Daniel Lavoie: official website

Daniel Lavoie: not such a pessimist as all that.

1984
By Brigitte Protti

The discography of this singer is long, very long. Nevertheless, we don't know his work very well, created for the most part in Canada. But today, his latest song "Ils s'aiment" has crossed the borders to become a hit in France. They love … and you love, you admire the gloomy refrain as well as the listless, accordian at it's heart. Daniel Lavoie, it's writer, is on a lightening visit to Paris to talk about this song.

"Ils s'aiment" is not a pessimistic song. It's easy to think that on listening to the words. Evidently the music "gets at you right there" but that's the effect I intended it to have. In this sense it's a success.

If one is moved on hearing it, I've achieved my aim. But the words are very important as well. It means if you don't misunderstand it, that you mustn't prevent the young from believing in the future, in life. The adult world removes the illusions of the young. I've discussed it a lot with young teenagers in the United States and in Europe and I've retained a thought common to all: for them there is no future. They live from day to day, never thinking that they'll reach 30 years of age. The atomic bomb is part of their lives. It doesn't make them scared but it does prevent them from all possibility of dreaming about the future. And adults keep that situation going. My song is a cry from the heart.

You have a son, aged 10, do you fear for his future?
No, I'm not scared about Mathieu's future. If the world blows up whilst he's 10, he can still enjoy the remaining six months.

You are exceedingly pessimistic, do you see a solution?
I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. As for the solution …it's very certain that we live from day to day. One needs a lot of discipline and a sure grip on one's conscience and a minimum of crystal ball gazing, but it's possible.

Is this your recipe for life?
Probably. Music absorbs me to the point of making me forget everything else. Except for my family of course. I spend almost all my time in my studio or travelling … I like big open spaces. That's why I often go to North America and to the heart of Canada. These areas are completely empty. I love to go walking, for example with my son, in all these areas . . there I find inspiration, peace, all those basic, essential things.

You are a man of the West, of the big open spaces?
In a word (laughs).

A man of the West, who as soon as he arrives, soon leaves again for his native Canada… He's a sort of spectre. But as proof of his existence, his visit, there remains an album "Ils s'aiment", to dream about a little.