French | “I dedicate this show to Joyce Echaquan”

Émile Bilodeau filled the main stage of the Quartier des Spectacles on Monday night at the Francos de Montréal. Accompanied by his friends Scott-Pien Picard, Maten, Laura Niquay and Elisapie, the Quebec singer-songwriter gives voice to First Nations.

Delphine Belzile
Press

It is with territorial recognition that Émile Bilodeau opens his exhibition. He dedicates it to Atikamekw Joyce Echaquan, who passed away in 2020 at Joliette hospital.

The Quebec singer-songwriter then addresses the crowd: “Have you changed in two years? And he continues with the song. Metamorphosis from his latest album little nature. He offers his greatest hits to viewers with I’ve had enough, sweet, Freddie Mercury Y would you tell me. Review some of the songs from his latest album, written during the pandemic and produced by Philippe Brault.

Scott-Pien Picard, an Innu composer from the Uashat Mak Maliotenam community, was Émile Bilodeau’s first guest, who had the crowd sing in their mother tongue with the song. Atikamekw Innu.

Émile Bilodeau then delivered with his friends Scott-Pien Picard and Maten their new song released on June 10. Tshe minupunanua text in French and Innu.

He is singing the famous song. Ekuen Pua by Philippe McKenzie, the first Innu to have recorded an album, who brought all the guests together on the main stage. Then, the Innu Maten group took up the torch and gave the audience rhythmic songs from their region, Uashat Mak Maliotenam.

The joy of returning to festivals after two years of the pandemic was felt both among the spectators and in the energy of Émile Bilodeau. “You just saved me a lot of money on psychology,” the songwriter tells the audience of him.

not an “enemy”

Émile Bilodeau spoke in front of the spectators to mobilize for First Nations, paying tribute to Joyce Echaquan. “She was received as one who receives enemies,” he said. Atikamekw Laura Niquay led the crowd to the rhythms of her culture. Her last album Waska Matisiwin, it earned him a Polaris Music Award nomination for Best Canadian Album.

Elisapie, originally from Salluit, was the last guest to take the stage on Monday night. She responded to Émile Bilodeau with his song. your old name, co-written with Natasha Kanapé Fontaine. This June, Aboriginal History Month, Elisapie gave a moving performance ofArnaq in their mother tongue.

Scott-Pien Picard, Maten, Laura Niquay, Elisapie and Émile Bilodeau gathered on stage for the finale singing the Quebec composer’s popular song. how are you. Spectators could be heard singing the chorus loud and clear with their arms in the air as they jumped to the beat of the music. As the crowd roared for an encore, Émile Bilodeau took the microphone again and sang Memorya song that denounces systemic racism.

Artists Bon Entendeur, Lexil, Dope.gng and Super Plage were also part of Monday night’s lineup. On Wednesday, June 15, Scott-Pien Picard himself will take the Loto-Québec stage at the Montréal Francs, and Hubert Lenoir will perform on the main stage this Tuesday night.