June 24, 1975, you were probably not born, but it was a significant evening for many Quebecers.
That evening was the Fête nationale du Québec, also known as the Saint Jean Baptist.
The preparation of this show had been entrusted to three great artists of the Quebec scene: the comedian Yvon Deschampsactress and singer Louise Forestier as well as the singer-songwriter Gilles Vigneault.
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Gilles Vigneault: born in Natashquan in 1928, great singer and poet who wrote the song Gens du pays.Photo: The Canadian Press/RYAN REMIORZ
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Gilles Vigneault: born in Natashquan in 1928, great singer and poet who wrote the song Gens du pays.Photo : The Canadian Press / RYAN REMIORZ
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Louise Forestier: Quebec singer and actress born in Shawinigan in 1943Photo : The Canadian Press / DAVID BOILY
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Yvon Deschamps: comedian born in Montreal in 1935.Photo : The Canadian Press/John Goddard
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A song as a gift
The show was called Happy Birthday, as it was the tradition to sing Happy Birthday To Youto celebrate birthdays.
However, in the wake of the nationalist movement in Quebec during the 1960s and 1970s, Yvon Deschamps, Louise Forestier and Gilles Vigneault wanted to replace this English song with a deeply Quebecois anthem.
You should know that in 1976, for the first time in the history of Quebec, a sovereignist government was brought to power. The Parti Quebecois, then headed by René Lévesque, wanted to make Quebec a country. More and more people were defending the French language and many now defined themselves as Quebecers rather than French Canadians.
It is therefore in this context that Gilles Vigneault, with the help of the composer Gaston Rochon, decided to write the song People of the countryas a gift to the people of Quebec.
An unforgettable show
The evening of the show, Yvon Deschamps, Louise Forestier and Gilles Vigneault took the stage and sang People of the country for the very first time. After only a few minutes, the whole crowd knew the lyrics and sang the song in chorus.
Rapidly, People of the country has become a kind of national anthem in Quebec. Even today, this French-language love song resonates at many birthday parties. And you, have you ever heard this tune at your party?
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Your history lesson doesn’t have to be made up of dates and numbers! Find out about an important event from someone who was there. Series Told by is a collection of stories that have marked Quebec and Canada, told by those who lived them.
