'self-interested' person, that she is not, on the contrary.
All the gifts that you will be able to give her will of course give her immense pleasure, whatever be the form. Finally, for those that would still want to participate in a birth gift, know that you can address your participation be it to the fan club as I had proposed to you (for practical reasons), (or) be it directly to the store in which she opened her list (The World of Baby, 158 streets Courcelles, 75017 Paris – telephones: 01.47.66.03.13). And especially, register well your name and your address so that Lara can thank you!"
Cordially,
Evelyne
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evelyne's response makes the request seem much more acceptable than her initial email did. And indeed, we do know that Lara is not 'money-hungry' - her lack of desire to take advantage of many commercial opportunities is part of her charm (and an occasional source of frustration) for the fans. So in that sense, the press once again has painted an unfair picture of Lara.
But…as has been the case in the past, while they missed the mark, they weren't completely wrong. Eve's email response, as well as Pierre's blunt comments while directing people to Eve, displayed the same touch of arrogant disdain toward the fans that we have been seeing for quite some time on the official site. Perhaps it's inevitable: when you're treated like a Goddess (and you know you're not), there is a tendency to look down on those who worship you. How much of this is Lara's direct responsibility and how much is due to the 'amateur-hour' group that runs her organization is debatable, but ultimately she is the one who suffers when this attitude is uncovered by the media.
Lara has experienced troubles with the press through much of her career (in addition to getting much praise); to the extent that they are of this nature, and that nothing is learned from them, we should expect them to continue. What may come out of this, for the short term at least, is that Lara's people on the official site will be more careful of the tone they adopt to the fans. In that sense, the press looking over their shoulder is a useful corrective.
As to the fans reaction to this additional choice, of contacting the store and responding to the 'baby list'? The feeling was basically unanimous: that a baby list is really for the immediate family and friends, and it would be inappropriate to go against what had been their initial desire, which was to keep it that way. Lara's preferred alternative, however, still has the problem of the legality of sending money directly to them through the Belgian postal system.
In other more positive news, as ely indicated in her new thread, Lara appeared with Gigi today in Paris (where he has a show at the Olympia), as displayed on the program "Buona Domenica". ely notes that she sang "Un Coeur Blessé" with Gigi as well as two other songs. We'll see if any video becomes available. "Un Cuore Malato" is now 96th in France - still in the top 100, but getting close to dropping out. We will see whether Gigi's appearances in Paris will boost its popularity.
On Hezia's site, it was noted that Lara sings, in a home-made type video, the song "Du mal" of Maurane. The video is located at:
larafabian.over-blog.com/article-12950390.html
The website also contains the video of "Syracuse" that Lara sings with H. Salvador.
Similarly, don't forget the Lara Fabian Media Depot at
www.larafabianmediadepot.cjb.net/
Note among others the amazing (mp3) duet by Lara and Maurane of Dieu Aide Les Exclus.
David
As you probably know, in response to requests for a list of possible baby presents, Lara's father indicated that people send an email to Eve - and that people aren't going to necessarily be happy about it. Eve's message was that one should send money instead of presents. Here's the translation of what Eve had to say:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"At the expressed request of Lara, she wants that the "donations" be sent by mail to the address of the fan club so that it will permit her to collect a sum of money (in cash, not check) and to choose a more important gift.
Lara asks as well that the people who are offering her a sum of money send an envelope with a card indicating their address (so that she could thank you) and a photo so that she could easily identify you.
Don't forget to put your address on the back of the envelop if there is an eventual return by mail.
The name of the place where the list is found will not be given. Lara asks me to coordinate the receiving of the remittance.
If you want more information, don't hesitate to call me on my phone (0479/777.419).
Good day."
Eve
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This stance on Lara's part got a mixed response from the fans (to whom it was directed), with some people understanding it from a practical point of view, and some thinking it was 'gauche'. A week passed, and then on Monday, the magazine "Voici" published the information that Lara was asking her fans to send her money instead of baby presents. This news was subsequently picked up by the free commuter publication "20 minutes", which is read by several million people. Here's a translation of their article:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LARA FABIAN WANTS SOME DOUGH, NOT SOME BABY CLOTHES
Like all future mothers, Lara Fabian has a birth list. But contrary to the majority of those giving birth, it isn't some baby blankets nor some wool slippers that the singer asks for her trousseau, but some money, in cash, exclusively.
It is the celebrity magazine "Voici" who made this disconcerting discovery. Pressed by numerous fans who wanted to know what to offer to the future parents, the fan-club managed by the father of the singer fired back a response that couldn't have been more clear: "Lara wants that the gifts be sent by mail to the fan-club address in order to permit her to collect the sum of money (in cash, not check) and to choose a more important gift". Then, one asks oneself: more important, but like what? A yacht, a house in the country?
To this day, she has sold 12 million copies of her albums and singles around the world. One might well say that the singer can hope to obtain a smart sum.
Her pregnancy is followed very closely by her fans whom she favors with a very intimate log book: "I have swollen legs, I need to stretch..", "I am in Quebec, seated in pajamas in front of my computer. ..”. So many confidences are well worth small gifts and the fan of Lara Fabian is generous it seems: "I carry your pretty bracelets and rings, put on your belts, I light your candles, eat the chocolates, I read your books…" To come on the road notebook: "I happily spent all your cash"?
What do you think? Is Lara Fabian right to want cash? Could you do the same thing?
Nadia Daam
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People responded to this article the way you would expect. They thought she was a greedy star, who didn't know what it was like to live in the real world where money is hard to come by. She appeared arrogant and uncouth for asking for such a thing (and cash yet, not even checks). It was so 'off the wall' in people's minds, that one person thought it must simply be a publicity stunt to keep her name in the news.
Lara's fans defended her somewhat belatedly (after first thinking that they should just ignore the article) by pointing out that she wasn't asking everyone, just fans who had inquired as to what they could send. When these fans pointed out that otherwise Lara would have received 100 teddy bears, etc., others wrote in and suggested she could have donated them to hospitals. All-in-all, it was a real black eye from a publicity standpoint, and one that she may not quickly live down.
On Lara's part, in response to these articles, the following item appeared in the "News" section on the official site, written by Evelyn (a.k.a. Eve). So far it has not been translated into English - perhaps it will be, or perhaps since Eve's email was in French, they may not want to get the other audiences involved. In any event, here's the translation of Eve's new message:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To respond to the questions of numerous members of the fan-club who would want to offer Lara a gift in view of the birth of her baby, Lara has agreed that I inform you that she had deposited a birth list in a store. In order to allow all to be able to participate in the gifts and to avoid certain people feeling uncomfortable in the face of the amount of selected items on the list (that, recall, was not open to the persons outside of the framework of family and friends), we proposed to interested persons to send a participation that, in the end, would permit making a pretty, common gift. It was a matter only of a simple suggestion and in any case not a requirement.
Your reactions moreover have been positive since you all well understood that Lara did that with the aim of allowing you to share her joy as for the birth to come, all the while allowing each of you to participate at the level of your own means.
The terms in the email that I addressed to you in this sense nevertheless provoked negative reactions with some of you, that were relayed by the press, which Lara bitterly regrets. She regrets it all the more so particularly, as I sent this mail without making her read it again a priori. Now she doesn't recognize herself at all in the expressions that I employed, and notably the ones of "donations" and "of cash" to send to the address of the fan club, Lara never having emitted any financial consideration of this order. I sincerely regret it and am anxious to excuse myself for the clumsy terms that I used and that, poorly interpreted, could make Lara seem a 'self-interested' person, that she is not, on the contrary.
All the gifts that you will be able to give her will of course give her immense pleasure, whatever be the form. Finally, for those that would still want to participate in a birth gift, know that you can address your participation be it to the fan club as I had proposed to you (for practical reasons), (or) be it directly to the store in which she opened her list (The World of Baby, 158 streets Courcelles, 75017 Paris – telephones: 01.47.66.03.13). And especially, register well your name and your address so that Lara can thank you!"
Cordially,
Evelyne
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evelyne's response makes the request seem much more acceptable than her initial email did. And indeed, we do know that Lara is not 'money-hungry' - her lack of desire to take advantage of many commercial opportunities is part of her charm (and an occasional source of frustration) for the fans. So in that sense, the press once again has painted an unfair picture of Lara.
But…as has been the case in the past, while they missed the mark, they weren't completely wrong. Eve's email response, as well as Pierre's blunt comments while directing people to Eve, displayed the same touch of arrogant disdain toward the fans that we have been seeing for quite some time on the official site. Perhaps it's inevitable: when you're treated like a Goddess (and you know you're not), there is a tendency to look down on those who worship you. How much of this is Lara's direct responsibility and how much is due to the 'amateur-hour' group that runs her organization is debatable, but ultimately she is the one who suffers when this attitude is uncovered by the media.
Lara has experienced troubles with the press through much of her career (in addition to getting much praise); to the extent that they are of this nature, and that nothing is learned from them, we should expect them to continue. What may come out of this, for the short term at least, is that Lara's people on the official site will be more careful of the tone they adopt to the fans. In that sense, the press looking over their shoulder is a useful corrective.
As to the fans reaction to this additional choice, of contacting the store and responding to the 'baby list'? The feeling was basically unanimous: that a baby list is really for the immediate family and friends, and it would be inappropriate to go against what had been their initial desire, which was to keep it that way. Lara's preferred alternative, however, still has the problem of the legality of sending money directly to them through the Belgian postal system.
In other more positive news, as ely indicated in her new thread, Lara appeared with Gigi today in Paris (where he has a show at the Olympia), as displayed on the program "Buona Domenica". ely notes that she sang "Un Coeur Blessé" with Gigi as well as two other songs. We'll see if any video becomes available. "Un Cuore Malato" is now 96th in France - still in the top 100, but getting close to dropping out. We will see whether Gigi's appearances in Paris will boost its popularity.
On Hezia's site, it was noted that Lara sings, in a home-made type video, the song "Du mal" of Maurane. The video is located at:
larafabian.over-blog.com/article-12950390.html
The website also contains the video of "Syracuse" that Lara sings with H. Salvador.
Similarly, don't forget the Lara Fabian Media Depot at
www.larafabianmediadepot.cjb.net/
Note among others the amazing (mp3) duet by Lara and Maurane of Dieu Aide Les Exclus.
David
