2024-01-20 17:00:00
A few months following announcing her retirement from the profession of singer, Véronique Béliveau is preparing to take the microphone once more for an evening. She will take the stage Monday as part of the fourth edition of The night of depression at the St-Denis Theater in Montreal.
Launched in 2020, the traditional Night of depression has one goal: to shake off the January blues that strike more than one when they return from the holidays. Bringing together more than fifteen artists under the aegis of Christian Bégin, the show aims to snub the Blue Mondaythe most depressing day of the year that some place on the third or fourth Monday in January.
For this new edition, Véronique Béliveau will meet peers from different backgrounds on stage; France Castel, Anne Dorval, Laurent Paquin, Guylaine Tanguay, Gisèle Lullaby, Marie-Eve Janvier and Pierre Flynn are just some of the personalities who accepted Christian Bégin’s invitation.
“It’s a big party; we are several singers and artists from different backgrounds who come together to spend the year happily. We sing depressing songs – that’s the concept – but it often becomes goofy. I was promised a very exciting evening, so I mightn’t refuse this opportunity,” says the singer.
Far from the scenes
The one who was elevated to the rank of pop music icon in the 1970s and 1980s with the titles Transit, Cover Girl (Hide Your Heart) or Make A Move On Me has become more discreet in recent years, reducing its public services to the strict minimum. She chose to work in the shadows of the spotlight alongside her partner, Josélito Michaud, for his production company.
Like The night of depression, the rare occasions when she was able to be heard singing were the result of invitations she “just mightn’t refuse”. An example? Masked singers, where she revisited the titles of Lady Gaga, Pat Benatar and Miley Cyrus incognito, under her firefly costume in 2022.
“It was quite a trip! I felt like I was going back to my childhood. We don’t have the opportunity to do this kind of performance anywhere else. I had a blast, it was an extraordinary experience,” she says.
Enough to make her want to resume her singing career? Not exactly.
“Every time I sing, I’m convinced it’s the last time I’ll do it. I’m happy, I like the experience, but I don’t miss being a singer. I don’t think I would be able to do it today with social media; everyone always has a comment to make. I have gone elsewhere,” she says.
Thao’s latest adventures
Véronique Béliveau, however, has not left her creative side aside. Now an author, she has just completed the third volume of her children’s series featuring Thao, a young Vietnamese heroine inspired by her daughter. While no release date has yet been set, the launch is expected to take place later this year.
“We are finalizing the illustrations. I’ve come full circle with Thao’s adventures, it should be available soon,” she says.
- The night of depression will take place Monday from 7:30 p.m. at the Théâtre St-Denis. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the Ronald Denis Foundation, which works to help people suffering from massive obesity and who are often also affected by depression.
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