A week full of nostalgia. In order to properly celebrate the twenty years of season 4 of the Star Academy the students of the class of 2024 were treated to many surprises. In addition to passing their assessments in front of former emblematic teachers such as Armande Altaï, Oscar Sisto and Kamel Ouali, they also met Jenifer, winner of the first edition. At the same time, the teaching staff gave them a major challenge: to perform a previously unpublished title by Grégory Lemarchal.
Titled And if you feelthis one was written by the former winner of the Star Academyin the hospital, just a month and a half before his death. For his parents, who will be present at the prime alongside his sister Leslie, it was natural that it would be sung for the first time by students of the program which revealed Grégory Lemarchal. On the occasion of this anniversary season, Gala.fr collected the secrets of Laurence Lemarchal
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Gala.fr: How would you describe this song by Grégory which was entrusted to the students of the Star Academy ?
Laurence Lemarchal : We really like this title because it can speak to everyone. It’s a message that we can all get behind. In life, we all experience difficult times: a fight against illness, a loss, a heartbreak, a disappointment… This song goes beyond the framework of illness.
As Lucie Bernardoni recalled, this title was written by your son, from the hospital, a month and a half before his death…
It was important that the students knew under what conditions Grégory wrote this text. They must then make these words their own, which must themselves echo their personal story. When you are connected to yourself, the message gets across. This is how we touch people. In my opinion, this text is strong because it can really speak to everyone.
It is also important for you to remember that this is not a sad song…
If Gregory had had a transplant, it wouldn't have been a sad song for people. You have to hear his words. 'And if you feel that the day is coming again, that you can relive tomorrow', it's a message that can be addressed to everyone, it goes beyond the scope of transplant. When Grégory wrote this text, he believed in it. It is therefore a message of hope, strength and life. For us, it's anything but a sad song.
This title was composed by Davide Esposito and arranged by Quentin Mosimann. How was this choice made?
Since Grégory left, everything we do must have meaning. It is a purely charitable product, since all profits and rights will be donated to the Grégory Lemarchal association. For 17 years, it has been incredible to observe that this bond with the people Grégory has known has never been broken. Davide Esposito is admirable, both as an artist and a human being, so it made sense that he was the one to compose the melody. It was obvious. Quentin Mosimann was a second obvious choice. Whether with them, Lucie Bernardoni, Karima Charni or Nikos Aliagas, we are confident.
It was also symbolic to entrust this new title to students from the Star Academy ?
The fact that this song is sung for the first time by students, knowing that Grégory was in their place twenty years earlier, that has meaning for us. Seeing them brings me back to strong emotions. What Grégory was able to experience with this adventure, but also us as parents, remains anchored in my head. When I see them, I see my son on stage again. I hope they are aware of how lucky they are to experience this adventure, both artistic and human.
What is the Star Academy did she bring to Grégory?
In his album there is a song called I become mewhich sums it all up. In it he says 'I become me, the same but bigger.' It really defines what he has become. The values remained the same, but with the Star Academy, he expanded. He gave himself the means to achieve what he wanted. This show also allowed him to experience the community, which he had never known as a child, due to his pathology. We had to protect him. He wasn't a risk to others, but others were a risk to him. It was therefore the first time that he lived in a community, although precautions were taken to ensure that he was not in danger. He had both the maturity of a 21-year-old adult and the soul of a child which allowed him to express himself. These two facets allowed him to fully experience this adventure.
How are you experiencing this anniversary season? It must have a special resonance for your family…
Twenty years later, it’s obvious that it has a special resonance, especially since we now have grandchildren. This is also the first time that a title written by Grégory will be set to music and sung by others since his departure. It's very emotional. We are happy that we are talking about the artist, but we are also doing it to remember our fight, the fight against cystic fibrosis. This is what drives us.
How is the Grégory Lemarchal association doing today?
We have never lost sight of the promise we made when we created the association on June 7, 2007. We always have the same energy to help others through our missions, research and we finance and the financial aid we provide. There is also this reception center for young adults, which we created near Paris, which helps them to project their vision. Since Grégory left, it has been our life in its own right.
To what extent your daughter Leslie is she getting involved in this fight?
Leslie matters a lot in this fight. She is five years younger than Grégory, she is a mother now, she is no longer a child. But when a child is sick, siblings are naturally impacted. She is part of the Board of Directors, she advises us a lot, we listen to her a lot. She has perspective and keen analysis. She is very important.
What is your greatest satisfaction?
With this association, we receive as much as we give. Our strength is to always be as close as possible to patients and their families, and this for 17 years. We are pleased with the progress that has already been made. Things are moving in the right direction, notably thanks to donors and everything they give us. Even if there is still no cure, cystic fibrosis today is no longer what it was forty years ago. Patients live longer. We are here to support them, help them and make sure they improve these years as well. When you're sick, the worst thing is feeling isolated. It’s important for us to reach out to them. And by listening to people, we can respond to real needs.
What is your next project with the association?
In hospitals, we will dedicate ourselves to the cystic fibrosis resource and skills center (CRCM). In Grenoble, the pediatric department will move in order to be able to receive families in optimal conditions. Everything is thought out by the healthcare team so that things go as smoothly as possible when they come to the hospital. There will be the same thing in Nice. The end of the work and the development of these new services are planned for June 2025. We will also expand our relationship with research by co-financing fundamental projects with the association Vaincre la cystic fibrosis. Three years ago, we opened the Grégory Lemarchal house (in Rueil-Malmaison, editor's note), which is growing. My husband and I go there regularly. We are very involved.
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