Post by davidhr on Feb 19, 2019 9:08:35 GMT -5
Some more promotion and evaluation of Lara’s new album, some new concert dates in the U.S., and of course La Voix highlighted the past week for Lara, First the concert dates:
As you may already be aware, Lara has added four dates in the U.S. to her ‘50’ tour. The tickets that the dates have become/will become available were detailed on her website:
-16 September 2019 New York City – Beacon Theater
- 18 September 2019 Chicago - Chicago Theatre
- 20 September 2019 San Jose , CA – Center of the Performing Arts
- 23 September 2019 Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theater
Pre-sales will start for NYC, Chicago and San Jose will start tomorrow (February 14th) : www.ticketmaster.com
More directly, for:
New York City: bit.ly/FabianNY19
Chicago: bit.ly/FabianChicago19
San Jose: bit.ly/FabianSanJose19
Los Angeles - TBD
The 'early sale' password is LARALOVE
The public sale begins later this week…
Lara’s people introduced this with the words “New dates for the "50" World Tour added for the USA. Here are the first four US-dates”. So there might be more U.S. venues. So far, Florida and Washington, D.C. have not been included as they were last year.Notably added is San Jose, which is some 48 miles south of San Francisco, and thus serves Lara fans in northern California, compared with L.A. in the southern part of the state.
This brings to 25 the number of venues Lara has so far established for her “50” tour. As she indicated there would be 50 concerts in all, she’s half-way there. You may remember Lara promised her South American fans that she would find a way to finally perform in Brazil and Argentina. She had in mind a more ‘acoustic’ concert, but maybe momentum can build to bring the ’50 show’ to those locales as well. There was also, at one point, a desire to perform in Asia (e.g., Vietnam).
As long as we’re mentioning events, Lara is launching her album in Quebec on February 28th. The description at (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/billets-lara-fabian-lancement-de-lalbum-papillon-56512656878?fbclid=IwAR2KKDAdDAtzXbPIHL90Zs6_22JDXNyLM_1HSz9K6he5y9eE_Z8KoIodQT8), reads: “Lara Fabian and Musicor are happy to invite you to discover on stage the universe of the album “Papillon” during an exclusive show.” It’s on Thursday, February 28th, 2019; doors open at 6 PM, the show starts at 7PM (and goes to 8 PM). Location is “Cinéma Impérial”, 1430 Rue Bleury, Montreal, Quebec. It is free, and one can Register at that URL site (though it most likely is overly subscribed already). The LaraFabianweb site is apparently hosting this event. It’s listed on Lara’s FB site under the ‘events’ category, though it’s not exactly clear what it will contain.
One place that is not on the agenda (yet) is India, so it is a bit surprising to find her giving an interview to the India Times. Yet she and her people thought it so important that they put it on her FB site. For those who haven’t seen it, the article is copied below (it was in English):
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Love is the answer to most of the problems humanity is facing: Lara Fabian
By - Rishabh Deb
How do we introduce an artiste like Lara Fabian? Are there enough words in the English language that can do justice to her magnanimous persona...? We really don’t know... She is revered by millions across the globe for her music that talks about love, equality and human emotions. She is an international sensation and a torchbearer of change. Be it a fan in Los Angeles or in a small town in India, her songs unite the world on many levels. Emotional and spiritual, that’s the kind of magic Lara exudes. Her mellifluous rendition touches the deepest emotions of a listener’s soul. We can go on and on about her magical presence across the globe… As her fourteenth studio album — Papillon— released worldwide on February 8, Lara bares her soul with us in an unguarded exchange. We talked about her album, her desire to perform in India and issues that are close to her heart like LGBTQ equality and #MeToo Movement. Here’s presenting Lara that you probably might not have seen before…
Your fourteenth album — Papillon— is out worldwide. Tell us about the album and the songs…
LF: This is my first album in French since 2015, and I am very excited. Papillon is a pop album, which I have composed and written in Canada with my friends. It combines classic instruments with modern pop arrangements. My music reflects the time on which we live, both in terms of arrangements, as well as in the subjects treated in the lyrics. There are songs about love, but also about estrangement within a relation, the wish to make changes in one’s life, the desire for lightness or the challenges that we face in our lives. It is an album full of different colours, sounds and stories; I hope my Indian fans will enjoy it.
You have performed in several countries around the world and garnered amazing response. Your Indian fans are still waiting with a bated breath for you to perform here…
LF: I have been indeed blessed with fans across many countries. This allows me to travel as an artiste with my music across continents, and be able to perform live in all these different places. That is the best thing that can happen to an artist, and I am so grateful for this. I never had an opportunity to perform in India, but I would love to. However, this depends on the agreements between my producers and the Indian concert organising firms. I hope that there will be opportunities for concerts in India soon.
Do you listen to Indian music?
LF: Indian music is so rich in tradition. I wish I knew more about Indian music, especially the contemporary artistes. But I know some essential artistes, such as AR Rahman, Jagjit Singh and Ustad Bismillah Khan. I would love to have a song that fusions western arrangement with classic Indian instruments. My Canadian fellow citizen and amazing artiste Shania Twain did some years ago with a beautiful album titled ‘Up!’ with additional versions of her songs inspired by Indian music. And, why not a collaboration with an Indian artiste for a duet project?
Talking about duets and concerts, we have noticed that you connect with millions of people with so much ease on stage. Tell us about that…
LF: (Smiles) I am always nervous I might be touring and singing live for now more than two decades. But every concert provides with an opportunity to meet the audience from all over the world. And when you walk on that stage, with thousands of eyes directed at you, watching every move, listening to each breath you take, it is impossible to not be nervous; but once we start the show, music does its magic and I become one with the audience. Music is the vehicle through which I connect with the audience; it is this connection that makes music magical. Even if not everyone in the audience will understand each word of each song, because they maybe wouldn’t speak French or English, we still share the emotions that the song is about. I cannot think of any other thing that has the power to unite people who do not know each other personally at this emotional level. It is this magic that makes me do what I do.
And you do it with so much love and gratitude Lara… It also begs for a question that at a time of religious, political and racial divide around the world, your songs have been a great unifier…
LF: I believe history of humankind has always faced challenges. I don’t think that any other period in history was less problematic then the one in which we live. However, social media, the internet and the evolution of media amplify our anxiety and we feel more threatened and scared then before. And sometimes, in our anxieties, with all the noise, we might miss the necessity to focus on the most important challenges that humanity is facing, such as climate change. I believe it is important to understand that, facing these challenges, we are all in the same boat, independently from our ethnicity or identities. And we need to unite and act together to resolve these issues. My song ‘Communify’ on my previous English album ‘Camouflage’ was about this. And the song ‘Par Amour’ in Papillon is about resilience in the face of major challenges we face not only as societies, but also on as humans.
There is so much peace and gratitude in you Lara. You are so approachable and kind to your fans. But there are those in the entertainment industry who would think twice before being grounded and simple…
LF: Why would I not be grounded and simple? I believe that not being simple and grounded would require an explanation, not the other way round. I am a woman, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a human being as any other human. I just happen to write songs and perform them, and I am lucky to be able to make a living with my music. Other than that, I smile, laugh, and cry, like any other woman. My close entourage, family and professional circles always remind me what the real important things are in life. We all aspire for happiness, and love, independently on where we live and what we do for a living. Loving and being loved in return is the essence of happiness.
Take us to the moment when you realised that you want to be a singer?
LF: Beyond a short period where I was considering studying law, I always knew that I wanted to become a singer and songwriter; and my parents have always supported me. My father was playing guitar and he had performed live with artistes such as Petula Clark. He was a major support throughout the years, and continues to do so. I can understand that sometimes parents are worried when their daughter or son decides to pursue an artistic career. In the digital age, where music is available on a simple click practically for free, it is increasingly difficult for an artist, especially emerging ones, to continue producing music without having another “daytime job”. And even established artistes are struggling, as album sales diminish every year. But being an artiste is not something we decide. Either you are or you are not. We can only decide if we want to try making a living from our art. For me, I knew already as a child that I was a singer. I had no doubts, I simply “was”. And my parents understood, and supported me, even if it meant putting what they had saved for “difficult times”, on the table to finance my music production... I am forever grateful to them.
Which song of yours is close to your heart…?
LF: With now 14 studio albums and numerous musical collaborations, it is difficult to single out only one song. Each song has its own history. And depending on where I perform, the audience has a different favourite; but if I was obliged to pick only one single song, I would chose ‘Je t’aime’, which defined me as an artiste. And this is why I will never get tired to sing the song on each and all of my concerts.
What does Lara do when she is not singing or performing?
LF: Whatever any other woman would do! Lots of household tasks, I have a young daughter to take care of. I cook, drive her to school or pick her up. We have a dog, which requires attention. And I have a husband, a family, so, my life, outside of my music, resembles much more the lives of anyone else then you might imagine; I guess that is why you will not see me often in the flashy rainbow magazines.
You have been a strong supporter of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Your song ‘La Difference’ is an anthem for love and acceptance around the world. Last year, India struck down its law Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality. Your message to fans on first Valentine’s Day, post Section 377 verdict…
LF: My message is the same to everybody, LGBTQ or heterosexual: love is love. There is nothing wrong with loving another human, and no conflict or harm has ever come from love. In contrary, love is the answer to most of the problems humanity is facing. I was thrilled to hear that homosexuality was finally decriminalised in India. That is a very important development, especially in view of the importance of the country. I sincerely hope that other countries where these types of unacceptable laws still exist will follow suit. Having said that, change in legislation is not enough, we need to work as societies to make sure that all forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, social categorisation, religion or age are fought against. It is an ongoing struggle.
Talking about struggles, the entertainment industry, worldwide, bravely called out predators who sexually harassed women. Even the music industry came out in support of the #MeToo Movement…
LF: I believe that people will look back in 50 years from now on; they will consider the #MeToo Movement as an important turning point in the fight for gender equality. The problems of women in the entertainment industry gets naturally lots of attention, but the issue is unfortunately much bigger. The issue is not limited to sexual abuse at work, and violence against women in general. It is also about the fact that half of the world population is still not in equal positions with the other half.That is something that is not only unacceptable, but also deprives humanity from fully valorising the capacity, talent and force of humankind. There is the issue of sexual harassment, rape and violence against women, equality of pay, education for young girls and young women, political representation, access to management levels in private and public sectors, lack of appropriate health care for woman, especially reproductive health. The issues are much wider than any specific movement. #TIME’S UP, to address these issues now.
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Lara's typical thoughtful interview. Lara’s people introduced this with the words, “Lara’s interview with the ‘Times of India’, the most respected newspaper in the second-largest country in the world”. One wonders then why this paper would devote such a large space to Lara, when she is not planning to perform in India. The answer may at least partly be associated with the question that was asked, “Last year, India struck down its law Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality. Your message to fans on first Valentine’s Day, post Section 377 verdict…” Being aware of Lara’s support for the LGBT community one could rationalize this timing then as being appropriate. It may also be the interviewer is a big fan of Lara’s. Regardless of the reason, it is wonderful for her to get publicity in a country with over one billion people. And maybe it will encourage Indian producers to come forward and offer her incentive to travel that large distance.
Then Lara was in the publication 7 Jours. The Larafabianweb FB site provided scans of the article, which featured Lara on the cover:
www.facebook.com/larafabianweb/photos/pcb.2651007928248059/2651006491581536/?type=3&theater
Here’s a translation of the article:
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Lara Fabian “I have never met a being like Gabriel”
It’s with Gabriel that Lara Fabian has found the great Love. He is the one who merits a capitol letter, because he gives to her the right to be herself. Married for five years, the couple has found a modus operandi which permits each to spread out, without moving away from each other for too long. And together, the lovers knew how to create a haven of peace for the young girl Lou, who adores her stepfather. While she presents to us her new French album entitled Papillon and while she retakes her coach’s chair on La Voix, the star authorized us a rare access to her love life.
The professional background of Lara Fabian is dotted with success, one more impressive than the next. To this day she counts 30 years of career and has sold 20 million albums around the world. If we know so well the highlights of her career, it is because we have been the privileged witnesses of it since the beginning. The artist has always been a great open book, it is true, but we know less well her life as a woman, once the spotlights are off. Through interviews, the singer has let us have a glimpse of this happiness lived everyday with Gabriel, her husband for five years, but while preserving some of their intimacy. Her happiness testifies: Lara did indeed find love. The one we want to see last forever. True love is not nourished only by beautiful words. It also requires concrete gestures that testify to the depth of feelings. Gabriel has given her several, including agreeing to follow Lara to Quebec. An inestimable chance for the singer who was able to settle here with the approval of her family, a dream she had long cherished. Because she must regularly travel to give a show or to do promotion for her album, Lara could not stand being away from her husband and daughter for long periods. Because this family united against all, as Lara said so well, "does not separate, whatever happens". The singer, who has always prioritized her own considers herself to be "a family woman" and it will always be her priority. And she shows it again in this interview.
Lara, you present to us a new French album entitled “Papillon’. What has been your inspiration for this new work?
LF: The inspirations for this album have been intimately related to what my new life here brought me. The fact that I am back in Quebec and that I am witness to so much love and goodwill. It is my daily life, a simple story with others, but rich at the same time. To enjoy every moment that life brought me and to savor it. That was it, my inspiration. Of course, when we feel good somewhere and we live what we love, we get in touch with the being in us. So, the album is imbued with this beautiful realization, all these beautiful encounters that I made and the love it gave me to live here daily. ‘Papillon’ has this lightness and contemplative aspect thanks to this infinitely serene space from which it comes. I designed texts and melodies at home, in the basement of my old English house, thanks to a frankly effective creative energy. And I know that it is also thanks to the contact with the great talents that surround me during the last season of La Voix.
Which would be your favorite song of the album?
LF: ‘Par amour’ is my favorite song. It tells of our power of resilience, our infinite resource to come back to ourselves, and to that which defines us. I have been inspired by a personal history, but this history is that of each of us: To overcome an obstacle by agreeing to get away from fear and by feeding into ourselves the infinite channel of resources that can allow us to overcome everything ... even the worst. Fear has no chance in the face of love! That's what ‘Par Amour’ says.
What are the first comments you have heard about this album? What seems to touch people?
LF: One has evoked its sensibility, its luminous side and its joy. It has also been noted that some great love songs, of which I am often the messenger, are back.
Will a tour follow this album soon?
LF: Yes, but in a second time in Quebec, because it is a celebration tour around the world for my 50 years that will follow this album. I'm so excited to present a show suitable for the public here, I think for a while already.
Among the great events of your life, there is your history of love. Moreover, Gabriel and you celebrate five years of marriage.
LF: It will be seven years that we are together. For me, the love that I live goes well beyond an “accomplishment”. It is difficult moreover to choose words to qualify it. I prefer to give him gratitude rather than deck it with any description. Because to describe what he is, honestly, I would not have enough talent. This love is a gift. I have never met a being like Gabriel.
Have you dreamed of getting married one day?
LF: All little girls dream of getting married one day, but me, I had abandoned the idea. And then, life before this new decision driven by my disappointments made resound the arrival of this beautiful being. What I really believe is that even if I had “abandoned” the idea of marriage, and I insist on the quotes, I believe that I never ceased to believe that the right person would arrive one day. And it is the silent thought that the universe hears, not the rest. So it is very important to know what we really vibrate in terms of thought, because this thought creates our reality. It is always true.
What is it that you learn next to Gabriel?
LF: That I have the right to be me. It is precious.
Is he at your side to help you move forward and reciprocally?
LF: Love is not a flashlight or a ladder. What he brings when he is pure and reciprocal is the immense path that one travels together with the deep feeling of being understood, respected, taken into account. It's so much more for me than a "contribution". For me, it's an experience that allows life to take on its full dimension.
What is it that the marriage has brought to you?
LF: Nothing more than this beautiful love story already brings me. This relationship changed me. It gave me a more open look at a lot of things.
The fact that your husband exiled himself for you, is it, de facto, a great proof of love?
LF: I believe it, yes. He now lives 7000 km from his family. He agreed to settle in Quebec.
Gabriel would have outstanding projects. Will we know more about this subject soon?
LF: Yes, but I’ll let you talk to him about it one day.
Would you say that Gabriel is your beacon, your strength, your home port?
LF: He is my love, and in this simple phrase, all is said…I can especially affirm that there is nothing that I do not love about him…
What keeps you so united?
LF: The reciprocal confidence and the joy of being together.
You notably share some Italian roots. Other than this heritage, what do you have in common?
LF: The will to be just, the curiosity for life, the love that we have for our near ones, the passion that animates us in the face of our art.
Lara, a word about your meeting ... It's a love at first sight or the relationship has been established over time?
LF: It presented itself like love at first sight for him. Me, I had already taken too many shots. Even that one, I did not want it. (laughs) Joking aside, love does not know these steps. It crosses you and then you are accompanied on the road. It's stronger than a thunderbolt.
The link between Gabriel and your daughter, Lou, is it comforting for you?
LF: It is magical, rich, captivating. These two are very similar.
Gabriel, is he the ideal step-father for your daughter?
LF: I think it…To understand it truly, it suffices to see them together for some minutes, and all is clear. There also, it is a true story of love…
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Wise and profound comments, from someone who has certainly explored this terrain…
There have been other promotional activities in France, for example, an interview in “sudouest.fr” (https://www.sudouest.fr/2019/02/17/lara-fabian-sort-son-14e-album-j-ai-toujours-chante-comme-j-en-ai-envie-5828923-4691.php?fbclid=IwAR1kVySEk-LDnaiOplUsmvFMeueBFqoCeJkqtf9BoCDtBZoom79YPx0cNHU) entitled, “Lara Fabian releases her 14th album: I’ve always sung as I want”. [Thanks to Anthony Berenguer Degiovanni for the scans]. Here’s the translation:
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Lara Fabian : Her new album “Papillon” has just been released. The singer confides in us on her life in her fifties
Jean-Michel Selva
With some 12 million albums sold and more than 20 years of success in France, the Belgian-Canadian Lara Fabian returns to the front of the stage with a 14th opus entirely in French, “Papillon”. She’s swapping the lyricism with which she has us used to, for pop and contemporaneous atmospheres .
Today at 50, she is living in Quebec with her family. Meet with a woman lover of life.
Sud Ouest: Why have you chosen “Papillon” as the title of this new album?
LF: It is a totem which had been decreed for me by my grandmother. She had said to me: “You are my little butterfly and, from now on, remember that in this totem there is the short time that we have to live sometimes and that we should not worry. Remember, too, that you have to enjoy every moment."
S.O.: Exactly, you are going to be 50 years old. Is it an age where you feel like returning to your life?
LF: I estimate that it is a little early still for the hour of balance. I will do that a little bit later. For me, 50 years, that remains only a number and part of the route.
S.O.: You've been criticized for a long time for pushing your voice too far. Looking back, what do you think today?
L.F.: I have a relationship with the public that really puts me on the sidelines of this kind of comment.
I have always sung as I want. I don’t have the impression that I do something other than I am.
S.O.: On the whole of this album, your voice is very light, softer than the one we are used to.
L.F.: The voice is today utilized differently. I do nothing other than change with my time. Musically, it is an album very contemporary. I wrote it from a very inspiring space, very peaceful and serene, and very much in tune with the woman of 50 years that soon that I am. We are what we are, we are not in the intellectual formulation of an emotion. We are more connected to our truth. I think it's an album that grows by listening to it. It enters your cells slowly and stays there. At least I hope so.
S.O.: Love remains your favorite subject?
L.F.: It is for me an inexhaustible theme, the master energy towards which we all run, and when we have the chance to live it and to understand its importance, it is another life that becomes more and more eloquent.
S.O.: You’re going to leave for a long tour, what should we expect?
L.F.: “50 world tour” is a celebration tour which will be the occasion of celebrating my jubilee: 50 dates around Europe and in America. It will include a mix of songs which accompany me since the beginning of my career – since soon 30 years, the blink of an eye – and those of the new album.
S.O.: Your profession is more and more difficult, even for someone who has a long career like yours. What is your view of this evolution?
L.F.: We’ll have to find a solution to adapt to these changes, that the streaming platforms that welcome us move towards a fairer economy towards artisans, creators. I am an entrepreneur, because I manage a company, which is subject to greater risk today because of this wobbly economy. Music continues, in terms of production, to cost the price it costs, but it is absolutely no longer supported by a legitimate economic return. There are the tours that make us live, an album that is no more than an accessory, a presentation card, certainly important, but nevertheless. This endangers the creation. This mutation has its good sides – we have never listened to or consumed so much music – but it is necessary that we find a solution so that the creators continue to exist, to produce.
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Lara does get asked harder questions in France. The interviewer suspected that Lara’s reduced vocal intensity on the album was because she was reacting to criticism of it, as had been the case in the past. She rejects that notion, saying she just wants to be more contemporary, that the time of the emotional singer has passed. In addition, she makes it known that the new album will be included on the upcoming tour, as one suspected. And she indicated that the tour will be around “Europe and America” (and that obviously includes Russia, as we know already); but does it include South America?
As to how the album is doing, ‘Papillon’ opened at #2 in Belgium, a very good sign! On iTunes/Apple music, as of Sunday and then Monday the following listings existed:
In France, it has entered as #5 in top downloaded albums (http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-albums-telecharges/?fbclid=IwAR3vAJi2rqvIwpitrVvHKAqPa2jauqbNQA9NmstVFGseokC0WmA7xpHlDmM), and for the week of February 8-14, it is #6 on iTunes (https://editorializer.relaxnews.com/fr/select/high-tech-jeux-video?modal=article&articleId=1757324&sourceType=news&sourceLang=fr&fbclid=IwAR0h0WL3WsFpR0ZWjUof-nFpCqqotzfDD7I3C7ybMqbAFtagWeANe9hDvMg).
Then – the news about La Voix. Sunday night had the second episode, and like the first, TVA has become much more restrictive in what they allow to be seen outside the country (which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense – all they’re doing is restricting their total viewership, which would seem counterproductive). Nevertheless, they do put a few videos, generally quite short, on their facebook page. Of particular interest is that apparently each week, one of the judges will get a chance to make a brief singing appearance. In the second week it was Lara (the first week was Alex), and her video is available for viewing at:
www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/2023223314428134/
(Lara herself put a link to it on her facebook site). As could be expected, she did an amazing job, on “Saisir le jour”, a song she hasn’t sung much in the last 25 years!
The first episode itself can be found on NABBOX (especially if you’ve donated money to them). If this continues, an evaluation of each episode may be provided in the following week’s News Update. The La Voix extra show that appeared later last week is available and it can be found at:
vk.com/video-23729576_456239786?fbclid=IwAR1V-hdEG9oliiFl_7RzdgZIZiAKfItFdMbmBlbmlRIlsmFbaTyiOoadoqs
Concerning the first episode, it was (IMHO) outstanding – full of joy, pathos, surprise and music. Lara was in her element. Here are some of the highlights:
**The first singer, Samantha Reeves, chose Lara appropriately, since she has a beautiful voice.
**The second singer who chose Lara, Tony Crew, came as a complete surprise to her, for he is a more of a rock/blues performer. She was perhaps the least enthusiastic of the judges, all of whom selected him, so it was clear he just wanted to work with her (a beautiful woman, who wouldn’t want that!
).
**The third singer who chose Lara was Morey Hatem. Lara was the only person who “turned her chair around” for him, so there was little ‘choice’ for him. However, he clearly would have picked her anyway, as is evident from his story in “L’Orient Le Jour”
(https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1157137/a-the-voice-canada-le-libanais-mory-hatem-realise-un-reve-denfant.html?fbclid=IwAR2QDsXxmO9to6P1djDIMhbAti-DPt03mMpLzqbWSt6pk5JdA3Vo2tDvjlA), translated below:
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At "The Voice Canada", the Lebanese Mory Hatem realizes a child's dream
LEBANON POP
The young singer joined the team of his idol Lara Fabian, who 'turned' to listen to his interpretation of the title "Que je t’aime". From Montreal, he delivers his first impressions to "L'Orient-Le Jour".
We have seen many Lebanese participate in the famous reality TV competition "The Voice" in France in recent years. From Hiba Tawaji to Anthony Touma, Aline Lahoud, Marc Hatem and Johny Maalouf, the list of artists who have dreamed of a career abroad is long. This season, however, it is in Canada that the Lebanese will follow with pleasure the path of a young talent who decided to take part in the Quebec version of the program: "La Voix". His name is Mory Hatem and he is a regular on the show in a way, since he was already a semi-finalist of the program in its Arabic version during the first season in 2013.
Sunday evening, it is while interpreting the hit of Johnny Hallyday ‘Que je t’aime” that the singer managed his blind audition during the very first episode, making turn the chair of the coach Lara Fabian, his idol, with whom "I dreamed of collaborating”. When the star asks his name, Mory, visibly moved, answers: "I do not know anymore.” "You had a great influence on my childhood, on my voice and my interpretation," he says in tears. “Seven years ago, I had to meet you for the first time during a concert in Beirut, and this concert was canceled. All these years later, life brings me back here.” For her part, she was also very moved, Lara Fabian assures that "there was everything in his performance". "It's such a beautiful gift to know that we have influenced, changed the course of a person and on a human level. I do not have the right of going to sing in Lebanon for political reasons, but tonight it's as if part of Lebanon has come to me!” In 2012, Lara Fabian decided to cancel a planned concert in Lebanon for Valentine's Day, citing "security reasons". Accused of being pro-Israeli by Lebanese militants, Lara Fabian said she would not sing under "threats".
Conquering a new audience
Lebanon, it is more than a year since the young man of 27 years left for Montreal, where he sings with a group and hosts many concerts. It is during an evening that he is spotted by a former producer of the show who offers him to do a casting. "I liked the idea, but I was afraid to relive the stress that I had experienced when I participated in the Arabic version," says Mory Hatem to L'Orient-Le Jour. “It's a pretty trying adventure. But when I knew that Lara Fabian was among the coaches, I accepted. During my audition, I sang for her, I came for her. It would have been a disappointment if she had not turned around."
Following Sunday night on television the images of his blind audition, he relives this moment "as for the first time". "It was as if I was waiting to see which coach was going to turn around," he says, assuring that "the returns are very positive in Lebanon, but also in Canada on social networks." "It comforts me because, in the end, I am only an immigrant in this country. I feel that the Canadian public has an open and warm spirit, and that it has been touched by my performance. That might not have been the case in Lebanon if I had broken down in tears on stage as I did."
"One of the most important voices on the planet"
However, Mory Hatem has good memories of his previous participation in "The Voice" where he was coached by Baalbeckiote singer Assi el-Hellani, although he notes some differences on a personal level. "I grew up," says the artist, who began his career performing French variety at Music Hall. “So I benefit more from each moment and realize better what is happening around me. At the time of my first participation, I was still very young, at an age when one is happy, but where one undergoes the things without really appreciating them. I'm also more fragile today, maybe because I'm far from home. On the vocal level, it must also be said that Western music is not the playground of Assi el-Hellani. There, I work with one of the most important voices on the planet. So I try to make the most of it, to ask a lot of questions.” "Lara Fabian is someone very human and very honest too. I really like this link that unites us", adds the singer who had once made savings to attend the famous concert of the Belgian artist at the Casino du Liban in February 2012.
After a successful audition, Mory Hatem is expected to take part in the battles in a few weeks, the next step in the competition against another talent from Lara Fabian's team, which he has already recorded, even though he can not yet divulge the details. "It feels good to submit to an audience of experts. This exercise gives an artist a certain self-confidence, a legitimacy, "says Mory, who has nevertheless made his path in the country of Cedar and released many singles and video clips in Arabic. "Yes, I was happy in Lebanon, but I felt that I had to travel, take a step towards a wider horizon and that it was the moment or never. My passion is not limited to what I did. I think we live only once, so might as well dream big, and Canada is huge!
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Yes, very fortunate Lara did choose him. Lara then explained the whole situation of the Lebanon concert cancellation and her corresponding Valentine’s Day concert broadcast to the sympathetic judges and audience.
**A fourth candidate, Ferline Regis, might well have chosen Lara, but Alex blocked Lara – the only block of the night. Lara was shocked, and went right over and scolded him. He tried to explain his reasoning, while Lara continued to mock him. It was in “semi”-good fun. Lara’s expression on finding out she was blocked was recorded by La Voix, and can be seen at: www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/371761110082834/
**At the end, the show pulled a stunt on the judges, by importing the well-known Canadian singer Corey Hart, who has sold over 16 million records worldwide, to act as a candidate. Fortunately, all the judges chose him! A glimpse of him going along with the gag can be seen at: www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/1893167477473234/
**There were several candidates whom nobody chose. Those were generally sad experiences (except for one), and Lara made an effort to try to offer them condolences and suggestions about their singing.
All-in-all, a great opening to the season.
La Voix ‘Extra’ provided, as expected, a backstage look at the show, gave the hosts more to do, showed the judges interacting . A ‘highlight’ was Lara being filmed discovering her backstage room, at about the 6 minute mark. And you get to see the judges’ reactions to their pictures – discussed further immediately below.
The artist Cynthia Coulombe Begin had her paintings of the judges' portraits appear on La Voix, as can be seen in the video at:
www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/325187014767878/
As in the ‘Extra’, this too shows the “coaches discovering their portraits”. They truly are wonderful. Lara’s was associated with her song “Painting in the Rain”; Lara said it captured the feeling of the song. It can be found at:
www.facebook.com/CCB4RT/photos/a.10157729937417439/10157729937637439/?type=3&theater
And to follow on from that, the (other) interesting photo(s) of the week are from Lara; first “Happy Valentine’s Day”
www.facebook.com/larafabianofficial/photos/a.622966977744803/2585757658132382/?type=3&theater
Then, with the caption, “Good weekend”, Lara left this photo
www.facebook.com/larafabianofficial/photos/a.215378125170359/2591849550856526/?type=3&theater
along with the request, “Would you tell me the songs you prefer on my new album “Papillon”? The answers, as you might expect, were all over the place, but “Je suis a toi”, “Par amour” and “Je ne t’aime plus” were often mentioned.
Lara is still in Europe and has some TV appearances coming up there, but it looks like she’ll be back in Quebec by the end of the month. In the meantime expect more of the same – additional promotion, some indications of the album’s commercial standing, and more shows from La Voix. A fruitful time for Lara and her fans.
As a closing remark, from the time the weekly News Updates began in January of 2006, a (very) rough calculation suggests that we have now passed the one million word mark. All of the News Updates from that time to this are available at: www.tapatalk.com/groups/lfiag/laradomus-f5/.
David
As you may already be aware, Lara has added four dates in the U.S. to her ‘50’ tour. The tickets that the dates have become/will become available were detailed on her website:
-16 September 2019 New York City – Beacon Theater
- 18 September 2019 Chicago - Chicago Theatre
- 20 September 2019 San Jose , CA – Center of the Performing Arts
- 23 September 2019 Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theater
Pre-sales will start for NYC, Chicago and San Jose will start tomorrow (February 14th) : www.ticketmaster.com
More directly, for:
New York City: bit.ly/FabianNY19
Chicago: bit.ly/FabianChicago19
San Jose: bit.ly/FabianSanJose19
Los Angeles - TBD
The 'early sale' password is LARALOVE
The public sale begins later this week…
Lara’s people introduced this with the words “New dates for the "50" World Tour added for the USA. Here are the first four US-dates”. So there might be more U.S. venues. So far, Florida and Washington, D.C. have not been included as they were last year.Notably added is San Jose, which is some 48 miles south of San Francisco, and thus serves Lara fans in northern California, compared with L.A. in the southern part of the state.
This brings to 25 the number of venues Lara has so far established for her “50” tour. As she indicated there would be 50 concerts in all, she’s half-way there. You may remember Lara promised her South American fans that she would find a way to finally perform in Brazil and Argentina. She had in mind a more ‘acoustic’ concert, but maybe momentum can build to bring the ’50 show’ to those locales as well. There was also, at one point, a desire to perform in Asia (e.g., Vietnam).
As long as we’re mentioning events, Lara is launching her album in Quebec on February 28th. The description at (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/billets-lara-fabian-lancement-de-lalbum-papillon-56512656878?fbclid=IwAR2KKDAdDAtzXbPIHL90Zs6_22JDXNyLM_1HSz9K6he5y9eE_Z8KoIodQT8), reads: “Lara Fabian and Musicor are happy to invite you to discover on stage the universe of the album “Papillon” during an exclusive show.” It’s on Thursday, February 28th, 2019; doors open at 6 PM, the show starts at 7PM (and goes to 8 PM). Location is “Cinéma Impérial”, 1430 Rue Bleury, Montreal, Quebec. It is free, and one can Register at that URL site (though it most likely is overly subscribed already). The LaraFabianweb site is apparently hosting this event. It’s listed on Lara’s FB site under the ‘events’ category, though it’s not exactly clear what it will contain.
One place that is not on the agenda (yet) is India, so it is a bit surprising to find her giving an interview to the India Times. Yet she and her people thought it so important that they put it on her FB site. For those who haven’t seen it, the article is copied below (it was in English):
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Love is the answer to most of the problems humanity is facing: Lara Fabian
By - Rishabh Deb
How do we introduce an artiste like Lara Fabian? Are there enough words in the English language that can do justice to her magnanimous persona...? We really don’t know... She is revered by millions across the globe for her music that talks about love, equality and human emotions. She is an international sensation and a torchbearer of change. Be it a fan in Los Angeles or in a small town in India, her songs unite the world on many levels. Emotional and spiritual, that’s the kind of magic Lara exudes. Her mellifluous rendition touches the deepest emotions of a listener’s soul. We can go on and on about her magical presence across the globe… As her fourteenth studio album — Papillon— released worldwide on February 8, Lara bares her soul with us in an unguarded exchange. We talked about her album, her desire to perform in India and issues that are close to her heart like LGBTQ equality and #MeToo Movement. Here’s presenting Lara that you probably might not have seen before…
Your fourteenth album — Papillon— is out worldwide. Tell us about the album and the songs…
LF: This is my first album in French since 2015, and I am very excited. Papillon is a pop album, which I have composed and written in Canada with my friends. It combines classic instruments with modern pop arrangements. My music reflects the time on which we live, both in terms of arrangements, as well as in the subjects treated in the lyrics. There are songs about love, but also about estrangement within a relation, the wish to make changes in one’s life, the desire for lightness or the challenges that we face in our lives. It is an album full of different colours, sounds and stories; I hope my Indian fans will enjoy it.
You have performed in several countries around the world and garnered amazing response. Your Indian fans are still waiting with a bated breath for you to perform here…
LF: I have been indeed blessed with fans across many countries. This allows me to travel as an artiste with my music across continents, and be able to perform live in all these different places. That is the best thing that can happen to an artist, and I am so grateful for this. I never had an opportunity to perform in India, but I would love to. However, this depends on the agreements between my producers and the Indian concert organising firms. I hope that there will be opportunities for concerts in India soon.
Do you listen to Indian music?
LF: Indian music is so rich in tradition. I wish I knew more about Indian music, especially the contemporary artistes. But I know some essential artistes, such as AR Rahman, Jagjit Singh and Ustad Bismillah Khan. I would love to have a song that fusions western arrangement with classic Indian instruments. My Canadian fellow citizen and amazing artiste Shania Twain did some years ago with a beautiful album titled ‘Up!’ with additional versions of her songs inspired by Indian music. And, why not a collaboration with an Indian artiste for a duet project?
Talking about duets and concerts, we have noticed that you connect with millions of people with so much ease on stage. Tell us about that…
LF: (Smiles) I am always nervous I might be touring and singing live for now more than two decades. But every concert provides with an opportunity to meet the audience from all over the world. And when you walk on that stage, with thousands of eyes directed at you, watching every move, listening to each breath you take, it is impossible to not be nervous; but once we start the show, music does its magic and I become one with the audience. Music is the vehicle through which I connect with the audience; it is this connection that makes music magical. Even if not everyone in the audience will understand each word of each song, because they maybe wouldn’t speak French or English, we still share the emotions that the song is about. I cannot think of any other thing that has the power to unite people who do not know each other personally at this emotional level. It is this magic that makes me do what I do.
And you do it with so much love and gratitude Lara… It also begs for a question that at a time of religious, political and racial divide around the world, your songs have been a great unifier…
LF: I believe history of humankind has always faced challenges. I don’t think that any other period in history was less problematic then the one in which we live. However, social media, the internet and the evolution of media amplify our anxiety and we feel more threatened and scared then before. And sometimes, in our anxieties, with all the noise, we might miss the necessity to focus on the most important challenges that humanity is facing, such as climate change. I believe it is important to understand that, facing these challenges, we are all in the same boat, independently from our ethnicity or identities. And we need to unite and act together to resolve these issues. My song ‘Communify’ on my previous English album ‘Camouflage’ was about this. And the song ‘Par Amour’ in Papillon is about resilience in the face of major challenges we face not only as societies, but also on as humans.
There is so much peace and gratitude in you Lara. You are so approachable and kind to your fans. But there are those in the entertainment industry who would think twice before being grounded and simple…
LF: Why would I not be grounded and simple? I believe that not being simple and grounded would require an explanation, not the other way round. I am a woman, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a human being as any other human. I just happen to write songs and perform them, and I am lucky to be able to make a living with my music. Other than that, I smile, laugh, and cry, like any other woman. My close entourage, family and professional circles always remind me what the real important things are in life. We all aspire for happiness, and love, independently on where we live and what we do for a living. Loving and being loved in return is the essence of happiness.
Take us to the moment when you realised that you want to be a singer?
LF: Beyond a short period where I was considering studying law, I always knew that I wanted to become a singer and songwriter; and my parents have always supported me. My father was playing guitar and he had performed live with artistes such as Petula Clark. He was a major support throughout the years, and continues to do so. I can understand that sometimes parents are worried when their daughter or son decides to pursue an artistic career. In the digital age, where music is available on a simple click practically for free, it is increasingly difficult for an artist, especially emerging ones, to continue producing music without having another “daytime job”. And even established artistes are struggling, as album sales diminish every year. But being an artiste is not something we decide. Either you are or you are not. We can only decide if we want to try making a living from our art. For me, I knew already as a child that I was a singer. I had no doubts, I simply “was”. And my parents understood, and supported me, even if it meant putting what they had saved for “difficult times”, on the table to finance my music production... I am forever grateful to them.
Which song of yours is close to your heart…?
LF: With now 14 studio albums and numerous musical collaborations, it is difficult to single out only one song. Each song has its own history. And depending on where I perform, the audience has a different favourite; but if I was obliged to pick only one single song, I would chose ‘Je t’aime’, which defined me as an artiste. And this is why I will never get tired to sing the song on each and all of my concerts.
What does Lara do when she is not singing or performing?
LF: Whatever any other woman would do! Lots of household tasks, I have a young daughter to take care of. I cook, drive her to school or pick her up. We have a dog, which requires attention. And I have a husband, a family, so, my life, outside of my music, resembles much more the lives of anyone else then you might imagine; I guess that is why you will not see me often in the flashy rainbow magazines.
You have been a strong supporter of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Your song ‘La Difference’ is an anthem for love and acceptance around the world. Last year, India struck down its law Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality. Your message to fans on first Valentine’s Day, post Section 377 verdict…
LF: My message is the same to everybody, LGBTQ or heterosexual: love is love. There is nothing wrong with loving another human, and no conflict or harm has ever come from love. In contrary, love is the answer to most of the problems humanity is facing. I was thrilled to hear that homosexuality was finally decriminalised in India. That is a very important development, especially in view of the importance of the country. I sincerely hope that other countries where these types of unacceptable laws still exist will follow suit. Having said that, change in legislation is not enough, we need to work as societies to make sure that all forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, social categorisation, religion or age are fought against. It is an ongoing struggle.
Talking about struggles, the entertainment industry, worldwide, bravely called out predators who sexually harassed women. Even the music industry came out in support of the #MeToo Movement…
LF: I believe that people will look back in 50 years from now on; they will consider the #MeToo Movement as an important turning point in the fight for gender equality. The problems of women in the entertainment industry gets naturally lots of attention, but the issue is unfortunately much bigger. The issue is not limited to sexual abuse at work, and violence against women in general. It is also about the fact that half of the world population is still not in equal positions with the other half.That is something that is not only unacceptable, but also deprives humanity from fully valorising the capacity, talent and force of humankind. There is the issue of sexual harassment, rape and violence against women, equality of pay, education for young girls and young women, political representation, access to management levels in private and public sectors, lack of appropriate health care for woman, especially reproductive health. The issues are much wider than any specific movement. #TIME’S UP, to address these issues now.
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Lara's typical thoughtful interview. Lara’s people introduced this with the words, “Lara’s interview with the ‘Times of India’, the most respected newspaper in the second-largest country in the world”. One wonders then why this paper would devote such a large space to Lara, when she is not planning to perform in India. The answer may at least partly be associated with the question that was asked, “Last year, India struck down its law Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality. Your message to fans on first Valentine’s Day, post Section 377 verdict…” Being aware of Lara’s support for the LGBT community one could rationalize this timing then as being appropriate. It may also be the interviewer is a big fan of Lara’s. Regardless of the reason, it is wonderful for her to get publicity in a country with over one billion people. And maybe it will encourage Indian producers to come forward and offer her incentive to travel that large distance.
Then Lara was in the publication 7 Jours. The Larafabianweb FB site provided scans of the article, which featured Lara on the cover:
www.facebook.com/larafabianweb/photos/pcb.2651007928248059/2651006491581536/?type=3&theater
Here’s a translation of the article:
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Lara Fabian “I have never met a being like Gabriel”
It’s with Gabriel that Lara Fabian has found the great Love. He is the one who merits a capitol letter, because he gives to her the right to be herself. Married for five years, the couple has found a modus operandi which permits each to spread out, without moving away from each other for too long. And together, the lovers knew how to create a haven of peace for the young girl Lou, who adores her stepfather. While she presents to us her new French album entitled Papillon and while she retakes her coach’s chair on La Voix, the star authorized us a rare access to her love life.
The professional background of Lara Fabian is dotted with success, one more impressive than the next. To this day she counts 30 years of career and has sold 20 million albums around the world. If we know so well the highlights of her career, it is because we have been the privileged witnesses of it since the beginning. The artist has always been a great open book, it is true, but we know less well her life as a woman, once the spotlights are off. Through interviews, the singer has let us have a glimpse of this happiness lived everyday with Gabriel, her husband for five years, but while preserving some of their intimacy. Her happiness testifies: Lara did indeed find love. The one we want to see last forever. True love is not nourished only by beautiful words. It also requires concrete gestures that testify to the depth of feelings. Gabriel has given her several, including agreeing to follow Lara to Quebec. An inestimable chance for the singer who was able to settle here with the approval of her family, a dream she had long cherished. Because she must regularly travel to give a show or to do promotion for her album, Lara could not stand being away from her husband and daughter for long periods. Because this family united against all, as Lara said so well, "does not separate, whatever happens". The singer, who has always prioritized her own considers herself to be "a family woman" and it will always be her priority. And she shows it again in this interview.
Lara, you present to us a new French album entitled “Papillon’. What has been your inspiration for this new work?
LF: The inspirations for this album have been intimately related to what my new life here brought me. The fact that I am back in Quebec and that I am witness to so much love and goodwill. It is my daily life, a simple story with others, but rich at the same time. To enjoy every moment that life brought me and to savor it. That was it, my inspiration. Of course, when we feel good somewhere and we live what we love, we get in touch with the being in us. So, the album is imbued with this beautiful realization, all these beautiful encounters that I made and the love it gave me to live here daily. ‘Papillon’ has this lightness and contemplative aspect thanks to this infinitely serene space from which it comes. I designed texts and melodies at home, in the basement of my old English house, thanks to a frankly effective creative energy. And I know that it is also thanks to the contact with the great talents that surround me during the last season of La Voix.
Which would be your favorite song of the album?
LF: ‘Par amour’ is my favorite song. It tells of our power of resilience, our infinite resource to come back to ourselves, and to that which defines us. I have been inspired by a personal history, but this history is that of each of us: To overcome an obstacle by agreeing to get away from fear and by feeding into ourselves the infinite channel of resources that can allow us to overcome everything ... even the worst. Fear has no chance in the face of love! That's what ‘Par Amour’ says.
What are the first comments you have heard about this album? What seems to touch people?
LF: One has evoked its sensibility, its luminous side and its joy. It has also been noted that some great love songs, of which I am often the messenger, are back.
Will a tour follow this album soon?
LF: Yes, but in a second time in Quebec, because it is a celebration tour around the world for my 50 years that will follow this album. I'm so excited to present a show suitable for the public here, I think for a while already.
Among the great events of your life, there is your history of love. Moreover, Gabriel and you celebrate five years of marriage.
LF: It will be seven years that we are together. For me, the love that I live goes well beyond an “accomplishment”. It is difficult moreover to choose words to qualify it. I prefer to give him gratitude rather than deck it with any description. Because to describe what he is, honestly, I would not have enough talent. This love is a gift. I have never met a being like Gabriel.
Have you dreamed of getting married one day?
LF: All little girls dream of getting married one day, but me, I had abandoned the idea. And then, life before this new decision driven by my disappointments made resound the arrival of this beautiful being. What I really believe is that even if I had “abandoned” the idea of marriage, and I insist on the quotes, I believe that I never ceased to believe that the right person would arrive one day. And it is the silent thought that the universe hears, not the rest. So it is very important to know what we really vibrate in terms of thought, because this thought creates our reality. It is always true.
What is it that you learn next to Gabriel?
LF: That I have the right to be me. It is precious.
Is he at your side to help you move forward and reciprocally?
LF: Love is not a flashlight or a ladder. What he brings when he is pure and reciprocal is the immense path that one travels together with the deep feeling of being understood, respected, taken into account. It's so much more for me than a "contribution". For me, it's an experience that allows life to take on its full dimension.
What is it that the marriage has brought to you?
LF: Nothing more than this beautiful love story already brings me. This relationship changed me. It gave me a more open look at a lot of things.
The fact that your husband exiled himself for you, is it, de facto, a great proof of love?
LF: I believe it, yes. He now lives 7000 km from his family. He agreed to settle in Quebec.
Gabriel would have outstanding projects. Will we know more about this subject soon?
LF: Yes, but I’ll let you talk to him about it one day.
Would you say that Gabriel is your beacon, your strength, your home port?
LF: He is my love, and in this simple phrase, all is said…I can especially affirm that there is nothing that I do not love about him…
What keeps you so united?
LF: The reciprocal confidence and the joy of being together.
You notably share some Italian roots. Other than this heritage, what do you have in common?
LF: The will to be just, the curiosity for life, the love that we have for our near ones, the passion that animates us in the face of our art.
Lara, a word about your meeting ... It's a love at first sight or the relationship has been established over time?
LF: It presented itself like love at first sight for him. Me, I had already taken too many shots. Even that one, I did not want it. (laughs) Joking aside, love does not know these steps. It crosses you and then you are accompanied on the road. It's stronger than a thunderbolt.
The link between Gabriel and your daughter, Lou, is it comforting for you?
LF: It is magical, rich, captivating. These two are very similar.
Gabriel, is he the ideal step-father for your daughter?
LF: I think it…To understand it truly, it suffices to see them together for some minutes, and all is clear. There also, it is a true story of love…
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Wise and profound comments, from someone who has certainly explored this terrain…
There have been other promotional activities in France, for example, an interview in “sudouest.fr” (https://www.sudouest.fr/2019/02/17/lara-fabian-sort-son-14e-album-j-ai-toujours-chante-comme-j-en-ai-envie-5828923-4691.php?fbclid=IwAR1kVySEk-LDnaiOplUsmvFMeueBFqoCeJkqtf9BoCDtBZoom79YPx0cNHU) entitled, “Lara Fabian releases her 14th album: I’ve always sung as I want”. [Thanks to Anthony Berenguer Degiovanni for the scans]. Here’s the translation:
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Lara Fabian : Her new album “Papillon” has just been released. The singer confides in us on her life in her fifties
Jean-Michel Selva
With some 12 million albums sold and more than 20 years of success in France, the Belgian-Canadian Lara Fabian returns to the front of the stage with a 14th opus entirely in French, “Papillon”. She’s swapping the lyricism with which she has us used to, for pop and contemporaneous atmospheres .
Today at 50, she is living in Quebec with her family. Meet with a woman lover of life.
Sud Ouest: Why have you chosen “Papillon” as the title of this new album?
LF: It is a totem which had been decreed for me by my grandmother. She had said to me: “You are my little butterfly and, from now on, remember that in this totem there is the short time that we have to live sometimes and that we should not worry. Remember, too, that you have to enjoy every moment."
S.O.: Exactly, you are going to be 50 years old. Is it an age where you feel like returning to your life?
LF: I estimate that it is a little early still for the hour of balance. I will do that a little bit later. For me, 50 years, that remains only a number and part of the route.
S.O.: You've been criticized for a long time for pushing your voice too far. Looking back, what do you think today?
L.F.: I have a relationship with the public that really puts me on the sidelines of this kind of comment.
I have always sung as I want. I don’t have the impression that I do something other than I am.
S.O.: On the whole of this album, your voice is very light, softer than the one we are used to.
L.F.: The voice is today utilized differently. I do nothing other than change with my time. Musically, it is an album very contemporary. I wrote it from a very inspiring space, very peaceful and serene, and very much in tune with the woman of 50 years that soon that I am. We are what we are, we are not in the intellectual formulation of an emotion. We are more connected to our truth. I think it's an album that grows by listening to it. It enters your cells slowly and stays there. At least I hope so.
S.O.: Love remains your favorite subject?
L.F.: It is for me an inexhaustible theme, the master energy towards which we all run, and when we have the chance to live it and to understand its importance, it is another life that becomes more and more eloquent.
S.O.: You’re going to leave for a long tour, what should we expect?
L.F.: “50 world tour” is a celebration tour which will be the occasion of celebrating my jubilee: 50 dates around Europe and in America. It will include a mix of songs which accompany me since the beginning of my career – since soon 30 years, the blink of an eye – and those of the new album.
S.O.: Your profession is more and more difficult, even for someone who has a long career like yours. What is your view of this evolution?
L.F.: We’ll have to find a solution to adapt to these changes, that the streaming platforms that welcome us move towards a fairer economy towards artisans, creators. I am an entrepreneur, because I manage a company, which is subject to greater risk today because of this wobbly economy. Music continues, in terms of production, to cost the price it costs, but it is absolutely no longer supported by a legitimate economic return. There are the tours that make us live, an album that is no more than an accessory, a presentation card, certainly important, but nevertheless. This endangers the creation. This mutation has its good sides – we have never listened to or consumed so much music – but it is necessary that we find a solution so that the creators continue to exist, to produce.
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Lara does get asked harder questions in France. The interviewer suspected that Lara’s reduced vocal intensity on the album was because she was reacting to criticism of it, as had been the case in the past. She rejects that notion, saying she just wants to be more contemporary, that the time of the emotional singer has passed. In addition, she makes it known that the new album will be included on the upcoming tour, as one suspected. And she indicated that the tour will be around “Europe and America” (and that obviously includes Russia, as we know already); but does it include South America?
As to how the album is doing, ‘Papillon’ opened at #2 in Belgium, a very good sign! On iTunes/Apple music, as of Sunday and then Monday the following listings existed:
In France, it has entered as #5 in top downloaded albums (http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-albums-telecharges/?fbclid=IwAR3vAJi2rqvIwpitrVvHKAqPa2jauqbNQA9NmstVFGseokC0WmA7xpHlDmM), and for the week of February 8-14, it is #6 on iTunes (https://editorializer.relaxnews.com/fr/select/high-tech-jeux-video?modal=article&articleId=1757324&sourceType=news&sourceLang=fr&fbclid=IwAR0h0WL3WsFpR0ZWjUof-nFpCqqotzfDD7I3C7ybMqbAFtagWeANe9hDvMg).
Then – the news about La Voix. Sunday night had the second episode, and like the first, TVA has become much more restrictive in what they allow to be seen outside the country (which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense – all they’re doing is restricting their total viewership, which would seem counterproductive). Nevertheless, they do put a few videos, generally quite short, on their facebook page. Of particular interest is that apparently each week, one of the judges will get a chance to make a brief singing appearance. In the second week it was Lara (the first week was Alex), and her video is available for viewing at:
www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/2023223314428134/
(Lara herself put a link to it on her facebook site). As could be expected, she did an amazing job, on “Saisir le jour”, a song she hasn’t sung much in the last 25 years!
The first episode itself can be found on NABBOX (especially if you’ve donated money to them). If this continues, an evaluation of each episode may be provided in the following week’s News Update. The La Voix extra show that appeared later last week is available and it can be found at:
vk.com/video-23729576_456239786?fbclid=IwAR1V-hdEG9oliiFl_7RzdgZIZiAKfItFdMbmBlbmlRIlsmFbaTyiOoadoqs
Concerning the first episode, it was (IMHO) outstanding – full of joy, pathos, surprise and music. Lara was in her element. Here are some of the highlights:
**The first singer, Samantha Reeves, chose Lara appropriately, since she has a beautiful voice.
**The second singer who chose Lara, Tony Crew, came as a complete surprise to her, for he is a more of a rock/blues performer. She was perhaps the least enthusiastic of the judges, all of whom selected him, so it was clear he just wanted to work with her (a beautiful woman, who wouldn’t want that!
). **The third singer who chose Lara was Morey Hatem. Lara was the only person who “turned her chair around” for him, so there was little ‘choice’ for him. However, he clearly would have picked her anyway, as is evident from his story in “L’Orient Le Jour”
(https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1157137/a-the-voice-canada-le-libanais-mory-hatem-realise-un-reve-denfant.html?fbclid=IwAR2QDsXxmO9to6P1djDIMhbAti-DPt03mMpLzqbWSt6pk5JdA3Vo2tDvjlA), translated below:
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At "The Voice Canada", the Lebanese Mory Hatem realizes a child's dream
LEBANON POP
The young singer joined the team of his idol Lara Fabian, who 'turned' to listen to his interpretation of the title "Que je t’aime". From Montreal, he delivers his first impressions to "L'Orient-Le Jour".
We have seen many Lebanese participate in the famous reality TV competition "The Voice" in France in recent years. From Hiba Tawaji to Anthony Touma, Aline Lahoud, Marc Hatem and Johny Maalouf, the list of artists who have dreamed of a career abroad is long. This season, however, it is in Canada that the Lebanese will follow with pleasure the path of a young talent who decided to take part in the Quebec version of the program: "La Voix". His name is Mory Hatem and he is a regular on the show in a way, since he was already a semi-finalist of the program in its Arabic version during the first season in 2013.
Sunday evening, it is while interpreting the hit of Johnny Hallyday ‘Que je t’aime” that the singer managed his blind audition during the very first episode, making turn the chair of the coach Lara Fabian, his idol, with whom "I dreamed of collaborating”. When the star asks his name, Mory, visibly moved, answers: "I do not know anymore.” "You had a great influence on my childhood, on my voice and my interpretation," he says in tears. “Seven years ago, I had to meet you for the first time during a concert in Beirut, and this concert was canceled. All these years later, life brings me back here.” For her part, she was also very moved, Lara Fabian assures that "there was everything in his performance". "It's such a beautiful gift to know that we have influenced, changed the course of a person and on a human level. I do not have the right of going to sing in Lebanon for political reasons, but tonight it's as if part of Lebanon has come to me!” In 2012, Lara Fabian decided to cancel a planned concert in Lebanon for Valentine's Day, citing "security reasons". Accused of being pro-Israeli by Lebanese militants, Lara Fabian said she would not sing under "threats".
Conquering a new audience
Lebanon, it is more than a year since the young man of 27 years left for Montreal, where he sings with a group and hosts many concerts. It is during an evening that he is spotted by a former producer of the show who offers him to do a casting. "I liked the idea, but I was afraid to relive the stress that I had experienced when I participated in the Arabic version," says Mory Hatem to L'Orient-Le Jour. “It's a pretty trying adventure. But when I knew that Lara Fabian was among the coaches, I accepted. During my audition, I sang for her, I came for her. It would have been a disappointment if she had not turned around."
Following Sunday night on television the images of his blind audition, he relives this moment "as for the first time". "It was as if I was waiting to see which coach was going to turn around," he says, assuring that "the returns are very positive in Lebanon, but also in Canada on social networks." "It comforts me because, in the end, I am only an immigrant in this country. I feel that the Canadian public has an open and warm spirit, and that it has been touched by my performance. That might not have been the case in Lebanon if I had broken down in tears on stage as I did."
"One of the most important voices on the planet"
However, Mory Hatem has good memories of his previous participation in "The Voice" where he was coached by Baalbeckiote singer Assi el-Hellani, although he notes some differences on a personal level. "I grew up," says the artist, who began his career performing French variety at Music Hall. “So I benefit more from each moment and realize better what is happening around me. At the time of my first participation, I was still very young, at an age when one is happy, but where one undergoes the things without really appreciating them. I'm also more fragile today, maybe because I'm far from home. On the vocal level, it must also be said that Western music is not the playground of Assi el-Hellani. There, I work with one of the most important voices on the planet. So I try to make the most of it, to ask a lot of questions.” "Lara Fabian is someone very human and very honest too. I really like this link that unites us", adds the singer who had once made savings to attend the famous concert of the Belgian artist at the Casino du Liban in February 2012.
After a successful audition, Mory Hatem is expected to take part in the battles in a few weeks, the next step in the competition against another talent from Lara Fabian's team, which he has already recorded, even though he can not yet divulge the details. "It feels good to submit to an audience of experts. This exercise gives an artist a certain self-confidence, a legitimacy, "says Mory, who has nevertheless made his path in the country of Cedar and released many singles and video clips in Arabic. "Yes, I was happy in Lebanon, but I felt that I had to travel, take a step towards a wider horizon and that it was the moment or never. My passion is not limited to what I did. I think we live only once, so might as well dream big, and Canada is huge!
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Yes, very fortunate Lara did choose him. Lara then explained the whole situation of the Lebanon concert cancellation and her corresponding Valentine’s Day concert broadcast to the sympathetic judges and audience.
**A fourth candidate, Ferline Regis, might well have chosen Lara, but Alex blocked Lara – the only block of the night. Lara was shocked, and went right over and scolded him. He tried to explain his reasoning, while Lara continued to mock him. It was in “semi”-good fun. Lara’s expression on finding out she was blocked was recorded by La Voix, and can be seen at: www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/371761110082834/
**At the end, the show pulled a stunt on the judges, by importing the well-known Canadian singer Corey Hart, who has sold over 16 million records worldwide, to act as a candidate. Fortunately, all the judges chose him! A glimpse of him going along with the gag can be seen at: www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/1893167477473234/
**There were several candidates whom nobody chose. Those were generally sad experiences (except for one), and Lara made an effort to try to offer them condolences and suggestions about their singing.
All-in-all, a great opening to the season.
La Voix ‘Extra’ provided, as expected, a backstage look at the show, gave the hosts more to do, showed the judges interacting . A ‘highlight’ was Lara being filmed discovering her backstage room, at about the 6 minute mark. And you get to see the judges’ reactions to their pictures – discussed further immediately below.
The artist Cynthia Coulombe Begin had her paintings of the judges' portraits appear on La Voix, as can be seen in the video at:
www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/325187014767878/
As in the ‘Extra’, this too shows the “coaches discovering their portraits”. They truly are wonderful. Lara’s was associated with her song “Painting in the Rain”; Lara said it captured the feeling of the song. It can be found at:
www.facebook.com/CCB4RT/photos/a.10157729937417439/10157729937637439/?type=3&theater
And to follow on from that, the (other) interesting photo(s) of the week are from Lara; first “Happy Valentine’s Day”
www.facebook.com/larafabianofficial/photos/a.622966977744803/2585757658132382/?type=3&theater
Then, with the caption, “Good weekend”, Lara left this photo
www.facebook.com/larafabianofficial/photos/a.215378125170359/2591849550856526/?type=3&theater
along with the request, “Would you tell me the songs you prefer on my new album “Papillon”? The answers, as you might expect, were all over the place, but “Je suis a toi”, “Par amour” and “Je ne t’aime plus” were often mentioned.
Lara is still in Europe and has some TV appearances coming up there, but it looks like she’ll be back in Quebec by the end of the month. In the meantime expect more of the same – additional promotion, some indications of the album’s commercial standing, and more shows from La Voix. A fruitful time for Lara and her fans.
As a closing remark, from the time the weekly News Updates began in January of 2006, a (very) rough calculation suggests that we have now passed the one million word mark.
All of the News Updates from that time to this are available at: www.tapatalk.com/groups/lfiag/laradomus-f5/.David
