"Tonight we put the music forward, it's essential," launched the widow of the singer, Laeticia, arriving to attend the 8 pm session at the concert tribute to Johnny Hallyday Sunday at the Olympia. "It took time to mourn and move forward, it's a stage today, I'm going to discover the film with the fans tonight to be with them in emotion", also has the widow of the singer disappeared almost two years ago.
Three tributes with projections concerts / testimonies were organized throughout the day, to tell the story of the rockstar with the legendary hall of the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris, on whose pediment were displayed for the 267th time the red letters Johnny Hallyday . The last session was to be broadcast in more than 150 cinemas in France, Switzerland, Belgium.
"It's like he's still here"
"We booked on the first day of the rentals, we wanted to be there, we stayed with Johnny (...) It's as if he was still there, we were at the funeral at the Madeleine. today, "explain Robert and Martine, a couple of sexagenarians who came especially from Seine-et-Marne.
The films shown to the public are in two parts and begin with the voice of the singer launching: "Good evening l'Olympia, good evening Paris! It's going tonight? It's going to be hot tonight", the room answering with applause and shouts of " Johnny! Johnny! " Then come unreleased interviews, shot by Michel Jankielewicz, artistic advisor of Laeticia Hallyday, where Johnny explains "how he became a star at the Olympia", coated with excerpts from concerts in this hall (266 from 1961 to 2006).
A reconstituted lodge with authentic clothes
Then there are the live duets at the Olympia, in 2000, "never broadcast", explained this week the adviser of Laeticia, with "France Gall, Patrick Bruel, Paul Person, Pascal Obispo, Catherine Lara ...". Spectators with "premium" tickets also had the opportunity to visit Johnny's reconstructed lodge in a palpable emotion during his long stint at Olympia in 2001, with the same beige leather sofa and, on a stand, real clothes he wore for this series of concerts. His perfume, his usual pack of cigarettes are laid on a table.
"It's very impressive, it gives goose bumps," says 60-year-old AFP Brigitte, who is in charge of a transport company, who came specifically from Ourroux-sur-Saone in Burgundy. In the billiard room of the Olympia, exceptionally open, Johnny's stage costumes, his jewels are displayed in showcases and six of his guitars are on a podium. His last Harley is also visible.
"The time of peace has come"
According to the production, more than 4,000 fans in total were to attend the three sessions, with tickets (all sold) ranging from 30 to 100 euros. In an interview published by the Journal du Dimanche, Laeticia expressed the wish that a museum in memory of the singer, who died on December 5, 2017, could open in Paris.
She also reiterated that "the time of peace has come" in the dispute over the singer's legacy with the two elders of it, David Hallyday and Laura Smet. Neither was present at Sunday's tribute.