Post by davidhr on Feb 26, 2019 8:48:33 GMT -5
The big news for Lara this past week was that her album ‘Papillon’ opened up in the #1 spot in Quebec, an announcement made by Quebecor itself (https://www.facebook.com/larafabianweb/photos/a.839662216049315/2666104343405084/?type=3&theater), while the single ‘Papillon’ is ranked #2 (https://palmaresadisq.ca/fr/tops-ventes/chansons/). Here is Quebecor’s (translated) announcement:
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The album “Papillon” of Lara Fabian opens up in 1st position of sales in Quebec!
A start in force also for the artist on the side of streaming platforms
Montreal, February 19, 2019 - The wait was palpable, the craze only increased from day to day with the public who saw the career born here and which, 20 million albums later, led once again to the top of Quebec's album sales.
In addition to being warmly welcomed by critics, the 14th studio album of the artist with international influence settles at the very first position of the sales of albums in Quebec. The various streaming music listening platforms, Apple Music and Spotify, the latter devoting to her a giant format billboard in the city of Toronto as well as a display campaign with a large deployment in the metro of Montreal, also have a solid success with nearly 650,000 album plays worldwide, including more than 285,000 in Canada. "After more than 25 years of career, I've had all kinds of things that make me recognize today more than ever the value of engagement with the public that consumes my music. I can not take it for granted and it gives me wings!" underlines Lara in preparation for a launch event with musical performance to be held on February 28 at the Cinema Imperial in Montreal.
“Lara Fabian is still in good voice ... (...) 28 years after the release of her first CD, Lara Fabian manages to surprise me. You still have to do it!" wrote Andre Peloquin, musical critic of the Journal de Montreal. “It is indeed a well-made album that does not lose anything of the richness of the texts and emotions characterizing the artist but this time in a modern sound well-realized. In addition, the artist with an impressive career who has accumulated numerous awards (Felx, Victory of Music, World Music Awards, and many gold and platinum records) again occupies one of the four chairs of La Voix on the TVA network and appeals to viewers by her empathy and her humane warmth towards the candidates, but also for her strong vocal knowledge.
The album Papillon is available in stores as well as on all the digital platforms. The extract “Je suis a toi” has also earned a place of choice on the radio in Quebec since its release. To see the videoclip of this same song go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7jHPvnpjNQ
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The picture of Lara in the Montreal subway referred to in the article above can be seen in the perspective of passing riders at:
And, with more news about Lara’s Montreal concert/appearance on February 28th where she will apparently present some of the songs from the new album, Manu Pitois, a long-time Lara compatriot posted the (translated) statement: “Very happy to take care of the musical direction of the Papillon launch in Montreal on February 28th.” (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216116731284504&set=p.10216116731284504&type=3&theater). It’s obviously then going to be live music, and it will be interesting to see how complete the instrumentation is.
While welcome, this level of success in Quebec should come as no surprise, given the favorable publicity Lara is achieving on La Voix, where she is indeed a star. The harder sell will be in France, where Lara is currently promoting the album, and where it entered at #10 (http://www.chartsinfrance.net/charts/albums.php). In Belgium, it entered at #2 and has since dropped back to #7. That will be the question for this album: Lara’s francophone fans have been waiting for a new French album from Lara, and, as is almost always the case, it gets off to a good start in response to that expectation. But does it have ‘legs’ to continue to entice these fans, or more importantly, bring in new listeners? Lara is hoping that the more ‘contemporaneous’ sound she’s sporting will do just that; we’ll see…
Meanwhile she is doing her part by promoting the album and keeping herself in the public eye, in Europe but also continuing in Canada. Here’s a (translated) article from the Canadian publication La Presse + (http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/2ce2e8c6-4695-4d2f-923a-382721750112__7C___0.html?fbclid=IwAR3NDHaocUOHQbnXOPLcvsFiSd-YUrvmGu51kP8U5tvIb4xk1IKOKCopoEc) [thanks to Julie de Paris for the link]:
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MUSIC
100% LARA FABIAN
Lara Fabian launched at the beginning of the month her 14th album, Papillon, which appears this week in first place in sales in Quebec. We met the singer-songwriter who talks about her new record, her role as a coach at La Voix and her 50th birthday, which she will celebrate next year.
Olvia Levy
THE RECEPTION OF PAPILLON BY THE PUBLIC
"It feels good. I have the feeling that there is a little moment of grace, something is happening. It's magical and it's something you can not predict", she says of her more pop album. "It's a sound of my time and one that respects my DNA, melodically speaking. In the texts, I stayed close to what characterizes me, but being inside this box, electro, a little hypnotic, it allowed the music to expand differently. Papillon , it's me 100% as a being. It's an album that conveys serenity."
HER INSPIRATIONS
Lara Fabian is inspired by the very current music she listens to, including two artists in particular. "Brendan Urie, of the group Panic! at the Disco. I think I know everything by heart, I was standing on my chair when I saw them at the Place Bell! And I'm also an ultra-fan of Christine and the Queens! I like the melodies, I like to sing them. Not because I'm a singer, but because it amuses me to share the music. I like the songs that touch. With my daughter, we listen to Khalid and Ariana Grande."
A LITTLE BUSINESS
In addition to singing and writing, Lara Fabian produces Papillon, an "immeasurable work", says the entrepreneur. "I'm not just the artist who creates," she explains. I am also the businesswoman who produces it and takes care of everything behind it. All that you see, the photos, the videos, all that is my small business. There are three of us working there, my manager, my assistant and me. And we release the album on four territories in the world: Quebec, France, Switzerland and Belgium. How will we make the next records? There will certainly be a real adaptation between how we listen to music today and how we will produce it. Will it be two or three songs at a time that will be released on different platforms? Perhaps? The number of streamings is spectacular, there is, for example, 325 million listens (You Tube, Spotify and others) on certain songs like “Je ta’ime”, “Adagio”, Je suis malade”. It's incredible, still. "
A PHONE CALL THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE
On August 28, 2017, Lara Fabian receives the phone call where she is asked to be coach at La Voix . She has been living in southern Spain for eight months, where she fled the Belgian greyness for Marbella. "We bought a house and my chum had just hung up the last chandelier on August 27th. I will never forget my head when I hung up! My chum was coming into the kitchen at that time, we had friends who were at the house. "What do you have, love? What's going on? "I say to him," Nothing, we'll talk about it later! "I was sure I had to do La Voix but I would not have moved without my family. It created a very nice conversation at the table, my husband, my daughter and me. In absolute simplicity, we said, go hop, we are leaving! We arrived in Montreal with six suitcases, a friend accommodated us for almost a month, in the basement of her house on Côte-Saint-Antoine. [...] I thank the Rouleau family because living with them has changed the situation! [...] It has been extraordinary. It's one of the most beautiful adventures of my life to come back to Quebec and find a place of benevolence, serenity, and lots of love. "
THE EFFECT OF LA VOIX
The youngest generation discovers her in La Voix, and she is delighted. "Those who already knew me have discovered the human that I am. When I sit on this red chair, there are times when I completely forget the camera, I am in the world of transmission and pure emotion. It allows a huge freedom in a serene space. What people have discovered is the person I really am. The others said to themselves: "But who is she? What's she doing in life? "They went to listen to my music, and it opened up another space in my career, absolutely."
THE ADVICE OF THE COACH
"Open the jaws! That's the thing she gave to one of the candidates last week and it worked very well. "As a coach , you have to provide the keys and pass on accumulated knowledge for 25 years. An artist has a great responsibility for the instrument that is his voice, and we need a teacher who advises us. When I explain to a candidate that you have to unhook the jaws, it is because I have the experience and I know the results. Being a coach means being able to be useful. I am equipped properly to prepare a young artist, technically speaking, but psycho-emotionally too."
HER 50TH BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020
To celebrate her 50th birthday, Lara Fabian will be on stage that evening in Brussels, her birthplace. "A celebration tour is planned: 50 cities for my 50 years. There will obviously be Montreal, New York, Paris, Moscow, Brussels, Rome. It's a tour that celebrates thirty years of career.” How does she approach fifty? "Very well! It's a path that everyone does between the ages of 45 and 55. I believe that these are the 10 years when a door opens to greater freedom, but it is the result of a journey. It does not happen overnight!"
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As others have noted, Lara has included Rome in her 50 cities destination, though it’s not yet officially on the schedule. It would be nice if it (finally) occurred, but until we see it on her ‘Events’ page, nothing can be taken for granted (as Lara’s people themselves often tell us). Note also that she once again mentions the possibility that she will be releasing individual groups of songs, rather than albums in the future. And they may be intended for the streaming platform, not for the record shelves in stores. All well and good – but note that the songs she mentions garnering the enormous amounts of streaming ‘hits’ are all her big, emotional ballads, the ones she no longer does. How well will her “electro-pop” songs do in that venue, where they will have a lot of competition from music of well-known singers from that genre? So far, given the streaming numbers for Papillon mentioned by Quebecor, it's going well.
Lara also was interviewed in the Journal of France (scan posted by Anthony Berenguer Degiovanni); here’s the translation:
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Lara Fabian “To Be, Quite Simply”
The singer with the voice of gold has sold more than 20 million albums across the world. After a big international tour, she returned to our country to present her new album in French last February 8th and a series of concerts in the autumn 2019. The occasion of a meeting in her image, full of positivity!
Lara Fabian who lives in Montreal has just achieved a big international tour, the Camouflage World tour – which led her from Los Angeles to Moscow through Europe and America, in nearly 50 [sic] cities around the world. For her great return in France, the artists has surrounded herself with a pointed artistic team. Some have worked with Pink or Britney Spears. Her new album totally in French, which leaves in February 2019 has been produced by Moh Denebi, one of the most talented music producers of the new pop sound from Sweden. The same sound which dominates the American and European charts at the moment. For Lara, he tried to combine an electro pop production with a classical orchestration, with a mix of songs with a very surprising sound and very new for Lara but also very beautiful ballads as the francophone public loves them so much.
It is at the same time the Lara that one loves but also a totally new Lara that one discovers in your new album. Explain it to us.
LF: Yes, like all the other women and artists in general, I evolve. This album is at the same time in phase with me - with that who I am today – but also with the music that I love and listen to. I live with my time, truly. The advantage of an instrument like the voice is that it is completely adaptable, as much for a style of music as a style of arrangement, and me, I have always envisioned my instrument like that. It is therefore a work that mirrors and is in phase with today's society. It is about my subject of predilection, love, but also of an awareness that life is ephemeral and that it must be lived and savored.
You have called it ‘Papillon’, the nickname that was given to you when you were a child…
LF: ”Papillon” [Butterfly] it was my totem and in effect the nickname that was given to me when I was small. That permits me to make the link with infancy, but also to measure the ephemeral notion of time spent, to show the importance of the present time and to stop living in the past or to project oneself into the future, to take full advantage of the here and now.
You speak of this album like an “ode to lightness” towards a state of soul more contemplative. Isn’t it also an album of maturity, the one of your mode of life?
LF: Yes, that is certainty very correct. It is in effect the album which resembles my milieu of life, to that which I’ve become today. To my wish to let go, my way of working without stakes. I wrote this album in ten days, in my studio in the basement of my house, while sitting at the piano to create. All is constructed in a manner totally natural. Like a beautiful voyage that one makes together…
You are at the same time author, composer, singer, but also a woman on stage and a coach in the program “La Voix” in Canada. Which is the role that you prefer today?
LF: Each choice brings me true joys, I like each of its links that constitute me. But today, with hindsight, and at the age which is mine, it is the transmission which – I believe – has the most flavor for me. It is magic! The vocal coaching it is the meeting in truth between two artists who give themselves one to the other in humility and generosity. It is a little bit of travel that we do together, where one gives to the other as much as one receives from him. Today, I am no longer in a zone of fighting or insecurity. The day when one abandons this zone of fighting, there is nothing more to gain or to lose. We sit down with what we are calm and compassionate, and we can share and enjoy the moment. We “are” quite simply.
What is your view today of your beginnings?
LF: I see all like an inevitable road which allowed me to build and to advance. But I'm not always fond of myself when I review some past images. I am sometimes even taken aback by the Lara of the time, disconnected from what I am deeply. Basically, I say to myself, This one, she unnerves me. What time did it make me lose?(laughs) And at the same time, I remember her pains, her awkwardness, which allowed me to grow. She ended up being a great teacher this…maladroit! (laughs)
When we listen to you and read you, we see a lot of light in you, of optimism and of a positive attitude. Is this your deepest nature?
LF: Yes, my deepest nature is to be sunny and optimistic. I inherited that from my family, from my education and from my mother in particular. It is in my genetic psychological heritage. Then, in my life, I’ve known like everyone cyclothymic emotions, with great joys but also great sadness. But in all the most difficult periods, I have always been sustained by the profound and unconditional love of those close to my without condescension, with always the work and the right attitude. That always saved me. I’ve always had at my side someone who loved me more than I did and who extended his hand at the moment when it was important. My family is fundamental. It is my strength and my anchor.
You also talk about what nonviolent communication has brought you?
LF: It’s true, because what has also overturned my life is my encounter with Isabelle Padovami, who is my professor of nonviolent communication. I can truly affirm it today, nonviolent communication changed and saved my life. It is this which makes it possible to connect the beings, to unify the things, to create a communication which allows us to be finally heard and to hear in our turn, to connect to each other. We know all the tensions with our entourage, but non violent communication allows us to avoid disputes and a number of breaks. For it is impossible to solve a tension when one does not first connect to the other before expressing one’s fears or one’s discontent. Isabelle who became a friend transmitted to me a fundamental spiritual technology, an extraordinary means of living happy relationships and of saving a number of situations which could have been explosive. It is a form of good sense of kindness that I advise everyone to experiment.
What is the secret of your happiness?
LF: The secret is to realize that joy is really at the center of oneself and not on the outside. This involves understanding how precious we are and how strong and fragile we are at a time and how normal it is. It is normal to be traversed by all this. We must realize that we each have the resources to finally be demolished and rebuilt. Happiness is to be aware of the incredible being that we are and to finally love each other for what we are. The secret is to find oneself in the center of oneself, to anchor oneself. Happiness found again, sense found again, it is when one understands, by force of work on oneself, that what one looks for is within oneself. When we integrate it, when we “embody” it truly, it really is the whole life that changes. But to get there, it's a work of every moment. It's necessary to learn to center oneself, not in an egocentric way, but to regain the self-esteem that allows us to magnify the relations with the others.
How do you summarize your philosophy of life today?
LF: We are all very connected as human beings, in our sufferings, our sorrows. We often go through the same emotions because we are all looking for one and the same thing: to be happy. We fall into the same traps that create very similar pains. For me, the importance is to always recognize in oneself the impulse of joy, whatever the contrarieties of a life. Happiness is also about learning to share and transmit this thrill of joy to others. Hence the importance of becoming aware of the ephemeral side of our lives to enjoy every little moment of joy in everyday life.
You have never been so beautiful, fulfilled, happy. You will soon be celebrating your 50th birthday. How do you experience the passing years?
LF: Like everyone else, it worries me a bit. But at the same time, I feel good. I get up in the morning and I can not wait to make my daughter laugh while singing at the top of my lungs Tina Arena's song - Aimer – that I adore. My daughter says to me “What is it that amuses you mother!” and the day can only begin well! These are the mornings that give meaning to life, to the passing of time, and that make you feel good, simply.
We are living in a period where women's voices are being released all over the world. How do you live it and what is it that inspires you?
LF: It makes me want to write a song, to give even more strength to this word that opens and is released. I believe that women are giving each other more energy, and creating an ever more powerful network every day. All this goes in the right direction, because it feels like it's the women who bring humanity to the world, and who can therefore also bring it more sweetness and benevolence. Women begin to let go, to dare to wax. What they affirm really has power and will have more and more.
You will return at the end of 2019 and in 2020 on tour in all of France where you are very much awaited. What is your link with the French public?
LF: It counts enormously for me! It is a great change, after 25 years of career at their sides, to re-find each time my public of heart. The Quebecoise public is my cradle, that which gave birth to me and shaped me. France, in the beginning, it was like going to the big school! (laughs). It is therefore my ‘pet’ public, that which loves me with intensity and that I re-find each time with the greatest happiness.
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Very interesting personal discussions of Lara’s life philosophy, as always! A shorter article appeared in “Tele Loisirs” this week, translated below:
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Lara Fabian “I have peace with myself”
After a disc in English two years ago, who did not meet her audience in France, the judge of La Voix, the Quebecoise version of The Voice returns with Papillon. It is in the basement of her home, in only a few days that Lara Fabian recorded this album in the language of Moliere.
Why have you called your new album “Papillon”?
LF: It is the nickname that I was given by my grandmother. I was a child who worried a lot. She told me “If you have 24 hours to live, what would you do?” She taught me a lot. This “animal totem” recalled for me that one must profit from the present moment.
You feel yourself more serene today?
LF: Yes, I have the luck of living a very sweet life in a healthy environment with my man (the magician Gabriel D Giorgio) and my daughter (Lou, 12 years old).
What rapport do you have with your body on the approach to your 50th year?
LF: I am very much in my skin, I have peace with myself. I have begun to appreciate my small faults, the strengths also, while regarding them with a certain tenderness.
What mother are you?
LF: I am very present and hyper listening to my daughter. I discuss a lot with her. She is a very funny child with a great and strong character. She is my best gift on earth.
When do you see yourself in the French version of The Voice?
LF: I don’t know. The production approached me for the first season, but I was at this time on tour in the entire world. They never contacted me thereafter. I take a lot of pleasure being a coach in Quebec.
What are your desires?
LF: I want to continue in the transmission, like I do in La Voix. I envision opening a singing school. I also have in mind a story that I want to write. For the time being, I am devoting myself to my tour which counts about sixty dates and will continue until 2020. I am in the moment and contemplation; I do not project myself.
Papillon: In keeping the talented tandem formed by the Swedish producer Moh Denebi (Pink, Briney Spears) and the writer-composer Sharon Vaughn, Lara Fabian made the good choice. With electro-pop arrangements, she leaves her cocoon and unfolds her wings, like on the first single which gives its name to the album. A wonder.
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Lara now says that the tour is up to 60 dates; if so, there have been additional sites added or considered most recently. Also, from Lara’s response to his question, it doesn’t seem likely that Lara will ever be on the French version of The Voice; the interviewer doesn’t seem to appreciate that Lara is truly embedded in Quebec.
Then there were the TV shows Lara was on. In Quebec, Lara was on the program “Salut Bonjour”; a short video of that can be seen at:
www.facebook.com/larafabiantonautre/videos/508133249715646/
It’s noted that “Par amour” will be the next single from the album, and as we learned in various interviews, it’s Lara’s favorite song from the album.
Also, she was on Ici Radio-Canada, discussing the album, as can be seen at
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianBienPlusQuunePassionCorseReunion/videos/628991950862879/
By this time, we pretty well-know what Lara is going to say about the “electro-pop” album, wanting to do music that’s similar to what she herself is listening to. They played cuts from various older hits of Lara; it put Lara in the position of having to differentiate the power on display in those songs, from what she’s doing now, in "keeping up with the times".
And Lara was on “Gravel le matin” visible at:
www.facebook.com/gravelmatin/videos/598277367261621/
She shows up at about the 14:15 mark and stays for about 12 minutes, again discussing the “electro-pop” nature of the album, her love for Quebec, and La Voix. The people on the show seemed surprised and happy at how vocal Lara is.
And then…it is on to the discussion of La Voix. As indicated last week, these Updates will be one week behind (the show airs Sunday night). So this summary concerns the second episode for La Voix, season 7, which is continuing with the blind auditions.
*Lara picked up two more members for her team, Christian Mark Gendron (who chose Lara because he thought of her as an international star), and Laura Elena Gonzalez. The first of these two was one of the top candidates of the night – he already seemed like a professional. The second was a rock performer, and perhaps chose Lara because she gave her instructions on the fly, suggesting she open her mouth/jaws wide when she belts out final notes.
*In general, the candidates were not particularly appropriate for Lara, and she did not “turn her chair around” for a number of them. Either they were rock, or country western, or in one case, operatic.
*The surprise highlight of the night was when two candidates, presented one right after the other, were father and daughter. The daughter Josiane Comeau went first, and her voice was a bit thin, so no one chose her. Then her father, Jacques Comeau came on; the judges were not informed that there was any relationship between them, and so they, in particular Lara, were shocked when Josiane ran on stage to congratulate Jaques in a very loving manner (Jaques picked Eric as his coach). They couldn’t understand why a previous candidate was still around. The Comeaus even sang a little bit of a duo at Lara’s urging. If one wants to see them (since La Voix is blocked outside of Canada), a duet of theirs is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM67LkZI4R0. [Perhaps Josiane would have done better if the duet was what they presented to the judges. But nevertheless she seemed overwhelmingly happy for her father’s success].
*And as mentioned in the previous Update, this was Lara’s week to be the judge who sings, and as posted last week, her wonderful performance can be seen at www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/2023223314428134/.
Interesting photo(s) of the week: Lara with Anouk Meunier (from La Voix) and Lara's dog Katia – a very cute video, actually:
Also, Lara en route to the show “Salut Bonjour”,
and then on the couch of that show, posted by the “Lara Fabian et Emmanuel Moire: Le duo” FB site,
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianetEmmanuelMoireLEduo/photos/a.199122136821054/2177856762280905/?type=3&theater
Finally, from the "La Presse" interview, via the Lara Fabian - PHQ site,
www.facebook.com/larafabianphq/photos/rpp.353946178085395/1669580966521903/?type=3&theater
This coming week will feature Lara’s appearance in Montreal to formally introduce “Papillon” in Quebec, with what appears to be a concert. Hopefully we’ll have some videos from it. Otherwise, one might expect some more promotion, and, of course, La Voix will be shown this coming Sunday. A happy, busy time for Lara, with the album at this point doing well, and the show, and Lara on it, getting rave reviews. Lara back in Quebec – still a winning combination.
David
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The album “Papillon” of Lara Fabian opens up in 1st position of sales in Quebec!
A start in force also for the artist on the side of streaming platforms
Montreal, February 19, 2019 - The wait was palpable, the craze only increased from day to day with the public who saw the career born here and which, 20 million albums later, led once again to the top of Quebec's album sales.
In addition to being warmly welcomed by critics, the 14th studio album of the artist with international influence settles at the very first position of the sales of albums in Quebec. The various streaming music listening platforms, Apple Music and Spotify, the latter devoting to her a giant format billboard in the city of Toronto as well as a display campaign with a large deployment in the metro of Montreal, also have a solid success with nearly 650,000 album plays worldwide, including more than 285,000 in Canada. "After more than 25 years of career, I've had all kinds of things that make me recognize today more than ever the value of engagement with the public that consumes my music. I can not take it for granted and it gives me wings!" underlines Lara in preparation for a launch event with musical performance to be held on February 28 at the Cinema Imperial in Montreal.
“Lara Fabian is still in good voice ... (...) 28 years after the release of her first CD, Lara Fabian manages to surprise me. You still have to do it!" wrote Andre Peloquin, musical critic of the Journal de Montreal. “It is indeed a well-made album that does not lose anything of the richness of the texts and emotions characterizing the artist but this time in a modern sound well-realized. In addition, the artist with an impressive career who has accumulated numerous awards (Felx, Victory of Music, World Music Awards, and many gold and platinum records) again occupies one of the four chairs of La Voix on the TVA network and appeals to viewers by her empathy and her humane warmth towards the candidates, but also for her strong vocal knowledge.
The album Papillon is available in stores as well as on all the digital platforms. The extract “Je suis a toi” has also earned a place of choice on the radio in Quebec since its release. To see the videoclip of this same song go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7jHPvnpjNQ
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The picture of Lara in the Montreal subway referred to in the article above can be seen in the perspective of passing riders at:
http://instagr.am/p/BuHyXXynS8U
And, with more news about Lara’s Montreal concert/appearance on February 28th where she will apparently present some of the songs from the new album, Manu Pitois, a long-time Lara compatriot posted the (translated) statement: “Very happy to take care of the musical direction of the Papillon launch in Montreal on February 28th.” (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216116731284504&set=p.10216116731284504&type=3&theater). It’s obviously then going to be live music, and it will be interesting to see how complete the instrumentation is.
While welcome, this level of success in Quebec should come as no surprise, given the favorable publicity Lara is achieving on La Voix, where she is indeed a star. The harder sell will be in France, where Lara is currently promoting the album, and where it entered at #10 (http://www.chartsinfrance.net/charts/albums.php). In Belgium, it entered at #2 and has since dropped back to #7. That will be the question for this album: Lara’s francophone fans have been waiting for a new French album from Lara, and, as is almost always the case, it gets off to a good start in response to that expectation. But does it have ‘legs’ to continue to entice these fans, or more importantly, bring in new listeners? Lara is hoping that the more ‘contemporaneous’ sound she’s sporting will do just that; we’ll see…
Meanwhile she is doing her part by promoting the album and keeping herself in the public eye, in Europe but also continuing in Canada. Here’s a (translated) article from the Canadian publication La Presse + (http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/2ce2e8c6-4695-4d2f-923a-382721750112__7C___0.html?fbclid=IwAR3NDHaocUOHQbnXOPLcvsFiSd-YUrvmGu51kP8U5tvIb4xk1IKOKCopoEc) [thanks to Julie de Paris for the link]:
--------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC
100% LARA FABIAN
Lara Fabian launched at the beginning of the month her 14th album, Papillon, which appears this week in first place in sales in Quebec. We met the singer-songwriter who talks about her new record, her role as a coach at La Voix and her 50th birthday, which she will celebrate next year.
Olvia Levy
THE RECEPTION OF PAPILLON BY THE PUBLIC
"It feels good. I have the feeling that there is a little moment of grace, something is happening. It's magical and it's something you can not predict", she says of her more pop album. "It's a sound of my time and one that respects my DNA, melodically speaking. In the texts, I stayed close to what characterizes me, but being inside this box, electro, a little hypnotic, it allowed the music to expand differently. Papillon , it's me 100% as a being. It's an album that conveys serenity."
HER INSPIRATIONS
Lara Fabian is inspired by the very current music she listens to, including two artists in particular. "Brendan Urie, of the group Panic! at the Disco. I think I know everything by heart, I was standing on my chair when I saw them at the Place Bell! And I'm also an ultra-fan of Christine and the Queens! I like the melodies, I like to sing them. Not because I'm a singer, but because it amuses me to share the music. I like the songs that touch. With my daughter, we listen to Khalid and Ariana Grande."
A LITTLE BUSINESS
In addition to singing and writing, Lara Fabian produces Papillon, an "immeasurable work", says the entrepreneur. "I'm not just the artist who creates," she explains. I am also the businesswoman who produces it and takes care of everything behind it. All that you see, the photos, the videos, all that is my small business. There are three of us working there, my manager, my assistant and me. And we release the album on four territories in the world: Quebec, France, Switzerland and Belgium. How will we make the next records? There will certainly be a real adaptation between how we listen to music today and how we will produce it. Will it be two or three songs at a time that will be released on different platforms? Perhaps? The number of streamings is spectacular, there is, for example, 325 million listens (You Tube, Spotify and others) on certain songs like “Je ta’ime”, “Adagio”, Je suis malade”. It's incredible, still. "
A PHONE CALL THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE
On August 28, 2017, Lara Fabian receives the phone call where she is asked to be coach at La Voix . She has been living in southern Spain for eight months, where she fled the Belgian greyness for Marbella. "We bought a house and my chum had just hung up the last chandelier on August 27th. I will never forget my head when I hung up! My chum was coming into the kitchen at that time, we had friends who were at the house. "What do you have, love? What's going on? "I say to him," Nothing, we'll talk about it later! "I was sure I had to do La Voix but I would not have moved without my family. It created a very nice conversation at the table, my husband, my daughter and me. In absolute simplicity, we said, go hop, we are leaving! We arrived in Montreal with six suitcases, a friend accommodated us for almost a month, in the basement of her house on Côte-Saint-Antoine. [...] I thank the Rouleau family because living with them has changed the situation! [...] It has been extraordinary. It's one of the most beautiful adventures of my life to come back to Quebec and find a place of benevolence, serenity, and lots of love. "
THE EFFECT OF LA VOIX
The youngest generation discovers her in La Voix, and she is delighted. "Those who already knew me have discovered the human that I am. When I sit on this red chair, there are times when I completely forget the camera, I am in the world of transmission and pure emotion. It allows a huge freedom in a serene space. What people have discovered is the person I really am. The others said to themselves: "But who is she? What's she doing in life? "They went to listen to my music, and it opened up another space in my career, absolutely."
THE ADVICE OF THE COACH
"Open the jaws! That's the thing she gave to one of the candidates last week and it worked very well. "As a coach , you have to provide the keys and pass on accumulated knowledge for 25 years. An artist has a great responsibility for the instrument that is his voice, and we need a teacher who advises us. When I explain to a candidate that you have to unhook the jaws, it is because I have the experience and I know the results. Being a coach means being able to be useful. I am equipped properly to prepare a young artist, technically speaking, but psycho-emotionally too."
HER 50TH BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020
To celebrate her 50th birthday, Lara Fabian will be on stage that evening in Brussels, her birthplace. "A celebration tour is planned: 50 cities for my 50 years. There will obviously be Montreal, New York, Paris, Moscow, Brussels, Rome. It's a tour that celebrates thirty years of career.” How does she approach fifty? "Very well! It's a path that everyone does between the ages of 45 and 55. I believe that these are the 10 years when a door opens to greater freedom, but it is the result of a journey. It does not happen overnight!"
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As others have noted, Lara has included Rome in her 50 cities destination, though it’s not yet officially on the schedule. It would be nice if it (finally) occurred, but until we see it on her ‘Events’ page, nothing can be taken for granted (as Lara’s people themselves often tell us). Note also that she once again mentions the possibility that she will be releasing individual groups of songs, rather than albums in the future. And they may be intended for the streaming platform, not for the record shelves in stores. All well and good – but note that the songs she mentions garnering the enormous amounts of streaming ‘hits’ are all her big, emotional ballads, the ones she no longer does. How well will her “electro-pop” songs do in that venue, where they will have a lot of competition from music of well-known singers from that genre? So far, given the streaming numbers for Papillon mentioned by Quebecor, it's going well.
Lara also was interviewed in the Journal of France (scan posted by Anthony Berenguer Degiovanni); here’s the translation:
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Lara Fabian “To Be, Quite Simply”
The singer with the voice of gold has sold more than 20 million albums across the world. After a big international tour, she returned to our country to present her new album in French last February 8th and a series of concerts in the autumn 2019. The occasion of a meeting in her image, full of positivity!
Lara Fabian who lives in Montreal has just achieved a big international tour, the Camouflage World tour – which led her from Los Angeles to Moscow through Europe and America, in nearly 50 [sic] cities around the world. For her great return in France, the artists has surrounded herself with a pointed artistic team. Some have worked with Pink or Britney Spears. Her new album totally in French, which leaves in February 2019 has been produced by Moh Denebi, one of the most talented music producers of the new pop sound from Sweden. The same sound which dominates the American and European charts at the moment. For Lara, he tried to combine an electro pop production with a classical orchestration, with a mix of songs with a very surprising sound and very new for Lara but also very beautiful ballads as the francophone public loves them so much.
It is at the same time the Lara that one loves but also a totally new Lara that one discovers in your new album. Explain it to us.
LF: Yes, like all the other women and artists in general, I evolve. This album is at the same time in phase with me - with that who I am today – but also with the music that I love and listen to. I live with my time, truly. The advantage of an instrument like the voice is that it is completely adaptable, as much for a style of music as a style of arrangement, and me, I have always envisioned my instrument like that. It is therefore a work that mirrors and is in phase with today's society. It is about my subject of predilection, love, but also of an awareness that life is ephemeral and that it must be lived and savored.
You have called it ‘Papillon’, the nickname that was given to you when you were a child…
LF: ”Papillon” [Butterfly] it was my totem and in effect the nickname that was given to me when I was small. That permits me to make the link with infancy, but also to measure the ephemeral notion of time spent, to show the importance of the present time and to stop living in the past or to project oneself into the future, to take full advantage of the here and now.
You speak of this album like an “ode to lightness” towards a state of soul more contemplative. Isn’t it also an album of maturity, the one of your mode of life?
LF: Yes, that is certainty very correct. It is in effect the album which resembles my milieu of life, to that which I’ve become today. To my wish to let go, my way of working without stakes. I wrote this album in ten days, in my studio in the basement of my house, while sitting at the piano to create. All is constructed in a manner totally natural. Like a beautiful voyage that one makes together…
You are at the same time author, composer, singer, but also a woman on stage and a coach in the program “La Voix” in Canada. Which is the role that you prefer today?
LF: Each choice brings me true joys, I like each of its links that constitute me. But today, with hindsight, and at the age which is mine, it is the transmission which – I believe – has the most flavor for me. It is magic! The vocal coaching it is the meeting in truth between two artists who give themselves one to the other in humility and generosity. It is a little bit of travel that we do together, where one gives to the other as much as one receives from him. Today, I am no longer in a zone of fighting or insecurity. The day when one abandons this zone of fighting, there is nothing more to gain or to lose. We sit down with what we are calm and compassionate, and we can share and enjoy the moment. We “are” quite simply.
What is your view today of your beginnings?
LF: I see all like an inevitable road which allowed me to build and to advance. But I'm not always fond of myself when I review some past images. I am sometimes even taken aback by the Lara of the time, disconnected from what I am deeply. Basically, I say to myself, This one, she unnerves me. What time did it make me lose?(laughs) And at the same time, I remember her pains, her awkwardness, which allowed me to grow. She ended up being a great teacher this…maladroit! (laughs)
When we listen to you and read you, we see a lot of light in you, of optimism and of a positive attitude. Is this your deepest nature?
LF: Yes, my deepest nature is to be sunny and optimistic. I inherited that from my family, from my education and from my mother in particular. It is in my genetic psychological heritage. Then, in my life, I’ve known like everyone cyclothymic emotions, with great joys but also great sadness. But in all the most difficult periods, I have always been sustained by the profound and unconditional love of those close to my without condescension, with always the work and the right attitude. That always saved me. I’ve always had at my side someone who loved me more than I did and who extended his hand at the moment when it was important. My family is fundamental. It is my strength and my anchor.
You also talk about what nonviolent communication has brought you?
LF: It’s true, because what has also overturned my life is my encounter with Isabelle Padovami, who is my professor of nonviolent communication. I can truly affirm it today, nonviolent communication changed and saved my life. It is this which makes it possible to connect the beings, to unify the things, to create a communication which allows us to be finally heard and to hear in our turn, to connect to each other. We know all the tensions with our entourage, but non violent communication allows us to avoid disputes and a number of breaks. For it is impossible to solve a tension when one does not first connect to the other before expressing one’s fears or one’s discontent. Isabelle who became a friend transmitted to me a fundamental spiritual technology, an extraordinary means of living happy relationships and of saving a number of situations which could have been explosive. It is a form of good sense of kindness that I advise everyone to experiment.
What is the secret of your happiness?
LF: The secret is to realize that joy is really at the center of oneself and not on the outside. This involves understanding how precious we are and how strong and fragile we are at a time and how normal it is. It is normal to be traversed by all this. We must realize that we each have the resources to finally be demolished and rebuilt. Happiness is to be aware of the incredible being that we are and to finally love each other for what we are. The secret is to find oneself in the center of oneself, to anchor oneself. Happiness found again, sense found again, it is when one understands, by force of work on oneself, that what one looks for is within oneself. When we integrate it, when we “embody” it truly, it really is the whole life that changes. But to get there, it's a work of every moment. It's necessary to learn to center oneself, not in an egocentric way, but to regain the self-esteem that allows us to magnify the relations with the others.
How do you summarize your philosophy of life today?
LF: We are all very connected as human beings, in our sufferings, our sorrows. We often go through the same emotions because we are all looking for one and the same thing: to be happy. We fall into the same traps that create very similar pains. For me, the importance is to always recognize in oneself the impulse of joy, whatever the contrarieties of a life. Happiness is also about learning to share and transmit this thrill of joy to others. Hence the importance of becoming aware of the ephemeral side of our lives to enjoy every little moment of joy in everyday life.
You have never been so beautiful, fulfilled, happy. You will soon be celebrating your 50th birthday. How do you experience the passing years?
LF: Like everyone else, it worries me a bit. But at the same time, I feel good. I get up in the morning and I can not wait to make my daughter laugh while singing at the top of my lungs Tina Arena's song - Aimer – that I adore. My daughter says to me “What is it that amuses you mother!” and the day can only begin well! These are the mornings that give meaning to life, to the passing of time, and that make you feel good, simply.
We are living in a period where women's voices are being released all over the world. How do you live it and what is it that inspires you?
LF: It makes me want to write a song, to give even more strength to this word that opens and is released. I believe that women are giving each other more energy, and creating an ever more powerful network every day. All this goes in the right direction, because it feels like it's the women who bring humanity to the world, and who can therefore also bring it more sweetness and benevolence. Women begin to let go, to dare to wax. What they affirm really has power and will have more and more.
You will return at the end of 2019 and in 2020 on tour in all of France where you are very much awaited. What is your link with the French public?
LF: It counts enormously for me! It is a great change, after 25 years of career at their sides, to re-find each time my public of heart. The Quebecoise public is my cradle, that which gave birth to me and shaped me. France, in the beginning, it was like going to the big school! (laughs). It is therefore my ‘pet’ public, that which loves me with intensity and that I re-find each time with the greatest happiness.
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Very interesting personal discussions of Lara’s life philosophy, as always! A shorter article appeared in “Tele Loisirs” this week, translated below:
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Lara Fabian “I have peace with myself”
After a disc in English two years ago, who did not meet her audience in France, the judge of La Voix, the Quebecoise version of The Voice returns with Papillon. It is in the basement of her home, in only a few days that Lara Fabian recorded this album in the language of Moliere.
Why have you called your new album “Papillon”?
LF: It is the nickname that I was given by my grandmother. I was a child who worried a lot. She told me “If you have 24 hours to live, what would you do?” She taught me a lot. This “animal totem” recalled for me that one must profit from the present moment.
You feel yourself more serene today?
LF: Yes, I have the luck of living a very sweet life in a healthy environment with my man (the magician Gabriel D Giorgio) and my daughter (Lou, 12 years old).
What rapport do you have with your body on the approach to your 50th year?
LF: I am very much in my skin, I have peace with myself. I have begun to appreciate my small faults, the strengths also, while regarding them with a certain tenderness.
What mother are you?
LF: I am very present and hyper listening to my daughter. I discuss a lot with her. She is a very funny child with a great and strong character. She is my best gift on earth.
When do you see yourself in the French version of The Voice?
LF: I don’t know. The production approached me for the first season, but I was at this time on tour in the entire world. They never contacted me thereafter. I take a lot of pleasure being a coach in Quebec.
What are your desires?
LF: I want to continue in the transmission, like I do in La Voix. I envision opening a singing school. I also have in mind a story that I want to write. For the time being, I am devoting myself to my tour which counts about sixty dates and will continue until 2020. I am in the moment and contemplation; I do not project myself.
Papillon: In keeping the talented tandem formed by the Swedish producer Moh Denebi (Pink, Briney Spears) and the writer-composer Sharon Vaughn, Lara Fabian made the good choice. With electro-pop arrangements, she leaves her cocoon and unfolds her wings, like on the first single which gives its name to the album. A wonder.
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Lara now says that the tour is up to 60 dates; if so, there have been additional sites added or considered most recently. Also, from Lara’s response to his question, it doesn’t seem likely that Lara will ever be on the French version of The Voice; the interviewer doesn’t seem to appreciate that Lara is truly embedded in Quebec.
Then there were the TV shows Lara was on. In Quebec, Lara was on the program “Salut Bonjour”; a short video of that can be seen at:
www.facebook.com/larafabiantonautre/videos/508133249715646/
It’s noted that “Par amour” will be the next single from the album, and as we learned in various interviews, it’s Lara’s favorite song from the album.
Also, she was on Ici Radio-Canada, discussing the album, as can be seen at
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianBienPlusQuunePassionCorseReunion/videos/628991950862879/
By this time, we pretty well-know what Lara is going to say about the “electro-pop” album, wanting to do music that’s similar to what she herself is listening to. They played cuts from various older hits of Lara; it put Lara in the position of having to differentiate the power on display in those songs, from what she’s doing now, in "keeping up with the times".
And Lara was on “Gravel le matin” visible at:
www.facebook.com/gravelmatin/videos/598277367261621/
She shows up at about the 14:15 mark and stays for about 12 minutes, again discussing the “electro-pop” nature of the album, her love for Quebec, and La Voix. The people on the show seemed surprised and happy at how vocal Lara is.
And then…it is on to the discussion of La Voix. As indicated last week, these Updates will be one week behind (the show airs Sunday night). So this summary concerns the second episode for La Voix, season 7, which is continuing with the blind auditions.
*Lara picked up two more members for her team, Christian Mark Gendron (who chose Lara because he thought of her as an international star), and Laura Elena Gonzalez. The first of these two was one of the top candidates of the night – he already seemed like a professional. The second was a rock performer, and perhaps chose Lara because she gave her instructions on the fly, suggesting she open her mouth/jaws wide when she belts out final notes.
*In general, the candidates were not particularly appropriate for Lara, and she did not “turn her chair around” for a number of them. Either they were rock, or country western, or in one case, operatic.
*The surprise highlight of the night was when two candidates, presented one right after the other, were father and daughter. The daughter Josiane Comeau went first, and her voice was a bit thin, so no one chose her. Then her father, Jacques Comeau came on; the judges were not informed that there was any relationship between them, and so they, in particular Lara, were shocked when Josiane ran on stage to congratulate Jaques in a very loving manner (Jaques picked Eric as his coach). They couldn’t understand why a previous candidate was still around. The Comeaus even sang a little bit of a duo at Lara’s urging. If one wants to see them (since La Voix is blocked outside of Canada), a duet of theirs is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM67LkZI4R0. [Perhaps Josiane would have done better if the duet was what they presented to the judges. But nevertheless she seemed overwhelmingly happy for her father’s success].
*And as mentioned in the previous Update, this was Lara’s week to be the judge who sings, and as posted last week, her wonderful performance can be seen at www.facebook.com/lavoixtva/videos/2023223314428134/.
Interesting photo(s) of the week: Lara with Anouk Meunier (from La Voix) and Lara's dog Katia – a very cute video, actually:
http://instagr.am/p/BuKu4Z6BvAI
Also, Lara en route to the show “Salut Bonjour”,
http://instagr.am/p/BuMaf_uHY4j
and then on the couch of that show, posted by the “Lara Fabian et Emmanuel Moire: Le duo” FB site,
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianetEmmanuelMoireLEduo/photos/a.199122136821054/2177856762280905/?type=3&theater
Finally, from the "La Presse" interview, via the Lara Fabian - PHQ site,
www.facebook.com/larafabianphq/photos/rpp.353946178085395/1669580966521903/?type=3&theater
This coming week will feature Lara’s appearance in Montreal to formally introduce “Papillon” in Quebec, with what appears to be a concert. Hopefully we’ll have some videos from it. Otherwise, one might expect some more promotion, and, of course, La Voix will be shown this coming Sunday. A happy, busy time for Lara, with the album at this point doing well, and the show, and Lara on it, getting rave reviews. Lara back in Quebec – still a winning combination.
David
