At 80, Sylvie Vartan bows out: “I don’t want to drag myself on stage” (video)

You have decided to bow out. Is it irrevocable?

“Irrevocable, yes. I have lived on a volcano since I started, 63 years ago. I have done so much that, at some point, you have to calm down a little, it is time. I cannot continue at this crazy pace, even if I feel the same enthusiasm I’m starting to get tired For the moment, I’m still singing well but it’s inevitable that it will stop one day.

Is it the idea of ​​“one too many concerts” that worries you?

“Monster time differences are good when you’re 20… I want to offer decent things, in the color I like and in the way I like. I definitely don’t want to drag myself on stage! “

When you started, did you imagine such a career?

“I never thought about having a career. When I started, I didn’t even see it as a profession. I simply knew from childhood that the stage would be my universe. A sort of revelation, suddenly magic wand above my head I am very grateful to my lucky stars, to all those who loved me and gave me so much I was lucky to have wonderful parents, to have. knew two quite rare and incredible men (Johnny Hallyday and Tony Scotti, Editor’s note), to have been in love, to be loved in return, to have had wonderful encounters because you never succeed alone.”

Looking in the rearview mirror, how do you feel?

“The happiness of having made all my dreams come true, in a marvelous whirlwind. I can’t believe it myself… It’s thanks to this magnificent audience which has grown over the years and which, without know, has brought me so much. This shared happiness has been very enriching for me. I have evolved, I have also grown with my audience which includes several generations. Besides, I owe a lot to the mothers who brought their children. see my shows. I meet people who tell me that every day. It’s fun! I’ve always been free to do what I like. I’ve always listened to my heart and gone for it, without asking myself too many questions. truly an extraordinary therapy that cures all ills, and in both directions: for the artist and the public.”

What will these farewell concerts look like?

“It will resemble a musical comedy with the magical moments of my career which has been quite romantic. Everything that I shared with the public from the age of 17 with the song ‘Panne d’essence’ in duet with Frankie Jordan. For these farewells, I am working with my choreographer Redha Benteifour, who was one of my dancers.”

Will there be guests?

“I want it to remain a surprise but there will obviously be at least David (Hallyday, his son, Editor’s note), with an orchestra of around fifteen musicians, my backing vocalists and my dancers.”

If you had to choose two songs from your repertoire?

“It’s complicated… I’ve sung so many beautiful songs! There was, at my beginnings, ‘Un peu de fondesse’, a lovely song from 1967 among pure rock songs. And then, a year later, ‘La Maritza’ which is of course so special to me from my childhood in Bulgaria. This song is currently used in hundreds of thousands of videos on TikTok. It’s incredible and completely crazy.