17 hours. Friday, November 7, Zenith de Nantes. Raphael and his six musicians settle the final details of a show which premiered this evening. For two years, the singer has not happened on a French stage. Raphael, smiling more than usual, did not look anxious.
18 hours The sound check is completed, Raphael is watching t-shirts bearing his image. He likes his profile gold property. "It's very Lou Reed. Behind the doors of the hall, fans wait patiently. "I want to enjoy a maximum. There are only twenty concerts this time, because we made the bet to play in big rooms. For "Caravan," I did 150 shows, but in more intimate places ... Tonight he has to be intense. "
18 h 30 In the corridor leading to the boxes, Jean-Marc Besson, his tour manager, and Caroline Manset, its manager, advise him. "You play a lot of recent titles at the beginning of the concert, you probably should sing the tube earlier in the show. "The artist does not change his mind, relegating" On the Road "or" Caravan "at the end of the concert. Three new musicians have appeared at his side: the violinist Karen Bruno, drummer Zack Alford and multi-instrumentalist Robert Aaron, the latter two are former companions of David Bowie, the idol of Raphael. "See Robert beside me is an experience in itself," he says.
19 h 30 on a port, three jackets, three jackets, two shirts and a blazer Yves Saint Laurent. On the table, a bottle of perfume, an iPhone, a BlackBerry and a book, "Letters" by Malcolm Lowry. In one fifteen, the singer should be on stage. "I do not have little rituals. I put a little powder on my face, and that's it. He talks about his collaboration with Alain Bashung, last year. "I left one week on tour with him, I accompanied him on three tracks. This is our Dylan us. "
Thierry Suc 20 hours, the producer of the tour, arrives with Christopher Palatre, the boss of his record company, and three guests: Raphael's parents and, more surprisingly, her partner, actress Melanie Thierry . Only Roman, their 6 month old son, is missing. "It is not far, the artist smiled. Melanie is currently shooting. So, I have the joy of being with him every morning. "The relative failure of his latest record (150,000 copies sold) does not reach it. People know at least one song. I aware that the success of "Caravan" was unique. "
20 h 40 Raphael vocalizations made worthy of an opera singer. The musicians are waiting, ready to go.
20: 45 pm "It's cool, though. It is at the Zenith! Caroline Manset welcomes his childhood friend. The team toast, a glass of champagne or a cigarette in hand. Dudu, the commissioner, gave the starting signal. The room lights are extinguished and the 5000 attendees (ouf. ..) roar.
20 h 50 "I know that the earth is flat" opens the concert. It will, tonight, no question of that French song rock.
22 h 30 The anthem "Caravan" closing the concert. Viewers can finally sing and clap their hands. For an hour and forty minutes, they seemed surprised by the radicalism of the show. Raphael then offered one last title. Tonight he celebrates his 33 years, and for his birthday, he wishes to interpret "The convict," a lullaby Mouloudji which is transmitted from mother to son. "This song is both beautiful and melancholy, it explains a lot about me. "
18 hours The sound check is completed, Raphael is watching t-shirts bearing his image. He likes his profile gold property. "It's very Lou Reed. Behind the doors of the hall, fans wait patiently. "I want to enjoy a maximum. There are only twenty concerts this time, because we made the bet to play in big rooms. For "Caravan," I did 150 shows, but in more intimate places ... Tonight he has to be intense. "
18 h 30 In the corridor leading to the boxes, Jean-Marc Besson, his tour manager, and Caroline Manset, its manager, advise him. "You play a lot of recent titles at the beginning of the concert, you probably should sing the tube earlier in the show. "The artist does not change his mind, relegating" On the Road "or" Caravan "at the end of the concert. Three new musicians have appeared at his side: the violinist Karen Bruno, drummer Zack Alford and multi-instrumentalist Robert Aaron, the latter two are former companions of David Bowie, the idol of Raphael. "See Robert beside me is an experience in itself," he says.
19 h 30 on a port, three jackets, three jackets, two shirts and a blazer Yves Saint Laurent. On the table, a bottle of perfume, an iPhone, a BlackBerry and a book, "Letters" by Malcolm Lowry. In one fifteen, the singer should be on stage. "I do not have little rituals. I put a little powder on my face, and that's it. He talks about his collaboration with Alain Bashung, last year. "I left one week on tour with him, I accompanied him on three tracks. This is our Dylan us. "
Thierry Suc 20 hours, the producer of the tour, arrives with Christopher Palatre, the boss of his record company, and three guests: Raphael's parents and, more surprisingly, her partner, actress Melanie Thierry . Only Roman, their 6 month old son, is missing. "It is not far, the artist smiled. Melanie is currently shooting. So, I have the joy of being with him every morning. "The relative failure of his latest record (150,000 copies sold) does not reach it. People know at least one song. I aware that the success of "Caravan" was unique. "
20 h 40 Raphael vocalizations made worthy of an opera singer. The musicians are waiting, ready to go.
20: 45 pm "It's cool, though. It is at the Zenith! Caroline Manset welcomes his childhood friend. The team toast, a glass of champagne or a cigarette in hand. Dudu, the commissioner, gave the starting signal. The room lights are extinguished and the 5000 attendees (ouf. ..) roar.
20 h 50 "I know that the earth is flat" opens the concert. It will, tonight, no question of that French song rock.
22 h 30 The anthem "Caravan" closing the concert. Viewers can finally sing and clap their hands. For an hour and forty minutes, they seemed surprised by the radicalism of the show. Raphael then offered one last title. Tonight he celebrates his 33 years, and for his birthday, he wishes to interpret "The convict," a lullaby Mouloudji which is transmitted from mother to son. "This song is both beautiful and melancholy, it explains a lot about me. "
