Patrick Norman: “I hope you can hear me for a long time”

Although his last tour was presented as Farewell tripThe artist, who will perform in Plains of Abraham on the occasion of the National Day, intends to continue appearing on stage as long as his health allows.

A heart operation forced him to cancel some shows at the beginning of May, but he has since returned to the stage.

Maybe it will tempt me less to look at new rides, but that doesn’t stop me from doing showshe explains.

His desire to perform follows him from an early age. He started playing at a very young age, with Kay’s guitar belonging to his father. He didn’t want me to pick up his guitar, but when he heard me play, he didn’t say anythinghe says with a smile.

” I’ve always made music. […] It was stronger than me, I had to do it. »

When he left school, his father told him he had to work. I went to work to please my parents, then I played music on weekends and eveningsHe said.

A talent that hasn’t always been recognized

As he says in his book Patrick, Yvonne, and youPublished to mark his 50-year career, Patrick Norman has had to contend with not acknowledging some of the snobbery of the music elite over the course of his career.

We must doQuit. comes with jobbut we have many great rewards for doing what we love.

He remembers that he was once seen as a cheap They made fun of her weight and curly wig. I was a caricature, but he was also a characterNuance singer and guitarist. it worked. I was selling more records than all the greats and elites and all that.

” I didn’t step on anyone’s toes. »

He will serve the National Day in the Plains of Quebec City on June 23. He sings but above all he has been playing guitar for 60 years. Patrick Norman has been immersed in country music since his childhood, inspired by Nashville guitarists in particular. With constant enthusiasm, the singer continues his farewell tour, which will stretch for a long time now. We meet him at his home on North Beach, surrounded by his best friends: guitars. Interview with Patrice Roy.

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Before fully embracing his musical style, Patrick Norman, whose real name is Yvonne Either, tried to make himself known as a charming singer. I didn’t like ithe admitted. I did not feel good in this outfit.

He says he didn’t necessarily do it by choice, but because of time pressure. I wasn’t anywhere near a womanizer, so neither was Ihe adds.

It was when he started playing what looked like him, accompanied by his guitar, that his career really took off. In 1973, he was chosen to record the theme song for the movie butterflywhich becomes a real boost to his career.

needed to reach Africa

His biggest hit, the song when we east in loveIt had reverberations as far away as Rwanda. He says that many people testified that they heard or heard the hymn of love and hope in this genocide-torn country in 1994.

While a family was being massacred with machetes, a little girl in hiding covered her ears and sang When we are in love shaves his headHe said. It was someone who happened to me who came to tell me.

He explains that he has received many such certificates. The Rwandans approached me and explained what they had been throughHe says.

I have never been [au Rwanda]but I have a strong intention to go there next OctoberSupports the singer. If I don’t go, I will regret it for the rest of my life.

despite his performance When we are in love Over and over and in several languages ​​since its release in 1984, the country singer never tires of his famous ballad. I love her consistently, because I can’t disagree with the message she conveyshe argues.

” It’s part of my ropes, who I am. This is my truth »

Grow with the country

When asked to talk about his musical roots, Patrick Norman immediately emphasized the contribution of his father, who introduced him to Western music. One of the first tunes I remember, in my little head as a three-year-old kid, is sheepdog By George Guitaryhe says with a smile.

One of his favorite albums where I Come fromwhere he interpreted in his own way 12 songs from the repertoire of Hank Williams. It’s one of the albums I’m more than happy to use. I got rich from who I am.

If his father had sometimes expressed reluctance at the idea of ​​Patrick Norman making a career in music, one day he made sure to emphasize his pride. My dad told me: “I’m proud of you, my man,” the singer says affectionately. I never forgot her.