Paris (AFP)
Resuming pop standards just accompanied by eight cellos: a daring bet but magic at the rendezvous with Imany and his "Voodoo Cello", album and above all a bluffing show shrouded in voodoo imaginary.
The lucky ones present at the Francofolies to see the show (which will soon be back on the road) undoubtedly still have chills.
This July afternoon, Imany, dressed as a voodoo high priestess, captivated the audience, surrounded by eight cellists who became actors / dancers of a hypnotic and pop ballet.
Long standing ovation in conclusion.
"You don't know if the cello has cast a spell on the songs to make them sound like that, or if the songs have cast a spell on the cello so that it sounds different, like a guitar for example", laughs- she, met that day by AFP. Guitar, fate: by association of ideas in his quest for a "mystical" coloring for his show, Imany came to "Voodoo Child" by Jimi Hendrix. Hence "Voodoo Cello" ("cello" is "cello" in English).
"This show is the initiatory path of this priestess who tells about her life or those of others (through songs, editor's note); and by doing research I saw that voodoo was the art of seeing things otherwise. I just wanted another reading of famous songs, with cellos and vocals. "
- "Soul of songs" -
Another group, Vitamin String Quartet, had already covered rapper Tupac's "California Love" in the past, but only in instrumental version.
Here, Imany goes further and the octet befits the beautiful grave range of the artist.
The singer-arranger-producer kept the melodies, just dressing "the carcass" of the standards with the cellos.
When you remove the layers of effects added in the studio, what is left?
"The soul of songs, and that's good, because voodoo takes care of souls," she bounces.
The singer Imany at the Francofolies de La Rochelle, July 11, 2021 GAIZKA IROZ AFP / Archives
His words take on their full meaning when listening to his version of Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" in the album coming out this Friday.
Free of its glittery tinsel, the title regains all its seriousness as a hymn to resistance.
"We remember the madness around the clip of the time, completely crossed out, shot in Cannes, on its very light side. But when we remove all that, we really listen and we hear the message + you tried to crush me - addressed to a person or to the system - but I'm still there + ", decrypts Imany.
- "Bleeding voice" -
Besides the reinterpreted hits, "Like A Prayer" by Madonna or "Wonderful Life" by Black (on stage of Radiohead or Bob Marley appear), there are also nuggets.
Like "The Water Thieves", a poignant and little-known title by Henri Salvador on the looting of natural resources and human exploitation.
"I've known this song for a long time, hardly anyone knows it, it's incredible: it's the debt that we have to honor in relation to these songs, this text must be heard", insists the author of the tube " Don't Be So Shy ".
The singer Imany at the Francofolies de La Rochelle, July 11, 2021 GAIZKA IROZ AFP / Archives
Imany aims right: Henri Salvador is an artist to be rediscovered, with so many unsuspected facets.
The Born Bad Records label has unearthed a collection of songs "Henri Salvador - Homme Studio" where we discover the crooner as ... electro sorcerer.
A personal debt, Imany also repays it to Bonnie Tyler by drawing beautiful reliefs around "Total Eclipse Of the Heart".
"When I was little I was already singing it, in yoghurt because I didn't speak English yet (laughs); I was complexed at the time about my voice and Bonnie Tyler has this voice that bleeds a little, deep, I recognized myself in this atypical voice, it finally allowed me to be me ".
© 2021 AFP