Florent Pagny moved to tears, it’s not every day that this happens. By his side, Amel Bent, Vianney and Marc Lavoine also have wet eyes. They have just heard “You are there”, a song written and performed by Daniel Defilipi, 66, candidate for season 11 of “The Voice”. The sequence posted Wednesday evening on social networks, before the broadcast of the show on TF 1 this Saturday, February 19, has been viewed nearly 8 million times in less than two days.
“I am very surprised by what is happening, admits Daniel, reached by telephone. I receive an impressive number of messages of great kindness, I can’t answer everyone, but it’s really nice. “And even if we already know that none of the four coaches turned around during his audition, it’s what happened right following that made him happy. “I had the secret hope of telling them regarding my song. I really want to thank Vianney who allowed me to sing it, he was the trigger, it was not planned. »
If the presence of Daniel Defilipi in “The Voice” seems surprising – he is the dean of this edition – he is familiar with the audiovisual world: “I met my wife at TF 1, where she was secretary. It was on the set of the show Champions of Michel Denisot, I was room manager at the time. She has always been by my side, and I am convinced that she still helps me, even though she is no longer there. His talents as a singer, author and composer have also enabled him to participate several times in Pascal Sevran’s “La Chance aux chansons”, as well as to write a title for Enrico Macias (“Du Soleil”, on the album ” The Keys”, released in 2016).
In the troupe of “Bernadette de Lourdes”
In 2019, Bruno Berberes, casting director of the musical show “Bernadette de Lourdes” chose him to be part of the troupe. And then submits to him the idea of participating in “The Voice”, which he also takes care of. “I passed all the stages of selection one by one, there was no favouritism, wishes to specify Daniel. I had actually been cast for season 10, but I tested positive for Covid-19 right before filming, so I mightn’t do it. Production called me back for the next one. »
Just before the first confinement, Daniel Defilipi had released an album, “On arrive un matin…”, on which is the title “You are there”. “At the time, we mightn’t promote it, but since I’m not competing for the summer hit, it’s an album that remains timeless,” he smiles.
He dreams of going to Drucker
Today, Daniel lives from day to day and assures us that he still believes in Santa Claus: “Since I went to Lourdes, beautiful things have happened to me. Like what happens with The Voice. What would be great is for it to lead to something else, not for it to fall like a soufflé. »
He would like to do concerts “on small stages”. “I do not dream of the Zénith or the Palais des Congrès, but of places where there are lovers of French song, launches this nostalgic, unconditional Jacques Brel. I would like to go sing right to left with a pianist, do galas like it was done in the past and convey an emotion. Doing good to people, ultimately. »
As for television, he would love to participate in the “Grand Échiquier” or be invited to Michel Drucker: “A cyclist dreams of doing the Tour de France, a singer, he dreams of going to Drucker! “.
