Diane Tell: Tournée 50 i’aime anniversaire

“I don’t like anniversaries. Christmas, even less... and I was born on Christmas Eve! Between the turkey and the presents. I could have ended up in the crib with baby Jesus! Just like Zac in C.R.A.Z.Y. by the late, great Jean-Marc Vallée. Someone at Bonsound, our beautiful concert venue, came up with the idea: “Diane, how would you like to do an anniversary tour?” I didn’t say yes right away. Good. A 50th. Anyway. We’re celebrating! And then we can rest easy. There won’t be a 100th! I took the bait like a beautiful Lake Blouin walleye... and signed on. Several concerts are already scheduled in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. It’s fantastic.

In 1977, I launched my first album. The one where I’m posing on the cover with Raggedy Ann in my arms, my thumb in my mouth and my legs apart! Ah! I was a Polissonne [rascal] at 19. I still am a little. Polissonne is also the title of my next album. Sounds great. I was already touring in 1976. I sang everywhere, alone with my guitar: in bars, restaurants, at the Maples Inn in Pointe-Claire, at the Évêché de l’Hôtel Nelson in Old Montreal. I even sang at the Forum, opening for Chris de Burgh, back in the day.

For this series of concerts, I won’t be alone. An extraordinary five-star Quebec band, led by the uniquely talented Julien Fillion, will hit the road alongside me. What luck. The repertoire—drawn from 15 albums—chosen for our enjoyment and yours, will be sublimated by the talent of these young musicians. So... let’s spread the word? Just think: 50 years of music, song and stage, non-stop. But it’s your loyalty above all that deserves to be celebrated. Come on. It’s my tour. The 50th anniversary of our meeting. Remember?”