we were at the last concert of the “Enfoirés”, broadcast this evening on TF1

With “Enfoirés airlines”, the destinations are not very exotic: Montpellier, Nantes, Bourg-la-Reine, Choisy-le-Roi, Le Berry, according to the bulletin board… not at the airport , but on the stage of the South room of France Arena that morning. At the end of January, however, the mood is rather good in the Hérault. Despite many absentees due to the virus, around forty artists have come together for the good cause: the recording of the annual concert of the “Enfoirés”… which is done at the last moment, without an audience. The broadcast is scheduled for this evening on TF1.

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Also that morning, Isabelle Nanty, Philippe Lacheau and his troupe, Lorie, Nicolas Canteloup, Gérard Jugnot, Sébastien Chabal (and his long beard), MC Solaar or even Bénabar share the same painting on the song Question de feeling interpreted by Fabienne Thibeault and Richard Cocciante in the 80s. “Very difficult to sing”, say the artists. Isabelle Nanty is the air hostess, while Bénabar wears a pilot’s costume… A shame that the singer tells us: “It will make my friend Thomas Pesquet laugh, who knows that I am afraid of flying. ..”

It was Bénabar who introduced the astronaut to the troop: after saying hello to the “Enfoirés” from space for the first time, here he is in flesh and blood.

Without an audience, it’s not the same

After many adjustments and adjustments, the painting is saved. But without an audience, it’s not the same: “For me, the Enfoirés troupe is public understood. Without people, half of us are missing. Because they participate in the show as much as we do! “, continues Bénabar. “It’s still very frustrating for those who have lived fabulous moments with the public. We’ve been saying for two years in Vianney that the public of “Enfoirés” is crazy but they’ve never seen it yet, ”jokes Patrick Bruel, who holds the record number of participations in the program.

“We are here for the right reasons. The “Enfoirés” is also an opportunity to meet in a different way. Friendships are created in the dressing rooms (with Pascal Obispo for example), conducive to confidences, ”continues Bénabar. “When we are invited on a TV show, we mainly talk about our little navel unlike here…”

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In the stands, choreographers, directors, cameramen or volunteers of the association are busy… but no cry of joy in the public, which does not exist. A rather strange desert effect when you know the popularity of the show, one of the most watched on television in the year. To furnish the stage, major resources have been put in place: 250m2 of screens on an 800m2 stage, nearly 800 costumes made…

Many artists, loyal or returning, block this date in their diary months in advance. All these little people are volunteers, apart from the 320 intermittent technicians so as not to add “precariousness to precariousness”, confides to us a manager at Restos du Cœur.

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“An extraordinary human adventure”

“It’s the pleasure of being together for an unstoppable cause. We are also happy to see each other, to share songs and emotions, and to tell each other about our year … ”, says Patrick Bruel again. “Les Enfoirés is an extraordinary human adventure. She brings a lot of meaning to our path in this job filled with glitter and not always extremely sincere,” explains Amir. “When you can make music the right way with the right intentions and less ego, it reassures me as an artist. »

The “Enfoirés” are a family. And as in every family, some arrive, leave, are back… Pauline Déroulède, disabled tennis player or Anne Sila, for example, join the troupe. “Usually, we are alone on stage, there it is very collegial, the opportunity to be all together and to exchange”, launches the last winner of The Voice.

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This year, the returns are signed Kylian Mbappé, Garou or Catherine Lara: the artist does not sing but plays the violin. “I hesitated to come back because of my legitimacy. But I didn’t want to be capricious. We are here for a real reason: people do not have enough to eat,” she explains. “It’s very important for us to be there. I find it hard to understand how one can refuse to participate in such a cause, ”concludes actor and humorist Philippe Lacheau, then in full promotion of his film. Superhero in spite of himself. But how do you do sketches without an audience? “These are actually like little fictions because we realized that it’s difficult to make jokes without anyone in the room…”

Behind the screens, tonight, we “risk” relaxing after an anxiety-provoking week.

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