Mélissa Bédard opens her door

In My truthson 6^e album in 12 years, we find a more restrained and more intimate Mélissa Bédard, still very soulful, but also a little country. We talked about it with the 34-year-old singer, through the people who wrote for her, the songs she chose and the themes that are dear to her.

Corey Hart

Mélissa Bédard had already collaborated with Corey Hart on his second album for a song. “He’s one of the biggest we’ve had in Quebec, he has so many hits! » This time, the Montreal songwriter wrote him two, My only truthwhich inspired the title of the album, and Don’t let go of my hand in homage to the love that lasts despite the vagaries of life, a powerful ballad in which we find all the lyricism and melodic sense of the author of Sunglasses at Night.

“When he accepted, I told him: ah, you found some time for me! And he said yes, and that really makes me happy,” says Mélissa Bédard, who says that the musician also followed up during the recording. “We arranged his songs in our own way, then we sent them to him. He wasn’t afraid to say I like it less, or I would do it differently. He pushes people to reach their limits. »

For life

The name of Martine Pratte is less known to the general public. Winner in 2024 of the Luc Plamondon prize awarded by SPACQ, she is an experienced lyricist who has written for Ginette Reno, Renée Martel, Bruno Pelletier and several others. Corey Hart is one of the composers with whom she often works: she wrote the lyrics for My only truth, as well as two other songs from the album.

“We had songs together on all my albums. She’s an incredible songwriter, who knows me very well and understands me. » To write the song For lifeMartine Pratte even used a message that Mélissa had written on Facebook for her best friend when she moved last year… without even asking her permission! “She doesn’t even need to talk to me to know my tastes. It’s as if I was the one who wrote it, after all. »

Roby Talbot and Andrée-Anne Leclerc

Mélissa Bédard likes to work with people she knows… and who know her well. In 13 years of career, she has built a network of loyal collaborators, including her pianist Roby Talbot, who has accompanied her for seven years, and her friend Andrée-Anne Leclerc, who has Star Academy with her in 2012. “But we knew each other before, we did competitions together. At that time, we were in competition, but now, she’s my best friend! She wrote on almost all of my albums. »

They both wrote to him My paradiseat his request. “I told Roby I want a dirty blues song, he said OK! Afterwards we sent the music to Andrée-Anne for the lyrics, and the result is perfect. I tell you, in this matter, I have done zero work! I only sang. »

Nelson Minville, Marc Dupré, Jean-François Breau… and Johnny!

The song YOUMélissa Bédard tells us, was written by the super trio of songwriters for Johnny Hallyday, but he died before being able to perform it. “The guys had it in their drawer and they gave it to me. He didn’t have the chance to sing it, the handsome Johnny, but I tried to pay homage to him by doing it. Nelson and Marc, when they heard it, they came back to me saying wow, we’re crazy! I’m happy. »

« You/The only reason for my days/You who taught me love »: for Johnny, the song clearly spoke about the relationship with his audience. When she read it, Mélissa Bédard saw her adoption story and the way her parents blew her wings. “They did a really good job of sending it to me. At the same time, in performance, people will be able to make it their own, say “she sings it for me”. That’s all that’s beautiful. »

Oh ! Darling

“Beautiful sweet love song” that she adores, Oh ! Darling represents what Mélissa Bédard wanted to do in this album. His interpretation is very gentle, and there is a country touch that suits him well. “I like to push my voice on stage, but on this album, I am more sentimental, softer… except for a few songs where I have no choice to go there! I like to go into country folk soul, I mix styles so that the album is fun to listen to and it’s not just Mélissa bellowing in your headphones. » The fashion is for country, the singer did not want to dive completely into it, but to integrate elements of it.

Abba and Francis Cabrel

Since the first time she performed The heart is a bird has Star Academy in 2012, we know that Mélissa Bédard likes to sing the great songs of the popular repertoire. On this album, she takes Well done you wonFrench version of The Winner Takes it All by Abba which was popularized by Mireille Mathieu in the early 1980s, and The ink of your eyesby Francis Cabrel.

« Well done you wonI sang it in March on the show I come to youand people were amazed. The next day, I had like 200,000 views! That’s why I put it in the album, it shouldn’t have been there in the first place. It’s to please my people. » As for Cabrel, she had sung The ink of your eyes at the age of 16, during the funeral of one of her first boyfriends, without really understanding the meaning, she says. “There, I have the chance to redo it in my own way, by understanding the text, and taking it elsewhere. It’s like a loop coming full circle. For me this song represents my childhood. »

His truth

Pregnant with her fourth child – adding those of her lover, they will have seven to two! –, Mélissa Bédard will take six weeks of maternity leave. “This is the longest I’ve ever had!” », says this true force of nature, who has always taken her babies on tour. In addition to his own shows, his 2025 projects include a role in the musical Chicagowhich will be presented starting in June in Montreal, Quebec and Gatineau. “It’s going to be residencies of several weeks each time. That’s good, it’ll mean less travel. »

Ultimately, what is its truth? “This is the first time I’ve made an album where I’m not claiming anything in particular, but more to open my door. I see it as a diary. This is my truth, it tells why I am like this. It’s me, only me, who is not just capable of making notes, but also of being tender, of singing meaningful texts. This is my truth. »

Chanson

My truth

Mélissa Bedard

Tandem