« Alone on the sand, eyes in the water “… These words, the public has been humming them over and over for 35 years already. Although he initially wrote “Hélène” for a friend who was looking for a gift to give to his beloved for Valentine's Day, it was in 1989 that Roch Voisine records the song that will launch his career in France and French-speaking countries, imprinting his romantic voice on everyone's heads. A birthday that the famous 61-year-old artist is preparing to celebrate – a year late – during a tour which will crisscross Canada, France, Switzerland and Belgium from February to December 2025, with a stopover at the Grand Rex, in Paris, scheduled for April 8. And if the meeting was missed in 2024, it is because the singer was affected by a serious health problem which almost cost him his career. “ I actually caught a virus, Streptococcus A » details in the pages of Closer the interpreter of “Tant pis”, who still bears today the after-effects of this infection caused by a bacteria.
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“I couldn’t hear anything anymore”
To get out of this bad situation, Roch Voisine had to undergo treatment with antibiotics for a month and a half which, unfortunately, ” not worked “. His infection gradually got worse until it reached his ears. “ The eardrum was punctured, the pain was severe, I could no longer hear anything. An operation was necessary » reveals the musician. But fate persisted. “ Doctors discovered a complication and had to intervene in the skull. A heavy intervention. I have not recovered my hearing 100% » he indicates, lucid about his chances of regaining health: “ There is little chance that I will ever find her again ».
READ – Roch Voisine finally reveals the identity of “Hélène”, the woman who inspired his hit
To compensate for this hearing loss, which is very detrimental to the job he does, Roch Voisine had to make adjustments, particularly regarding his stage performances. “ Singers have earpieces on TV sets or on stage to hear the orchestra accurately. I have a new listening system that allows me to continue my job perfectly » specifies the author of “Tant pis”, who nevertheless suffers from daily complications. “ In private, at home, if I want to listen to a symphony orchestra, for example, it's hellish. I can't have this pleasure anymore » he laments. The most difficult? Having to give up on another facet of his profession, production: “ I have produced or co-produced my 30 albums, I could no longer do it today. It's very hard “. Despite this obstacle, Roch Voisine is delighted to find the public for whom he remains the voice of a generation. Places are still available at the ticket office!
