Florent Pagny told by his daughter in a book of unpublished photos

« I understood very early that dad was not just dad »confides Ael Pagny to the newspaper The Parisian . In her collection of photos, published Wednesday November 6 by Harpercollins, Florent Pagny's daughter reveals precious moments from her father's life, giving an elegant and respectful vision of the singer. She strives to show moments of happiness with her audience and her family, avoiding the difficult moments caused by illness.

Is this a sign? His first name means « messenger angel », she explains in her first television appearance on Sunday on the show “Sept à quatre”. At 16, Ael Pagny left Patagonia for New York, where she studied art for five years and specialized in photography. “I like nostalgia, capturing moments and if one day I lose my memory I will at least have photos to remind me”she explains. Behind the scenes of her father's concerts, the young woman immortalizes moments that the public does not see and publishes them in a book, Pagny by Ael. The singer « doesn't like to take the break, but he knows what suits him and it's very fluid »she confides before adding: « He trusts me and I do what I love ». « But he is the one who has the last word because it remains his image »assures the young photographer.

“I didn’t photograph him during the worst times. »

Ael Pagny.

She was 22 when Florent Pagny's 60th birthday tour began. « I wanted to be there on all his dates », notably in Bordeaux, where the singer is celebrating his 60th birthday on stage. During this tour, the singer learned that he had inoperable lung cancer. “ This break in our daily life and our life,” the family nicknames her « the switch ». In her book, the singer's daughter does not share photos stolen backstage or at home. « I didn't photograph him during the worst times »she explains to Audrey Crespo-Mara. « The change in appearance was a shock to him ». Florent Pagny then lost his hair, beard and mustache. « I didn't see the sick man, I took a photo of my dad. It was one more change of look in his life », she laughs. In 2022, she produced a report for the magazine Gala. The photos show the singer's new appearance. A way to warn his audience before his return to the telecrochet “The Voice”.

She takes some photos from the last radiotherapy session. “A happy moment, we cross our fingers and hope there will be no more”. In the summer of 2023, the interpreter of Know how to love reunites with his audience after a year and a half of hiatus to treat his cancer. « There was a euphoria to see that he was still present and his voice too. The second date, in Ruoms (Ardeche)was crazy. The entire audience from the Aluna festival was there and sang everything. Even he was impressed »entrusts his daughter to Parisian . Through her photos, the artist's daughter also wanted to convey her relationship with her fans: « He lives his life thanks to his fans. For him, it's the minimum to thank them »she adds. In June 2023, the singer also records his album 2 Biscomposed of twenty duets. « All his friends were there for him. For me who grew up listening to them and seeing them, it was cool to find them in the studio ! »she rejoices.

Ael Pagny finally conveys the image of a very protective man. « We are a very close-knit family »reveals the young woman to “Sept à quatre”. In her book she shares many photos of her family: « My parents are an example of a couple for me. I want to remember us as much as possible, to have images in chronology to see how we grew up. »