Jean-Marc Vallée was the most music-loving of filmmakers. Loved ones and collaborators will pay a musical tribute to the Quebec director who died two and a half years ago, during a unique evening which will bring together, among others, Elisapie, Beyries, Maxime Le Flaguais, Patrick Watson, Pierre-Luc Brillant and Alexandra Stréliski.
“Jean-Marc accompanied his life with soundtracks, for everything, all the time,” singer-songwriter Beyries told us during a rehearsal last week. Not for nothing that the concert, which will be presented at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on Thursday as part of the Jazz Festival, is called Mixtape. We will be able to hear music that was part of the musical framework of his works as well as pieces that he liked to listen to and others created for him.
Beyries knew Jean-Marc Vallée when she worked in the cinema industry. “He had long-standing loyal friendships, deep and sincere relationships,” she emphasizes. It is also a loyal core – Marc-André Grondin as director, Jean-Phi Goncalves as musical director, Jean-Marc Vallée’s son, Alex Vallée, as well as Amélie Beyries as artistic director – who is behind the idea and creation of this evening.
“What we’re trying to do is put on a good music show,” Marc-André Grondin explains to us, while we hear Elisapie rehearsing.
For the unforgettable interpreter of Zac in C.R.A.Z.Y., Jean-Marc Vallée mastered the art of the soundtrack to perfection. So much so that today, for many people, Space Oddity evokes Bowie as much as the filmmaker’s famous film, thanks to the perfect union between the images and the music. “He came to graft himself into the life of the world,” he said. There aren’t many directors who achieve this. »
Jean-Marc Vallée was “extremely a music lover,” recalls musician and director Jean-Phi Gonvalves, who was his neighbor and who collaborated with him occasionally. “He knew more music than a lot of people. Around me, I think there are just him and Marc-André Grondin who know as much music, without it being their job. »
The director liked to organize DJ evenings, remembers Jean-Phi Goncalves. Above all, he loved sharing his musical passions. “He introduced me to things! », exclaims Elisapie, who spoke to us during a short break. “The one I can no longer listen to without crying is Sharon Van Etten, who we learned to love, and who we went to see together for our holidays. »
The singer had met Jean-Marc Vallée during a public event, and quickly found in him her “soul brother”. “As soon as I met him, I said to myself: he’s someone who clearly loves music. » She had so much confidence in his judgment that she made him listen to all of her demos.
“I needed his stamp. He liked it not too produced. I often think of him when we want to wear too many diapers,” says Elisapie, who has difficulty accepting the disappearance of this “great, passionate and electric madman” that he was.
“He’s someone who gave a lot of love. » His voice cracks a little.
“He would have loved that, being music,” she continues.
Jean-Marc Vallée not only wanted to make music, but he would have wanted to be a rock star, believe his friends and his son. “If he had been more talented at singing or playing an instrument, he would have tried,” believes Alex Vallée. But he was good at recognizing his strengths and weaknesses, and he knew he was a better filmmaker than a rock star! »
This is also what Beyries says with a smile. “The first time he saw me perform, he was jealous. I told him: but I’m zero rock star! I’m just a singer who sings sweet songs. He told me: I really wanted to be a rock star, I ended up a director. »
After the “surreal” death of Jean-Marc Vallée, Beyries preferred to take a step back before organizing a tribute show, a question of “putting on something truly substantial, real and meaningful. » Just like his friend.
“He was extremely present, very connected, close to his emotions. We weren’t afraid to cry with him, and he was often moved. I am moved by it myself! » She stops a little as the pain mounts. “It’s crazy, he had that in common with Michel Côté… and me too, I guess! »
For Alex Vallée, this evening is important to continue to keep the memory of his father alive, but also to come together with friends and work together.
He himself will sing, for the first time in his life, with an orchestra. “It’s a nice buzz to feel this collective energy. I think that’s sick! », says Alex Vallée who, as you can imagine, grew up with a love of music. This show, he confirms, will resemble his father.
“He had playlists for everything! He even conveyed the dramatic arc of his characters with music. It helped him understand their language, their emotion. » When he thinks of Thursday’s show, Alex Vallée feels “a lot of gratitude, joy too”.
“A line we often repeated while we were putting the show together was: would Jean-Marc have liked that? says Beyries. That was our guideline. » And what is his answer? She smiles. “As of today, I think Jean-Marc would like it. Having a tribute to Wilfrid, he would be happy. He would probably get plenty of criticism! But he would be really touched. »
