Enrico Macias is part of the heritage of French song. More than 800 recorded songs, 30 studio albums and hits that resonate in many heads. The artist is celebrating his 60th career with a four-disc box set and a tour which will stop in Lille on October 16 and in Amiens on November 9, 2024.
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In this box From music to musicEnrico Macias brings together 88 songs on four discs, CDs and vinyls, illustrated by his friend Joann Sfar, famous comic book author The Rabbi’s Cat. A nice way to celebrate 60 years of career, coupled with a tour with numerous dates including Lille on October 16 and Amiens on November 9, 2024.
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The artist says: “I have recorded over 800 songs. The choice was therefore difficult; 88 titles, that represents less than 10% of the whole. My son and my record company helped me a lot.”
In this compilation, we of course find People from the North : “Cis the flagship song of my repertoire, soulful Enrico Macias, although I had others. That of Jacques BrelIt is Don’t leave me. Me, my Don’t leave me, It is People of the North! I’ve been singing it since 1963.”
During his last visit to Lille, Enrico Macias willingly lent himself to our interview Clean up ; we asked him the questions that come up most often about him on the internet.
Gaston Ghrenassia. When I was asked for a Mediterranean name for my songs, I removed the “Ghre” and kept “Nassia”, but we included Macias. And for the first name, I remembered that at the age of fifteen, I played with a group of gypsies, because I was not allowed to play in places where alcohol was drunk; I was a minor. The group was called The Enrico brothers. My big brother said to me:You will be our little brother, little Enrico.”.
I do what I love most in the world, singing, making music, meeting people. If I stop, it’s over for me.
Enrico Macias
I’m not ashamed to say it, on the contrary it’s a great chance for me: 85 years old! I am incredibly lucky to reach this age and in good health. In addition, I do what I love most in the world, singing, making music, meeting people. If I stop, it’s over for me.
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I come from Algeria, my hometown is Constantine.
I had to, it is the fate of a million of my pied-noirs and harki brothers who left Algeria, because of the end of the war of independence.
I have two grown children, Jocya and Jean-Claude, and grandchildren. My daughter gave birth to Symon, who you may know because he is starting to make headway in singing. Elyot, his brother, is a very talented music composer. [Il épelle les prénoms en riant]. There are always y’s in first names, yet we are not of Greek origin!
Jean-Claude, my son, is also my producer, my arranger, he is a multi-instrumentalist and accompanies me on stage on double bass and bass. He has three children: Julia, a very great singer who is one of my backup singers, Ethel who is starting out in singing with great success. She’s not at all in my style, she’s more Anglo-Saxon.
The third one is a bit of my favorite because it’s the last one, it’s Jérémie. He is very affectionate, he always wants to go out with me! My father was a violinist, as you see, there is heredity in terms of music!
I have excellent memories of it, with exceptional actors, like Gérard Darmon, Jonathan Cohen and the others. It was a recreation for me, we had a lot of fun.
I’ll tell you an anecdote about this. One day, for the first time in my life, I was hired in Saudi Arabia for a TV show with Daniela Lumbroso. There were around thirty musicians, they didn’t know who I was. At the break, they came to ask me for an autograph. I asked them why they recognized me. They answered me: Hey, Family Business. (Laughs)
The box From music to music is accompanied by a major tour. Enrico Macias will perform in Lille on October 16, in Amiens on November 9, in Anzin on January 28, 2025 and in Béthune on January 29.
(Article published in another form on April 25, 2024.)
