- Benjamin Biolay participates in the concert event Le festival des festivals, Thursday evening, on France 2 and France Inter.
- The singer released a new album, Grand Prix before the summer.
- In a hurry to come back on stage, perhaps in the fall, Benjamin Biolay explains to 20 Minutes how he apprehends the current period.
Two months after the release of his new album, Grand Prix , Benjamin Biolay is chomping at the bit. After a summer without a concert, the fall tour is still on hold. While waiting to learn more, the singer participates, with many French artists, Thursday evening at the Festival des festivals (see box). This initiative of the Rock en Seine festival consists of a concert broadcast live on France 2 and France Inter, at 9:05 p.m., in support of the music industry.
The opportunity to discover, live, some of Benjamin Biolay's new songs. Waiting for more?
How was this summer for you? Did you rehearse the live for the fall concerts?
We really want to play live but we still don't know if we will be able to. It is new. As musicians, we are used to being in the dark, we even like it, but there are still a lot of unknowns, there is the unknown in the unknown. We can't even repeat. So of course, we communicate with the musicians. After all, I have finished designing the album via Zoom… But there, to design a tour, at some point, we will have to see each other.
In a way, does this situation inspire you, encourage you to innovate?
A little yes, no doubt, like all destabilizing situations. If it succeeds, it will be awesome, even more awesome than usual. With this crisis, we realize what is precious in our lives, there is nothing mundane.
Grand Prix is a concept album, will its live version be special too?
Not really. We can't just play the songs from the new album, because some may not like it… We have to fit old songs into the concert, but of course the color of the album will determine that of the concerts. .
What color are you talking about?
I'm not sure… I could talk for hours about other people's music, but mine is really complicated. I don't really see the point.
We can say for example that it's a more rock album, right?
There are moments that are more rock, it's true, it will have to be more tense on stage, that there is more punch. I want to make people dance. But for that, there have to be people… In fact, I wanted this album to look more like my concerts. So the concerts of the next tour will necessarily be very dancing.
The new album is also more lyrical than usual. Are new songs harder to sing?
I used to sing more reserved, but no, these songs are not particularly difficult to sing. At least, I don't think so… On the other hand, there are songs where I will feel quite naked while singing such and such a phrase.
Why ? Because it's a rather intimate album?
It was not at all the objective but it is true that in developing these songs, which all revolve around the figure of the racing driver and his headlong rush, I arrived at something quite personal. I wasn't expecting it and it was while listening to the finished album that I realized that I was saying a lot about myself.
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Festival of festivals
A concert is broadcast Thursday evening, from 9 p.m., on France 2 and France Inter. It will bring together, for more than 3 hours, Benjamin Biolay therefore, but also Alain Souchon, Camelia Jordana, Christine and the Queens, Philippe Katerine, Jeanne Added, Pomme, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin ...
This concert is given in support of the French musical industry, which has been hard hit by the cancellation of many concerts and festivals since February.
- Covid 19
- Deconfinement
- Concert
- Music
- Song
- Coronavirus
- Benjamin biolay
- Culture