ERICA SAYS SO! Cont'd. By Erica Soderholm, The Monthly Herald Contributor and Guest Writer
Mistinguett
Yvette Gilbert
Fréhel
Berthe Sylva
Dranem
Félix Mayol Théodore Botrel Polin
Photos:
JOELLE RABU
"JOËLLE RABU IN CONCERT'
marked her debut as an authentic singer and songwriter. This is a very
powerful, talented and original concert and French cabaret singer. From her
official biography:” Joëlle was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, shortly after her
parents emigrated from Brittany, France. She grew up in Courtenay, BC, and, at
the age of 16, ran away from home to see for herself the faraway lands of
which her parents often spoke. After traveling for three years through more
than 30 countries, she returned home to Vancouver Island where she now
resides. Joëlle's fervent love of life, language and travel comes to life in
her stage performances, making her a unique Canadian singer with a cornucopia
of emotions and styles upon which to draw when performing a song.”
Rabu's success in her concert 'PIAF' established her as a real Piaf’s singer.
After a year at Vancouver's City Stage, personifying Piaf, she pursued her
acting career in cabaret acts and large French and American musicals such as
CABARET; GOODNIGHT DISGRACE; IRMA LA DOUCE; DON MESSER'S JUBILEE; and most
recently LIES AND LEGENDS, THE MUSICAL STORIES OF HARRY
CHAPIN.
You can visit Ms. Rabu at:
http://www.joellerabu.com/bio_eng.html
DEBORAH
BOILEY IS REAL!
After having read your
commentary on the real Piafs in the United States, I rushed to the website of
Boiley to get acquainted with her music and her style.
http://www.deborahboily.com .
I am French-Canadian-American. My background allows me to appreciate French
music. You could tell that Boiley is a connoisseur (connaisseuse) of French
music. Her selection of Parisian songs shows her knowledge of real French
songs. I give you an example. While American singers constantly chose songs
like la vie en rose, hymne a l’amour and similat things, Boiley in addition to
these two selected very typical French chansons that the French people like
very much. Songs that are not usually or maybe rarely sung in the United
States.
Songs like Jacques Brel’s Marieke, Serge Lama’s d'Aventure en aventure,
Charles Azavour’s la boheme, Yves Montand’s la chansonette.
This tells you that Boiley
is familiar with what French and international audiences like about Parisian
music. You were right, she is the real thing. I encourage your readers to know
more about this charming and professional singer.