News Update: 5/20

[davidhr]

A new message appeared on the official site yesterday. The short message indicated that Lara went to Switzerland to participate in a private concert for "Children Action" along with some other notables. However, the primary point of getting this message out to her public was to note that at the same time Gregory Marchal passed away, and Lara wanted to explain her absence from the televised event dedicated to him.

She indicated that his passing had caused her great pain. She was asked to speak on the program, but she felt she didn't have the strength to do it. She would have liked to sing "Angel" for him, but events passed too quickly for it to be arranged. Her written words were eloquent (in translation): "My Silence was a profound modesty and my absence from the transmission that paid him homage, a manner for me to live it as a contemplation." Also in regard to this, on the program "50 minutes inside" it was noted that Lara's father Pierre had left a very kind message on Gregory's website (the same one that he posted on Lara's site).

Also in Lara's new message, she indicates that at the moment she is preparing to sing in Russia, Algeria and Turkey. Notably absent from that litany is any mention of Italy. Earlier in the week, there was a rumor that Lara had lined up performances in Italy for this month, but now it appears what has really been set up are showcases for Gigi d'Alessio in France. Various TV appearances are scheduled in conjunction with the release of his album in that country for the last part of May and in June, including a heavy dose of the video on TV, and press interviews. Lara presumably will join him on some of those, although several are on shows in which the hosts have been hostile to her, and a few also coincide with her trip to Moscow. She will clearly benefit from showing of the video - but of course that benefit is in France, not in Italy where the Italian album is supposed to be released.

And speaking of the Italian album…Larafabianweb, quoting as a source the official site, says the Italian album is now scheduled for a September release, but also notes that "the date is approximate, and could change at any moment". If put off much longer, Lara will have squandered the momentum gained from her appearance at the San Remo festival. September is also problematic given she is still nominally supposed to be in a theatre production in Paris, September through November. As stated elsewhere, it is supposed to be a duet where Lara "will embody a tragic personage who will have to face the pain of death".

In conjunction with that, the other news this week was that Lara did appear on the Molieres last Sunday, in the audience. Various pictures of her seated there are available on the web (and as you may have noted, several show her companion Gerard next to her, appearing to be asleep). Apparently the show as carried live on TV took every opportunity to show her. As in the case of the news show noting Lara's father's comment on Gregory, the media along with everyone else is fascinated by her charisma.

This coming week Lara presumably will leave for Moscow at some point, the concert scheduled for the following Monday (a somewhat odd day for a big concert…).

David

[achebeautiful]

I had a feeling that the reason behind Lara's silence over Gregory Marchal's death was that she needed time to collect herself. I'm not sure why she felt she needed to explain herself about this because no explanation was necessary. Are people being critical of her 'silence' that I don't know about?

I'm just wondering from your update, David, if this whole thing with Gigi d'Alessio is exclusively to usher him into the French market on the back of Lara Fabian. I realize that he is supposedly doing this for her also into the Italian market, but doesn't it seem like it's all one sided so far? Are they using Lara for what she could benefit Gigi more that they are Gigi for what he can benefit her? Or perhaps is this a case where Lara or even her management is getting in the way of a great opportunity? I'm not suggesting that I know anything about anything regarding this stuff, but I'm hoping someone here can share with me what they think because it just seems to me that this thing might be on its way to a wong turn.

One big criticism I do have of Lara is her incredible ability to really squander an album release. Since I have been a fan of hers, she has NEVER released an album on time. It is always delayed for some reason or other. I hope that I am not upsetting any Lara fans by saying so, but I truly think she ought to get her act together in this regard! Timing is everything in marketing, and she flat out ruins a lot of momentum almost every time she releases an album.

Thanks for the update, David!

For everyone else, please correct my opinions about these matters. I definately welcome the enlightenment!

[davidhr]

Lara did have an explanation for the delay - the refusal of Rick Allison to allow her to use some of their old material in Italian. However, I think it's fair to say that Lara is not a good businessperson -she's sort of the anti-Celine Dion in that respect. Remember what Celine said about her - that either she's being poorly served by her management, or that she doesn't listen to them. I'm pretty sure those two things go together - Lara is not 'handle-able' so the management probably doesn't even try. (Sony certainly learned that.) So I do agree that she never misses an opportunity to shoot herself in the foot when it comes to album releases, and selling albums. The fact that she's sold so many, anyway, is obviously entirely a testament to her over-the-top ability and personality.

However...you know, the fact that she is like that, for me, probably makes her more enjoyable, more human. It has to be recognized as a part of the same personality. I'd rather have her like that than be the opposite. So while we bemoan her lost opportunities, we also probably enjoy a character who would be somewhat blind to commercialization - who would go to transexual bars and not mind the publicity because she says they are big fans of hers. Who tries to follow a path with heart, rather than a 'sensible' path.

If only she could be just a bit more 'sensible'...


David

[smoothlara]

i kind of agree with you there, david. she often seems to have bad timing with her career. if she had come out in english before Celine did, she would have been more successful especially since she's already fluent in english. but celine had rene, and that made all the difference.

recently, i've been thinking about why Lara's career hasn't taken off the way it should. i think it's partly management incompetence, partly Lara's own stubborness and partly just plain fate. she has great beauty (in and out) and enormous talent, but not the big fame that lesser artists have. i am starting to believe that perhaps she's not meant to have huge fame. that maybe, just maybe, that would be too much for one person to handle in life. considering her deep capacity to feel, maybe being too famous would not be good for her.
God is wise.

and anyway, true talent and beauty will outlast fame. she will have a longer, more fulfilling career than anyone out there who's more "well-known". that, i know for sure

[achebeautiful]

Wow! David and Libertine, those are some great observations! I really appreciate your sharing them with us. I was a little timid of expressing my feelings about this subject because I was afraid of the backlash I might get from Lara's loyal fans. But the two of you have brought it all into perspective, and very respectfully so!

I agree with you both that Lara has qualities about her that while frustrating, are something I wouldn't change for the world! She is who she is, and we are the better for it!

[jimfromtexas]

There is a missing link here isn’t there. Does anyone else feel that way? I look at Lara’s career and say to myself, “Wait a minute, this doesn’t make any sense.” Portugal, Moscow and Turkey - again; I’m sure these are all fine and wonderful places but she has already done that. One thing I know is that a performing artist the caliber of a Lara Fabian does not want to leave any stone unturned in there career. And Lara's career seems to be just turning the same stones over and over. It’s the stones she is not turning over that intrigues me.

Sure I’m from the United States so I would bring that stone up first. The mystery about this stone is that she had a big giant name in the entertainment world over her begging for her to do more in the states. I mean, how much bigger you can get than John Williams. But even with my bias toward this stone it is not the one that I question the most. There is Australia. Heck, if you can do Moscow, why can’t you do Australia.

But I have to say the stone that perplexes me the most is Canada itself. I mean, she claims to be a Canadian citizen but she has not even performed in most of Canada. She has tons of fans in Western and Central Canada but she has never taking the time to go and performed for. At least to my knowledge, if I’m wrong please correct me. What’s with that?

To me, this points to something in the mix of the Princesses career that we can’t see. I think everything mentioned in the above posts are good and valid statements. Management, stubbornness, inept business sense; I think all these play in the equation. But as I sit here and think about everything that has gone one since the Chess fiasco; think about all the twists and turns she has put her fans of the unturned stones through; I realize that the shortcoming of her overall career mentioned above are all of a physical nature. I now realize is that the part we can’t see in her career is Lara’s heart. It’s now clear to me that this is where the conflict lies.

Lara has such a big heart she wants to please everyone all the time. And in this she is constantly being pulled in all directions all the time. To me, this explains all the apparent conflict is her statements and actions. Why she says she is going to be in Nepal and then has to change those plans because she is suppose to be in Italy. Why there is so much confusion as to albums releases. The Princess is constantly trying to juggle what her management wants, what her fans wants and what she wants. As the saying goes; you can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

The business world of pop music is a hard and cruel place for a true artist such as our Princess. In my opinion (for whatever that is worth) Lara need to start driving her own bus. To hell with what management wants (pardon my French, as we say in Texas). Who works for who anyway. She needs to pick out the star in the firmament she wants to go too then drive that bus in a direct line straight to that star and that star alone. Unfortunately, this also means driving over anyone that gets in the way. I think anyone who has been in any business world knows about the hard and cruel aspects it takes to survive. The pop music world is no exception. Like I said, you can’t please all of the people all of the time. What! You don’t think Barbara drove over anyone in her career?

At least, that’s how this trombone player from Texas sees it.

Jim

[achebeautiful]

I think your opinions are worth much here, Jim, and I thank you very much for sharing them! Great observations that I will have to digest before responding. Suffice to say for now that I agree.

[lapayin]

David said:
"However...you know, the fact that she is like that, for me, probably makes her more enjoyable, more human. It has to be recognized as a part of the same personality. I'd rather have her like that than be the opposite. So while we bemoan her lost opportunities, we also probably enjoy a character who would be somewhat blind to commercialization - who would go to transexual bars and not mind the publicity because she says they are big fans of hers. Who tries to follow a path with heart, rather than a 'sensible' path."

Lib said
"true talent and beauty will outlast fame. she will have a longer, more fulfilling career than anyone out there who's more "well-known".'

Mark said:
"Lara has qualities about her that while frustrating, are something I wouldn't change for the world! She is who she is, and we are the better for it!"

Jim said:
"And Lara's career seems to be just turning the same stones over and over. It’s the stones she is not turning over that intrigues me.... I realize that the shortcoming of her overall career mentioned above are all of a physical nature. I now realize is that the part we can’t see in her career is Lara’s heart. It’s now clear to me that this is where the conflict lies."


I feel Lara is not a PR package like most performers are. It's her talent and presents that makes her so great. Although her career has not made her world famous, she has had a very repectful one. Selling 12 million CDs or more, in only a few countries (especially not in the US) is great in my book. Perhaps when she tried to break into the American scene she decided it really wasn't for her - not her style.

As frustrating as it is for her fans (who want only the best for her) perhaps huge worldwide success is not really what Lara wants but what we want for her. I like Lara the way she is down to earth, in touch with her fans, spirited and unpredictable. Having mega success would certainly change her and make her less accessable.

[jimfromtexas]

I am in total agreement with you Paula about Lara and huge world wide success. I can see that I did not make my thoughts clear. I am trying to become a real writer you know and I guess I got a little over zealous with my presentation. I do have to say that I though the “turning over stones” analogy was a nice touch. But I can see it was misleading.

I will try and make this simple. Oh wait!!! let me put my cowboy hat on. That should help be become more simple minded…….. There, that’s better now.

When I look at Lara I don’t see a pop star or an entertainer or a rich person or a famous person. I see her just as a singer, musician and artist. Fame and Fortune are not all that important to people like that. But I can tell you that using all the talent you have given and being the best you can be is. Lara is much more than just a pop star and she knows it deep down inside.

Now let me say that the people Lara has around her now have done an excellent job at getting her to the very top of the pop music world even without the U S audience. But they can’t take her to the next level that she is destined to go. That’s why I brought up the point about we can’t see her heart. It’s her goodness and loyalty to the people that got her were she is now that keeps her from going to the next level. And this is why we see a lot of apparent confusion in her musical life right now.

Well heck… that still isn’t all that simple is it. Oh crap, don’t tell me I’m going to have to put on my cowboy boots too. Look, I’ll leave it at that and if you have any question just let me know.

Jim

[achebeautiful]

Jim, you are as hilarious as you are brilliant! You make very good points, well worth consideration.

As far as making it simple, give up now. It's never quite simple enough for our lovely Paula. LOL (just having fun, Paula)

[jmmazza53]

Hi Everyone,

Lara is just being Lara. We should all come to expect this by now. Most of the time we are in agreement about what we think Lara should do next, and she always seems to do exactly the opposite. However it is her life and her career, and she has to answer to herself for her decisions and not us! LOL! So, although I agree with most of what has been said, that's why we're the Fans....and Lara is Lara. As long as she doesn't decide to stop singing, I'm not going to complain!

[achebeautiful]

Well said, John, and welcome.

One of the things, though, that tells me that we are all truly a Lara fan is that we can be critical of some of her decisions and still love her for who she is. Too many artists have a fan base that just 'oohs and ahhs' at every move they make. Not at all true of Lara.

Why? One reason could be that Lara has much more depth than many or most artists, both artistically and personally. And another reason that comes to mind is that Lara has an incredibly intelligent community of fans (I learned that very well when I met a few of them in Montreal!)

I've said before and I'll say again that Lara 'moves in mysterious ways', and while sometimes frustrating, it is indeed much of the appeal about her!

But you are absolutely correct, John, in that we are the fans and Lara is Lara. So long as it stays that way, the love relationship between the two will probably be long lasting.

By the way, John, make sure to make a post at the "Just You" board when you get a chance. Tell everyone a little about your way cool self, and just how much of a positive influence I am on your life (ha ha!)

[lapayin]

Welcome John. Nice to see you here. The Nero thing worked great. - Thanks again