INTERVIEW
This is the big return of one of the favorite artists of the French. After five years of absence, Yannick Noah returns in the ferries with his 12th album, Bonheur Indigo , which leaves Friday. A sunny album, joyful and optimistic, and by which the artist wanted "that at the end of the listening, the people feel a little better", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1, during an interview during which the former tennis champion also spoke about his life at sea and his concern for the future of the planet.
"Music is never far away"
For five years and the release in 2014 of Combats Ordinary , the singer had not released a record. A long break that can be explained by other professional activities as well as by his family life. "Five years is not much when you have to take care of yourself, your children, your grandchildren," says Yannick Noah, who says his desire to "blow a little", after five albums and five tours in twelve years. Not to mention that the winner of Roland Garros in 1983 also held the posts of captain of the French teams of Davis Cup and Fed Cup.
But, Yannick Noah recalls, "music is never far away (...) there are always melodies in the head". Also, "as soon as I felt that I had done a little tour, I thought it was time to return," says the artist, who recognizes: "I missed it".
He recalls "the urgency" of the defense of the environment
In his album, the singer, known for his commitment, wrote a song about the environment: Encore temps . "Talking about our planet is not about politics, it's about global problems," says Yannick Noah, who, more than a decade ago, was already on the map with Aux arbres citoyens . And to confide his concern for future generations: "I have little children, and in 30 years I do not know what will happen to them," he says. And in front of "the urgency", "as an artist, I say 'there is still time to go'," he says again, before wondering: "how can I talk about it other than 'in music ?"
The inspiration for her new album, Yannick Noah, was able to find her far from France, after having gone to live on the boat with her wife and son almost three years ago. "The idea was to go a little trip to be a little spectator of life (...) be outside the public personality (...) reload me," he describes. And to add: "this life, it is necessary to take advantage of it, the time passes quickly (...) I want to take advantage of it before being too tired".
"Telling stories to appease"
And with his trips to Cuba, the West Indies, but also to Gibraltar or Jamaica, the cult singer Saga Africa was able to draw various influences for his new record, which contains songs with salsa rhythms. And the peace he has known during these three years, Yannick Noah has also transcribed in his texts, in which he wants to "tell stories to appease". "I wanted that at the end of listening, people feel a little better," he says.