LOOKING FORWARD

/// You released Best Of in 2018. Does that mean

you’re starting to look back on your life?

No, not at all. I wanted to make a greatest hits album so people could find their favourite songs. People have been requesting it for a long time, and after 11 albums, I felt it was the right time.

/// You’ve had a number of big hits. How did you

choose which ones to put on the album?

I chose the songs that were played the most on the radio. I couldn’t necessarily pick my favourites, because they usually weren’t as popular. An album can only be 70 minutes long, too, so I only had room for 18 songs.

/// Mon frère is one of those songs, and you’ve said

that people have been finding more meaning in the lyrics in the past few years. How often do you hear that?

This song has really seen a revival recently. I think a lot of people are seeing it from a totally different angle now. Of course, some people understood it all right off the bat. If I had written that song in 2017, it’s pretty clear to me that I would’ve called it #MeToo. I’ve never found a clearer way to frame that song.

/// You’ve always been very involved with the next

generation of musicians. Is that still the case?

I’m less involved, I’m not doing as much, but it’s still something that’s very important to me. A while ago, I was the spokesperson for a show that brought together a bunch of young girls and I was able to give them lessons and advice. I really like the next generation. They have a fire in their bellies. When you first get started in the music business, you really want to make it big. It’s that fire that drives you forward that much faster. It gives you a lot of experience quickly, and that type of energy really inspires me!

/// Do you lose that energy over time? I never did. Personally, I know that if I ever lose that fire, that energy, I’ll change careers and go back to school [laughs]. The day I lose that fire is the day I leave the music industry. /// Do you think it’s harder to break into music

in Québec today than it was 25 years ago?

I’m not sure. It’s true that before, there were fewer people so it was easier to get established. On the other hand, we have social media now, and that makes it a lot easier to get visibility. Every era has its upsides and downsides. But I think talented people always make it in the end.

/// What project have you enjoyed most during

your career?

Hopefully, one that hasn’t happened yet! I believe the best is yet to come. I’m not a nostalgic person. I live my life believing that my next album will be the best one, that I haven’t written my best songs yet, and that my biggest laughs are ahead. I’ve set the bar high, and I’m looking forward!

/// You’ve spent most of your life around music

and noise. How do you take care of your hearing? Is that something you pay attention to?

I have tinnitus. I work in the music industry, so there’s definitely more of a risk of developing tinnitus. The last time I saw a professional, he said my audiogram had a “rock n’ roll curve” [laughs]. Even so, I try not to be dramatic about it. I try to see my tinnitus as a friend I have to live with. I try to find ways to stop it from getting in my way.

"I try to see my tinnitus as a friend I have to live with. I try to find ways to stop it from getting in my way." France D'Amour

/// Do you have an auditory memory that you cherish? I’m not someone who cries easily, but a good song will often make me a bit teary. Every time I hear John Mayer’s song Gravity, I start crying. I tend to cry from beauty rather than sadness.

Thank you for talking to us, France. Your energy is contagious!

PICTURES: MELANY BERNIER

Better Safe THAN SORRY

I find that prevention has become more and more important as time goes on. I really wasn’t always like this, though! I think it’s all the experiences I’ve had over the years that allow me to think ahead.

I have a lot of stories about times when I wasn’t so prepared. I remember one time, when we were going on a family trip, we were rushing out of a taxi. We tried to make sure we had all of our bags and hadn’t forgotten anything. Unfortunately, in our haste, we left behind a bag containing all our personal belongings! So now, whenever we go on a trip, we’re each responsible for certain bags. Everyone needs to make sure they can account for those bags. We learn from experience, and it makes us more careful, better organized, and more forward-thinking. Today, I try to prevent, as much as possible, what could go wrong. I think that’s the case for a lot of parents. As time goes on, we become more and more used to trying to plan everything for our children. It becomes kind of second nature to us. Learning to Think Ahead An experience that marks a turning point in my relationship with prevention is the hosting of L'épicerie broadcast on Radio-Canada. As part of the program, we worked with a team of professionals to conduct a number of product tests. We checked the quality and reliability of different products so we could give viewers the facts and help them make better choices. After testing so many products, I realized that effectiveness varies greatly from one product to another and that it’s important to do research to determine what best suits our needs. You can avoid problems by choosing a proven product from the start. Facts have also become more important to me over time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for prevention, but I’m mostly about the facts. Because facts don’t lie. I believe professional recommendations are important, because I know they’re based on facts. I know I can rely on them. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on everything, even if I have a lot of different interests; that's why following professional recommendations is really the best way to make sure you’re prepared.