- One year after his César for "Le Grand Bain", Philippe Katerine takes part in another ceremony this Friday, the Victoires de la Musique.
- Thanks to his album "Confessions", the artist is named in three categories: male artist, album and original song.
- "20 Minutes" met the interpreter of "Stone with you".
When he just wanted to eat his banana naked on the beach, it is at the Seine Musicale that he will have to spend his Friday evening. One year after his César for best actor in a supporting role for Le Grand Bain , it is for his music that Philippe Katerine could this time be rewarded, by the very serious Academy of Victories.
Thanks to Confessions , his last album released in November, the artist is named in three categories: male artist, album and original song for the title Stone avec toi . But there is no pressure hovering over Philippe Katerine. "I'm very happy to be able to play a song on television, it's already enormous," he sincerely explains to 20 Minutes, ten days before the ceremony. And it is this simplicity, his crazy sweet side and his singular outlook on life that make him a human being apart.
Are the rewards important to you?
I never think about it, what I like to do is go to the end of the discs. That's what victory is, when you do. After the rest, of course it counts but it's something else.
Some artists see it as a form of consecration, is that the case for you?
To tell the truth, I'm very happy to be able to play a song on television, that's what I'm going to do that night, it's already huge, especially with a record called Confessions . It was not won with these songs and this cover, I could very well fall on a wall. On the contrary, I come across an affectionate, vigorous welcome! It is not a record that softens people. It might give them a little bit of violence at times, but it seems to be welcomed, and that's how I see these stories of appointments. And for some of these denominations, it's sort of like being forgiven.
Do you see that as a forgiveness?
Of course ! It was a risk I was taking calling him like that. It was really the name that came to me immediately for this record, I even left the title to compose my songs. If it had been received out of contempt, condescension, or indifference, for a record called Confessions, it would have been hard. It is as if you were making confessions to the church but the priest was not there, or that he was thinking of something else! This is why I am happy: to have this record, and to be welcomed as much in theaters as by these nominations.
Were you worried that some songs would be more difficult to access than others?
When I make songs I don't think about the people who will listen to them. It's more selfish, I think more about doing myself good, that's all that matters. Then I try to arrange things a bit so that it is readable. I didn't really have any fears, I knew there were violent things on the record. But the world is violent, so this record is too.
Violence challenges very quickly indeed, and seems incomprehensible to some.
It is in us, I think the whole world is in us, both the best and the worst. We are potential murderers, we have cruelty ... If I make records and I do not say cruelty, violence, horror, nightmares, I tell myself that it is a record that deceives people or who deceives me myself.
Do you torture songs sometimes?
Of course ! We manhandle them and they manhandle me too. It has to stir and it has to do violence. Sometimes I see the heads of surprises in concert who receive a form of violence, but I believe that it is also the whole point of what I do.
You are named in the “male artist” category. Do you understand that we can distinguish male artists on one side and female artists on the other?
Not at all, I don't understand. It's not new of course, but I think the border is getting thicker, sometimes it feels like a wall is being built between the feminine and the masculine. I speak in general, but I also feel legitimate to be named in the same category as Clara Luciani, Catherine Ringer or Angèle. It's absurd, and why not take age into account? And why not a category of bald or mustache?
You are named alongside Alain Souchon and Lomepal, a beautiful reflection of music in France?
These are two people who are on my disc. Lomepal with the song 88%, and Souchon, he often went in the studio when we were recording. He would sit on the couch and talk. I made him record a sentence in Point noir on white sheet .
They are friends ?
Friends are quickly said, but with Souchon the conversation is very pleasant. He tells you about forests, places in France, he is very geographic. Lomepal has a more sentimental conversation. They are very different people, but they have this common point that basically they raise their heads while sometimes we hear songs that make them droop. We believe less in the human race for example, but with them two, basically you feel like a human being.
Two years ago, you participated in a freestyle with Lomepal on Skyrock. Have you tried it before?
I have seen quite a few, but no. I often improvised. For example with François Ripoche, we set up a group called "Christian the chairman cat" where we go on stage without knowing what we are going to do. A little crazy experiences, and very rewarding. You come out a little wrung out because you improvise for three quarters of an hour. That's why I practiced that, it's free total.
You regularly work with rap artists, both with an Alkpote and a Lomepal. How do you adapt to these different worlds?
I don't know if I can do it but in any case I really like to make music, so when I am invited I am very tickled, all the more if they are people who seem a little far from me . It gives me excitement. Rap is music that I listen to a lot, I don't feel like a fish in water because I didn't grow up with it, but it's music that is completely part of my daily life. I listen to American rap, Tyler, The Creator, Kanye West of course and its exciting trajectory ... In France it can go from Vald to Koba LaD, Booba, Shay ... It is very broad. I find it the most vibrant today, the most authentic in music.
Are you regularly asked for musical collaborations?
Not too much, apart from the ones we just mentioned, which is not bad. But otherwise it's been a long time since I was told "I would like you to write me a song". It happened to me a lot of times, but it's something that is done a little less I feel. Or else you don't ask me… But it's something I loved to do, for Arielle Dombasle, Anna Karina…
Who would you like to write a song for?
I don't know ... Someone far from me. Someone like Mylène Farmer, I would be very happy, very stimulated!
You worked with your daughter, who notably took care of the video for "Stone with you". Is it nice to work with your children?
It was great to work with her, especially on themes like transplant where I find myself with a big nose ... Or things where I walked around naked and I was assaulted by people, it was still somewhat violent clips that wielded contrasting feelings. Doing it with my daughter was really like a successful relationship. Everything was allowed and there was no shame. And on set, she was the director, I trusted her completely and it was really a special moment of my life, quite simply.
In the song "Love me", you talk about fatherhood. Has it changed a lot in your life to be a dad?
Of course. I was 23 when my daughter was born, I didn't make a living with music yet, I was doing lots of odd jobs, so I had to get active to bring bread home. It kicked me in the ass. Otherwise I'm the kind of lymphatic. I need there to be emergencies, and there indeed it was necessary to activate. At that time I had released two records I think, so I started touring on my own with my guitar. I brought in money and it was good for my music, a lot of things. Going out, taking the train, even the plane I took for the first time. I saw the Alps, I had never seen a mountain before. I was going alone to Brussels, to Paris… Anyway, I had to get out of my hole. It was a blessing even if I had to force myself really hard. I was horribly shy, I blushed every moment, approaching someone seemed to me a mountain precisely. But even if I forced myself it did me good. And then having a child also means seeing life differently.
Nothing to do, but to finish, do you have any news from Thierry, your character in "Le Grand Bain"?
Very well, he leads his life, always in a swimsuit. He is happy, he received his world cup! He is very proud of it! It is fortunate that I could also receive a César, it made him so happy, for himself, and for Gilles Lellouche. He was finally welcomed into a group, which was rarely the case for Thierry! Always excluded, always the scapegoat, mocked most of the time ...
We laugh but this character has done a lot of good for people!
It has done me a lot of good too.
Cinema
César 2019: Philippe Katerine delivers a wacky and touching speech
Television
Philippe Katerine: "Breaking someone, it would have disgusted me", assures the guest juror of "France has an incredible talent"
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