In a good -natured atmosphere, Alain Souchon offered a light and deep show on Friday evening, not always perfect, but full of charm, like a family meeting.
The legendary French singer-songwriter made us a rare visit as part of the Francos, in front of a Wilfrid-Pelletier room full to crack. Accompanied by his two sons, Pierre and Bear, the 81 -year -old singer offered an impressive performance of more than two hours, sometimes seated a little healing on a stool, leaning on the piano or standing in front of the crowd, sketching dance steps, making his arms wave, in full possession of his means.
Souchon is an incredible number of tubes. He sang several on Friday, but he especially drew from his vast repertoire, a “swimming pool of more than 300 songs”, as his sons told us, bringing some to the surface while giving people all those they wanted to hear, Somerset Maugham has Copper.
The very stripped arrangements gave the whole a unit despite the time that separated the oldest song (I am ten years old1974) of the most recent (Âme fifties2019). With a piano base, guitar, voice and harmonies, we sometimes changed the configuration, but this elegant and flafla -free dressing gave melodies and texts all their importance.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
Alain Souchon and his son bear on the stage of the Wilfrid-Pelletier hall
It also showed the consistency of an artist who has always known how to find the right images and phrase turns. The lighting was amendment, sober and enveloping, also giving the whole room to a work which, frankly, did not have a wrinkle – except, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, let’s say, Under the girls’s skirtswhich, at best, makes you smile today.
In all, Souchon Father interpreted 25 of his songs, giving way to his sons for a piece each, and all three paid tribute to a song to the friend Laurent Voulzy, who accompanied them virtually on the guitar on Karin redinger.
It is an immensely generous spectacle, therefore, interspersed with funny and sympathetic father-son discussions that were dragging a little, let’s say it. But these three love each other, love to tell stories and make fun of each other, and the result is still entertaining.
Throughout the evening, Alain Souchon was playful, but also intense and serious. Between the lightness of Kiss himthe commitment of That’s already itthe delicacy of Life is worth nothing and the depth of And if there is no one, He delivered his songs with phlegm, the air of nothing, the voice not completely safe, but always capable of catching up in detour.
And the evening so fell in front of a fulfilled audience which, from Copperwas already seated on the end of his seat and who had fun firm on Poulaillers’ Song et Machine loveuntil finally being able to sing in chorus Sentimental crowdultimate tube of one of the greatest tube makers.
Photo Édouard Desroches, the press
The crowd at the show of Alain Souchon, in the Wilfrid-Pelletier room, Friday evening
It was frankly beautiful to see these thousands of people standing up to the highest balcony, a smile on his lips, only happy to be able to sing with him this song that has been part of their lives for over 30 years.
At a reminder, we could hear The sailor, when I am ko, I am ten years old then obviously Hello Bobo Mamanthat he interpreted alone on the guitar. Smiling and touched by our enthusiasm, the singer praised the public with his two sons who had come to join him, before quietly leaving the scene. The Souchon charm operated on Friday evening in Montreal, and it was comforting at will.
