On Friday, October 28, 5,000 spectators filled the Nikaïa Palace to applaud France’s favorite singer, Michel Sardou.
At 8:45 PM, the lights in the hall went out. The voice of Camus then echoed: “Please turn off your mobile ringtones, and flashes are not allowed.” The show was about to begin.
From the first notes of “Du Plaisir,” the audience gave a standing ovation to this giant of French chanson, proving that “being here tonight and telling him so, brings them pleasure.” “Marie-Jeanne” and “The Jazz Singer,” the eternal guests, arrived early at the concert to set the mood.
Oops! The only artist (perhaps) of his generation not to have experienced a lull realized he had forgotten something: “The famous opening act.” The audience suggested he start over, but he replied, “No thanks, I’m tired.” He then spoke of a young, handsome, seductive, and talented man who would perform the opening act, and Michel Sardou himself led us into “The Popular Dances.” Indeed, Nice also did “The Java of Broadway” that Friday.
To rest a bit from this festive atmosphere, the man in the black suit sat on a stool to sing to us “Life, death, we enter, we exit, that’s all.” What a sad truth!
However, “I am not dead,” sang this young man of 58 springs, who, believe me, enjoyed himself on stage: small steps here, little dances there, amusing complicity with his musicians, particular attention towards his violinists, his “lobsters” as he calls them.
I contradict anyone who says Sardou remains as static as a menhir without a smile during his concerts.
Then the man who always looks grumpy in photos spoke, yes, spoke! Because speaking between songs would make him more human, he was told! Until now, it’s true, he didn’t talk much to his audience, and he revealed the reason for his silence: “Not so long ago, I was entering sixth grade, and yes ladies and gentlemen, I went to see Eddy Mitchell in concert during the era of ‘The Black Socks’ and there, standing in front of the stage, that singer called me out between songs to ‘talk,’ and while he was talking, a guy in the audience yelled at him, ‘We came to hear you sing, not talk!’ And that night, I swore that if I ever became a singer myself, I would never talk to my audience. So that’s why I never spoke to you,” and then someone in the audience yelled, “So sing then, Michel!”
“Yes, now I’m going to sing you a song that didn’t do well, but I wanted to present it to you.” What irony! The audience then sang along to the famous “The Sergeant’s Laugh” orchestrated by Sardou. “If we had known, we would’ve brought a recording studio to record the live tour here! Too bad, it will be next time,” he replied to the faithful “Sardounians.”
“The Black Eagle” took the audience “to the land of yesteryear.” What magic!
Back to reality! Sardou felt nostalgic: “Yes, it’s true, it was better before, you young people are unlucky. Before, you could smoke wherever you wanted, drink what you wanted, drive as fast as you wanted, you could (silence) as you wanted, chickens didn’t have flu, cows looked normally at trains, they weren’t mad, and the price of gasoline was decent. The manager of the Martinez restaurant in Cannes understood it all. He put the non-smoking area outside, so he breathes fresh air inside.” “The privilege!” “Enough of the nostalgia of the 70s, 80s, 90s, here’s the year 2005!” And there, he sings “I’m Going to Love You.” Great Sardou!
Then “Grandpa Sardou” spoke about his grandson: Gabriel. He didn’t like that name. He would’ve preferred “Hugo” because “Hugo Sardou” sounded better. “And then Gabriel, that’s a woman’s name. Listen!” and he performed a bit of Johnny’s song, caricaturing it a bit. It was funny!!
In “The Cities of Solitude,” the boss introduced his musicians and choristers. “Now a song from my son.” One person, then two, then three, then… arrived at the foot of the stage to “Hope” to see their singer closer. “The Muslim Women,” “veiled in enormous silence,” sailed on “Lake Connemara” before saying “Goodbye” to his audience.
“Mimi” smiled, let herself be carried by the wave of applause, shook hands, winked, and took flowers handed to her by women. It smells like the end, too bad!
The concert closed with “Tell Me,” the ultimate song from his album sold over a million copies. After throwing his red booklet and jacket into the audience, the lone boxer left for Marseille to perform his last concert of the 2004-2005 tour. In total, he performed over 85 remarkable shows. A true success!
The audience from Nice will “surely remember” this evening where Michel Sardou’s stage performances remain always just as impressive. Yes, for over two hours of show, the audience from Nice had their eyes full. Two hours of pure pleasure in the company of this monument of French chanson.
In May 2006, Michel Sardou will release his next album and will hit the road again starting January 12, 2007, at the Palais des Sports in Paris.
He will surely pass by Nice again, mark it in your calendars!
“Goodbye”
Audrey Bollaro