Post by davidhr on Apr 13, 2021 8:05:28 GMT -5
The latest Star Academie show had several new elements. Perhaps the most surprising was Lara’s altered hair style/appearance, which she also displayed in a picture on her FB and Instagram sites,
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=316804449803855
or
This picture makes a nice contrast with two others: one from earlier in the week, and then one just before the show, both being more in line with her usual appearance:
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=314968589987441
or
This one came with the caption, “Memory of the latest variety
Already looking forward to experiencing the next one...
Kisses and have a nice weekend everyone 💋💕"
And then (courtesy of the 'Lara Fabian est ton autre FB site' from Bert Exertier, of Lara backstage),
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=193018409297195
Hard to miss the influence of the Star Academie beauticians. Among the innumerable benefits for Lara being involved with this show, a greater flexibility in appearance is certainly one of them!
The other novelty concerning this episode, the last show before the semi-finals, is that there were four candidates ‘in danger’. As usual they were encouraged by their families’ presence, and by a word from their favorite singer. The candidates (and their preferred singer) were:
**Lunou – Ingrid St. Pierre encouraged her with a very poetic statement saying that Lunou inhabits her songs, she builds little houses of them, and that she was sure Lunou would have many in the audience living in her houses. During the week Lunou was shown getting a lot of encouragement from Lara, who said what she was doing was the highlight of her week.
**Maeva -encouraged by Natasha St. Pierre who said she was greatly impressed by her voice.
**Shayan – encouraged by Coeur de Pirate (who has had a vocal cord operation, and made an exception to speak to him); she wished him good luck. He wondered why he was in danger two weeks in a row, what had he done poorly, how could he sing better? His preparation with Lara was “a unique and pure moment”; Lara told him that “the world is better because of people like you”. She also told him that nothing was lost in advance, it’s not finished. (A video from one of the dailies during the week showing the emotional interaction of Lara with Shayan can be found at www.facebook.com/JeanPhilippeDionOfficiel/videos/4211975325480591).
**William – encouraged by Renee Wilkin (he sang one of her songs this evening in the competition). She noted that she had given birth in the middle of a competition (La Voix), and so emphasized with him (you may remember, he had to leave the Waterloo mansion when his wife was giving birth to their second child) – and that there was nothing better for children than to see their parent pursue his dreams. William said that until this week he had hidden his pain from being separated from his family, so that he could put his talent before all. He didn’t want to be pitied. But now he realized the important points he’s missed with his family, with his new baby boy. To counter that sadness, Ariane told him he was going to be able to sing for his son soon. And he realized he didn’t want all that he had sacrificed to be for nothing, so he wanted to go to the end of the adventure, to not let it pass him by, and to do it for his family. Lara told him to not forget that his voice is the vector of his heart.
Two candidates were to be saved, and thus two would be ‘dislodged’. A priori, this was going to be difficult, for three of these candidates are special singers. Note also that this is the last week that the judges will be able to save a candidate; from next week’s semi-finals on, it is all up to the audience. Gregory was asked what the last thing he will say to the candidates, what it is that they have to do for them. He indicated it was the same as for the public – be generous in their performance, be (emotionally) moving, because that’s what he believes the audience is looking for. He said they need to show a mastery of what they’re doing, and at the same time have a sense of urgency and desire to profit from this occasion, two somewhat conflicting requirements.
As for the performances:
Lunou Zucchini sang “Million Years Ago” from Adele. She said she hoped it would resonate with the public as strongly as it resonates with her. Once again her range and theatricality stood out, although she did seem a bit nervous. Patrice said he’s been watching her since the start of the Star Academie and he has the feeling that she could do anything in this profession. Gregory said, “there was nervousness, there was emotion, there was mastery, there was urgency. Mission accomplished.”
Maeva Grelet sang “Le temps au temps” from M. Grelet (24:22) - i.e., she wrote this song. She said she was going to show her full pallet of colors and all the nuances possible. A very good performance on a difficult song, with much (sexy) movement on her part. It required a lot of different types of singing at a fast pace, although the reggae rhythm did not allow for a display of great vocal surges. Patrice said he knew her as a great singer, but now he’s found out she’s a great songwriter. Lara said “I am so proud of Maeva. There's only one mom who can say that, so I'm gonna take it like I'm a sister with one heart. I mean I'm proud of her, of her path, of what she is. I can't wait to buy tickets for this show.”
Shayan Heidari sang “Somewhere Only We Know” from Keane. He said it encapsulated how he felt during the week and what he learned: to let go, to appreciate the present moment. The words did indeed match his current situation, as they included “this could be the end of everything”. Despite his somewhat limited vocal capacity, he apparently learned his lesson well – he sang as well as he could possibly have, in a truly touching performance. Ariane said that in the last few weeks, he had allowed himself to be fragile, vulnerable, and had used that to enrich his performance.
William Cloutier sang “Comment je te disais” from Renee Wilkin for his family, which he said he loves and misses. He did put all that emotion into the song, and combined with his wonderful tenor voice, it was an exquisite, moving presentation. Lara said, “Oh my God. Understanding the meaning of being the vector of our hearts through the voice is exactly what William did at this moment. We can do it several times in our career, but sometimes there are pivotal moments where we have to make both ends meet, our skills and our sensitivity. You did it tonight. Your family must be so proud of you, I'm proud of you too.”
My expectation at the end of this is that the audience would choose William; and if they didn’t, the judges would. That left one candidate to go. The most difficult presentation was that of Maeva; the most moving (of the remaining three) was that of Shayan. I still feel that Lunou has the highest upside, and if that is the criterion, I would go with her. But I could understand any of the others being chosen as well. The results? The public did choose William; he said that when conditions allow, he would invite people over for an Indian corn roast. As for the judges: Ariane said it had never been as difficult to make this choice, that all four candidates had made their mark, and she wanted them to know that. The judges then chose: Lunou. Patrice told Maeva and Shayan that out of 5500 contestants, they were part of the last 8, and they should be proud of that.
Ultimately I felt that the two chosen were the two highest quality performers, ones who will go on to be serious contenders for the title, and who would be worthy representatives of it. Actually, the same is true of all 6 semi-finalists; in what is an imperfect system but which allows for plenty of time and opportunity to evaluate them (the in-house teaching and evaluation; performances during the variety show with guests; the direct competition), Lara and the Star Academie team have ended up with what seem like the best candidates. Congratulations to them! [It also turns out that there are 3 men and 3 women; is that just a coincidence?]
Also on the program, Isabelle Boulay was the star guest, and she personally chose the songs that she wanted to sing with the Academicians. The last song of her set was “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by D. Snider – a rock song that she (and others) classified as ‘metal’ (though it didn’t strike me that way). It was one she had never sung before in public. She said it wasn’t fair that the Academicians were in danger and that she wasn’t, so she wanted to, in effect, put herself out on a limb the same way they had to. She said that it was important to take risks in this career, and that every time she did, it resonated with the public and she enjoyed herself. That’s her definition of success – both the public and she herself enjoy it. Also of note – she will be giving a concert at the Videotron Centre of Quebec on April 16th and tickets are currently on sale – a welcome return to something approximating ‘normal’ for this profession (at least in Quebec). She then asked Patrice to write a song for her with the title of her new show ‘Les Beaux Jours’ (The Beautiful Days) – which came as a surprise to him (and he of course gladly accepted).
Here’s the discussion of the program in the Journal of Montreal (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/04/11/star-academie-cest-la-fin-pour-maeva-et-shayan-1):
----------------------------
Star Académie: it's the end for Maëva and Shayan
They were all very good, but we had to decide. Two candidates were to leave Star Académie on Sunday, and it was for Maëva Grelet and Shayan Heidari that the ax fell. Fortunately, our two artists leave with a light heart, satisfied with their accelerated training.
At the end of the show, Isabelle Boulay announced that the public was protecting William Cloutier, and the teachers added a few minutes later by revealing that they were keeping Lunou Zucchini in the adventure. The game was up for Maëva and Shayan, who were in danger against them.
These last two, like real pros, took the blow with a smile, always supportive and positive. Maëva was eager to "give lots of kisses" to her mother, and Shayan was also happy to reconnect with his family. “It’s going to be good,” he said.
A masked Ariane Moffatt even came to give her charges a goodbye hug and congratulations while they granted interviews.
Great Pride
“I feel so proud of my performance, but above all proud of the performance of all the candidates in danger,” said Maëva. We "really insured", we "screwed" the scene, we managed ... [Laughs] I think I can leave with my head held high, and Shayan too."
"I'm proud of you too, and I'm proud of everyone, not just the candidates in danger," Shayan replied, standing beside her. Everyone was amazing. Me, leaving with that song [Somewhere Only We Know, by Keane], I feel like I'm leaving my mark and I hope people have been able to realize how much you have to let go and just enjoy the moment..."
Shayan, who had dropped out of school before Star Académie, says he has compositions in the bank - which he didn't want to put forward at Star Académie - and he still has a thousand ideas for songs and videos in mind. He plans to devote himself to music full time now.
As for Maëva, graduated in aesthetics since the beginning of 2021, she does not breathe a word about her projects for the moment, but promises that "it's heavy"!
"You haven't finished hearing from me," she bragged, happy to have felt that her composition “Le temps au temps” had rained in the audience.
And what did Maëva and Shayan mainly learn from their time at Star Académie?
“Despite the fact that it was a competition and that there was stress, I had fun and I took the time to learn, to use the tools that the teachers gave us. When we go out, we say to ourselves that we are ready and that we will go for it,” explained Shayan.
“I learned that I don't have to give myself limits in relation to myself and my voice,” continued Maëva. I impressed myself, with the amount of information I had in my head! I was able to grow up and I also learned a lot about myself and my personality, with the other Academicians. It was not easy at times, but knowing that we are supported and surrounded in this profession is heartwarming!”
Strong Emotions
Besides the performances of the four candidates in danger, the variety of Star Academy of Sunday, ninth of the season - there are only three left! - was the scene of all feelings, with passages from Isabelle Boulay, Francine Raymond, Jonathan Roy and the colorful tribute to Elton John.
Generous, Isabelle Boulay had herself attached songs from her repertoire to the candidates, perched on large white blocks, for a festive mix (Tandem, and We're Not Gonna Take It, by Jacob, to fill the "heavy metal" fiber of Isabelle), and melancholy ( Parle moi, Un peu d’innocence, and Tant que l’amour existera, received by Guillaume, an inveterate "fan" of Isabelle).
A true antidote to gloom, Elton John's potpourri of success has been adorned with colorful glasses, masks and disco hats. It started with Saturday Night, and it ended with Crocodile Rock, with a variation of I'm Still Standing and Rocket Man (which Shayan was solid on) in between.
Ray of nostalgia, we impatiently awaited the return of Francine Raymond, after 15 years of absence on stage. This one was made to wait, reserving “Pour l’amour qu’il nous reste”, at the end of the number, with a choir of Academicians behind her.
While waiting for her, they made memories spring to the sound of her immortal Magie noire et blanche, Vivre avec celui qu’on aime, Pense à moi, Tous les bateaux font des vagues and Souvenirs retrouvés. Even Ariane Moffatt and Patrice Michaud were spoiled by taking part in the hat trick to the songwriter - inducted Sunday into the Hall of Fame of Canadian Authors and Composers with her accomplice guitarist Christian Péloquin - by re-reading the symbolic Y'a les mots.
Finally, Jonathan Roy came to offer his two most recent hits, Keeping Me Alive and Lost. And the song “I Lost My Baby”, by Jean Leloup - taken from his legendary album Le Dôme, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021 - has joined the illustrious roll of honor of “songs of the nation”.
The four songs performed by the candidates in danger are available on QUB music and on all streaming and download platforms.
William Cloutier (People's Choice)
William Cloutier reiterated his wish to go far in the Star Académie adventure, largely for his family, he who sacrificed the time he could have spent with his second baby boy when he was born, in early February, to devote himself entirely to reality TV. The public heard his call, and saved him. Since his lover and his offspring occupy the foreground in his heart, the singer from Victoriaville chose to opt, on Sunday, for Comment je te dirais, a piece by Renée Wilkin written by Marc Dupré and Nelson Minville, which he dedicated to his family. His performance, in a flawless voice, sounded like a cry from the heart, and William himself seemed shaken by the time the song was over, as did Lara Fabian. “Sometimes there are pivotal moments where you have to make ends meet, skills and sensitivity. You did it tonight”, said the director. William promised viewers that he would invite them to a large corn roast once the pandemic is over, to celebrate!
Lunou Zucchini (Professors' choice)
Lunou didn't lack power on Adele's Million Years Ago . The teachers recognized her talent in protecting her, once William escaped by the public. Intense, as much in her smile as in her impeccable vocal flights, in front of a white flower which spat out small luminous flakes, the Academician of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu seemed serene and seemed to be having fun. In the audience, her mother, Luce Dufault, had difficulty concealing her emotion. "There was nervousness, emotion, control and urgency ... Mission accomplished!" Gregory Charles decreed after Lunou's performance.
Maëva Grelet (Dislodged)
Unfortunately, Maëva had to pack up. However, whatever the case, her composition Le temps au temps, on which she relied on Sunday, has everything to become a radio earworm. Sparkling, the 20-year-old candidate made it by moving lasciviously, in sexy, relaxed movements. The dapper style certainly goes well with the one who made the teachers dance in their stands, also bewitched and amused by the melody. "I can't wait to buy tickets for this show!" exclaimed Lara, who has announced that she wants to follow Maëva's career with interest.
Shayan Heidari (Dislodged)
Endangered for a second week in a row, Shayan performed Keane's Somewhere Only We Know on the piano, then standing with arms wide open as an ode to the audience. Authentic stage animal, transfixed with sincerity, Shayan has been more vulnerable recently, given his uncertain situation in the adventure, observed Ariane Moffatt. But "you have used this fragility to enrich what you have to offer", added the professor of musical creation. Alas, the competition being what it is, Shayan had to leave his comrades.
-------------------------------------------
Furthering the opinion of how well all the contestants did today was Lara’s latest Instagram post,
with the caption, “My little hearts were Wow today ..... I'm so lucky”
In other news, the Lara Fabian Connecting People site noted that it was a year ago that Lara released the video “Nos coeurs a la fenetre”. Although the virus is certainly not gone, there is a notable difference from the situation at that time, in Quebec and many other locales. However, in France it is again quite serious. As noted in (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/france-registers-over-34-800-new-coronavirus-cases/2205664), France registered 34,895 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, another 178 people died in hospitals, taking the country’s death toll to 98,778. A total of 30,671 people are being treated at hospitals with 5,838 in intensive care units (ICUs). A sad comparison with last year at this time: the number of people in ICUs in France has reached its highest level since April 17, 2020.
On March 25, the country banned outdoor gatherings of more than six people to stem the spread of the disease as the third wave of infections peaked with a record 45,000 new cases. “The trend is accelerating almost everywhere,” said Health Minister Olivier Veran, who announced restrictive measures in Aube, Nievre, and Rhone, taking the total of semi-confined administrative divisions to 19. The situation remains most worrying in the northern areas of the Paris region of Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France and Provence in the south, which have been witnessing increased hospital admissions. Still too early to worry (too much) about Lara’s June concerts.
Interesting photo(s) of the week: from the Lara Fabian America site, more (of course) from the Star Academie,
www.facebook.com/larafabianamerica/photos/pcb.1105414669956451/1105414133289838/
And via the ‘Lara Fabian The Netherlands’ FB site, from a February 16, 2021 issue of “7 Jours” magazine,
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianTheNetherlands/photos/a.113941653484573/324147732463963/
There are just three weeks left in the show, as it ends on May 2. Next week Lara will perform on it with the Metropolitan orchestra, a special treat. It will be interesting to see if she’s able to make her appearance available to her world-wide audience. Stay safe everybody,
David
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=316804449803855
or
http://instagram.com/p/CNi7cL6B2Kg
This picture makes a nice contrast with two others: one from earlier in the week, and then one just before the show, both being more in line with her usual appearance:
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=314968589987441
or
http://instagram.com/p/CNcybi6hb1W
This one came with the caption, “Memory of the latest variety
Already looking forward to experiencing the next one...
Kisses and have a nice weekend everyone 💋💕"
And then (courtesy of the 'Lara Fabian est ton autre FB site' from Bert Exertier, of Lara backstage),
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=193018409297195
Hard to miss the influence of the Star Academie beauticians. Among the innumerable benefits for Lara being involved with this show, a greater flexibility in appearance is certainly one of them!
The other novelty concerning this episode, the last show before the semi-finals, is that there were four candidates ‘in danger’. As usual they were encouraged by their families’ presence, and by a word from their favorite singer. The candidates (and their preferred singer) were:
**Lunou – Ingrid St. Pierre encouraged her with a very poetic statement saying that Lunou inhabits her songs, she builds little houses of them, and that she was sure Lunou would have many in the audience living in her houses. During the week Lunou was shown getting a lot of encouragement from Lara, who said what she was doing was the highlight of her week.
**Maeva -encouraged by Natasha St. Pierre who said she was greatly impressed by her voice.
**Shayan – encouraged by Coeur de Pirate (who has had a vocal cord operation, and made an exception to speak to him); she wished him good luck. He wondered why he was in danger two weeks in a row, what had he done poorly, how could he sing better? His preparation with Lara was “a unique and pure moment”; Lara told him that “the world is better because of people like you”. She also told him that nothing was lost in advance, it’s not finished. (A video from one of the dailies during the week showing the emotional interaction of Lara with Shayan can be found at www.facebook.com/JeanPhilippeDionOfficiel/videos/4211975325480591).
**William – encouraged by Renee Wilkin (he sang one of her songs this evening in the competition). She noted that she had given birth in the middle of a competition (La Voix), and so emphasized with him (you may remember, he had to leave the Waterloo mansion when his wife was giving birth to their second child) – and that there was nothing better for children than to see their parent pursue his dreams. William said that until this week he had hidden his pain from being separated from his family, so that he could put his talent before all. He didn’t want to be pitied. But now he realized the important points he’s missed with his family, with his new baby boy. To counter that sadness, Ariane told him he was going to be able to sing for his son soon. And he realized he didn’t want all that he had sacrificed to be for nothing, so he wanted to go to the end of the adventure, to not let it pass him by, and to do it for his family. Lara told him to not forget that his voice is the vector of his heart.
Two candidates were to be saved, and thus two would be ‘dislodged’. A priori, this was going to be difficult, for three of these candidates are special singers. Note also that this is the last week that the judges will be able to save a candidate; from next week’s semi-finals on, it is all up to the audience. Gregory was asked what the last thing he will say to the candidates, what it is that they have to do for them. He indicated it was the same as for the public – be generous in their performance, be (emotionally) moving, because that’s what he believes the audience is looking for. He said they need to show a mastery of what they’re doing, and at the same time have a sense of urgency and desire to profit from this occasion, two somewhat conflicting requirements.
As for the performances:
Lunou Zucchini sang “Million Years Ago” from Adele. She said she hoped it would resonate with the public as strongly as it resonates with her. Once again her range and theatricality stood out, although she did seem a bit nervous. Patrice said he’s been watching her since the start of the Star Academie and he has the feeling that she could do anything in this profession. Gregory said, “there was nervousness, there was emotion, there was mastery, there was urgency. Mission accomplished.”
Maeva Grelet sang “Le temps au temps” from M. Grelet (24:22) - i.e., she wrote this song. She said she was going to show her full pallet of colors and all the nuances possible. A very good performance on a difficult song, with much (sexy) movement on her part. It required a lot of different types of singing at a fast pace, although the reggae rhythm did not allow for a display of great vocal surges. Patrice said he knew her as a great singer, but now he’s found out she’s a great songwriter. Lara said “I am so proud of Maeva. There's only one mom who can say that, so I'm gonna take it like I'm a sister with one heart. I mean I'm proud of her, of her path, of what she is. I can't wait to buy tickets for this show.”
Shayan Heidari sang “Somewhere Only We Know” from Keane. He said it encapsulated how he felt during the week and what he learned: to let go, to appreciate the present moment. The words did indeed match his current situation, as they included “this could be the end of everything”. Despite his somewhat limited vocal capacity, he apparently learned his lesson well – he sang as well as he could possibly have, in a truly touching performance. Ariane said that in the last few weeks, he had allowed himself to be fragile, vulnerable, and had used that to enrich his performance.
William Cloutier sang “Comment je te disais” from Renee Wilkin for his family, which he said he loves and misses. He did put all that emotion into the song, and combined with his wonderful tenor voice, it was an exquisite, moving presentation. Lara said, “Oh my God. Understanding the meaning of being the vector of our hearts through the voice is exactly what William did at this moment. We can do it several times in our career, but sometimes there are pivotal moments where we have to make both ends meet, our skills and our sensitivity. You did it tonight. Your family must be so proud of you, I'm proud of you too.”
My expectation at the end of this is that the audience would choose William; and if they didn’t, the judges would. That left one candidate to go. The most difficult presentation was that of Maeva; the most moving (of the remaining three) was that of Shayan. I still feel that Lunou has the highest upside, and if that is the criterion, I would go with her. But I could understand any of the others being chosen as well. The results? The public did choose William; he said that when conditions allow, he would invite people over for an Indian corn roast. As for the judges: Ariane said it had never been as difficult to make this choice, that all four candidates had made their mark, and she wanted them to know that. The judges then chose: Lunou. Patrice told Maeva and Shayan that out of 5500 contestants, they were part of the last 8, and they should be proud of that.
Ultimately I felt that the two chosen were the two highest quality performers, ones who will go on to be serious contenders for the title, and who would be worthy representatives of it. Actually, the same is true of all 6 semi-finalists; in what is an imperfect system but which allows for plenty of time and opportunity to evaluate them (the in-house teaching and evaluation; performances during the variety show with guests; the direct competition), Lara and the Star Academie team have ended up with what seem like the best candidates. Congratulations to them! [It also turns out that there are 3 men and 3 women; is that just a coincidence?]
Also on the program, Isabelle Boulay was the star guest, and she personally chose the songs that she wanted to sing with the Academicians. The last song of her set was “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by D. Snider – a rock song that she (and others) classified as ‘metal’ (though it didn’t strike me that way). It was one she had never sung before in public. She said it wasn’t fair that the Academicians were in danger and that she wasn’t, so she wanted to, in effect, put herself out on a limb the same way they had to. She said that it was important to take risks in this career, and that every time she did, it resonated with the public and she enjoyed herself. That’s her definition of success – both the public and she herself enjoy it. Also of note – she will be giving a concert at the Videotron Centre of Quebec on April 16th and tickets are currently on sale – a welcome return to something approximating ‘normal’ for this profession (at least in Quebec). She then asked Patrice to write a song for her with the title of her new show ‘Les Beaux Jours’ (The Beautiful Days) – which came as a surprise to him (and he of course gladly accepted).
Here’s the discussion of the program in the Journal of Montreal (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/04/11/star-academie-cest-la-fin-pour-maeva-et-shayan-1):
----------------------------
Star Académie: it's the end for Maëva and Shayan
They were all very good, but we had to decide. Two candidates were to leave Star Académie on Sunday, and it was for Maëva Grelet and Shayan Heidari that the ax fell. Fortunately, our two artists leave with a light heart, satisfied with their accelerated training.
At the end of the show, Isabelle Boulay announced that the public was protecting William Cloutier, and the teachers added a few minutes later by revealing that they were keeping Lunou Zucchini in the adventure. The game was up for Maëva and Shayan, who were in danger against them.
These last two, like real pros, took the blow with a smile, always supportive and positive. Maëva was eager to "give lots of kisses" to her mother, and Shayan was also happy to reconnect with his family. “It’s going to be good,” he said.
A masked Ariane Moffatt even came to give her charges a goodbye hug and congratulations while they granted interviews.
Great Pride
“I feel so proud of my performance, but above all proud of the performance of all the candidates in danger,” said Maëva. We "really insured", we "screwed" the scene, we managed ... [Laughs] I think I can leave with my head held high, and Shayan too."
"I'm proud of you too, and I'm proud of everyone, not just the candidates in danger," Shayan replied, standing beside her. Everyone was amazing. Me, leaving with that song [Somewhere Only We Know, by Keane], I feel like I'm leaving my mark and I hope people have been able to realize how much you have to let go and just enjoy the moment..."
Shayan, who had dropped out of school before Star Académie, says he has compositions in the bank - which he didn't want to put forward at Star Académie - and he still has a thousand ideas for songs and videos in mind. He plans to devote himself to music full time now.
As for Maëva, graduated in aesthetics since the beginning of 2021, she does not breathe a word about her projects for the moment, but promises that "it's heavy"!
"You haven't finished hearing from me," she bragged, happy to have felt that her composition “Le temps au temps” had rained in the audience.
And what did Maëva and Shayan mainly learn from their time at Star Académie?
“Despite the fact that it was a competition and that there was stress, I had fun and I took the time to learn, to use the tools that the teachers gave us. When we go out, we say to ourselves that we are ready and that we will go for it,” explained Shayan.
“I learned that I don't have to give myself limits in relation to myself and my voice,” continued Maëva. I impressed myself, with the amount of information I had in my head! I was able to grow up and I also learned a lot about myself and my personality, with the other Academicians. It was not easy at times, but knowing that we are supported and surrounded in this profession is heartwarming!”
Strong Emotions
Besides the performances of the four candidates in danger, the variety of Star Academy of Sunday, ninth of the season - there are only three left! - was the scene of all feelings, with passages from Isabelle Boulay, Francine Raymond, Jonathan Roy and the colorful tribute to Elton John.
Generous, Isabelle Boulay had herself attached songs from her repertoire to the candidates, perched on large white blocks, for a festive mix (Tandem, and We're Not Gonna Take It, by Jacob, to fill the "heavy metal" fiber of Isabelle), and melancholy ( Parle moi, Un peu d’innocence, and Tant que l’amour existera, received by Guillaume, an inveterate "fan" of Isabelle).
A true antidote to gloom, Elton John's potpourri of success has been adorned with colorful glasses, masks and disco hats. It started with Saturday Night, and it ended with Crocodile Rock, with a variation of I'm Still Standing and Rocket Man (which Shayan was solid on) in between.
Ray of nostalgia, we impatiently awaited the return of Francine Raymond, after 15 years of absence on stage. This one was made to wait, reserving “Pour l’amour qu’il nous reste”, at the end of the number, with a choir of Academicians behind her.
While waiting for her, they made memories spring to the sound of her immortal Magie noire et blanche, Vivre avec celui qu’on aime, Pense à moi, Tous les bateaux font des vagues and Souvenirs retrouvés. Even Ariane Moffatt and Patrice Michaud were spoiled by taking part in the hat trick to the songwriter - inducted Sunday into the Hall of Fame of Canadian Authors and Composers with her accomplice guitarist Christian Péloquin - by re-reading the symbolic Y'a les mots.
Finally, Jonathan Roy came to offer his two most recent hits, Keeping Me Alive and Lost. And the song “I Lost My Baby”, by Jean Leloup - taken from his legendary album Le Dôme, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021 - has joined the illustrious roll of honor of “songs of the nation”.
The four songs performed by the candidates in danger are available on QUB music and on all streaming and download platforms.
William Cloutier (People's Choice)
William Cloutier reiterated his wish to go far in the Star Académie adventure, largely for his family, he who sacrificed the time he could have spent with his second baby boy when he was born, in early February, to devote himself entirely to reality TV. The public heard his call, and saved him. Since his lover and his offspring occupy the foreground in his heart, the singer from Victoriaville chose to opt, on Sunday, for Comment je te dirais, a piece by Renée Wilkin written by Marc Dupré and Nelson Minville, which he dedicated to his family. His performance, in a flawless voice, sounded like a cry from the heart, and William himself seemed shaken by the time the song was over, as did Lara Fabian. “Sometimes there are pivotal moments where you have to make ends meet, skills and sensitivity. You did it tonight”, said the director. William promised viewers that he would invite them to a large corn roast once the pandemic is over, to celebrate!
Lunou Zucchini (Professors' choice)
Lunou didn't lack power on Adele's Million Years Ago . The teachers recognized her talent in protecting her, once William escaped by the public. Intense, as much in her smile as in her impeccable vocal flights, in front of a white flower which spat out small luminous flakes, the Academician of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu seemed serene and seemed to be having fun. In the audience, her mother, Luce Dufault, had difficulty concealing her emotion. "There was nervousness, emotion, control and urgency ... Mission accomplished!" Gregory Charles decreed after Lunou's performance.
Maëva Grelet (Dislodged)
Unfortunately, Maëva had to pack up. However, whatever the case, her composition Le temps au temps, on which she relied on Sunday, has everything to become a radio earworm. Sparkling, the 20-year-old candidate made it by moving lasciviously, in sexy, relaxed movements. The dapper style certainly goes well with the one who made the teachers dance in their stands, also bewitched and amused by the melody. "I can't wait to buy tickets for this show!" exclaimed Lara, who has announced that she wants to follow Maëva's career with interest.
Shayan Heidari (Dislodged)
Endangered for a second week in a row, Shayan performed Keane's Somewhere Only We Know on the piano, then standing with arms wide open as an ode to the audience. Authentic stage animal, transfixed with sincerity, Shayan has been more vulnerable recently, given his uncertain situation in the adventure, observed Ariane Moffatt. But "you have used this fragility to enrich what you have to offer", added the professor of musical creation. Alas, the competition being what it is, Shayan had to leave his comrades.
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Furthering the opinion of how well all the contestants did today was Lara’s latest Instagram post,
http://instagram.com/p/CNll3JXh1Nb
with the caption, “My little hearts were Wow today ..... I'm so lucky”
In other news, the Lara Fabian Connecting People site noted that it was a year ago that Lara released the video “Nos coeurs a la fenetre”. Although the virus is certainly not gone, there is a notable difference from the situation at that time, in Quebec and many other locales. However, in France it is again quite serious. As noted in (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/france-registers-over-34-800-new-coronavirus-cases/2205664), France registered 34,895 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, another 178 people died in hospitals, taking the country’s death toll to 98,778. A total of 30,671 people are being treated at hospitals with 5,838 in intensive care units (ICUs). A sad comparison with last year at this time: the number of people in ICUs in France has reached its highest level since April 17, 2020.
On March 25, the country banned outdoor gatherings of more than six people to stem the spread of the disease as the third wave of infections peaked with a record 45,000 new cases. “The trend is accelerating almost everywhere,” said Health Minister Olivier Veran, who announced restrictive measures in Aube, Nievre, and Rhone, taking the total of semi-confined administrative divisions to 19. The situation remains most worrying in the northern areas of the Paris region of Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France and Provence in the south, which have been witnessing increased hospital admissions. Still too early to worry (too much) about Lara’s June concerts.
Interesting photo(s) of the week: from the Lara Fabian America site, more (of course) from the Star Academie,
www.facebook.com/larafabianamerica/photos/pcb.1105414669956451/1105414133289838/
And via the ‘Lara Fabian The Netherlands’ FB site, from a February 16, 2021 issue of “7 Jours” magazine,
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianTheNetherlands/photos/a.113941653484573/324147732463963/
There are just three weeks left in the show, as it ends on May 2. Next week Lara will perform on it with the Metropolitan orchestra, a special treat. It will be interesting to see if she’s able to make her appearance available to her world-wide audience. Stay safe everybody,
David
