So, one, two or three? For the prestigious prize of “male artist of the year”, an unprecedented event, the voters of the 38th Victoires de la Musique had the choice between three formats. For a solo, vote “Stromae”. For a duet, type “Bigflo and Oli”. Rather threesome? Opt for Grand Corps Malade, Gaël Faye and Ben Mazué, members of the “Éphémère” collective. It is 10:05 p.m. this Friday, the ax falls. And the winner is… Stromae.
From “Hell” – one of the hits from his latest album released last March – to paradise, the Maestro has come a long way in a year. The Belgian, big favorite of the evening with four nominations, had spotted the places. At the beginning of 2022, it was in the costume of honorary president of the ceremony that he had signed the festive intro of the previous Victoires de la musique. His resounding return to the front of the stage, after overwork and a parenthesis of several years, was then in its infancy.
Drums on the ceiling of the musical Seine
It now breaks out in broad daylight. It’s obvious: Paul Van Haver (his real name) had it under his feet. His new disc “Multitude” is aptly named: it contains ideas, sounds, innovations. Of emotion. And on stage, after having impressed last summer in festivals, Stromae will chain the XXL rooms in the coming months with its precise and stunning show.
The evening had started with a bang. At least in the literal sense, with percussionists hanging from the ceiling of the Seine Musicale. Thus launched, Calogero, the president of the evening, first paid tribute to Barbara, a good fairy who held out her hand to him at 18, and delivered an inspired inaugural speech. Almost militant.
Too plan-plan, the Victories, accused of always naming the same ones? Too corseted the world of music, who would have trouble leaving room for diversity? Evoking these artists who post their songs on the Internet like “bottles in the sea”, the singer and bassist challenged label bosses, managers, broadcasters: “Let sensibilities express themselves, all sensibilities, go find these women, these men who are reinventing music freely, give them the means to reach the public without it being a way of the cross (…). The song does not need marketing studies. »
But creativity, yes. And Orelsan does not lack it. It was he who won the first Victory of the evening, that of the best clip for “the Quest”, made of modeling clay. Already the tenth trophy of his career, which propels the Norman rapper to the podium of French musical history: behind Alain Bashung and -M- (13 statuettes each) but now on the same step as a certain Johnny Hallyday.
Another retro look: the red thread of the evening was the celebration of the 600th Victory of Music, a pretext to go back in time and the history of the ceremony. The opportunity to review numerous archives, including the very first award given to a revelation named… Jeanne Mas in 1985. A trophy awarded by Michel Berger.
Emotion sequence with Serge Lama
But this Friday, it is another giant of the song which was put in the light, the day before his 80 years: Serge Lama received a Victory of Honor a few weeks after announcing his desire to withdraw from the front of the stage after a final album, “Aimer”. “Les Ballons rouges” sung by Mentissa, “I’m sick” by Elodie Frégé, “Adventures in adventures” sung by Santa… His repertoire has been sublimated by the younger generation.
“I’ve always admired you enormously and…” President Calogero’s throat clogs as he pays homage to his eldest, whose mischievous, almost childish smile cannot hide his palpable emotion. One of the most beautiful pretty of an evening for the rest without much surprise.
“This may be the last time I see an audience cheering me up because, you know, I stop the costs (…) I refuse to do this job sitting down”, proclaims the future octogenarian. Along the way, Lama shares an anecdote about his collaboration with Michel Berger, which was prevented by the latter’s sudden death, and sings a final chorus in the direction of the standing audience: “I love you madly, I love you madly . »
“To love”, verb of the first group and of first necessity. From “Heart” by Clara Luciani to “My Heart” by Izïa via “La Flamme” by Juliette Armanet, the main nominees, this Friday, conjugated and sang it at all times.
The Belgians in force
“Time will do things,” then declaimed Angèle. It was already nearly 11 p.m. and only two Victories had been returned. The evening stretched out in length… like the funny glasses of La Zarra, the future representative of France at Eurovision, who came to present the trophy for the best song to “La Quête” by Orelsan: and 11 for the one which now exceeds the Taulier.
And 12, even, a few minutes later. This time crowned for the best concert (and it’s really not stolen), the rapper from Caen offers himself a second hat-trick in two years. Orelsan at Victories is like Nadal at Roland-Garros: nice for the performance, less for the suspense.
“Best female artist”: here is finally a trophy that could not fall into the hands of the rapper. Angèle, favorite, made the Belgian colors shine, whose representatives totaled 10 nominations this year. She thus doubled the bet after her Victory for the most “streamed” album (listened to on the Internet).
To see new faces triumph, you had to stay up late. Cinderella’s carriage was about to turn into a pumpkin when November Ultra brought freshness and novelty by gleaning a superb Victory of female revelation at 34 years old and giving us a hair-raising speech punctuated by an improbable “I love you Harry Styles” addressed to the British star.
And one, and two, and three Belgians: it was then the turn of Pierre de Maere, male revelation, to go up to recover his “V” for “victory”. The flat country ended in style with the prize for best album awarded to Stromae.
Palmares
Audiovisual creation: Orelsan for “the Quest”
Male Artist: Stromae
Original song: Orelsan’s “Quest”
Gig of the year: Orelsan for the Civilization Tour
Most streamed album by an artist: « Jefe », by Ninho
Most streamed album by an artist: “Ninety-five”, by Angèle
Female artist: Angela
Female revelation: November Ultra
Male revelation: Pierre de Maere
Album of the Year: “Multitude”, by Stromae