(Previously
published in The Octopus, Oct. 10, 1997)
by Wynne Wong
A lot of good music on our continent often escapes us because it is not in English. This is unfortunate because some of the most talented singers and composers in North America come from Quebec. Because this music is in French, we often do not have the chance to discover the exceptional talent of these artists north of our borders. This coming October, the city of Urbana-Champaign will have the rare opportunity to meet and hear one of Quebec’s most popular performers, Richard Séguin.
Born in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Séguin has maintained a flourishing career as a singer-songwriter in Quebec for over 20 years. In the seventies, Séguin and his twin sister Marie-Claire formed the duo Les Séguin, seducing the Québécois public with their songs about peace and love. Richard Séguin recorded his first solo album in 1979 and in recent years has gained the reputation of being one of the most sensitive and insightful artists in Quebec. He has recorded seven solo albums to date (three of which have received awards for album of the year in Quebec) and has won numerous honors, including best songwriter, best male vocalist, and best performer as well as being named Artiste pour la paix (Artist for Peace).
In Quebec, music has always played a vital role in affirming the cultural and linguistic identity of its people. Séguin explains that la chanson québécoise, the term used to refer to the popular music of Quebec, is one of the most beautiful and distinctive features of this province because this art form does not appear to have the same cultural and socio-political impact anywhere else in North America. “Since it is a popular art, popular music is often relegated to an art mineur,” explains Séguin, “but for us in Quebec, the chanson has always been a powerful force behind our social and political aspirations. Especially in the early sixties, everything in Quebec, including the Quiet Revolution, was shaped by our music. Our songs are one of the things that make us distinct.”
On a continent where English dominates, the choice to sing in French is already in itself an important statement.
“I have always defended the importance of singing in my language and of describing the realities that surround me. Quebec is in a very delicate situation. There are eight million francophones surrounded by 300 million English speakers so there is a great need for us to live our culture and our language. The hegemony of North America is very strong. I believe it is important for each nation to maintain its distinctiveness so that we do not end up with the same way of looking at things. It is extremely important to point out that language is not only a means of communication but also a way of thinking. When we switch from one language to another, we enter into a completely different pattern of thought. Our language affects how we see the world. Here in Quebec, we have a different way of envisioning North America because we have been shaped by many different entities; by France, England, the conquest, the United States. We also have a unique way of conceptualizing our land. No one else in the world talks about snow like we do here in French because winters are such an important part of our reality. Through my music and my words, I try to convey this vision, my conception of America.”
When asked if he was disappointed with the results of the October 1995 referendum in Quebec, Séguin immediately responded, “Yes. We had a chance to create a country but instead this dream generated a lot of fear. I have always believed that Quebec would be better served as a country. Like an adolescent who must leave the nest, we cannot resolve our language and identity crisis until we become independent. But even with 49% vs 51%, I believe we are making progress,” he said of the referendum outcome.
Another one of Séguin’s concerns is the Native American cause. The Amerindien experience is in fact one of the things that intrigues Séguin the most about America. This affection is reflected in his music as well as in his vocal style.
“What fascinates me about North America is the first vision of America offered by the Native American people. I am fascinated by their spirituality, their silence and their conception of the world. We have a lot to learn from these people and I am amazed that we do not listen to them more often. This nation has been in existence for more than seven thousand years. I have made a lot of friends in the north who have helped me discover their music and this influence in turn has permeated my own musical style.”
Séguin acknowledges that there is a lot of American influence in his songs as well. He says he belongs to the generation of folk singers and is a big fan of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. On his live album, Vagabondage, fans can find his performance of Dylan’s The Times are Changing in French. Séguin describes his music as a mix of European and American traditions.
“Quebec is like a crossroads,” he explains, “our music is made up of many traditions. The importance that I place on the text of my songs is very French but at the same time, the way I structure my music with the emphasis on blues, folk and Native American rhythms, is also very American.”
The topics that Séguin treats in his musical repertoire appear to be quite diverse. Listeners can expect to find a range that extends from love ballades like Sous les cheminées to sometimes unsettling and emotionally charged numbers such as La raffinerie and Aux portes du matin (hailed as song of the year in Quebec in 1992) that candidly denounce all forms of injustice. On D’instinct, Séguin’s latest album to date, we find songs that appear to be oriented towards a calmer and more serene tone, bringing out the full richness of his voice. Two exceptionally beautiful pieces from this album are undoubtedly Lettre à Zlata, a haunting song about the horrors of war seen through the eyes of a twelve year old girl, and Le son des songes (The Sound of Dreams), a composition dedicated to Séguin’s Native American friends: Enfin marcher dans tes sentiers/Respirer la liberté/ Je t’entends rêver de terres fécondes/ Guidé nourri par le son des songes/Finally walking on your paths/ Breathing freedom/ I hear you dreaming of fertile land/Guided and nourished by the sound of dreams.
For Séguin, the freedom to try new things is essential, but he adds that no matter what direction his future albums may take, indignation will always be the motivating force behind his compositions.
“We must denounce what is not acceptable. Indignation must always be at the heart of our concerns and I don’t just mean in our songs. We must live it.”
With a trail of awards and honors following him and sold out concerts throughout the province, Richard Séguin is without a doubt the singer of the hour in Quebec. In addition to his own busy schedule of touring and recording, he is often invited to write material for other artists and to participate in numerous festivals, benefit concerts and social causes. When asked to comment on his phenomenal success in recent years, Séguin responded modestly, “Success is not something that can be explained. All I can say is that I believe in working hard, in persevering and in giving my best to everything I do. Sometimes this will bring success, other times less. There are two words that we must be very cautious with: failure and success. These are two very tricky words,” he pointed out with a laugh.
Séguin normally tours with a six piece band but will be giving two special unplugged performances at the Krannert Center October 10 & 11 as part of his efforts to help the University of Illinois promote Quebec studies. When asked to comment on his upcoming visit to the United States he replied, “It will be a very interesting experience. People from different places have different ways of seeing things. We can all look at the same tree and see it in a different light. What I hope to do through my music is to share this difference, my difference with new people and I hope at the same time to receive theirs. I see this as an exchange of differences and I look forward to it very much,” he added with a smile.