Songs from here Songs from here
Over the decades, Nana often crossed the Atlantic to come and sing for us. Each time, Quebecers welcomed her and let themselves be charmed by her songs. For her part, she discovered our authors. During her stays, she met several of them and created bonds. After humming their songs, she learned them. Here are the 16 titles that she has recorded in French or other languages.
JEAN-PIERRE FERLAND Jean-Pierre Ferland was one of our first chansonniers. He began his career in 1958. During the 1960s, he made several round trips between France and Quebec. 1) Je reviens chez nous (1985) On Christmas Eve 1966, alone in Paris, he would have liked to return home and see his girlfriend. It was then that he composed a poem attesting to his attachment to his native land. In 1968, "Je reviens chez nous" (I'm coming back home) was released and became very well known in the French-speaking countries.
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Nana, who often heard it on the radio, said she was moved as much by the text as by the melody. So, three years later, she recorded it in English. Following her grand artistic return to Greece in 1984, more than ever, Nana felt what is coming back home. As this Quebec piece perfectly reflects this reality, she decided to cover it, this time, in seven languages. "Je reviens chez nous" therefore became the most multilingual in her repertoire. Nana's recording was released as a single in seven countries and "A place in my heart", in English, is the most widespread version. Nana and Jean-Pierre had the opportunity to perform it as a duet on television and on stage. Quebecers have something to be proud of. |
ROCH VOISINE Roch Voisine, born in New Brunswick, settled in Montreal when he began his career. At the beginning of the 1990s, he was considered the idol of the new generation in France. Nana admires him and has attended his shows.
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2) Dix-mille ans encore (1994) In 1994, Nana fulfilled one of her wishes by recording one of his compositions. She chose "Waiting". Thanks to the lyricist, Jean-Guy Prince, it became "Dix mille ans encore" (Ten thousand more years). In both versions, the theme is the same: the wait. The English text is conjugated in the past tense: "And I've been waiting. And I've been crying. And I've been loving, loving you." The French one, in the future tense: "Je t’attendrai dix mille ans encore et je t’aimerai de plus en plus fort." (I will wait for you ten thousand more years and I will love you more and more.) It was in Quebec that the song was most successful. Nana included it in most of her concerts. In addition, Roch and Nana sang it as a duet on stage in Paris and Montreal. |
LEONARD COHEN On the international scene, Leonard Cohen is one of the most famous Quebecers. In addition to being a poet, he performed his compositions. Nana covered five of his songs and recognizes in his texts a comparable poetry, philosophy with the one of Nikos Gatsos. The two became friends and had a mutual respect for their Art. This is why each one interpreted his songs in their own way, according to the emotion they bring.
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3) Suzanne (2002)
With Leonard Cohen, it is sometimes difficult to know what he was thinking when writing a text, especially when it is a translation. "Suzanne" was his first success, in 1967, when the poet became the singer. Here he painted the portrait of a woman who lives near a river and who inspires Love. According to an interview, the author recognized that it was Suzanne Verdal, the wife of the sculptor Armand Vaillancourt. The text suggests a fusional encounter between two spirits. Nana recorded it in French. In 2002, in solo and in 2011 in duet with the one who translated it, Graeme Allwright.
4) The guests (1980)
"The guests" is about a host who pulls his guests into a feast and none knows where the night is going nor why the wine is flowing. With each refrain, we hear repeatedly: "Oh Love, I need you". The text has been understood in several ways. But the author clarified that it has a dark side. The guests are in reality isolated new born souls and the host is responsible for this disaster. Who knows how Nana perceives this song? One thing is certain, her recording is quite successful. And, her stage rendition earned her an ovation every time. A version was made in German. It's called "Das Fest" (The celebration).
5) La ballade du chien-loup (1982)
"La ballade du chien-loup" (The ballad of the wolfdog), released in 1982, inspired the title of the album "Ballades". This was Nana’s first adaptation in French of a Cohen’s work. It tells the story of a wolfdog that desperately looks for its mother. For six minutes, we let ourselves carried away by the poetry according to Nana's voice. We have to listen to it to grasp all its nuances. The original version, "Ballad of the absent Mare". It's about a cowboy whose horse ran away.
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6) You know who I am (duet with Graeme Allwright) (2004) Graeme Allwright, a Leonard Cohen fan, translated and recorded several of his songs in French. This time, he launched into the language of Shakespeare with a duet with Nana. Together they recorded two versions of "You know who I am": one begins with Nana and the other with Graeme. In his text, the author tells his lover that he is the one who is the distance between all the moments that they will be. We can imagine Nana's face when Graeme sings to her: "Sometimes I need you naked. Sometimes I need you wild." She, so modest. Recorded in 1973, the song only came out in 2004, in her French Integral and on her CD of Canadian songs. |
7) Hallelujah (2018)
"Hallelujah" is undoubtedly Cohen’s most famous song. Since its release in 1984, it has been covered hundreds of times around the world, in English and other languages. In the meantime, the author has modified the original lyrics. If initially it was a desire to affirm one's faith with emotion, we also believe that it was a way of evoking sexuality through poetry. It doesn’t matter! If you like moving and vibrant melodies, listen to "Hallelujah".
DANIEL LAVOIE AND LOUISE FORESTIER Daniel Lavoie, Franco-Manitoban author-composer-interpreter, is especially known for his participation in the musical "Notre-Dame de Paris". Louise Forestier, singer and actress, began her career with "L’Osstidcho", a musical show that marked the cultural history of Quebec.
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8) Cette chance-là (2002)
In 2002, the two combined their talents to create a song for Nana. Daniel, for the music, and Louise, for the text. The title: "La chance" (That luck). It’s a simple and pleasant melody to hear. Furthermore, luck is a theme that Nana knows very well. On several occasions, she was able to recognize it. Today, she is grateful to life for everything it has given her. As she sings, it’s the beauty of chance when luck comes.
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GILLES VIGNEAULT Gilles Vigneault is a chansonnier, composer, poet and storyteller. He was the second, after Félix Leclerc, to pave the way for Québécois artists towards France. Nana admires him a lot and she already crossed paths with on television sets.
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9) Entre musique et poésie (duet with Gilles Vigneault) (2010)
In 2010, for the purposes of an album of duets, Gilles Vigneault invited 15 artists, including Nana, to sing with him. Rather than covering one of his well-known titles, they chose one of his new songs: "Entre musique et poésie" (Between music and poetry). The chorus goes as follows: "Hiver comme été, tout me recommence. Au fond d’un silence, je trouve à chanter". (Winter and summer, everything starts again for me. Deep in a silence, I find something to sing.) The six-minute duet is brilliantly interpreted.
MCGARRIGLE SISTERS Kate and Anna McGarrigle are of Irish descent. They play various instruments and sing in English and French. Whether we like them or not, no one can deny their versatility and the originality of their compositions. This is undoubtedly what led Nana to record four of their songs.
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10) Gedanken lesen (1979) In 1979, Nana recorded the first McGarrigle Sisters' song in German: "Gedanken lesen" (Reading thoughts). For those who don't understand the language, here's a summary: A juggler, in the spotlight, can read minds. Through his gestures, he tells her to take time to live every little thing. This one, recorded with slightly tropical music, has nothing to do with the versions popularized by Kate and Anna: "Avant la guerre" (Before the war) and "Sun, Son (Shining on the water)".
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11) On my way to town (1982)
With only two guitars and a violin, Nana's peaceful and reassuring voice leads us on her path: "On my way to town, until I get there, I won't turn around. I'm dropping pebbles in my tracks. I will not get lost when I come back." It was especially in Canada that Nana sang "On my way to town". Moreover, in 1982, it was with this song that she began her concerts. For her farewell concerts in 2008, she did a Greek version titled "Moni perpato" (I walk alone). Kate and Anna recorded it in French: "Cheminant à la ville" (On the way to town).
12) Mississippi blues (1982) The same year, "The work song", popularized by the famous duo, was added to Nana's repertoire. Composed to a gospel tune, it cheerfully recalls the daily life of Afro-Americans in the past. The French text, "Mississippi blues", resembles the original. Its refrain mentions that they break their backs by digging holes. The master has the corn and the slave the bamboo. They live bent, but they sing upright. In German, "Alltagslieder" (Everyday songs) says that sometimes on the radio you hear old songs about homesickness and everything comes to your memory.
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13) Love is (1986)
During the 1986-1987 season, Nana covered a fourth title from the McGarrigle Sisters. In English, "Love is". It says that Love can materialize in different forms and manifests itself in different ways. Mine is precious, cannot be explained and has crossed the limits, she sings. In French, the title appears in the form of a question: "L’amour, qu’est-ce-que c’est?" (What is Love?). The text offers other examples of Love. The refrain gives the answer: Love is me multiplied by you.
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GENE MACLENNAN Gene MacLellan is a songwriter of English origin who lived a large part of his life in Quebec. He wrote, among other things, "Snowbird" which launched the career of Anne Murray.
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14) Put your hand in the hand (1971) After the international success of "Put your hand in the hand", in 1971, Nana decided to cover it. She also asked her lyricist Pierre Delanoë to translate it into French. This became "Mets ta main dans la main". Despite Nana's sweetness in interpreting it, we recognize the gospel rhythm. In addition, the lexical field is linked to religion. In English: the man from Galilee who calmed the sea and the holy book. In French: heaven, the cross and the Canticle. The original version was popularized by the greatest performers including Anne Murray and Elvis Presley. Nana's two recordings were released on 45 rpm discs in nine countries.
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UNKNOWN AUTHOR
15) Le curé de Terrebonne (traditionnal) (1975)
Nana discovered this traditional song during her first visits to Quebec. It was only much later that she recorded it. By searching on the Internet, we learn that there is a French version with the title "Le curé de Pomponne" (The parish priest of Pomponne). According to the town's official website, it was attributed to the chansonnier and playwright Jean-Joseph Vadé (1719-1757). As many of our folk songs have French origins, one might think that is the case here. But the name "Terrebonne", a town in the suburbs of Montreal, confirms to us that it is one of our songs, whether adapted or original.
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For Nana, it was hard to learn it because it is necessary to follow the tempo by articulating well the words. During her TV show "Numéro Un" in 1975, she appeared kneeling before the priest, the humorist Claude Vega. Wearing a white dress, her hair was tied with pink ribbons. On stage, she presented it by evoking Quebec and performed it with her drummer, Bernard Papillon.
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ANTOINE GÉRIN-LAJOIE Antoine Gérin-Lajoie (1824-1882) was a prominent French Canadian figure of the 19th century as he was a poet, lawyer and novelist.
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16) Un Canadien errant (1966) We owe to him the lament "Un Canadien errant" (A wandering Canadian) which evokes the deportation of one of the Patriots of 1837-1838. They had rebelled against the reduction in the power of the French-speakers. Over the decades, it appeared in our songbooks. It was taught at school and we sang it with the family. During her first tour with Harry Belafonte during the fall of 1964, Nana met the Anglo-Canadian duo Ian & Sylvia Tyson who recommended her to sing that song in her shows in Quebec. Nana listened to it and let herself be moved by the melody and the text. Despite the reluctance of her record company, she included it into her repertoire. She then created a feeling of belonging with the Quebec public. Also, Nana often chose to close her concerts by performing it a cappella.
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QUEBECER
To conclude, it should be remembered that Nana has already declared that Quebec artists have contributed a lot to French song. People here could say the same about her. They are even proud that she added her voice on many of our melodies. With all the links created with our culture, Nana is right to feel Quebecer.
