SINGING AZNAVOUR’S PRAISES
IRWIN BLOCK

The Gazette
April 21 2009
Montreal

Charles Aznavour may live in France, but part of his soul is here.

That’s how the renowned Paris-born singer of Armenian parents responded
yesterday as he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Universite
de Montreal for his contribution to francophone culture.

"I do not feel like a stranger here in Quebec," the 84-year-old told
an audience of about 300 people, including members of the Armenian
community.

"I am an old, old Quebecois. My accent hasn’t changed, but never mind,
my heart hasn’t changed, either. I still have all the emotion and
happiness I had then," he said, to thunderous applause.

When he first played here 61 years ago at the fabled Faisant Dore
near St. Laurent Blvd and Ste. Catherine St., francophone popular
culture was in its infancy.

"All the clubs were English and francophones did not know where to
go to sing."

That has changed, along with the names of our boulevards,
he noted. "French singers came to entertain here, and today it’s
the other way around – Quebecers, especially female singers, are
performing in France, and it’s very, very pleasant."

Recalling some of his best tunes, voice students sang up-tempo versions
of For Me, Formidable, Les Deux Guitares and La Bohème.

University Rector Luc Vinet used a word play to recall Aznavour’s
early debut here: "On a eu le bonheur de vous connaître de bonne
heure." (We had the pleasure of getting to know you early.)

Quebec musician Robert Charlebois recalled that the first sheet
music he ever bought was Aznavour’s Je m’voyais deja – "a song that
influenced my life."

Charlebois confessed feeling small next to the diminutive Aznavour,
comparing their encounter to a seminary student meeting the pope.

Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens and Leo Ferre might have been favoured
by intellectuals, but their fame never matched that of Aznavour,
Charlebois said.

"He is our biggest star of francophone music."