Post by davidhr on Feb 15, 2022 8:11:02 GMT -5
In celebration of Valentine’s Day yesterday, Lara’s people left the following (commercially-oriented) pictures on her FB site, at
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=484599906368149&set=pcb.484599969701476
with the caption, “To celebrate Valentine's Day, you can please or please yourself
Indeed, a 20% discount is now available on the CD, vinyl or digital version of the album "Lockdown Sessions" by Lara Fabian 🌸
So, go to the official website www.larafabian.com”
This is apparently in lieu of a personal message to her fans…
The third week of the Star Academie show took place this past Sunday evening. As usual, Lara posted beguiling pictures of herself on her FB and Instagram pages, at
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=528049272012704&set=pcb.528049302012701
and
with the caption, “In place for the 3rd variety of Star Académie TVA #staracnation 💙
It seems like each week she tries to outdo herself in being a visual attraction for the show in some unique way…
And with regard to the Star Academy shows: The focus of these newsletters is on Lara’s activities, and Lara’s time and attention are obviously taken up with the Star Academie. Therefore, these newsletters must be as well. However, it’s recognized that for people outside of Canada, reading about what happened is not nearly as satisfying as seeing it for oneself. So an effort will be made to indicate how any of these shows can be seen by the wider audience, even though TVA normally prevents their being accessed outside the country.
One way, obviously, is to invest in a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which allows one to access Canadian TV. A good article about how to do that is at
pixelprivacy.com/vpn/streaming/canadian-tv/
One can follow their recommendation for using a particular VPN or not; the process is similar regardless of which one you choose, and their cautions are important to keep in mind.
Also, some content from the show is being made available, one way or another. Here are some examples:
**The first variety show is now available on youtube, at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cINYZGOEWaY
If that one ‘survives’, expect others to gradually appear.
Lara also does the ‘post mortem’ at the end of each show. An example of that is a portion from last week’s show, which can be found at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRIotMIrvgM
with English translations by Lara The Ring Fabian. Yes, as she said, Lara knows a little bit about intensity…
In addition, the post mortem from the first show (in French) is available at
www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3_XEvS49Uh4&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0t0JpMvUOXcF4pMC4lKbPEYLNZn-nadCaL5oH0zW3jzdBBdBuqT7dwKD4
and from the second show at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRyX702NH4
For those of you who can’t get to see the show, this is a way to meet the candidates. In addition, daily episodes occasionally show up on youtube as well, e.g.,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL29G303tIk
We will make it a point to inform readers when videos available to the wider audience outside Canada become available.
As for the latest show…a review can be found at (https://thecanadian.news/2022/02/14/star-academie-a-colorful-variety/) [yes – in English!]. Here’s what it says:
---------------------------------------
“Star Académie”: a colorful Variety!
The MELS studio resounded with the applause of the public, which finally made its return, Sunday, during the third Variety of “Star Académie”. Despite his magnificent voice, Yannick had to say goodbye to his colleagues, at the end of a colorful and emotional evening.
Opening Variété, Marie Carmen, Marie-Denise Pelletier and Joe Bocan united their voices with those of the Academicians for a number that recalled their great successes of the 1990s. “Inventing the earth”, “Starting from scratch”, or even “Between shadow and light” and “Tous les cris les SOS””.
Yannick Bissonnette-Powell opened the competition with an intense, but rather static rendition of “Bruises,” by Lewis Capaldi. “You tear my heart out', reacted Guylaine Tremblay at the end of his performance. "Your beautiful voice holds all the distress and beauty of the world.”
Mathieu Rheault then moved to the back of the stage to deliver a very personal version of “Danse avec moi”, by Martine St-Clair. Gregory Charles clarified that the idea and the arrangements were a choice of the Academician.
“People don’t know how much Mathieu has a level of vocal agility", added the prof. "You have often said that you came to Star Académie to find an artistic identity. It is already there, you already have an identity."
After making Lara Fabian cry during the workshops during the week, Jérémy Plante wanted to move Quebec with his interpretation of “Sur mon epaule” from the Fringant Cowboys. Successful bet for the Academician who delivered a gently and emotional number. He finally showed the extent of his abilities and his talent.
“I think Jérémy has just shown us that learning is sometimes giving up what we already knew", argued the director. "I am convinced that Quebec felt all the emotions that I had this week."
Launched by Varda Etienne in the style of Musique Plus in the 1990s, the party mix of the great hits of the time made it possible to set up the party, unpretentious with a lot of humor, with Pierre-Yves Lord on the decks. The Academicians lent themselves to the game with a lot of happiness and self-mockery. Damien Robitaille made a small surprise appearance, a nod to his capsules on social networks.
After the big fun, make way for emotion with the first special request of the season. A camera went to surprise Annie Desgagnés, in L’Isle-aux-Coudres. She received a kidney transplant in 2002 and was able to live an almost normal life, but her health journey has become more complicated in recent years.
Waiting for a second kidney transplant, her family wanted to send her a big dose of love through Éloi, Olivier and Marily who sang “Tenir Debout” by Fred Pellerin to her. The most moving moment of the evening.
The members of Clay and Friends then came to light up the studio with their mix of funk, soul and pop. In a summer setting, populated by deckchairs and sandcastles, they swayed to the sounds of “Going up the Coast”, “Que Onda” or even “Bouge ton thang”.
At the end of the evening, the public chose to save Jérémy Plante.
The teachers then opted for the Academician “who has an incredible thirst for learning, and who has the ability to evolve in the coming weeks”, announced Guylaine Tremblay, before appointing Mathieu. The latter was in tears. “Thank you very much,” he added. "I have never felt so invested in something. You do me good.”
Nothing seems to test Audrey-Louise. Since the beginning of the season, she has often found herself in the foreground in the medleys, and she continues to shine with her accuracy, her solidity and her simplicity. During the first medley of the evening, she sang a magnificent duet with Marie-Denise Pelletier on “Tous les cris les SOS”. Later that night, she dazzled at the end of the Party Mix by performing “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).” At 23, Audrey-Louise already has a huge professional background, from “The Big Court” at the age of 10 to her studies in New York, through her experience with “The Melody of Happiness”. Let’s bet that the young mother of a four-month-old girl should leave her bags for a long time at the Academy.
After having made his debut at “La Voix”, Édouard Lagacé wanted to live the “Star Académie” experience. Even if he has lived from and for music for many years, he now wants to take another step and become the author of his own songs. In the daily newspaper, this week, Édouard confided that he had finally understood what he was doing in this adventure, and during Variété, he was able to find his place in several medleys and he particularly distinguished himself during his duet with Clay and friends.
Music has always been part of Mathieu Rheault’s life. A member of the Petits Chanteurs de Laval for nearly ten years, he continued his apprenticeship through musical studies in high school, then at Cegep. For a few years, he has been evolving within a group with which he does covers in corporate events. Highly sensitive, Mathieu has amazing vocal skills, but this week he had to show the teachers his ability to stay focused on his performance. They were able to judge that he is a diligent and rigorous student, since he gave them an almost perfect performance.
----------------------------------------
[Nb: The Canadian news is Canada’s largest news curation site with over 20+ agency partners; the reference for this particular article is http://www.tvanouvelles.ca].
As you may remember, a new feature this season are the ‘special requests’, where one can be made for the Academicians to sing a special song for a special person, in this case quite a poignant moment.
Here’s another take on the show, just for ‘variety sake’ …from (https://www.lesoleil.com/2022/02/14/star-academie-entre-fete-et-nostalgie-e463a89deb011a0f55315772b018cc8a):
-----------------------------------
Star Académie : between celebration and nostalgia
The third Variety of Star Académie chose to dive into nostalgia on Sunday evening. A festive atmosphere also reigned in the Mels studio, a sign that the presence of the public completely changes the situation for an artist.
The return of the public is indeed this important for a television show of such scope. For the academicians of this 2022 vintage, which was meeting their audience for the first time, this presence was beneficial to them, in particular by occupying the vast stage much better. The public was also beneficial for the host Marc Dupré who tries less and less to make people laugh at all costs.
"It's good to find the public!", Launched Marie-Denise Pelletier at the end of the number with her two accomplices, Joe Bocan and Marie Carmen. The trio of divas first offered a musical return to the 1980s and 1990s by performing several of their hits. Their powerful voices and stage presence completely overshadowed the academicians. Audrey-Louise, however, stood out when singing Tous les cris, les SOS with Marie-Denise Pelletier.
Candidates at risk
The teachers had issued a big challenge to Jeremy this week. That of being true. Alone without his guitar, he wanted to touch the public and the teaching staff by living the poetry and melody of Sur mon epaule by the Cowboys Fringants. By abandoning himself more to emotion than entertainment, he sought the hearts of the public who decided to save him.
As for him, Mathieu went on stage without artifice, as he wanted. By adopting a soulful version of Danse avec moi by Martine St-Clair, he demonstrated his true artistic identity. A charmer, he recounted and above all embodied the words of Plamondon. His willingness to learn also saved him this week as the teachers decided he was going back to Waterloo Manor.
Yannick is therefore the second to return home. If he wondered this week about the relevance of his presence at the academy, we still felt a little fragile on stage, Sunday evening. His moving interpretation of Lewis Capaldi's Bruises still brought out his quiet strength, tearing the hearts of many viewers in the process.
An electrifying atmosphere
The odyssey to the past continued with a medley of 1990s dance/electro songs that was sure to have viewers up in their living room. For the occasion, Pierre-Yves Lord returned to the turntables. The former VJ at MusiquePlus, Varda Étienne, also returned to the beginnings of her career by presenting the number as she hosted Bouge de là . This journey through time has allowed several academics to step out of their comfort zone and radiate differently.
The first special request of the season was presented to pay tribute to Annie Desgagnés from Isle-aux-Coudres. Waiting for a second kidney transplant, her parents wanted to highlight her courage. Olivier, Marily and Eloi offered her Tenir debout by Fred Pellerin, a very touching moment sprinkled with a video of Annie Desgagnés' loved ones. "It's an incredible surprise, an exceptional wave of love," she exclaimed.
Finally, the Montreal group Clay and Friends came to close this third Variété with their groove. Note the solid performance of Édouard in a more funky style and that of Julien whose personality blended perfectly with the colorful music that makes you want to dance.
Next week, Patrick Bruel, Kaïn, Alessia Cara and songs from the musical Rock of Ages will compose Star Académie 's fourth Variété .
-----------------------------------
In both of these articles, the performance of some of the Academicians in the general variety presentations was noted. This emphasizes that the judges do not only consider the individual presentations in the competition in their determination of who should stay, after the public votes. This may explain some of the puzzling choices they make from week to week. This particular week I thought the results were correct; the difference was not so much in their vocal quality but the confidence and stage presence the two ‘survivors’ showed. And as the article above noted, and as Lara has continually emphasized, music is a medium for the expression of emotions, and that is what the academicians are being taught to bring out in themselves and in the audience.
And now for the latest extract from Lara’s book, “Je passe a table”…
---------------------------------------
TWELFTH STORY: MAMY MADELEINE
Tunisia and Sicily in the kitchen
The father of my doll, my beautiful Lou, is a very respected French director. He is also a man who has contributed to make me a mother on this earth.
Our story is special, because it begins when I am eighteen years old.
Crazy, but true.
In March 1988, just before the Eurovision at the plains of Ermenoville, it is Mr. Gerard who films the history of this song. To make such an event, you need a professional clip.
The synopsis is very simple: I walk on the sand dunes, followed by "my little dog actor" I met for the occasion, and I look, dreaming, at the life that is in front of me.
It is still Mr. Gerard who slips dog treats in the pocket of my jeans, so that this hairy actor who gives me the cue obeys as soon as the word "action" is pronounced.
The director of the video for the song Croire is already sporting his legendary moustache and unmistakable sense of humor.
Then, we will cross paths here and there during our career, on sets of prestigious varieties. But without more. He is charming and very busy. We are courteous to each other.
That's how life goes, sometimes it brings us people to build the fundamental steps of a life. This was the case with my daughter's father. He resurfaced one day and it seemed obvious. In all this, the most extraordinary thing is that he reappeared surrounded by this joyful and glorious Tunisian family.
Madeleine, Claude, Annie, Roxanne, Lana, Axelle and Solal.
Madeleine is Lou's grandmother, an exceptional woman. She is very cultured and has a great talent in cooking.
Her thing is to meet people on weekends, Friday nights, especially for Shabbat. On those evenings, there are many of us, everyone is talking loudly, there is too much food...I love it.
Does it remind you of anything?
Madeleine, there's nothing to her test. She is never hungry, never thirsty. She is never tired. She doesn't need anything. Just that the whole family is together and everything is fine.
During the long weeks when I have to stay at home to repair myself, my Tunisian family-in-law comes very often.
My parents and friends are also often our happy weekends, and it feels good. A festive air hovers in the dining room of our house.
Seeing these families from the South mingle around our huge round table is magical for me. Seeing them share stories and unknown foods against the backdrop of the flat country, even more so.
We live unforgettable moments.
Those that build memories.
They will always be my family. Lou carries their genes.
And their sense of celebration.
Kemia gargantuesque, pkaila, nikitouches, brick with egg, mechouia salad, chorba and so on. The Tunisian gastonomy is infinite.
But the moment that everyone is waiting for is the fish couscous of Mamy. It is the one whose broth gives off an inimitable smell, the one whose semolina is made by the white hands of Madeleine and whose finesse is indescribable. The cherry on the cake? The fish meatballs, fried, to accompany it all.
One day, I have the privilege to be next to her during the whole preparation.
In the manner of those Southern women who hate to give precise recipes in "grammar" and in measured quantities, she stares at me and says: "It's simple, my daughter, look, record, try and taste!"
I tried. It was far from being Grandma Mady's perfect couscous, but it wasn't bad for a first try.
Transformation
The weeks following my fracture are more difficult and, despite my efforts, I need time for the pain to subside. I regularly make trips to the military hospital near my home where they put me upside down in hyperbaric chambers to relieve the pressure on my back.
I take a lot of painkillers, and then I end up choosing other ways to heal. Less known methods, qualified as ineffective by the followers of science. As I am really open to other methods, and especially desperate from suffering, I try everything. I will not be disappointed.
So, I meet Guibert del Marmol, Luc Petit-Barreau and Valerie Vonk, unique people, because life is well done. Because everything is audible for the one who knows how to listen.
They gave me a method that allowed me to heal little by little and to get back on my feet.
They also offer me a book: The Mozart Effect.
It is really after reading this book that my life will be completely transformed.
Moreover, in this heavy process of healing, the feeling of being useless starts to bother me and tensions are felt within my couple. I am trying as hard as I can, I am making efforts, but the truth is that my heart is not in it anymore. I have to resign myself to the fact that some things don't get repaired.
After almost seven years of common history, in a moment of great mutual respect but nevertheless very painful, my daughter's father and I decided to go our separate ways.
It was not only my vertebrae that were broken.
But then again, the universe is well made.
Almost at the same time, I had a very important encounter after reading the book I just mentioned. A person whose art is to transmit.
To transmit the Once-Do (the way of the sound), the presence to oneself, the awakening to our deep nature, the communication that unites us. In a word, what is defined as 'comunification'.
This being will deeply transform me and will clearly show me that becoming oneself is to set out on the path that allows us to nourish our basic needs and deep aspirations, with self-respect and authenticity.
This path is to be walked every day. It gives us the priceless gift of consciousness 'In the heart of life', in joy and peace.
Issa Padovani is a master, I will be his student.
Today I have the chance to consider him as my friend.
Don Campbelle, L’effet Mozart: les bienfaits de la musique sur le corps. Editions Le Jour, Montreal, 1998. [Don Campbelle, The Mozart Effect: the benefits of music on the body. Editions Le Jour, Montreal, 1998.]
Issa Padovani, Au coeur du vivant - 140 graines de conscience pour une vie éveillée, Guy Tredaniel, 2020. [Issa Padovani, Au coeur du vivant - 140 seeds of consciousness for an awakened life, Guy Tredaniel, 2020.]
------------------------------------
Lara’s penchant for not naming names in her book continued this week, where she referred to Lou’s father, Gerard Pullicino as “Mr. Gerard” [which is at least closer than last week, when she refused to name Igor Kruoti at all, or previous weeks where all the important names were omitted]. It seems a bit specious; she attempts to be honest about other, personal things, why not be honest about everything? IMHO…
Interesting photo(s)/video(s) of the week:
Lara The Ring Fabian put together a compilation of off-the-cuff singing performances by Lara, showing how well she does extemporaneously, without rehearsal, at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZfJCCwu8HE
and to complement that, Lara singing at her daily teaching,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Z3j364oE0
Next week should be more of the same, with Lara and the Star Academie progressing to the next variety show and elimination round. Eventually we will start seeing some of those whom the judges consider the likeliest ‘stars’ of this crop of candidates in competition. Stay safe everybody.
David
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=484599906368149&set=pcb.484599969701476
with the caption, “To celebrate Valentine's Day, you can please or please yourself
Indeed, a 20% discount is now available on the CD, vinyl or digital version of the album "Lockdown Sessions" by Lara Fabian 🌸
So, go to the official website www.larafabian.com”
This is apparently in lieu of a personal message to her fans…
The third week of the Star Academie show took place this past Sunday evening. As usual, Lara posted beguiling pictures of herself on her FB and Instagram pages, at
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=528049272012704&set=pcb.528049302012701
and
http://instagram.com/p/CZ79DqtLHyl
with the caption, “In place for the 3rd variety of Star Académie TVA #staracnation 💙
It seems like each week she tries to outdo herself in being a visual attraction for the show in some unique way…
And with regard to the Star Academy shows: The focus of these newsletters is on Lara’s activities, and Lara’s time and attention are obviously taken up with the Star Academie. Therefore, these newsletters must be as well. However, it’s recognized that for people outside of Canada, reading about what happened is not nearly as satisfying as seeing it for oneself. So an effort will be made to indicate how any of these shows can be seen by the wider audience, even though TVA normally prevents their being accessed outside the country.
One way, obviously, is to invest in a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which allows one to access Canadian TV. A good article about how to do that is at
pixelprivacy.com/vpn/streaming/canadian-tv/
One can follow their recommendation for using a particular VPN or not; the process is similar regardless of which one you choose, and their cautions are important to keep in mind.
Also, some content from the show is being made available, one way or another. Here are some examples:
**The first variety show is now available on youtube, at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cINYZGOEWaY
If that one ‘survives’, expect others to gradually appear.
Lara also does the ‘post mortem’ at the end of each show. An example of that is a portion from last week’s show, which can be found at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRIotMIrvgM
with English translations by Lara The Ring Fabian. Yes, as she said, Lara knows a little bit about intensity…
In addition, the post mortem from the first show (in French) is available at
www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3_XEvS49Uh4&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0t0JpMvUOXcF4pMC4lKbPEYLNZn-nadCaL5oH0zW3jzdBBdBuqT7dwKD4
and from the second show at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRyX702NH4
For those of you who can’t get to see the show, this is a way to meet the candidates. In addition, daily episodes occasionally show up on youtube as well, e.g.,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL29G303tIk
We will make it a point to inform readers when videos available to the wider audience outside Canada become available.
As for the latest show…a review can be found at (https://thecanadian.news/2022/02/14/star-academie-a-colorful-variety/) [yes – in English!]. Here’s what it says:
---------------------------------------
“Star Académie”: a colorful Variety!
The MELS studio resounded with the applause of the public, which finally made its return, Sunday, during the third Variety of “Star Académie”. Despite his magnificent voice, Yannick had to say goodbye to his colleagues, at the end of a colorful and emotional evening.
Opening Variété, Marie Carmen, Marie-Denise Pelletier and Joe Bocan united their voices with those of the Academicians for a number that recalled their great successes of the 1990s. “Inventing the earth”, “Starting from scratch”, or even “Between shadow and light” and “Tous les cris les SOS””.
Yannick Bissonnette-Powell opened the competition with an intense, but rather static rendition of “Bruises,” by Lewis Capaldi. “You tear my heart out', reacted Guylaine Tremblay at the end of his performance. "Your beautiful voice holds all the distress and beauty of the world.”
Mathieu Rheault then moved to the back of the stage to deliver a very personal version of “Danse avec moi”, by Martine St-Clair. Gregory Charles clarified that the idea and the arrangements were a choice of the Academician.
“People don’t know how much Mathieu has a level of vocal agility", added the prof. "You have often said that you came to Star Académie to find an artistic identity. It is already there, you already have an identity."
After making Lara Fabian cry during the workshops during the week, Jérémy Plante wanted to move Quebec with his interpretation of “Sur mon epaule” from the Fringant Cowboys. Successful bet for the Academician who delivered a gently and emotional number. He finally showed the extent of his abilities and his talent.
“I think Jérémy has just shown us that learning is sometimes giving up what we already knew", argued the director. "I am convinced that Quebec felt all the emotions that I had this week."
Launched by Varda Etienne in the style of Musique Plus in the 1990s, the party mix of the great hits of the time made it possible to set up the party, unpretentious with a lot of humor, with Pierre-Yves Lord on the decks. The Academicians lent themselves to the game with a lot of happiness and self-mockery. Damien Robitaille made a small surprise appearance, a nod to his capsules on social networks.
After the big fun, make way for emotion with the first special request of the season. A camera went to surprise Annie Desgagnés, in L’Isle-aux-Coudres. She received a kidney transplant in 2002 and was able to live an almost normal life, but her health journey has become more complicated in recent years.
Waiting for a second kidney transplant, her family wanted to send her a big dose of love through Éloi, Olivier and Marily who sang “Tenir Debout” by Fred Pellerin to her. The most moving moment of the evening.
The members of Clay and Friends then came to light up the studio with their mix of funk, soul and pop. In a summer setting, populated by deckchairs and sandcastles, they swayed to the sounds of “Going up the Coast”, “Que Onda” or even “Bouge ton thang”.
At the end of the evening, the public chose to save Jérémy Plante.
The teachers then opted for the Academician “who has an incredible thirst for learning, and who has the ability to evolve in the coming weeks”, announced Guylaine Tremblay, before appointing Mathieu. The latter was in tears. “Thank you very much,” he added. "I have never felt so invested in something. You do me good.”
Nothing seems to test Audrey-Louise. Since the beginning of the season, she has often found herself in the foreground in the medleys, and she continues to shine with her accuracy, her solidity and her simplicity. During the first medley of the evening, she sang a magnificent duet with Marie-Denise Pelletier on “Tous les cris les SOS”. Later that night, she dazzled at the end of the Party Mix by performing “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).” At 23, Audrey-Louise already has a huge professional background, from “The Big Court” at the age of 10 to her studies in New York, through her experience with “The Melody of Happiness”. Let’s bet that the young mother of a four-month-old girl should leave her bags for a long time at the Academy.
After having made his debut at “La Voix”, Édouard Lagacé wanted to live the “Star Académie” experience. Even if he has lived from and for music for many years, he now wants to take another step and become the author of his own songs. In the daily newspaper, this week, Édouard confided that he had finally understood what he was doing in this adventure, and during Variété, he was able to find his place in several medleys and he particularly distinguished himself during his duet with Clay and friends.
Music has always been part of Mathieu Rheault’s life. A member of the Petits Chanteurs de Laval for nearly ten years, he continued his apprenticeship through musical studies in high school, then at Cegep. For a few years, he has been evolving within a group with which he does covers in corporate events. Highly sensitive, Mathieu has amazing vocal skills, but this week he had to show the teachers his ability to stay focused on his performance. They were able to judge that he is a diligent and rigorous student, since he gave them an almost perfect performance.
----------------------------------------
[Nb: The Canadian news is Canada’s largest news curation site with over 20+ agency partners; the reference for this particular article is http://www.tvanouvelles.ca].
As you may remember, a new feature this season are the ‘special requests’, where one can be made for the Academicians to sing a special song for a special person, in this case quite a poignant moment.
Here’s another take on the show, just for ‘variety sake’ …from (https://www.lesoleil.com/2022/02/14/star-academie-entre-fete-et-nostalgie-e463a89deb011a0f55315772b018cc8a):
-----------------------------------
Star Académie : between celebration and nostalgia
The third Variety of Star Académie chose to dive into nostalgia on Sunday evening. A festive atmosphere also reigned in the Mels studio, a sign that the presence of the public completely changes the situation for an artist.
The return of the public is indeed this important for a television show of such scope. For the academicians of this 2022 vintage, which was meeting their audience for the first time, this presence was beneficial to them, in particular by occupying the vast stage much better. The public was also beneficial for the host Marc Dupré who tries less and less to make people laugh at all costs.
"It's good to find the public!", Launched Marie-Denise Pelletier at the end of the number with her two accomplices, Joe Bocan and Marie Carmen. The trio of divas first offered a musical return to the 1980s and 1990s by performing several of their hits. Their powerful voices and stage presence completely overshadowed the academicians. Audrey-Louise, however, stood out when singing Tous les cris, les SOS with Marie-Denise Pelletier.
Candidates at risk
The teachers had issued a big challenge to Jeremy this week. That of being true. Alone without his guitar, he wanted to touch the public and the teaching staff by living the poetry and melody of Sur mon epaule by the Cowboys Fringants. By abandoning himself more to emotion than entertainment, he sought the hearts of the public who decided to save him.
As for him, Mathieu went on stage without artifice, as he wanted. By adopting a soulful version of Danse avec moi by Martine St-Clair, he demonstrated his true artistic identity. A charmer, he recounted and above all embodied the words of Plamondon. His willingness to learn also saved him this week as the teachers decided he was going back to Waterloo Manor.
Yannick is therefore the second to return home. If he wondered this week about the relevance of his presence at the academy, we still felt a little fragile on stage, Sunday evening. His moving interpretation of Lewis Capaldi's Bruises still brought out his quiet strength, tearing the hearts of many viewers in the process.
An electrifying atmosphere
The odyssey to the past continued with a medley of 1990s dance/electro songs that was sure to have viewers up in their living room. For the occasion, Pierre-Yves Lord returned to the turntables. The former VJ at MusiquePlus, Varda Étienne, also returned to the beginnings of her career by presenting the number as she hosted Bouge de là . This journey through time has allowed several academics to step out of their comfort zone and radiate differently.
The first special request of the season was presented to pay tribute to Annie Desgagnés from Isle-aux-Coudres. Waiting for a second kidney transplant, her parents wanted to highlight her courage. Olivier, Marily and Eloi offered her Tenir debout by Fred Pellerin, a very touching moment sprinkled with a video of Annie Desgagnés' loved ones. "It's an incredible surprise, an exceptional wave of love," she exclaimed.
Finally, the Montreal group Clay and Friends came to close this third Variété with their groove. Note the solid performance of Édouard in a more funky style and that of Julien whose personality blended perfectly with the colorful music that makes you want to dance.
Next week, Patrick Bruel, Kaïn, Alessia Cara and songs from the musical Rock of Ages will compose Star Académie 's fourth Variété .
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In both of these articles, the performance of some of the Academicians in the general variety presentations was noted. This emphasizes that the judges do not only consider the individual presentations in the competition in their determination of who should stay, after the public votes. This may explain some of the puzzling choices they make from week to week. This particular week I thought the results were correct; the difference was not so much in their vocal quality but the confidence and stage presence the two ‘survivors’ showed. And as the article above noted, and as Lara has continually emphasized, music is a medium for the expression of emotions, and that is what the academicians are being taught to bring out in themselves and in the audience.
And now for the latest extract from Lara’s book, “Je passe a table”…
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TWELFTH STORY: MAMY MADELEINE
Tunisia and Sicily in the kitchen
The father of my doll, my beautiful Lou, is a very respected French director. He is also a man who has contributed to make me a mother on this earth.
Our story is special, because it begins when I am eighteen years old.
Crazy, but true.
In March 1988, just before the Eurovision at the plains of Ermenoville, it is Mr. Gerard who films the history of this song. To make such an event, you need a professional clip.
The synopsis is very simple: I walk on the sand dunes, followed by "my little dog actor" I met for the occasion, and I look, dreaming, at the life that is in front of me.
It is still Mr. Gerard who slips dog treats in the pocket of my jeans, so that this hairy actor who gives me the cue obeys as soon as the word "action" is pronounced.
The director of the video for the song Croire is already sporting his legendary moustache and unmistakable sense of humor.
Then, we will cross paths here and there during our career, on sets of prestigious varieties. But without more. He is charming and very busy. We are courteous to each other.
That's how life goes, sometimes it brings us people to build the fundamental steps of a life. This was the case with my daughter's father. He resurfaced one day and it seemed obvious. In all this, the most extraordinary thing is that he reappeared surrounded by this joyful and glorious Tunisian family.
Madeleine, Claude, Annie, Roxanne, Lana, Axelle and Solal.
Madeleine is Lou's grandmother, an exceptional woman. She is very cultured and has a great talent in cooking.
Her thing is to meet people on weekends, Friday nights, especially for Shabbat. On those evenings, there are many of us, everyone is talking loudly, there is too much food...I love it.
Does it remind you of anything?
Madeleine, there's nothing to her test. She is never hungry, never thirsty. She is never tired. She doesn't need anything. Just that the whole family is together and everything is fine.
During the long weeks when I have to stay at home to repair myself, my Tunisian family-in-law comes very often.
My parents and friends are also often our happy weekends, and it feels good. A festive air hovers in the dining room of our house.
Seeing these families from the South mingle around our huge round table is magical for me. Seeing them share stories and unknown foods against the backdrop of the flat country, even more so.
We live unforgettable moments.
Those that build memories.
They will always be my family. Lou carries their genes.
And their sense of celebration.
Kemia gargantuesque, pkaila, nikitouches, brick with egg, mechouia salad, chorba and so on. The Tunisian gastonomy is infinite.
But the moment that everyone is waiting for is the fish couscous of Mamy. It is the one whose broth gives off an inimitable smell, the one whose semolina is made by the white hands of Madeleine and whose finesse is indescribable. The cherry on the cake? The fish meatballs, fried, to accompany it all.
One day, I have the privilege to be next to her during the whole preparation.
In the manner of those Southern women who hate to give precise recipes in "grammar" and in measured quantities, she stares at me and says: "It's simple, my daughter, look, record, try and taste!"
I tried. It was far from being Grandma Mady's perfect couscous, but it wasn't bad for a first try.
Transformation
The weeks following my fracture are more difficult and, despite my efforts, I need time for the pain to subside. I regularly make trips to the military hospital near my home where they put me upside down in hyperbaric chambers to relieve the pressure on my back.
I take a lot of painkillers, and then I end up choosing other ways to heal. Less known methods, qualified as ineffective by the followers of science. As I am really open to other methods, and especially desperate from suffering, I try everything. I will not be disappointed.
So, I meet Guibert del Marmol, Luc Petit-Barreau and Valerie Vonk, unique people, because life is well done. Because everything is audible for the one who knows how to listen.
They gave me a method that allowed me to heal little by little and to get back on my feet.
They also offer me a book: The Mozart Effect.
It is really after reading this book that my life will be completely transformed.
Moreover, in this heavy process of healing, the feeling of being useless starts to bother me and tensions are felt within my couple. I am trying as hard as I can, I am making efforts, but the truth is that my heart is not in it anymore. I have to resign myself to the fact that some things don't get repaired.
After almost seven years of common history, in a moment of great mutual respect but nevertheless very painful, my daughter's father and I decided to go our separate ways.
It was not only my vertebrae that were broken.
But then again, the universe is well made.
Almost at the same time, I had a very important encounter after reading the book I just mentioned. A person whose art is to transmit.
To transmit the Once-Do (the way of the sound), the presence to oneself, the awakening to our deep nature, the communication that unites us. In a word, what is defined as 'comunification'.
This being will deeply transform me and will clearly show me that becoming oneself is to set out on the path that allows us to nourish our basic needs and deep aspirations, with self-respect and authenticity.
This path is to be walked every day. It gives us the priceless gift of consciousness 'In the heart of life', in joy and peace.
Issa Padovani is a master, I will be his student.
Today I have the chance to consider him as my friend.
Don Campbelle, L’effet Mozart: les bienfaits de la musique sur le corps. Editions Le Jour, Montreal, 1998. [Don Campbelle, The Mozart Effect: the benefits of music on the body. Editions Le Jour, Montreal, 1998.]
Issa Padovani, Au coeur du vivant - 140 graines de conscience pour une vie éveillée, Guy Tredaniel, 2020. [Issa Padovani, Au coeur du vivant - 140 seeds of consciousness for an awakened life, Guy Tredaniel, 2020.]
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Lara’s penchant for not naming names in her book continued this week, where she referred to Lou’s father, Gerard Pullicino as “Mr. Gerard” [which is at least closer than last week, when she refused to name Igor Kruoti at all, or previous weeks where all the important names were omitted]. It seems a bit specious; she attempts to be honest about other, personal things, why not be honest about everything? IMHO…
Interesting photo(s)/video(s) of the week:
Lara The Ring Fabian put together a compilation of off-the-cuff singing performances by Lara, showing how well she does extemporaneously, without rehearsal, at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZfJCCwu8HE
and to complement that, Lara singing at her daily teaching,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Z3j364oE0
Next week should be more of the same, with Lara and the Star Academie progressing to the next variety show and elimination round. Eventually we will start seeing some of those whom the judges consider the likeliest ‘stars’ of this crop of candidates in competition. Stay safe everybody.
David