It’s a small sentence – a detail for some – but it says a lot. As a preamble, let us write all the same before receiving certain wrath that we have nothing against the recipients (it’s nicer than “winners”) of this edition of the NRJ Music Awards. Let us also specify, if necessary, that these trophies can only be awarded to artists broadcast on NRJ radio. Finally, let us also add that it is rare for a French-speaking artist absent from the ceremony to be rewarded (we will excuse The Weeknd, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift who had other fish to fry on the other side of the Atlantic).
All that being said, Santa – nominated in the “Song of the Year” and “Female Performer” categories – ticked all the boxes, especially since, as a dizzying gladiator, she set fire – literally – to the roof of the Palais des Congrès in Cannes before ziplining down it, it is neither because she is an arsonist, nor to heat up the atmosphere, but because she has a sense of spectacle. And so it prevented a lot of viewers from skipping from the start of the show… But hey, that wasn’t enough. The NRJ community is obviously not the same as the Santa community and is more like that of Pierre Garnier (song of the year) or Vitaa (female artist whose medley during the ceremony was just crazy).
Meeting with Santa: “In difference, we must resist…”
And then, what does that mean? Like the Victoires de la Musique, which is criticized for only promoting a certain “good taste” dictated by the crowd, that is to say this trendy and “niche” French song, rarely popular (oh the bad word!), the NRJ Music Awards more often promote artists “from the house”, that is to say from the broadcaster TF1. Today it’s “Star Ac’”, yesterday it was “The Voice”. It’s not from today and it’s always good to keep it in mind when, when opening the envelope revealing the “concert of the year”, it was the names of BigFlo&Oli that appeared then that a certain Taylor Swift, vaguely known for recording the highest-grossing tour of all time, was also on the list. Alala, we had a good laugh all the same! So let Santa (and all the others) be reassured: if Céline Dion had released a new song, if it was played on NRJ and if she was nominated in the “Female Artist” category (yes, that’s a lot of “if “), Santa still wouldn’t have won the prize… but neither would Céline Dion.
And as the comparison with Céline Dion suits her rather well, we have another: the greatest singer in the world, whom France so loves to praise as if she were the country’s darling child (as a reminder, guys, no , she is from Quebec) has only won 3 Victoires de la Musique throughout her immense career (including one for a duet with Garou…). Santa, too, had been snubbed – even though “Salted Popcorn” was just unmissable – during the last Victory ceremony. She then did not hide her disappointment and launched a piracy operation which has only grown since. The pirates, there are tens and tens of thousands behind her today, not behind their computers to vote or in a small committee of intellectuals to decide what is in good taste or not. They are in concert halls, applauding him. And, in addition to being numerous, they are multi-generational, multi-everything. Santa knew how to make the connection. This is an extremely rare feat of arms for an artist today. Hey, that reminds us of a certain… Céline.
Santa sold out two evenings in a row in Brussels: what to remember from his… stunning concerts
Santa: his real first name is very rare and worn by only 600 people in Belgium
