Paris (AFP)

On the launch of his album "Grand Prix", Benjamin Biolay was crowned male artist at the 36th Victoires de la Musique, in an evening that became a platform in support of the live performance affected by the health crisis.

"It was not a very successful year for music," said Biolay when receiving the 5th Victory of his career, at 48 years old.

And to tackle the "deafening silence of the public authorities" in the face of the situation of the music industry, in general, and of the stage, in particular, impacted by the closure of cultural places.

With his premonitory title record, Biolay was aligned against Gaël Faye and Vianney.

Biolay can still achieve a nice double since it is also in the race in the album category (against "Aimée", Julien Doré; "Lundi méchant", Gaël Faye; "Mesdames", Grand Corps Malade and "Paradis", Ben Mazué ).

On the other hand, he will not be able to achieve the hat-trick, since "Mais je t'aime", by Grand Corps Malade and Camille Lellouche, was named best song.

The other long-awaited Victory in the evening is that of a female artist, which must decide between Aya Nakamura, Pomme and Suzane.

Whatever the final prize list this year, this 36th Victory ceremony will remain special.

The evening was organized at the Seine Musicale (Paris region) without an audience, Covid-19 requires.

Nearly 200 extras were however arranged in the room to applaud the live performances of the artists.

- "I was dreaming of another world..." -

Jean-Louis Aubert, honorary president, also opened the ceremony by singing on the guitar "I was dreaming of another world ...", the first words of a telephone tube with strong symbolic significance in this period. troubled.

"President, it is not easy these days, because the presidential has been replaced by the face-to-face", then quipped Aubert in his inaugural speech.

Squeaking, he took advantage of "the presence or absence of the Minister of Culture" Roselyne Bachelot, to ask her to "continue to take care of the musicians, the technical teams, the show organizers", while the situation returns to normal.

Well present, Ms. Bachelot reaffirmed her support for artists, with AFP.

“The artists cannot perform on stage for the moment but I am working hard day and night with them to build a resilient model that will allow us to get through this crisis. I am with the artists and I Wish them a lot of courage. I am with them, "she said backstage.

Biolay sang to him "How is your grief?"

in a very club version, in solidarity with nightlife venues that are also closed due to the health crisis.

- Birkin in sneakers -

As for the other prizes already awarded, a Victoire d'honneur was awarded to Jane Birkin, in sneakers as usual, for her entire career.

The best clip went to Julien Doré, for "Us", with his two mischievous dinosaurs.

The ceremony, regularly accused of snubbing the big sellers of the moment - from urban music - also highlighted the most streamed title (more than 101 million times) between December 2019 and November 2020, "Do not come back", by Gradur and Heuss L'Enfoiré.

Will other voices take the opportunity to make themselves heard as the music industry sees the #Metoo wave coming?

Apple described its "arrival in the music industry" as "traumatic" in an open letter published Thursday by Mediapart.

"From my 15 to my 17 years, I was manipulated, harassed morally and sexually, without being aware of it at that time of course", confides the artist of 24 years.

© 2021 AFP