And then comes the moment when a dessert is presented, with a stick of Bengal fire on top addressed to the person being celebrated. And the waitresses and waiters of the restaurant come together to sing, not the translated version of the song Happy birthday to youbut a few lines from the very Quebec version of People of the country by Vigneault. For example: “My dear Françoise, it’s your turn / To let you talk about love”. And all repeated twice, followed by applause.
It makes me happy every time to hear this tune by Gilles Vigneault. Knowing also that this also happens in homes in Quebec, in schools, in many workplaces, etc. Obviously People of the country also resonates during our national holiday, which the majority of us celebrate again and again.
Eh yes! Celebrate despite the fact that our beautiful French language seems more than ever in danger, that it is increasingly flouted.
At least in the Rest of Canada where she became a poor relic. In Quebec we must remain vigilant to preserve it and we must fight to defend it as best we can. For me it remains more than ever an object of pride.
Our song remains, against all odds
Fortunately, Quebecois French song is still very much alive despite everything. Obviously our national holiday is there to bear witness to this. During this day, the majority of our radio stations only broadcast Quebec songs.
The Anglo tubes take the edge so to speak for at least 24 hours. But I make no secret of the fact that I would like this to happen every day of the year.
I would like French-language songs to be heard more often during prime time on our radios.
But on June 24 I console myself and I know that I will hear songs by Félix Leclerc, this great pioneer of our song. And I will also hear other classics of our song on repeat; those among others of Lévesque, Ferland, Desjardins, Léveillée, Charlebois. Those also of Clémence Desrochers, Ginette Reno, Renée Claude, Beau Dommage, Harmonium, Daniel Boucher and… Vigneault it goes without saying.
This same Vigneault who achieved the feat of almost relegating to oblivion, at least in Quebec, the air from Happy birthday to you by replacing it with that of People of the country.
A brotherly song
When the song of an author-composer is sung thousands of times a year by his peers – even if it is only a few words – in order to celebrate a birthday, the imprint of this song is then inscribed in the habits and customs of an entire people, in its continuity and, I would even say, in its moments of happiness and great joys.
And there is this line from the song People of the country: “Tomorrow I turned 20”, which has always fascinated me. Could we not see it as a wish addressed to all Quebecers who want to live a future that resembles them, a future where it will be good to live and express themselves in a language that is specific to them?
A language that they will have great pleasure and honor to share with humans from all over the world who have come from the four corners of the world to settle here in our country. A welcoming land where we can still sing without embarrassment and in a spirit of fraternity: People of the country it’s your turn / To let you talk about love.
Yvan Giguère, Saguenay, former French teacher, second language
