2021 in a nutshell: Quebec’s 10 best cultural stories of the year

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Here’s my highly personalized take on the top 10 ici cultural stories from the past 12 months. They are not necessarily the 10 most important cultural moments of the year, but the ones that resonated the most with me.

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To line up. This Franco-Québec co-production inspired by the life of Céline Dion caused quite a stir when it premiered here in late November, particularly when two of Dion’s brothers, Claudette and Michel Dion, appeared on a popular television show to blow up the film. . for being disrespectful to his family. To begin with, it was a strange project, starring the French actress and comic Valérie Lemercier, who plays the main character at all stages of her life. Critics in France loved it. Here in North America, many were puzzled.

Charlotte Cardin. The Montreal singer finally released her debut album, Phoenix, in April. I say “finally” because Cardin had been talked about for years and already had 117 million views of her songs before the album came out. Her dark, electric-tinged melodies evoke Lana Del Rey, Adele, and Amy Winehouse, and have made her one of the most talked-about artists in the province of la belle.

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Rafael Payare. In early January, the Orchester Symphonique de Montréal announced that it had found a new musical director to replace Kent Nagano. Payare is a Venezuelan-born conductor whose tenure will officially begin with the 2022-23 season, and will be on the job for a minimum of five years. “The possibilities with OSM are just limitless,” he said at the time. “The sky is the limit. It has refinement, versatility and virtuosity.”

Klô Pelgag sweeps ADISQ. The Montreal singer-songwriter and her team won 13 trophies at this year’s ADISQ galas, including six in art categories for Pelgag, equaling the record held by Céline Dion, who won six in 1985. Pelgag’s victories included awards for singer-songwriter, critics ‘choice and alternative album. What’s even more impressive is that her 2020 album Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs is light years away from mainstream Quebec pop, with echoes of Kate Bush, Fiona Apple and Harmonium.

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Four Anglos surviving the COVID Apocalypse. Four of English Montreal’s most prominent creators – Montreal Gazette columnist and filmmaker Josh Freed, comedic musical duo Bowser, and Blue and Gazette cartoonist Terry Mosher, aka Aislin – launched this pandemic-themed show in the fall. “People have been through it for two years, but they have been through it for two years,” Freed said. “I think they have earned the right to take revenge on COVID and laugh at it.” And that’s exactly what the show did, along with some more poignant moments. There were new songs from Bowser and Blue, readings from Freed, and a selection of COVID cartoons from around the world selected by Aislin.

Osheaga returns. The festival returned in the fall, but it wasn’t a full-blown Osheaga. It was called Osheaga Get Together and there were only 30 artists, compared to around 100 for its non-pandemic editions. It was fully Canadian, given the problems of crossing borders, and promoter Evenko only let in 7,500 fans a day, compared to the usual daily crowd of 40,000. But fans were still very excited to be back at Parc Jean-Drapeau listening to artists like Cardin, Jessie Reyez, Half Moon Run, and The Damn Truth. And everyone is looking forward to the real 15th anniversary edition next summer.

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Saving the SW Welch bookstore. There was a huge outcry among the residents of Mile End when they heard that the venerable St-Viateur St. bookstore might have to close. The store was threatened because it faced a huge rent increase from owner Shiller Lavy Realties, who owns a large number of buildings across the street. The owner eventually made an offer that the store could afford, and most think the owner made the deal due to public pressure. “I think it’s amazing the feelings that came from the public,” said store owner Stephen Welch. “It is just fantastic. I knew there would be unhappiness, but not to this point. “

Coeur de pirate buys Dare to Care Records. In January, it was announced that Quebec pop singer Béatrice Martin, also known as Coeur de pirate, was acquiring local label Dare to Care Records from owner Eli Bissonnette. The label had been at the center of controversy with allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic environment. In February it was relaunched as Bravo Musique.

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Allison Russell’s Outside Child. This was one of the most acclaimed albums by a Montreal-related artist to come out this year. Inspired by Russell’s experience in Montreal as an abused child, the poignant album is about resilience and how art can heal deep wounds. It has garnered rave reviews all over the place, entered the long list for the 2021 Polaris Music Award, and garnered three nominations for the 2022 Grammys. Russell now resides in Nashville, but the spirit of his hometown permeates Outside Child, which begins with a song titled Montreal and features some lyrics in French.

Tribute show to Bob Dylan. Independent promoter Billy Bob Productions held a brilliant evening of Clash at the Corona Theater just a few months before the pandemic shut it all down, so it was fitting that the brief return to full concert activity this fall included the latest tribute show from Billy Bob. The show featured a group of the city’s leading musicians reinterpreting St. Bob’s work, including Jasmine Bleile, Durham County poets Annakin Slayd, Rob Lutes, Dawn Tyler Watson, Shane Murphy, and Damn Truth. An inspiring night at a sold-out Club Soda.

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