Paris (AFP)
Who is leading the physical sales of albums and who is showing a tribute-event Sunday at the Olympia? Johnny Hallyday, still there two years after his death.
The former idol of the young remains a big seller of records. This week, "Johnny" - repertoire symphonic version - throne at the top of the physical acquisitions and live the Vieilles Canailles - alongside Jacques Dutronc and Eddy Mitchell - is 3rd in the ranking of Snep (National Union of phonographic publishing).
"He is always the tailor, there is this passion of the French for him," comments AFP Michel Jankielewicz, artistic advisor to Laeticia Hallyday, widow of the star.
"That means no one has replaced it and then there is not much else in French-language song right now, aside from Celine Dion (2nd in physical sales) and Jean-Louis Aubert (4th) While waiting for the release of Renaud's album ", dissects for AFP Christian Eudeline, author of" L'encyclopédie Johnny ".
Taking into account the flows - immaterial, popular with a younger audience - the performer of "L'envie" is also 3rd in symphonic version and 4th in Vieilles Canailles mode (behind Dadju, 1st, and Celine Dion, 2nd). "The symphonic album under the direction of Yvan Cassar brings something and Les Vieilles Canailles is an experience, a testimony, a rare document," says Christian Eudeline.
- 4,000 expected spectators -
To fill the gap with the fans, the Olympia welcomes Sunday a day Johnny, four days from the second anniversary of his death on December 5, 2017. Either three concerts / testimonials of the singer - 12 noon, 4 pm, 8 pm, 1 pm half each time - to tell the story of Johnny's common story and the legendary red-letter concert hall.
The meeting at 4:00 pm was added in front of the high demand. "We expect about 4,000 people, there should be only 200 seats for the meeting of 16:00," said Michel Jankielewicz. And the 8 pm session will be broadcast in more than 150 cinemas in France, Switzerland, Belgium.
The films are in two parts. First there are unpublished interviews, directed by Michel Jankielewicz, where Johnny explains "how he became a star at the Olympia", wrapped in excerpts from concerts in this hall (266 from 1961 to 2006). Then there are the live duets at the Olympia, in 2000, "never broadcast", continues the advisor of Laeticia, with "France Gall, Patrick Bruel, Paul Person, Pascal Obispo, Catherine Lara ..."
- Sofa, bikers, mass -
The sound of the concert parties will be mixed live, depending on the reactions of the audience. "The billiard room will be open, a tattoo artist will be there, there will be Johnny's outfits for the Olympia, guitars, his last bike," says Michel Jankielewicz.
The holders of VIP tickets (100 euros, all flights, the other tickets start at 30) will be able to access the boxes - "reconstituted on photos, we were hunting for his couch", smiles the chief organizer - as well as at the Marilyn artists' bar. The director of Johnny, his dresser, his teleprompter, etc., will be available to fans. Michel Jankielewicz even expects to see bikers in front of the Olympia: "They said to me, if it does not snow, we come!"
But writing "Johnny" on a poster does not guarantee success.
"L'idole des jeunes", an independent show of the Hallyday clan, scheduled for the Casino de Paris, has been canceled. "The promo was a combination of clichés - desert photos, big motorbikes, eagles, Brooklyn bridge, guitar ... - and there was no star," Christian Eudeline tackles.
Michel Jankielewicz did not like the confusion caused: "They communicated by speaking + of homage + canceled, and the Olympia received calls from people worried.That is how bitter people can sow panic and annoy those who do things well. " He, for the future, thinks of a musical comedy with the songs of the "boss" on the model "Mamma Mia!".
In addition, there are always masses dedicated to Johnny at La Madeleine. The next is scheduled for December 9 at 12:30, two years to the day after the popular funeral of the rockstar that had gathered several hundred thousand people on the Champs-Elysees and around the Parisian church.
© 2019 AFP