There were still a lot of tears and emotion in this new season. Are you still the “mama italiana” of the program as you like to say?
Hélène Ségara. Yes, but mama Italiana in all its guises! When I find the candidates touching, I say so, but when the performance is not pleasing, I do the same. I try to be kind but very frank all the same. I don't want to cheat on my feelings. I find that sometimes, Marianne is not formal in her remarks… On the other hand, she gives advice which is incredibly useful for certain candidates. I am a great diplomat, I have always been careful not to hurt people. Maybe if I'm still here, it's because of that…
Every year it seems like you're at the show!
Exactly. I continue to be amazed season after season. And I believe that if that were not the case, I would no longer have my place in this program. Sometimes I am an amazed little girl, sometimes an upset adult. We still have a crazy cast this year again… and you haven’t seen everything yet!
“If I have to take over the role of Esmeralda…”
You are currently on stage for the Musicals tour. Would you like to see Notre-Dame de Paris reborn, with its original cast?
Yes of course. If only to find my comrades. We saw each other again this summer Garou, Bruno Pelletier, Daniel Lavoie and me. We sang together for the special 45 years of Starmania on France2 where we paid tribute to Luc Plamondon. We were overwhelmed… It was crazy to find each other and still have these emotions, together. At the time, to prevent all these Canadians from feeling alone in Paris, I organized brunches, pajama parties and pétanque games for them; they had very fond memories of it. On the other hand, if I have to reprise the role of Esmeralda, it would be good if I did it before I turned 70! (Laugh).
You share the title Sarà Perché Ti Amo with Julien Doré on his album Imposteur. It seems he was madly in love with you as a teenager and listened to There are too many people who love you in his room…
This “asshole” never said it to my face! We are very good friends, he is a very happy dad and husband. So I think this crush has passed on to him!
Hélène Ségara celebrates her 25th career
Besides, it will be on the album of duets from your 25-year career…
Yes ! I can tell you that there will also be a rapper, a Korean star, a French singer… I wanted to revisit my greatest songs with artists who have a universe different from mine, to give them a second life .
You will celebrate your 25th career anniversary a little late, during a symphony concert scheduled for December 21. What does this inspire you?
It's a birthday that I should have celebrated earlier but I went through two difficult years with my health problems, where I was unable to work… This double celebration is a way of getting back on my feet and to say “I still have things to celebrate, I don't have not said my last word“.
*France has incredible talent, Wednesday December 18 and Thursday December 20, 10/21, M6
*Hélène Ségara Symphonique, September 21 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.
