The people of Nice gathered Saturday evening at the gates of Jean Médecin, on Place Masséna, to welcome “the local girl.” Even though Hélène Ségara was born in Six-Fours-les-Plages in the Var, she has not forgotten the Côte d’Azur, where she began her career (see here). Now well-known and recognized, Hélène Ségara, who has been living in Paris for ten years, came down south to celebrate with the people of Nice the inauguration of Place Masséna.
Expected at 9 pm, the numerous Nicians in front of the stage grew impatient 40 minutes before applauding Lena K, the discovery of the evening, opening act and backup singer for Hélène Ségara. But at 10:05 pm, the signal was given when the much-awaited singer appeared. “I love you!” The crowd applauded the artist, from the anti-crash barriers of the stage to Avenue Félix Faure, the virtual boundary between the spectators and the onlookers. Indeed, beyond this limit, the people of Nice became strollers in this new space offered by Place Masséna.
But after apologizing for the delay, Hélène Ségara performed a duet with Lena K, (a convincing replacement for Laura Pausini) “We never forget anything, we live with it.” The songs became more intimate and the messages of affection to her family, friends, and the public showed the singer’s sensitivity, who apparently enjoyed herself after her hectic day. Church choirs and sounds then accompanied the singer in a speech about belief and hope. “It’s high time, in the name of God, to love each other and make peace!” Full of hope and melancholy, Hélène Ségara sang about intimacy, love, and death with “What is Your Name,” before starting a duet with another discovery of the evening, Nance. This man from Marseille succeeded the duet of Lena K and did not disappoint Andrea Bocelli, performing in his place, with Hélène Ségara, “Vivo Per Lei.”
Then nostalgia set in, and Esmeralda was reborn on Place Masséna when Hélène Ségara once again performed the famous song from the musical “Notre Dame de Paris.” Fortunately, Hélène Ségara will not die before having loved. The love messages continued and the singer dedicated her song to her mother, in tribute to the Armenian genocide “So We Don’t Forget the Mistakes” (see a clip from the concert in Armenia). Finally, “Elle tu l’aimes” and “Trop de gens qui t’aiment” were performed by the artist, who was called back just in time by sleepy Nicians after an hour of concert and eager to leave after the last note ended. It was not a big party for the inauguration of Place Masséna, but maybe that’s because the tramway isn’t finished yet. But fortunately, the trams are arriving and bearing a name.
Why not… “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
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See article: “Place Masséna Opens to the People of Nice”
