Post by davidhr on Mar 22, 2022 7:48:53 GMT -5
As per usual, Lara introduced the next (eighth) episode of Star Academie with a picture of herself in her latest outfit, available on her FB and Instagram sites at
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=550037393147225&set=a.259330805551220
or
Lara certainly has upgraded her dress code and appearance since taking her position on this show, even more so than with her work on La Voix or The Voice. And that has not gone unnoticed, either in Quebec or in France (as mentioned in an article in last week’s News Update).
Before getting to this latest show, Lara and the program had to undergo a week of withering criticism on social networks and in the press for their treatment/elimination of Audrey-Louise, the woman who most thought would be the ultimate winner. Insofar as that was covered last week, only the new developments will be discussed.
**The internet continued to be swamped with messages of disappointment, sadness and anger, not only at the decision but at the putting in danger candidates who were much better than many of the remaining ones; for that they blamed the judges, and Lara, as director, in particular.
**A petition to re-instate Audrey-Louise as of this writing is close to 10,000 signatures (chng.it/fhtRpk2gZh).
Of course it will likely go nowhere, as the show is not set up to respond. In fact, TVA refused to comment on the whole affair.
**Lara continued to defend the judge’s decision (https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2022/03/14/star-academie-lelimination-daudrey-louise-ne-fait-pas-lunanimite); (https://www.7jours.ca/2022/03/14/lara-fabian-justifie-la-decision-des-professeurs-davoir-deloge-audrey-louise), saying that they had no choice, once the public had chosen Eloi, but to pick Krystel given the particular performance that night, not considering the totality of the work.
**The explanation rang hollow, because in previous episodes, subpar performances were excused in favor of the ‘totality of the work’. In addition, in the auditions, the judges went against procedure and allowed all three candidates (men in this case) to pass, implying that if they wanted to, they could have done that here too. And, finally, whose fault was it that they were put in this ‘difficult’ position to have to choose between two very good women singers;
the outcome could have been predicted (and in fact it was : (https://www.lesacdechips.com/2022/03/15/il-avait-predit-lelimination-daudrey-louise-a-sac-academie), given that Madelinot Éloi, despite being a rather average singer and below average performer, has throughout been a fan favorite, in effect forcing either one of the two leading women to be eliminated.
Again, Lara took the brunt of this (https://showbizz.net/tele/la-directrice-de-star-academie-victime-de-colere-du-web-apres-leviction-daudrey-louise):
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The director of Star Académie victim of the wrath of the web after the eviction of Audrey-Louise
It all takes on disproportionate proportions...
Viewers did not appreciate Lara Fabian's explanations for the academician's departure.
All of this even took outrageous proposals as some fans found supposedly “compromising” information. Indeed, they realized that Krystel was on Lara Fabian's team at The Voice in 2018. Some therefore believe that she had known the young woman for longer and had a bias. Note that Julien was also on her team. Fans recall that he was never put on trial.
The audience also mentions that she showed a lack of respect towards the other contestants since, after Krystel's performance, she was celebrating live.
Viewers are also upset because the director did not congratulate Éloi as she should during her post-mortem and that he was not allowed to savor his victory, too much in the shadow of Audrey's departure. Louisa, a fan even writes on Facebook: "In Big Brother language, they backdoored Éloi and their strategy didn't work”.
See the comments at the end of this article…
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To be fair, the author of this article did not believe any of these accusations, and we know that Lara would not consciously favor subpar performers, but even the appearance of impropriety is unfortunate.
**For her part, Audrey-Louise acted like a professional. She put the following on her Instagram site (
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Hello my beautiful gang! Words are not big enough, not strong enough to express all the gratitude I have for the immense wave of love and support you have been sending me since I left Star Ac! Thank you for following me and encouraging me throughout my SA journey, I love you all so much!
If this adventure has been enriching on a professional level, it has been just as enriching on a human level! I am so lucky to have met so many beautiful people, to have gotten to know them and to now be able to call them my friends! And it's not limited to the academics! The entire SA team, everyone I've come into contact with has brought me so much happiness and love! Thank you to everyone for making this experience so beautiful, so wonderful!
My stay in Waterloo ended on Sunday, but I have faith in life! It is well made; there is a reason for everything! If I left the manor on Sunday, it is because there is something just as beautiful waiting for me and that I must do here, in real life! I'll see you soon, I promise! Thanks again, I love you!
Yours, entirely, sincerely,
Audrey-Louise
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Lara officially ‘liked’ her Instagram post…
Audrey-Louise indicated that while disappointed, she will not let it keep her from the music scene in Quebec; she said, "I say it all the time, I'm a project girl. I like it when things are rolling, so I've already started to do a little brainstorming, a little game plan. So maybe an album in the next year or the next. I'm a big fan of musicals too, so if I ever have the opportunity to continue in there for sure I would like it. The possibilities are endless,” said the young mother (https://www.7jours.ca/2022/03/14/au-lendemain-de-son-depart-de-star-academie-audrey-louise-reagit). It’s also been reported that she had been accepted to do “The Voice” in France in 2020, but her participation was cancelled due to COVID (https://laurentides.cime.fm/nouvelles/showbiz/469582/star-academie-audrey-louise-devait-faire-the-voice-en-france); maybe she could go back and get on that show again. A further interview with her can be found at (https://hollywoodpq.com/star-academie-audrey-louise-revient-sur-son-elimination-surprenante/).
**After hearing from the public, and perhaps equally so, hearing from the other Academicians, Lara obviously felt it was necessary to take some action. She released the following statement (https://www.salutbonjour.ca/2022/03/16/lara-fabian-fait-une-proposition-exaltante-a-audrey-louise):
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LARA FABIAN MAKES AN EXHILARATING PROPOSAL TO AUDREY-LOUISE!
Three days after being ousted from Star Académie, Audrey-Louise receives an interesting proposal from Lara Fabian.
Her departure from the manor of Waterloo did not only shake the Academicians. Many viewers protested against the decision of the teaching staff on Sunday evening.
Even if Audrey-Louise will not be able to return to the Academy, an astonishing surprise awaits her very soon! Lara Fabian offered to have her go on stage, at her side, during her next shows. Audrey-Louise will notably be at the Videotron center in June.
“I speak to Audrey-Louise every day, since Sunday. She's doing really well. She said something very fair: life is well done, if it stopped at that time for me, there was probably a reason”, said Lara Fabian.
The 23-year-old singer received a huge outpouring of love upon leaving the Academy, as a petition to bring her back was put together.
The main interested party did not hide her disappointment, during her visit to the Salut Bonjour set, the day after the elimination. However, she has shown us great resilience.
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This is the type of ‘honor’ Lara usually reserved for the winner of whatever show she was a judge for; the offer would seem to be a tacit admission that her removal was in some way unfair, without actually saying so. Will this diffuse the situation? We’ll see if it actually takes place; what would Lara say in the introduction: “Here’s a woman who was not good enough to get past mid-way on the Star Academie show but is so good that I’ve asked her up here to sing with me?
Regardless, it doesn’t help the show itself, going forward without one of its leading lights.
And as for the show, a review (and the videos) can be found at (https://www.journaldequebec.com/2022/03/20/camelia-et-sarah-maude-restent-a-lacademie-1):
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Camélia and Sarah-Maude remain at the Academy
Camélia Zaki won, for the second time since the start of the season, the votes of the public during the eighth Variety, Sunday evening.
The youngest of the Academicians will have lived a week filled with emotion between rehearsals, her endangerment and the visit of her father whom she had not seen for more than two years. The faculty then decided to keep Sarah-Maude Desgagné.
Two months after giving birth to her second child, Cœur de pirate was back on stage for a nice, gentle number, which opened the evening. Surrounded by Academicians and a string quartet, she performed several of her successes.
Julien particularly distinguished himself by interpreting “Place de la République”, while Béatrice Martin was at the piano. Jérémy also seemed very comfortable with the singer's repertoire, especially by rapping in the middle of "Dans la nuit". Edouard was also very solid in "Crier tout bas".
Facing the music
Camélia Zaki opened the ball of candidates in danger. To defend her place, she had chosen "Voilà", by Barbara Pravi, a song which allowed the Frenchwoman to arrive in 2nd place in the Eurovision contest in 2021. Camélia returned it with force and conviction.
Very proud of his student, Gregory Charles underlined her performance by indicating that “we witnessed something extraordinary”.
Sarah-Maude Desgagné really had a blast on “River Deep Mountain High”, solid, fair and full of energy. “A firework of beauty and talent,” exclaimed Guylaine Tremblay.
Guitar in hand, Marily Dorion delivered a very smooth version of the song "Le tour de l'île" by Félix Leclerc. Marc Dupré congratulated her for her talent. "Superb interpretation," he told her. You really found your artistic identity. Every song you sing feels like it's yours. Well done."
Lara Fabian also recognized her very personal touch. "It was Marily, respecting what Félix wrote," she concluded.
Everyone at the cabin
The Academicians seemed on a "rush" of sugar during this number in homage to sugar shack songs, and to traditional Quebec song as a whole. In the presence of Yves Lambert, they sang "La ziguezon", followed by "Le Rapide Blanc", by Oscar Thiffault, in duet with Olivier.
Jérôme 50, a friend of Marily, came to proclaim his "Tokébakicitte", before the arrival of the magnificent Edith Butler, who sang "Colinda", her eternal "Paquetville", and her short story "Dans l'bois" with the Academicians. At almost 80 years old, next July, she instilled a strong discharge of energy on the set. [Tokebakicitte, which is a contraction of "on est au Québec ici" (we are in Quebec here) is a song by Jerome 50 that in part refers to a reality TV show where contestants are sent to foreign locations and have to 'find love'. It's English translation can be found at lyricstranslate.com/en/tokebakicitte-were-quebec-here.html].
After the humorous break with PA Methot, Marc Dupré wanted to offer a new song to the Academicians.
On a rather rock music rhythm, his song " Une semaine pleine d’émotion" was in fact a hilarious text in which the host of the Varieties made fun, with great tenderness, of the failings of each of the inhabitants of the Academy and the emotions they have experienced in the last week. Marc Dupré is really doing an excellent job this season at “Star Académie”.
A welcome return
Even though he celebrated his 73rd birthday last Thursday, time seems to have no hold on Daniel Lavoie or on his songs. He opened his duet number with Krystel on " Jours de plaine", followed by a magnificent moment with Eloi on "Tension attention".
The trio of Eloi, Olivier and Daniel Lavoie on “Belle” also remains a good time. Olivier also had the chance to sing "Ils s’aiment" with the Franco-Manitoban, before the final on "Je voudrais voir New York".
Ode to spring
Guest artistic director, Lydia Bouchard created a magical and sensual number with the Academicians and a troupe of dancers. On the songs “Pendant que” by Gilles Vigneault, followed by “Pendant que les champs brûlént” by Niagara, Olivier and Julien particularly stood out, each bringing a particular flavor to their interpretation.
The number ended with a kind of explosion of the senses on "The Flesh Failures", taken from the musical "Hair", while Lydia Bouchard came to join the Academicians on stage. A nice refreshing moment.
Daniel Lavoie, simple advice
Daniel Lavoie was amused to have forgotten the words in his duet with Eloi on “Tension attention”. " My memory is not as good as theirs," he said backstage. "It was fun, I'm happy. They gave me an extraordinary welcome, I would be very ungrateful not to appreciate it. In addition, I know the musicians who are on the show well." On the other hand, the singer, who celebrates fifty years of career, says he is quite unable to give advice. "I don't know if it's still possible to have a career like mine in the world we live in. The market has changed so much that I no longer know how it works. The only advice is to love what you do and do what you love.”
Olivier Bergeron, the revelation
Omnipresent in each issue, Olivier Bergeron has proven that he has come a long way since joining the Academy. The confidence of the teachers also seems important to give him the confidence to deliver exceptional performances. Opening the number with Cœur de pirate, he gently attacked the song “Oublie-moi”. He later had a lot of fun on "Le Rapide Blanc" with Yves Lambert, but it was especially with Daniel Lavoie ("Ils s’aiment") and in Lydia Bouchard's number ("Pendant que les champs brilent") that he scored points. His sensitivity, his constant desire to improve, his naivety and his enthusiasm should allow him to go far. And why not in the final?
Marily, better armed
Despite her departure from the Academy, Marily Dorion wanted to thank the teachers. "Thank you for the great adventure, I learned so much," she said live. In an interview, she confided that she came out better armed for the future thanks to the teachings of the teachers.
“I'm mostly going to memorize all of Lara's vocal techniques, I'm going to apply them and use them when I sing. Then I also learned to differentiate between a constructive and valid comment from a comment that is just negative. I don't want to get overwhelmed by all the comments that come in. All artists have to do this learning these days, especially because of social networks.”
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And here’s an alternate review from (https://www.lesoleil.com/2022/03/21/star-academie-un-variete-de-bonheur-eb4013fcd160be26e5da70db9373d001):
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Star Académie : a variety of happiness
The eighth Variety of Star Académie on Sunday evening was one of those that does good, that warms the soul.
Everything opened gently with the poetry of Coeur de pirate. Like the lyricism of the singer-songwriter, Julien particularly stood out on Place de la République, as did Édouard who rendered the beauty of Crier tout bas alongside the artist.
Then, we made way for traditional music with Yves Lambert, Jérôme 50 and Édith Butler who got the party started in the Mels studio and in the viewers' lounge. Note that Mrs. Butler will celebrate her 80th birthday this summer and that the energy is still very much present in the singer who has also just launched a new album.
Moreover, if this issue represented a real challenge of articulation and dynamism to hold on until the end of the issue, the academicians took it up with great skill.
We then went through Daniel Lavoie's rich repertoire, which has transported us for five decades. He too celebrated his 73rd birthday this week. And as always, Krystel shone with the singer with Jours de plaine. A few false notes were again pushed during the interpretation of Belle, unbeatable classic of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, and of Ils s’aiment with Olivier who nevertheless tried to put his color there.
The highlight of the evening was the splendid number created by the director and choreographer, Lydia Bouchard. She signed a number in her image, that is to say poetic, loving and of great elegance. To celebrate the rebirth and renewal of spring, the academicians magnificently interpreted Durant que by Gilles Vigneault, Pendant que les champs brilent by Niagara and The Flash Failures by Hair.
Dancing and singing at the same time was clearly a challenge for them, which they succeeded on the whole. What a joy to see dancing Lydia Bouchard who arrived on stage like a queen who delivered her love letter to the public!
Candidates in danger
Sunday evening, Camélia, Sarah-Maude and Marily offered magnificent performances.
Camélia, first of all, exercised great integrity from the height of her 17 years. The lyrics of Barbara Pravi's Voilà were all designed for the young singer who presented herself simply as she is. Each time, she reveals herself to the public with an impressive maturity. She also managed to touch the hearts of the public for a second time, they who decided to protect her.
Then, Sarah-Maude, who experienced some discomfort in her voice this week, never let it show. Tackling River Deep, Mountain High isn't easy right off the bat. Only a powerful voice like hers can succeed in delivering a successful performance where technique and energy are maintained until the end. The faculty decided to protect her.
Finally, Marily delivered an interpretation in her own way by choosing Le tour de l'île by Félix Leclerc. Her rocking voice, for the last time, managed to make us travel. Even if it was not enough to obtain the vote of the public or the teachers, we hope that she will continue her career to share her compositions with us.
Next Sunday, it will be director Serge Denoncourt's turn to have carte blanche to create a number with the academicians. This will also be the time to present the third special request of the season. Milky Chance and Stromae will also be present.
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In other but related news, Lara was on the cover of EV, with the scans provided by the Lara Fabian Lockdown Sessions FB site, at
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianLockdownSession/photos/pcb.482498496948255/482498373614934/
Here's the translation::
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The director makes her mid-season assessment
“I try to adapt to each one”
An involved director
"I'd like to talk about freedom"
With only nine academics left at Waterloo Manor, Lara Fabian agreed to give a mid-season review of Star Academy. It was an opportunity to talk about the issues and challenges facing the young people, but also about her own enjoyment of this transmission exercise and her projects.
The director of the Academy takes a lucid and frank look at this year's cohort of Academicians. "It's a season with a lot of youth in everything that is superbly interesting and everything that needs to be emotionally framed," said Lara Fabian, comfortably seated in her dressing room at the MELS Studios, a few hours before the Variete. "Most of them haven't experienced much in life. So you have to be caring and accompany them in this space where experience is lacking and there may be some not-so-supportive readings in what to do. You have to guide them through what hurts, to develop a strategy when you're tired...At the halfway point, I would mainly say that there is maybe a little more fatigue than last year, because they haven't yet accumulated the experience that makes us more resilient."
During the daily show, we see that the candidates' reaction to criticism, and even to constructive comments, is sometimes distorted. They question more easily what is said to them, and the teachers are aware of this. "The way they approach comments is more personal. They're more reactive because they're hypersensitive. That's okay, it's up to us to find a way to get past that first feeling they have of questioning our opinion."
It's actually a different way of operating from the previous season. "It's not quite the same generation, because there were fewer very young people in the previous cohort. I try to adapt to each one as best as possible, but the working methods remain the same throughout. It's always the same exercises, it's like ballet. There are exercises that are the same for everyone. Whether you're an apprentice or a professional, the classical basis is the same."
As for the need to build up experience quickly, Lara Fabian is not worried about her little hearts. "We don't work the same way with everyone. With Oliver, for example, you have to be absolutely transparent. He doesn't want us to sugarcoat things, he wants to know exactly what he has to do. It's easy to go fast with him because he's a very open person, he doesn't mind certain things. He opens his mouth and he reminds me of Eric Lapointe in his early days."
Reunion
The arrival of the public from the third Variety brought a breath of fresh air to the show. "It creates a real issue. For the Academicians, the reaction of those who vote for them is no longer virtual, it is physical. It's a real before and after for the audience. It's as if they have finally understood what it means to be supported by those who feed us and keep us alive. And for me, that's very refreshing. It's nice to be reminded of the feelings that come with it."
Lara Fabian met again at Star Academie some of the young singers she had known at La Voix, like Julien, Krystel or Edouard. "I think they have worked hard. There was one who was in Alex Nevsky's team and the two others were with me. I found that they had particularly evolved. I can say that they have made a quantum leap since their participation in The Voice. Julien, for example, is a huge artist. The work he has done is impressive between the time he left The Voice and what I found in Star Academie."
Opening of a school
Since the beginning of the season, Lara Fabian spends most of her time at L'Acadmie or at MELS studios. "My life is a bit on pause, but transmitting is probably one of the things I love most in the world. That's the direction I'm going in. My next step is definitely opening a school."
She doesn't see this new challenge only as a singing school, it would be a much broader project. "I see the value of the more emotional accompaniment; it's something that I think is very relevant to link it to an interpretation or to link it to the evolution of an artist. I would have liked that at a certain moment someone would just let me make a mistake and that in real time, with a lot of kindness, would correct it for me rather than letting me break my face and criticize me afterwards. This whole holistic approach to singing, that's how I see my school." She also foresees different levels of teaching depending on the person. You don't grow a singer in the same way if he is a professional, an amateur or an aspiring professional.
Back to the family
Although she is totally involved in Star Academie, Lara Fabian does not forget her family. Gabriel, her husband, makes up for her absence with her daughter, Lou. "I think she has the best of us.When I'm tired, I think Gabirel is better than me."
And it is through the kitchen that she comforts them with her presence. "To de-stress, when I can, I sleep. Then, cooking allows me to empty my mind completely. I prepare dishes for the week. Meditating also helps me a lot to unwind: I isolate myself in a room to center myself, to align myself, to nourish myself too."
Other Projects
In addition to the opening of her school, which she plans to be half online and half face-to-face, Lara Fabian wants to work on writing songs for a new album. "It's been five years since Papillon was released, and there's a lot to be said about what's happened since then. I would like to talk about the importance of staying united, not stigmatizing and not judging. Remember that we stopped talking about love for two years; we stopped all loving gestures in the name of security. I would also like to talk about freedom. I see a lot of exacerbated human suffering, I see a lot of division of people who have eradicated the sense of family."
By then, the singer will be back on tour. She has several shows in June, in Montreal and Quebec, and a European tour will follow in the fall. "It's going to be pretty much the same show as 50 World tour. We'll tell the story a little differently, but in terms of repertoire, I don't see how I can do without J'y crois encore, Je t'aime, Tu es mon autre, Immortelle, all these songs that the people want to hear.
However, she wants to do things a little differently. "I thought of a different way to do the tour to avoid having to fly and drive every day. I thought it could be done like we did before, with a tour bus, in order to be always in the same place with my loved ones and my family, and to walk travel slowly from one city to another."
Remembrances from Ukraine
Very popular in Eastern European countries, Lara Fabian has wonderful memories of Ukraine, where she often sang. "It's probably one of the warmest audiences. I experienced extraordinary things in Ukraine. I made a film there in particular. We shot in Kyiv, but also in Odessa and Lviv. It's a country that was very important to me." Lara has also built solid bonds of friendship and work there. "A big part of my touring team is Ukrainian. I'm in contact with them all the time right now. I have news about what's really happening on the ground."
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Lara is mentioning her own school more and more often; remember, for a while, it seemed like the Star Academie had fulfilled that need in her. One gets the impression from this and previous interviews that she is growing tired of the show, how the focus has to be so all-encompassing, even to the point of separating her from her family. Coupled that with the problems she has encountered recently, as discussed above, it would not be a great surprise for this to be her last year as Director. We'll see; a lot could change before such a decision has to be made, if the show is even renewed.
Now for the 17th – and last – story in Lara’s book “Je passe a table”.
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Seventeenth Story : Kayla
Confidences of a canine soul
Just as some men whisper in the ears of horses, I discovered at this time of my life that they were not the only beings whispering.
There is another living being capable of the same miracles: the dog.
This friend of man has no equal and can easily whisper to our human ears much comfort and many lessons.
He can save us, offer us his presence and his unconditional love, change our lives and make them more beautiful.
Simply, because of my education and my nomadic background, I had no idea that this was possible. My mother Luisa is from the south of Italy and was brought up with a concept of hygiene pushed to the extreme, a reality that automatically ruled out the possibility of ever having an animal in the house.
When I was little, she kept telling me that an animal is not an object or a toy and that it needs a lot of attention. On the other hand, and erroneously, she was convinced that an animal is not clean and requires too much work.
To her credit, this statement belonged to beliefs that had been cemented and passed down for many generations.
Everyone knows the power of dogmas and beliefs that hypontize us...
It took the arrival of my wonderful magician for me to get in touch with this very special world. A lighter and more childlike world in which the life of a family is transformed and faithfully married to an animal.
Gabriel arrived in Belgium in winter to live with us. From his native island, he arrived with his van full of magic stuff. Sitting next to him was his "hairy half": Scilla.
Scilla was a mix of an Australian shepherd and a golden retriever. Gabriel found her on a beach in Calabria, not far from his home, while he was traveling with friends. When the little ball met the magician's eyes, she followed him around until he took her home...
Between these two, I witnessed a true love story, a bond that I had never observed before between a human being and an animal.
Anyone who knows my husband Gabriel knows that I am not exaggerating and that his relationship with the animal is exceptional, unique and captivating.
He has taught me everything about it, gently, without rushing me, extinguishing my fears, phobias and worries. But the process was slow, it was part of a slow but deep inner evolution.
Today, I can proudly say that all that was part of the old and wobbly transmissions is gone and that my love for my little Kayla (our little Australian shepherd) is deep.
I am one of those people who, upon discovering this miracle, wonder how they ever lived without this animal.
But before Kayla, before all this became my new life, I met Scilla.
When Scilla came home at the end of 2012, I had to adapt and go through all the steps that make you someone else with a pet.
Unfortunately, she was only with us for three years, as she became seriously ill and we could not keep her close to us as we would have liked.
I had never seen my husband so sad, I had never seen a suffering that could be similar to this one.
Later, as my life became more hectic, and to respect Gabriel's deep sorrow, we made the choice not to adopt another dog.
And then one day, during my travels, I noticed that my husband's face was veiled with a strange smile of sadness. He was often silent, often pensive, often very dark...
Even though he was doing his best and kept saying that he never wanted to adopt an animal again, I knew, in my heart, that something was breaking inside him more and more, and that the only great event that could save him would be the arrival of another little furry being.
So I started to search, to investigate, to question.
I started to talk a lot about the fact that it was time to settle down, to adopt a dog, to give him a new home....
I don't hide from you that I was subjected to a great resistance.
The pain seemed to speak a little too loudly again.
But I didn't give up, I kept on looking...
One night, alone on tour, the night before my concert in Athens, as I was falling asleep, I wished into the universe to be directed to an ethical breeding, to a trustworthy person, someone who could make me adopt the right soul.
While surfing, as we all do, that night I came across a sign, something that clearly told me I was making the right choice.
So I dialed that number, left a message, wrote a few lines, sent an email.
The next day, just after my concert in Greece, the phone rang and I heard the sunny and sonorous voice of Nathalie, this beautiful woman who has owned a breeding farm for almost twenty years. Her love for dogs and her knowledge of their functioning and well-being are exceptional.
She is truly a magician!
Her talent is rare and truly mastered. But it is her generosity and her unwavering presence that is amazing.
She is supported in all of this by her husband, a brilliant and fantastic gentleman who protects his pack in every sense of the word!
But it is Nathalie who will educate me in many ways and who will help me to become the "mother" of a little red merle Australian shepherd.
When I came back from tour, I told Gabriel about this beautiful encounter I had made through the web.
He remained silent for a while, then he was convinced.
We went up north to meet these beautiful people and we both committed ourselves to adopt a little ball of love.
I will never forget the look on my husband's face when he walked onto the property and saw the majestic pack on the riverbank.
At the sound of a single command from Nathalie, all the dogs jumped into the water. Unforgettable, the look of Gabriel...
From then on, it was as if life for him had taken on its full meaning.
It is difficult to explain all the layers that make us who we are, and why we are sometimes so deeply linked to an animal, but this is what Gabriel is and that's what he needed to get out of it, the return of the confidences of a canine soul.
Kayla arrived in October 2018, a year after we returned to Quebec. Our life will never be the same again.
Despite his young existence, we have already experienced many things with our little Australian Shepherd. Indeed, at the age of eight months, in a burst of joy when we had not measured the danger in front of her, Kayla, who was already used to a few acrobatics, launched herself by mistake above a railing almost 5 meters high. My husband leaned over to see the other side. She was lying there, screaming, one leg totally dislocated and broken...
I spare you the tribulations linked to this horrible accident, but I can only tell you that the relationship between Gabriel and Kayla has changed completely following this event.
The care provided, the attention given, the absolute love exchanged and the sleepless nights to protect her have made these two become inseparable since this experience.
On my daughter's birthday later that year, we went to eat at one of those rare restaurants that welcome dogs and offer food for them.
It is thanks to Lou that we landed there.
I don't really believe in chance, I sincerely believe that things, when they're right, line up in really wonderful ways.
We met Marie Eve, a particular young woman, extremely sensitive, who had set up her brand new foundation: the Leskie Foundation. It is a unique organization that helps people who are stigmatized because of their anxiety or mental health problems, a unique foundation that works where nothing existed before.
A team of extraordinary people ensures free of charge to offer punctual and daily services to those who really need it, but who do not have the means in this society to find the resources to relieve their suffering.
In a sincere impulse, I offered to be their godmother, their banner and, in my own way, I offered to help.
Kayla has become their mascot and Gabriel, by my side, a formidable spokesperson, a concrete and living witness to what an accompanying or assistance dog can truly accomplish alongside a human being when he whispers in your ear all the love of which he alone is capable.
Every day of my life, I continue to learn extraordinary things in contact with my animal, how to feed it, how to take care of it, how to live alongside it.
Among the things I learned, but especially thanks to my friendship with a dog fairy from the south of France (she recognizes herself), I discovered that with a few simple ingredients, we can guarantee our animal superb immunity, tremendous health and Olympic form!
-----------------------------------
And then the closing Acknowledgments…
-------------------------------
THANKS
Thank you to all the wonderful women who have made this book possible today. These women who are the visible and invisible guides of my life path.
Thank you to my wonderful family of hearts who worked in silence without ever ceasing to support me in the moments when the memories stirred my body and my heart.
Thank you to the "wonderful women" from Libre Expression, Nadine, Clemence, Marike, Christine and Johanne, who delivered this book in record time and who multiplied their strengths so that it was possible to leaf through it for the first time as a gift.
Thanks to Ariel for her greedy and elegant look.
Thanks to Genevieve with whom I build a dream through her photos.
Thanks to Johanna Buldrini, an inspired and inspiring collaborator, whose beauty and devotion are everywhere.
Thanks to Anne, whose art and flowers make this book a truth.
Thanks to Marco, Marcus and Patrick. Their vision helps generate the best version of myself.
Thanks to my husband, who patiently waited for me to go back to bed from one inspiration to the next.
Thank you to my daughter to whom I dedicate this art of living to which her creative joy contributes.
Thanks to dad for having loved with all his heart what apparently did not look like him.
Thank you to the mamma, without whom all this love would not be.
-------------------------------
That finishes all the ‘stories’ in the book. One has to say that Lara is a great writer, and her stories make for fascinating reading. She has hinted there might be a second autobiographical/cook book; here’s hoping it happens. There may be translations of the recipes included in future News updates - that’s yet to be decided, as they don’t make for very interesting reading unless one is actually planning to make those dishes. Humorously the last recipe in the book is for dog food.
Interesting photo(s)/video(s) of the week: as posted on the Lara Fabian est ton autre FB site, a cute video of Lara with the caption, "I arrive as a surprise at La Petite Cabane à Sucre de Québec ... That's it!” It’s available at
www.facebook.com/larafabiantonautre/videos/2751588105136468
La Petite Cabane a Sucre de Quebec (The Little Sugar Shack of Quebec) gift shop is a boutique specializing in the sale of maple products and local products located on the most beautiful and oldest street in North America. This is obviously with reference to the 'sugar shack' songs in the latest Star Academie show.
And from the larafabian_fanpage_,
Lara in full possession of herself
The Star Academie show will continue to soldier on in the coming week, and Lara will apparently have her time completely circumscribed by it. Presumably there will be less controversy. Stay safe everybody,
David
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=550037393147225&set=a.259330805551220
or
http://instagram.com/p/CbV-Q0vLmNH
Lara certainly has upgraded her dress code and appearance since taking her position on this show, even more so than with her work on La Voix or The Voice. And that has not gone unnoticed, either in Quebec or in France (as mentioned in an article in last week’s News Update).
Before getting to this latest show, Lara and the program had to undergo a week of withering criticism on social networks and in the press for their treatment/elimination of Audrey-Louise, the woman who most thought would be the ultimate winner. Insofar as that was covered last week, only the new developments will be discussed.
**The internet continued to be swamped with messages of disappointment, sadness and anger, not only at the decision but at the putting in danger candidates who were much better than many of the remaining ones; for that they blamed the judges, and Lara, as director, in particular.
**A petition to re-instate Audrey-Louise as of this writing is close to 10,000 signatures (chng.it/fhtRpk2gZh).
Of course it will likely go nowhere, as the show is not set up to respond. In fact, TVA refused to comment on the whole affair.
**Lara continued to defend the judge’s decision (https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2022/03/14/star-academie-lelimination-daudrey-louise-ne-fait-pas-lunanimite); (https://www.7jours.ca/2022/03/14/lara-fabian-justifie-la-decision-des-professeurs-davoir-deloge-audrey-louise), saying that they had no choice, once the public had chosen Eloi, but to pick Krystel given the particular performance that night, not considering the totality of the work.
**The explanation rang hollow, because in previous episodes, subpar performances were excused in favor of the ‘totality of the work’. In addition, in the auditions, the judges went against procedure and allowed all three candidates (men in this case) to pass, implying that if they wanted to, they could have done that here too. And, finally, whose fault was it that they were put in this ‘difficult’ position to have to choose between two very good women singers;
the outcome could have been predicted (and in fact it was : (https://www.lesacdechips.com/2022/03/15/il-avait-predit-lelimination-daudrey-louise-a-sac-academie), given that Madelinot Éloi, despite being a rather average singer and below average performer, has throughout been a fan favorite, in effect forcing either one of the two leading women to be eliminated.
Again, Lara took the brunt of this (https://showbizz.net/tele/la-directrice-de-star-academie-victime-de-colere-du-web-apres-leviction-daudrey-louise):
----------------------------------------------
The director of Star Académie victim of the wrath of the web after the eviction of Audrey-Louise
It all takes on disproportionate proportions...
Viewers did not appreciate Lara Fabian's explanations for the academician's departure.
All of this even took outrageous proposals as some fans found supposedly “compromising” information. Indeed, they realized that Krystel was on Lara Fabian's team at The Voice in 2018. Some therefore believe that she had known the young woman for longer and had a bias. Note that Julien was also on her team. Fans recall that he was never put on trial.
The audience also mentions that she showed a lack of respect towards the other contestants since, after Krystel's performance, she was celebrating live.
Viewers are also upset because the director did not congratulate Éloi as she should during her post-mortem and that he was not allowed to savor his victory, too much in the shadow of Audrey's departure. Louisa, a fan even writes on Facebook: "In Big Brother language, they backdoored Éloi and their strategy didn't work”.
See the comments at the end of this article…
--------------------------------------
To be fair, the author of this article did not believe any of these accusations, and we know that Lara would not consciously favor subpar performers, but even the appearance of impropriety is unfortunate.
**For her part, Audrey-Louise acted like a professional. She put the following on her Instagram site (
http://instagram.com/p/CbLNYlFrbo_
------------------------------------
Hello my beautiful gang! Words are not big enough, not strong enough to express all the gratitude I have for the immense wave of love and support you have been sending me since I left Star Ac! Thank you for following me and encouraging me throughout my SA journey, I love you all so much!
If this adventure has been enriching on a professional level, it has been just as enriching on a human level! I am so lucky to have met so many beautiful people, to have gotten to know them and to now be able to call them my friends! And it's not limited to the academics! The entire SA team, everyone I've come into contact with has brought me so much happiness and love! Thank you to everyone for making this experience so beautiful, so wonderful!
My stay in Waterloo ended on Sunday, but I have faith in life! It is well made; there is a reason for everything! If I left the manor on Sunday, it is because there is something just as beautiful waiting for me and that I must do here, in real life! I'll see you soon, I promise! Thanks again, I love you!
Yours, entirely, sincerely,
Audrey-Louise
-------------------------
Lara officially ‘liked’ her Instagram post…
Audrey-Louise indicated that while disappointed, she will not let it keep her from the music scene in Quebec; she said, "I say it all the time, I'm a project girl. I like it when things are rolling, so I've already started to do a little brainstorming, a little game plan. So maybe an album in the next year or the next. I'm a big fan of musicals too, so if I ever have the opportunity to continue in there for sure I would like it. The possibilities are endless,” said the young mother (https://www.7jours.ca/2022/03/14/au-lendemain-de-son-depart-de-star-academie-audrey-louise-reagit). It’s also been reported that she had been accepted to do “The Voice” in France in 2020, but her participation was cancelled due to COVID (https://laurentides.cime.fm/nouvelles/showbiz/469582/star-academie-audrey-louise-devait-faire-the-voice-en-france); maybe she could go back and get on that show again. A further interview with her can be found at (https://hollywoodpq.com/star-academie-audrey-louise-revient-sur-son-elimination-surprenante/).
**After hearing from the public, and perhaps equally so, hearing from the other Academicians, Lara obviously felt it was necessary to take some action. She released the following statement (https://www.salutbonjour.ca/2022/03/16/lara-fabian-fait-une-proposition-exaltante-a-audrey-louise):
-----------------------------
LARA FABIAN MAKES AN EXHILARATING PROPOSAL TO AUDREY-LOUISE!
Three days after being ousted from Star Académie, Audrey-Louise receives an interesting proposal from Lara Fabian.
Her departure from the manor of Waterloo did not only shake the Academicians. Many viewers protested against the decision of the teaching staff on Sunday evening.
Even if Audrey-Louise will not be able to return to the Academy, an astonishing surprise awaits her very soon! Lara Fabian offered to have her go on stage, at her side, during her next shows. Audrey-Louise will notably be at the Videotron center in June.
“I speak to Audrey-Louise every day, since Sunday. She's doing really well. She said something very fair: life is well done, if it stopped at that time for me, there was probably a reason”, said Lara Fabian.
The 23-year-old singer received a huge outpouring of love upon leaving the Academy, as a petition to bring her back was put together.
The main interested party did not hide her disappointment, during her visit to the Salut Bonjour set, the day after the elimination. However, she has shown us great resilience.
-----------------------------
This is the type of ‘honor’ Lara usually reserved for the winner of whatever show she was a judge for; the offer would seem to be a tacit admission that her removal was in some way unfair, without actually saying so. Will this diffuse the situation? We’ll see if it actually takes place; what would Lara say in the introduction: “Here’s a woman who was not good enough to get past mid-way on the Star Academie show but is so good that I’ve asked her up here to sing with me?
Regardless, it doesn’t help the show itself, going forward without one of its leading lights.
And as for the show, a review (and the videos) can be found at (https://www.journaldequebec.com/2022/03/20/camelia-et-sarah-maude-restent-a-lacademie-1):
------------------------------
Camélia and Sarah-Maude remain at the Academy
Camélia Zaki won, for the second time since the start of the season, the votes of the public during the eighth Variety, Sunday evening.
The youngest of the Academicians will have lived a week filled with emotion between rehearsals, her endangerment and the visit of her father whom she had not seen for more than two years. The faculty then decided to keep Sarah-Maude Desgagné.
Two months after giving birth to her second child, Cœur de pirate was back on stage for a nice, gentle number, which opened the evening. Surrounded by Academicians and a string quartet, she performed several of her successes.
Julien particularly distinguished himself by interpreting “Place de la République”, while Béatrice Martin was at the piano. Jérémy also seemed very comfortable with the singer's repertoire, especially by rapping in the middle of "Dans la nuit". Edouard was also very solid in "Crier tout bas".
Facing the music
Camélia Zaki opened the ball of candidates in danger. To defend her place, she had chosen "Voilà", by Barbara Pravi, a song which allowed the Frenchwoman to arrive in 2nd place in the Eurovision contest in 2021. Camélia returned it with force and conviction.
Very proud of his student, Gregory Charles underlined her performance by indicating that “we witnessed something extraordinary”.
Sarah-Maude Desgagné really had a blast on “River Deep Mountain High”, solid, fair and full of energy. “A firework of beauty and talent,” exclaimed Guylaine Tremblay.
Guitar in hand, Marily Dorion delivered a very smooth version of the song "Le tour de l'île" by Félix Leclerc. Marc Dupré congratulated her for her talent. "Superb interpretation," he told her. You really found your artistic identity. Every song you sing feels like it's yours. Well done."
Lara Fabian also recognized her very personal touch. "It was Marily, respecting what Félix wrote," she concluded.
Everyone at the cabin
The Academicians seemed on a "rush" of sugar during this number in homage to sugar shack songs, and to traditional Quebec song as a whole. In the presence of Yves Lambert, they sang "La ziguezon", followed by "Le Rapide Blanc", by Oscar Thiffault, in duet with Olivier.
Jérôme 50, a friend of Marily, came to proclaim his "Tokébakicitte", before the arrival of the magnificent Edith Butler, who sang "Colinda", her eternal "Paquetville", and her short story "Dans l'bois" with the Academicians. At almost 80 years old, next July, she instilled a strong discharge of energy on the set. [Tokebakicitte, which is a contraction of "on est au Québec ici" (we are in Quebec here) is a song by Jerome 50 that in part refers to a reality TV show where contestants are sent to foreign locations and have to 'find love'. It's English translation can be found at lyricstranslate.com/en/tokebakicitte-were-quebec-here.html].
After the humorous break with PA Methot, Marc Dupré wanted to offer a new song to the Academicians.
On a rather rock music rhythm, his song " Une semaine pleine d’émotion" was in fact a hilarious text in which the host of the Varieties made fun, with great tenderness, of the failings of each of the inhabitants of the Academy and the emotions they have experienced in the last week. Marc Dupré is really doing an excellent job this season at “Star Académie”.
A welcome return
Even though he celebrated his 73rd birthday last Thursday, time seems to have no hold on Daniel Lavoie or on his songs. He opened his duet number with Krystel on " Jours de plaine", followed by a magnificent moment with Eloi on "Tension attention".
The trio of Eloi, Olivier and Daniel Lavoie on “Belle” also remains a good time. Olivier also had the chance to sing "Ils s’aiment" with the Franco-Manitoban, before the final on "Je voudrais voir New York".
Ode to spring
Guest artistic director, Lydia Bouchard created a magical and sensual number with the Academicians and a troupe of dancers. On the songs “Pendant que” by Gilles Vigneault, followed by “Pendant que les champs brûlént” by Niagara, Olivier and Julien particularly stood out, each bringing a particular flavor to their interpretation.
The number ended with a kind of explosion of the senses on "The Flesh Failures", taken from the musical "Hair", while Lydia Bouchard came to join the Academicians on stage. A nice refreshing moment.
Daniel Lavoie, simple advice
Daniel Lavoie was amused to have forgotten the words in his duet with Eloi on “Tension attention”. " My memory is not as good as theirs," he said backstage. "It was fun, I'm happy. They gave me an extraordinary welcome, I would be very ungrateful not to appreciate it. In addition, I know the musicians who are on the show well." On the other hand, the singer, who celebrates fifty years of career, says he is quite unable to give advice. "I don't know if it's still possible to have a career like mine in the world we live in. The market has changed so much that I no longer know how it works. The only advice is to love what you do and do what you love.”
Olivier Bergeron, the revelation
Omnipresent in each issue, Olivier Bergeron has proven that he has come a long way since joining the Academy. The confidence of the teachers also seems important to give him the confidence to deliver exceptional performances. Opening the number with Cœur de pirate, he gently attacked the song “Oublie-moi”. He later had a lot of fun on "Le Rapide Blanc" with Yves Lambert, but it was especially with Daniel Lavoie ("Ils s’aiment") and in Lydia Bouchard's number ("Pendant que les champs brilent") that he scored points. His sensitivity, his constant desire to improve, his naivety and his enthusiasm should allow him to go far. And why not in the final?
Marily, better armed
Despite her departure from the Academy, Marily Dorion wanted to thank the teachers. "Thank you for the great adventure, I learned so much," she said live. In an interview, she confided that she came out better armed for the future thanks to the teachings of the teachers.
“I'm mostly going to memorize all of Lara's vocal techniques, I'm going to apply them and use them when I sing. Then I also learned to differentiate between a constructive and valid comment from a comment that is just negative. I don't want to get overwhelmed by all the comments that come in. All artists have to do this learning these days, especially because of social networks.”
--------------------------------------
And here’s an alternate review from (https://www.lesoleil.com/2022/03/21/star-academie-un-variete-de-bonheur-eb4013fcd160be26e5da70db9373d001):
-----------------------------------------------------
Star Académie : a variety of happiness
The eighth Variety of Star Académie on Sunday evening was one of those that does good, that warms the soul.
Everything opened gently with the poetry of Coeur de pirate. Like the lyricism of the singer-songwriter, Julien particularly stood out on Place de la République, as did Édouard who rendered the beauty of Crier tout bas alongside the artist.
Then, we made way for traditional music with Yves Lambert, Jérôme 50 and Édith Butler who got the party started in the Mels studio and in the viewers' lounge. Note that Mrs. Butler will celebrate her 80th birthday this summer and that the energy is still very much present in the singer who has also just launched a new album.
Moreover, if this issue represented a real challenge of articulation and dynamism to hold on until the end of the issue, the academicians took it up with great skill.
We then went through Daniel Lavoie's rich repertoire, which has transported us for five decades. He too celebrated his 73rd birthday this week. And as always, Krystel shone with the singer with Jours de plaine. A few false notes were again pushed during the interpretation of Belle, unbeatable classic of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, and of Ils s’aiment with Olivier who nevertheless tried to put his color there.
The highlight of the evening was the splendid number created by the director and choreographer, Lydia Bouchard. She signed a number in her image, that is to say poetic, loving and of great elegance. To celebrate the rebirth and renewal of spring, the academicians magnificently interpreted Durant que by Gilles Vigneault, Pendant que les champs brilent by Niagara and The Flash Failures by Hair.
Dancing and singing at the same time was clearly a challenge for them, which they succeeded on the whole. What a joy to see dancing Lydia Bouchard who arrived on stage like a queen who delivered her love letter to the public!
Candidates in danger
Sunday evening, Camélia, Sarah-Maude and Marily offered magnificent performances.
Camélia, first of all, exercised great integrity from the height of her 17 years. The lyrics of Barbara Pravi's Voilà were all designed for the young singer who presented herself simply as she is. Each time, she reveals herself to the public with an impressive maturity. She also managed to touch the hearts of the public for a second time, they who decided to protect her.
Then, Sarah-Maude, who experienced some discomfort in her voice this week, never let it show. Tackling River Deep, Mountain High isn't easy right off the bat. Only a powerful voice like hers can succeed in delivering a successful performance where technique and energy are maintained until the end. The faculty decided to protect her.
Finally, Marily delivered an interpretation in her own way by choosing Le tour de l'île by Félix Leclerc. Her rocking voice, for the last time, managed to make us travel. Even if it was not enough to obtain the vote of the public or the teachers, we hope that she will continue her career to share her compositions with us.
Next Sunday, it will be director Serge Denoncourt's turn to have carte blanche to create a number with the academicians. This will also be the time to present the third special request of the season. Milky Chance and Stromae will also be present.
-------------------------------------
In other but related news, Lara was on the cover of EV, with the scans provided by the Lara Fabian Lockdown Sessions FB site, at
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianLockdownSession/photos/pcb.482498496948255/482498373614934/
Here's the translation::
-------------------------
The director makes her mid-season assessment
“I try to adapt to each one”
An involved director
"I'd like to talk about freedom"
With only nine academics left at Waterloo Manor, Lara Fabian agreed to give a mid-season review of Star Academy. It was an opportunity to talk about the issues and challenges facing the young people, but also about her own enjoyment of this transmission exercise and her projects.
The director of the Academy takes a lucid and frank look at this year's cohort of Academicians. "It's a season with a lot of youth in everything that is superbly interesting and everything that needs to be emotionally framed," said Lara Fabian, comfortably seated in her dressing room at the MELS Studios, a few hours before the Variete. "Most of them haven't experienced much in life. So you have to be caring and accompany them in this space where experience is lacking and there may be some not-so-supportive readings in what to do. You have to guide them through what hurts, to develop a strategy when you're tired...At the halfway point, I would mainly say that there is maybe a little more fatigue than last year, because they haven't yet accumulated the experience that makes us more resilient."
During the daily show, we see that the candidates' reaction to criticism, and even to constructive comments, is sometimes distorted. They question more easily what is said to them, and the teachers are aware of this. "The way they approach comments is more personal. They're more reactive because they're hypersensitive. That's okay, it's up to us to find a way to get past that first feeling they have of questioning our opinion."
It's actually a different way of operating from the previous season. "It's not quite the same generation, because there were fewer very young people in the previous cohort. I try to adapt to each one as best as possible, but the working methods remain the same throughout. It's always the same exercises, it's like ballet. There are exercises that are the same for everyone. Whether you're an apprentice or a professional, the classical basis is the same."
As for the need to build up experience quickly, Lara Fabian is not worried about her little hearts. "We don't work the same way with everyone. With Oliver, for example, you have to be absolutely transparent. He doesn't want us to sugarcoat things, he wants to know exactly what he has to do. It's easy to go fast with him because he's a very open person, he doesn't mind certain things. He opens his mouth and he reminds me of Eric Lapointe in his early days."
Reunion
The arrival of the public from the third Variety brought a breath of fresh air to the show. "It creates a real issue. For the Academicians, the reaction of those who vote for them is no longer virtual, it is physical. It's a real before and after for the audience. It's as if they have finally understood what it means to be supported by those who feed us and keep us alive. And for me, that's very refreshing. It's nice to be reminded of the feelings that come with it."
Lara Fabian met again at Star Academie some of the young singers she had known at La Voix, like Julien, Krystel or Edouard. "I think they have worked hard. There was one who was in Alex Nevsky's team and the two others were with me. I found that they had particularly evolved. I can say that they have made a quantum leap since their participation in The Voice. Julien, for example, is a huge artist. The work he has done is impressive between the time he left The Voice and what I found in Star Academie."
Opening of a school
Since the beginning of the season, Lara Fabian spends most of her time at L'Acadmie or at MELS studios. "My life is a bit on pause, but transmitting is probably one of the things I love most in the world. That's the direction I'm going in. My next step is definitely opening a school."
She doesn't see this new challenge only as a singing school, it would be a much broader project. "I see the value of the more emotional accompaniment; it's something that I think is very relevant to link it to an interpretation or to link it to the evolution of an artist. I would have liked that at a certain moment someone would just let me make a mistake and that in real time, with a lot of kindness, would correct it for me rather than letting me break my face and criticize me afterwards. This whole holistic approach to singing, that's how I see my school." She also foresees different levels of teaching depending on the person. You don't grow a singer in the same way if he is a professional, an amateur or an aspiring professional.
Back to the family
Although she is totally involved in Star Academie, Lara Fabian does not forget her family. Gabriel, her husband, makes up for her absence with her daughter, Lou. "I think she has the best of us.When I'm tired, I think Gabirel is better than me."
And it is through the kitchen that she comforts them with her presence. "To de-stress, when I can, I sleep. Then, cooking allows me to empty my mind completely. I prepare dishes for the week. Meditating also helps me a lot to unwind: I isolate myself in a room to center myself, to align myself, to nourish myself too."
Other Projects
In addition to the opening of her school, which she plans to be half online and half face-to-face, Lara Fabian wants to work on writing songs for a new album. "It's been five years since Papillon was released, and there's a lot to be said about what's happened since then. I would like to talk about the importance of staying united, not stigmatizing and not judging. Remember that we stopped talking about love for two years; we stopped all loving gestures in the name of security. I would also like to talk about freedom. I see a lot of exacerbated human suffering, I see a lot of division of people who have eradicated the sense of family."
By then, the singer will be back on tour. She has several shows in June, in Montreal and Quebec, and a European tour will follow in the fall. "It's going to be pretty much the same show as 50 World tour. We'll tell the story a little differently, but in terms of repertoire, I don't see how I can do without J'y crois encore, Je t'aime, Tu es mon autre, Immortelle, all these songs that the people want to hear.
However, she wants to do things a little differently. "I thought of a different way to do the tour to avoid having to fly and drive every day. I thought it could be done like we did before, with a tour bus, in order to be always in the same place with my loved ones and my family, and to walk travel slowly from one city to another."
Remembrances from Ukraine
Very popular in Eastern European countries, Lara Fabian has wonderful memories of Ukraine, where she often sang. "It's probably one of the warmest audiences. I experienced extraordinary things in Ukraine. I made a film there in particular. We shot in Kyiv, but also in Odessa and Lviv. It's a country that was very important to me." Lara has also built solid bonds of friendship and work there. "A big part of my touring team is Ukrainian. I'm in contact with them all the time right now. I have news about what's really happening on the ground."
-----------------------------------------
Lara is mentioning her own school more and more often; remember, for a while, it seemed like the Star Academie had fulfilled that need in her. One gets the impression from this and previous interviews that she is growing tired of the show, how the focus has to be so all-encompassing, even to the point of separating her from her family. Coupled that with the problems she has encountered recently, as discussed above, it would not be a great surprise for this to be her last year as Director. We'll see; a lot could change before such a decision has to be made, if the show is even renewed.
Now for the 17th – and last – story in Lara’s book “Je passe a table”.
----------------------------------
Seventeenth Story : Kayla
Confidences of a canine soul
Just as some men whisper in the ears of horses, I discovered at this time of my life that they were not the only beings whispering.
There is another living being capable of the same miracles: the dog.
This friend of man has no equal and can easily whisper to our human ears much comfort and many lessons.
He can save us, offer us his presence and his unconditional love, change our lives and make them more beautiful.
Simply, because of my education and my nomadic background, I had no idea that this was possible. My mother Luisa is from the south of Italy and was brought up with a concept of hygiene pushed to the extreme, a reality that automatically ruled out the possibility of ever having an animal in the house.
When I was little, she kept telling me that an animal is not an object or a toy and that it needs a lot of attention. On the other hand, and erroneously, she was convinced that an animal is not clean and requires too much work.
To her credit, this statement belonged to beliefs that had been cemented and passed down for many generations.
Everyone knows the power of dogmas and beliefs that hypontize us...
It took the arrival of my wonderful magician for me to get in touch with this very special world. A lighter and more childlike world in which the life of a family is transformed and faithfully married to an animal.
Gabriel arrived in Belgium in winter to live with us. From his native island, he arrived with his van full of magic stuff. Sitting next to him was his "hairy half": Scilla.
Scilla was a mix of an Australian shepherd and a golden retriever. Gabriel found her on a beach in Calabria, not far from his home, while he was traveling with friends. When the little ball met the magician's eyes, she followed him around until he took her home...
Between these two, I witnessed a true love story, a bond that I had never observed before between a human being and an animal.
Anyone who knows my husband Gabriel knows that I am not exaggerating and that his relationship with the animal is exceptional, unique and captivating.
He has taught me everything about it, gently, without rushing me, extinguishing my fears, phobias and worries. But the process was slow, it was part of a slow but deep inner evolution.
Today, I can proudly say that all that was part of the old and wobbly transmissions is gone and that my love for my little Kayla (our little Australian shepherd) is deep.
I am one of those people who, upon discovering this miracle, wonder how they ever lived without this animal.
But before Kayla, before all this became my new life, I met Scilla.
When Scilla came home at the end of 2012, I had to adapt and go through all the steps that make you someone else with a pet.
Unfortunately, she was only with us for three years, as she became seriously ill and we could not keep her close to us as we would have liked.
I had never seen my husband so sad, I had never seen a suffering that could be similar to this one.
Later, as my life became more hectic, and to respect Gabriel's deep sorrow, we made the choice not to adopt another dog.
And then one day, during my travels, I noticed that my husband's face was veiled with a strange smile of sadness. He was often silent, often pensive, often very dark...
Even though he was doing his best and kept saying that he never wanted to adopt an animal again, I knew, in my heart, that something was breaking inside him more and more, and that the only great event that could save him would be the arrival of another little furry being.
So I started to search, to investigate, to question.
I started to talk a lot about the fact that it was time to settle down, to adopt a dog, to give him a new home....
I don't hide from you that I was subjected to a great resistance.
The pain seemed to speak a little too loudly again.
But I didn't give up, I kept on looking...
One night, alone on tour, the night before my concert in Athens, as I was falling asleep, I wished into the universe to be directed to an ethical breeding, to a trustworthy person, someone who could make me adopt the right soul.
While surfing, as we all do, that night I came across a sign, something that clearly told me I was making the right choice.
So I dialed that number, left a message, wrote a few lines, sent an email.
The next day, just after my concert in Greece, the phone rang and I heard the sunny and sonorous voice of Nathalie, this beautiful woman who has owned a breeding farm for almost twenty years. Her love for dogs and her knowledge of their functioning and well-being are exceptional.
She is truly a magician!
Her talent is rare and truly mastered. But it is her generosity and her unwavering presence that is amazing.
She is supported in all of this by her husband, a brilliant and fantastic gentleman who protects his pack in every sense of the word!
But it is Nathalie who will educate me in many ways and who will help me to become the "mother" of a little red merle Australian shepherd.
When I came back from tour, I told Gabriel about this beautiful encounter I had made through the web.
He remained silent for a while, then he was convinced.
We went up north to meet these beautiful people and we both committed ourselves to adopt a little ball of love.
I will never forget the look on my husband's face when he walked onto the property and saw the majestic pack on the riverbank.
At the sound of a single command from Nathalie, all the dogs jumped into the water. Unforgettable, the look of Gabriel...
From then on, it was as if life for him had taken on its full meaning.
It is difficult to explain all the layers that make us who we are, and why we are sometimes so deeply linked to an animal, but this is what Gabriel is and that's what he needed to get out of it, the return of the confidences of a canine soul.
Kayla arrived in October 2018, a year after we returned to Quebec. Our life will never be the same again.
Despite his young existence, we have already experienced many things with our little Australian Shepherd. Indeed, at the age of eight months, in a burst of joy when we had not measured the danger in front of her, Kayla, who was already used to a few acrobatics, launched herself by mistake above a railing almost 5 meters high. My husband leaned over to see the other side. She was lying there, screaming, one leg totally dislocated and broken...
I spare you the tribulations linked to this horrible accident, but I can only tell you that the relationship between Gabriel and Kayla has changed completely following this event.
The care provided, the attention given, the absolute love exchanged and the sleepless nights to protect her have made these two become inseparable since this experience.
On my daughter's birthday later that year, we went to eat at one of those rare restaurants that welcome dogs and offer food for them.
It is thanks to Lou that we landed there.
I don't really believe in chance, I sincerely believe that things, when they're right, line up in really wonderful ways.
We met Marie Eve, a particular young woman, extremely sensitive, who had set up her brand new foundation: the Leskie Foundation. It is a unique organization that helps people who are stigmatized because of their anxiety or mental health problems, a unique foundation that works where nothing existed before.
A team of extraordinary people ensures free of charge to offer punctual and daily services to those who really need it, but who do not have the means in this society to find the resources to relieve their suffering.
In a sincere impulse, I offered to be their godmother, their banner and, in my own way, I offered to help.
Kayla has become their mascot and Gabriel, by my side, a formidable spokesperson, a concrete and living witness to what an accompanying or assistance dog can truly accomplish alongside a human being when he whispers in your ear all the love of which he alone is capable.
Every day of my life, I continue to learn extraordinary things in contact with my animal, how to feed it, how to take care of it, how to live alongside it.
Among the things I learned, but especially thanks to my friendship with a dog fairy from the south of France (she recognizes herself), I discovered that with a few simple ingredients, we can guarantee our animal superb immunity, tremendous health and Olympic form!
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And then the closing Acknowledgments…
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THANKS
Thank you to all the wonderful women who have made this book possible today. These women who are the visible and invisible guides of my life path.
Thank you to my wonderful family of hearts who worked in silence without ever ceasing to support me in the moments when the memories stirred my body and my heart.
Thank you to the "wonderful women" from Libre Expression, Nadine, Clemence, Marike, Christine and Johanne, who delivered this book in record time and who multiplied their strengths so that it was possible to leaf through it for the first time as a gift.
Thanks to Ariel for her greedy and elegant look.
Thanks to Genevieve with whom I build a dream through her photos.
Thanks to Johanna Buldrini, an inspired and inspiring collaborator, whose beauty and devotion are everywhere.
Thanks to Anne, whose art and flowers make this book a truth.
Thanks to Marco, Marcus and Patrick. Their vision helps generate the best version of myself.
Thanks to my husband, who patiently waited for me to go back to bed from one inspiration to the next.
Thank you to my daughter to whom I dedicate this art of living to which her creative joy contributes.
Thanks to dad for having loved with all his heart what apparently did not look like him.
Thank you to the mamma, without whom all this love would not be.
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That finishes all the ‘stories’ in the book. One has to say that Lara is a great writer, and her stories make for fascinating reading. She has hinted there might be a second autobiographical/cook book; here’s hoping it happens. There may be translations of the recipes included in future News updates - that’s yet to be decided, as they don’t make for very interesting reading unless one is actually planning to make those dishes. Humorously the last recipe in the book is for dog food.
Interesting photo(s)/video(s) of the week: as posted on the Lara Fabian est ton autre FB site, a cute video of Lara with the caption, "I arrive as a surprise at La Petite Cabane à Sucre de Québec ... That's it!” It’s available at
www.facebook.com/larafabiantonautre/videos/2751588105136468
La Petite Cabane a Sucre de Quebec (The Little Sugar Shack of Quebec) gift shop is a boutique specializing in the sale of maple products and local products located on the most beautiful and oldest street in North America. This is obviously with reference to the 'sugar shack' songs in the latest Star Academie show.
And from the larafabian_fanpage_,
http://instagram.com/p/CbYKWbCo45B
Lara in full possession of herself
The Star Academie show will continue to soldier on in the coming week, and Lara will apparently have her time completely circumscribed by it. Presumably there will be less controversy. Stay safe everybody,
David