PARIS | During a festive concert as they have the secret and particularly rich in emotions, the Cowboys Fringants yesterday accomplished a feat that very few Quebec artists can boast of: thrilling thousands of spectators in the famous Accor Arena in Paris. .
After the Zenith and the Olympia, it was the turn of the amphitheater formerly known as Paris-Bercy, a mythical place that saw all the greatest stars of music parade, to succumb to the irresistible melodies as well as to the contagious energy of the Quebec group and its loyal admirers.
As during the first stop of the European tour, in Lyon, on Friday, the fans were spoiled. Les Cowboys Fringants have built a concert in the form of a retrospective of their glorious career, with a resolute emphasis on the most energetic titles in their repertoire.
From the start, they chained Houses All Alike, Bye Bye Lou, The Queen and a boosted recovery of Smells Like Teen Spiritfrom Nirvana, which made the audience jump.
” What party ! exclaimed singer Karl Tremblay.
It was just beginning. The foot remained on the accelerator until the two reminders, where the sequence of Merchant Navy, Shooting Stars (with the flight into the crowd of hundreds of paper planes, a nod to the song’s text and a charming European fan tradition) and America is crying concluded the concert on the most beautiful of notes.
“The Bell Centre, in Europe”
Met following the show, Karl Tremblay and Marie-Annick Lépine savored the moment.
“It’s like the Bell Centre, but in Europe. This is completely crazy. Europeans see us once a year, but there are 10,000 of them who come to sing our songs, to dance, to move. I saw people crying and hugging up front,” the Cowboys singer said.
“The majority of spectators bought their tickets two years ago and they have not been reimbursed. They can’t wait to see us, so there was a lot of emotion in the air,” pointed out Marie-Annick Lépine.
Quebec pride
Playing on this great Parisian stage is a feat all the more remarkable as the success of the Cowboys Fringants in France was built in the shadow of the mainstream media, relying on word-of-mouth.
In addition, they conquered the French without denying their accent or their roots. Again last night they blackmailed Hector’s shack and The demonstrationsongs with typically Quebec references, to an audience that was asking for more.
For the few compatriots who were there, including this restaurateur from Quebec sitting by chance behind us, it was moving to see a group like the Cowboys Fringants triumph at Bercy.
“In any case, said Yvan Ouellet, co-owner of 47, it makes me proud to be a Quebecer. It was magical. He mightn’t sum up what we had just experienced better.
Admirers who arrived early
French fans of Les Cowboys Fringants braved the Parisian cold in February for long hours to see their favorites up close last night at the Accor Arena.
When we arrived on site, four hours before the concert, a few dozen fans were lining up near the door giving access to the floor.
54 times
Shivering, a man named Mathieu even admitted that he had arrived the very first, at 12:45 p.m.
The first part of Marie-Annick Lépine started at 8 p.m.
“I saw them seven or eight times, said Mathieu, and I’m far from being the worst”
Ah well, who is the worst? “54 times,” one man replied proudly, bringing laughter to these friendly Cowboys fanatics.
Curiousity
While chatting with them, we discovered that their love for the Quebec group had turned into a great curiosity for music from our region.
Some have said they saw Émile Bilodeau, during his last visit to Paris, or even Klô Pelgag.
And if they regretted not being able to find Les Trois Accords in the first part, as it was originally planned, they were delighted at the idea of discovering, instead, the solo songs of Marie-Annick— Lépine.