A Legion of Honor and soon a new album for Ginette Reno

During the ceremony, Ginette Reno, moved and dapper in her red dress, thanked France and expressed her pride in receiving this honor already awarded to artists from Quebec, such as Gilles Vigneault and Céline Dion.

It is rewarding. I love trophies, prizes, she explained in an interview with Radio-Canada. When I was little, I already liked it. I felt like I had value.

These are fans who campaigned in France for Ginette Reno to receive the Legion of Honor. It’s fascinating to see that it was admirers who worked for me to have itshe said, delighted to see that she is also loved in France.

The one that the famous French animator Michel Drucker nicknamed the Édith Piaf of Quebec recorded her biggest success on the other side of the Atlantic with I need to talk. This 1983 song co-written by Luc Plamondon for Tell me if I bother, by Janette Bertrand, was not as popular in Quebec.

Today, Ginette Reno says to herself that she could have developed her career more in France. It had started very strong, she said. Sometimes I wonder if I sabotaged myself.

I almost died three times

On the sidelines of this Legion of Honor ceremony, the singer gave several interviews to the media, a first since she was close to death last October following a heart attack.

I almost died three timesshe confided, adding that she had hung because she had still things to do.

Today, Ginette Reno is well and lives as if it were the last time.

” I have the sacred fire. »

However, her pace of life has slowed down and her health has become her priority. I’m careful, I know I’m fragile.

Mourning to do

Every day, she practices water aerobics, tai chi and meditation. I made mourning that I had not done, because I was always busy, she explained. There, I take care of Ginette.

She also plays a lot, especially at Yum. A dice game she introduced the Bee Gees to in the UK.

Ginette Reno says it clearly: It pisses me off getting old, I don’t like it. However, she prefers to devote her energy to acceptance.

Now I just want to try to speed up my happiness. I worked very hard on expectations. I have less and less. I know there are things I can’t change.

Meditation notably helps Ginette Reno to soothe mourning, because the older she gets, the more she loses the people she loves, such as her friend Guy Lafleur, whose death has troubled.

” It pained me. [Guy Lafleur] was a beautiful monument, like Maurice Richard in the past. We had fun, we laughed together. »

An album and an autobiography this fall

This fall, Ginette Reno will release her autobiography and a new album for which she recorded 19 original songs. She would like to name this record Between heaven and earthbecause of its spiritual side, with songs like The voice of men, the voice of God, look for angels.

Despite her 60-year career, she continues to work on her voice. If I want to be free to still be Ginette Reno, I have to discipline myself to sing like Ginette Reno and work on my voice, she said. I was generous with my voice, it is generous with me now.

Then, the Quebec singer will go back on stage, but with caution. I’m going to start with a little tour to see my limits and how far I can go.

This text was written frominterviews conducted by Catherine Richercultural columnist on the show 15-18and by journalist Louis-Philippe Ouimet. Comments may have been edited for clarity and conciseness.