NRJ Music Awards: Slimane in tears, the triumph of Pierre Garnier… an evening rich in emotions

The show must go on? So the show continues. At 9:15 p.m., the 26th NRJ Music Awards start as if nothing had happened. Just before the ad, the Loto draw, the trailers, while Nikos Aliagas announced the start of the ceremony, we even saw Slimane as a gothic monk and his friend Vitaa on the red carpet posing in front of the photographers. No matter if the singer is the subject of a sexual harassment complaint filed by one of his former technicians, which we revealed on Tuesday. He has been there, in Cannes since Thursday afternoon, going to sing and why not win one or even two trophies in the singer and song of the year categories.

But we are not there yet. “The Palais des Festivals is on fire,” Nikos Aliagas swears to us before launching Indochine for “Le Chant des cygnes”, performed surrounded by spectators and young people from Vilnius with whom the group filmed its video. “We are the Sugar Daddy of the Croisette,” laughs singer Nicola Sirkis when Nikos salutes the more than 40 years of career of the French formation.

The sequences follow one another, the styles too

We quickly move from rock to electro for the first award of the evening which goes to David Guetta, DJ of the year. He receives his trophy from the hands of Clara Luciani, thanks in a few seconds and leaves the stage to Gims who previously recorded his performance for a concert in New York this Friday evening.

The sequences follow one another, the styles too. Now the two members of Justice arrive on stage to announce the international hit which comes from Benson Boone and his “Beautiful Things” with its powerful chorus. The American thus confirms that he is one of the sensations of the season before his first big concert in Paris at the Adidas Arena, Tuesday November 5. “Should I make a speech?” » asks the person concerned, who takes a few tens of seconds to speak.

Justice in the spotlight

But it is finally on the two presenters that we stop, Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé the two ambassadors of the French Touch who leave with an Honorary Award, just like their long-time accomplice Pedro Winter, boss of the label of Justice, Ed Banger, and historic manager of Daft Punk. “I’m inviting you all to an afterparty afterwards.” The password is Nikos,” he shouts to the audience, laughing. Finally a little unexpected.

There’s always something going on with Santa too. The singer of Hyphen Hyphen, who is now triumphant solo, has already performed the perched piano trick in Brussels, arriving upside down during her concerts. This time, she has an army of gladiators for her “Recommend me”, for an ultra-spectacular performance.

David Guetta no longer leaves the stage

Music, just music? Fortunately, we can count on Indochine to talk a little when coming to collect the Award for French-speaking group of the year. “We would like to dedicate this trophy to all the women who fight for their freedom and to all those who suffer moral and sexual harassment,” says Nicola Sirkis. Allusion to the news of one of the nominees of the evening… or not, the group having always been mobilized on this type of subject. Everyone obviously thinks of Slimane who has still not appeared on stage.

David Guetta never leaves her side, congratulated for his 50 billion streams before taking to the decks for “Forever Young” surrounded by two students from the new Star Academy class, Masséo and Emma. Nice encounter for a unique performance, just like that of Amir who has his head shaved live by his dancers while performing “Sommet”, the theme song of the Olympic Games on… France Télévisions. “The NRJ Music Awards are freedom,” concludes the singer to a stunned Nikos. Perhaps not yet at the end of its surprises in the middle of the evening.

Benson Boone wins a second trophy, Vitaa is crowned French-speaking singer for the second year in a row. And failing to mention her comrade Slimane, she cites another artist dear to her heart. “I would like to spare a thought for my sister Mélanie/Diam’s with whom I started. Thank you to the people for allowing my songs to cross time,” she says before a medley in which she makes a nod to their famous duet “Nocturnal Confessions”.

Slimane, voted best French-speaking singer of the year

A few minutes later, here is finally Slimane for “Amour” and an intense performance, quite close to that of Eurovision last spring. He ends up far from the microphone, deploying all his vocal power, with tears in his eyes. Everyone is now waiting to find out if they will be rewarded. But for that you have to be patient, with an excellent performance from Louane who ends up in the rain for “La Pluie”, even furnishing like Constance Gay and Michaël Youn, with a shaved head and dressed like her comrade in a black dress and fishnet stockings to announce the international artist of the year The Weeknd in a number more heavy than comic.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., the award for singer of the year arrives. Slimane wins, puts his head in his hands when he hears his name, kisses his managers. “This one has a special taste,” he said on stage in tears. My daughter when you grow up, I hope you will be proud of your dad, I love you. Mom and Dad I love you. » Before concluding by addressing the public. “From one human to many other human beings, thank you from the bottom of my heart. »

The evening can continue and conclude with breathtaking but distant performances from Linkin Park and Billie Eilish, the return to favor of K. Maro and the double coronation of Pierre Garnier: song and revelation of the year. The real big winner of the evening.