Behind the scenes
Here's
what Roch had to say about the songs of his album...
If you have something to add, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Concept of the album
Roch started to work on the album in January 1998 in Los Angeles. He only needed three
months to write about fifteen new songs.
In spring he met Erick Benzi and asked him to listen to the demos of his songs. The two men were eager to work
together. For 6 months they worked in France and Montreal with a team of musicians.
For Roch it was very important to produce an album where harmony reigns. He wanted all pieces of the album to form
a unity, something whole. However, this harmony is built by the composition of very different music pieces.
This album is more „concert-aimed". Listen to „Avant vous", „J'ai pas confiance", „Juste un peu
de temps" or „Et si…". You will notice it immedi-ately. Roch says of these songs that they will come
to life on stage.
He wanted a simpler album, paying more attention to lyrics, and leaving more room to interpretation.
This album should talk to the audience, should allow Roch to be more direct. Roch wanted to say „I" in these
songs and to get closer to the audience.
18 songs were finally composed for this album, but only 14 appear on the final product. Roch is planning to publish
some more of these songs as singles in Europe. One song is called „S'aimer sans lumières" („Loving
each other without lights"). Jacques Villeneuve plays the piano in this song.
Roch seems to have enjoyed working with Erick Benzi, a former member of the French band „Canada". He speaks
of him as his „soulmate on a musical level"… This album, by the way, was recorded in Erick Benzi's home near
Paris.
Roch calls this album „his maturity album": he wanted the lyrics and the melodies to reflect maturity, experience,
and depth.
Unnecessary to mention that Roch is very proud of this album, of the balance he managed to preserve between ballads
and songs with more rhythm. According to him, this is the best album he ever made.
Behind the scenes of songwriting
1. Je resterai là
This song, given a „mid-tempo" rhythm by Roch, is supposed to be a „reassuring" song. Roch wanted to return to the media with a song that is speaking to people. He was very careful selecting the first single of his album. He did not only want to send a strong message to his fans - a message saying „yes, he's back to stay" - but also choose a piece that would be played on the radio.
"Je resterai là" is one of the first songs that Erick Benzi suggested to Roch.
This song dates back from 1986 and was composed by the band „Canada".
It was Erick Benzi who immediately felt that „Je resterai là" should be published as the first single, and who convinced Roch to do it.2. Au bout de la piste
"Au bout de la piste" is Roch's favorite song, especially when he's driving.
3. Juste pour soi
Roch met Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian formula 1 driver, at the end of 1996 in a restaurant in Montreal. Jacques came over to greet Roch. But when Roch invited him to his table, Jacques had to decline because he had company. Some minutes later, however, Jacques changed his mind and came over to talk to Roch. The two became friends, and since then they see each other frequently. Roch speaks of Jacques as a friend. On the occasion of that meeting in the restaurant, Jacques told Roch that he loved to make music and that he wanted to build a studio in his home. In the interviews, Roch always says that this information didn't hit deaf ears… So, when the time had come for Roch to record the album „Chaque Feu", he called Jacques and asked if he would come to Paris soon. He did, and Roch suggested to Jacques that he should play in some of his compositions. At the beginning Jacques did not believe in Roch's suggestion. But he did play in some of the songs. However, only one made it to the album, „Juste pour soi", where Jacques plays the piano. The other songs will probably be published as singles in Europe. One of them is called „S'aimer sans lumières".
The sound of the flute gives a kind of Celtic flair to the music.4. Doucement
"Doucement" is the French version of "All I know".
Roch wanted to put a nice acoustic ballad on the album, and upon Lise Richard's suggestion, made a French version of "All I know".5. La seconde chance
This song speaks of Roch's fears about the reception by his audience after years of absence. This fear is also expressed in (est-ce que vous voudrez de moi toujours autant qu'avant?) (Will you still want me as much as before?)
6. J'ai l'espoir
Roch says that California rock (The Eagles…) influenced him to compose this song. Originally he imagined it to be more „rock".
7. Un simple gars
This song should have figured on the „Kissing Rain" album, but Roch changed his mind at the last minute because he thought this song didn't fit the „color" he wanted to give to that album. The song is called "In my sleep"in English.
In this song he expresses his fears about the long years of absence from the stage (est-ce que vous voudrez de moi toujours autant qu'avant ?) (Will you still want me as much as before?). Roch says that this sentence is „a sentence that kills". The subject of „fear of returning to the stage" can be found in various songs on the album.8. Juste un peu de temps
Roch says that this is the „Zen" song of the album. He wanted to add a special touch to this song by manipulating his voice with the computer. This reminds him of the music of the 70's.
9. Obia
The song's title means „voodoo woman from the Antilles" (islands).
Roch first composed the music in January 99. He admits that he had problems to find lyrics that perfectly fit the music.
He has announced that a „dance" version will be played on the radios in Canada.
On the European album, „Obia" is replaced by „J'ai pas confiance" - demanded by BMG, they say.10. Mourir les sirènes
Roch covered this song which was originally performed by the band „Canada".
11. Les lys blancs
Roch wanted to give a nice homage to Paul Vincent, his late ex-manager, who always trusted him completely and who believed in his talents. Roch always says that the fact that he succeeded in showbiz is due to Paul Vincent. Roch wants to continue what they built together. He must continue, this is what Paul would have wanted.
Roch wanted to compose some elegant poetry which tells the truth about what happened.
White lilies were Paul's favorite flowers. He always had some in his home.
Roch wanted to find a right balance between the real personality of Paul and the personality described by the media.12. Avant vous
"Avant vous" was composed to say „thank you" to the fans.
It was composed by Jacques Veneruso, mainly to be performed in concert.
Roch wanted a song that was „more mature" than „L'idole" which was aimed at a younger audience. Roch says that this song has more depth and touches a larger audience.13. Chaque feu
Chaque feu" is the title song of the album. Roch had big problems to find a title for the album.
This is the last song that was recorded for the album.
The title is an allusion to a fire, a candle, an emotion, and it certainly reminds us of the fire that Roch puts into his concerts and the lighters that come one whenever he performs.14. J'ai pas confiance (EUROPE)
This song is not on the Canadian album. It replaces „Obia" on the European version.
Roch says that this song will be valued in concert.15. Et si...
This song will certainly be part of the concerts.
SPECIAL EDITION OF CHAQUE FEU: 6 NEW SONGS
1. Comme
The recording of the song lead to a "world tour"... The song was written in the province of Québec, was recorded in France, mixed in California and finalised in the province of Québec. Roch says that the song is the same as his life: he travels a lot. This song sounds a little like a "James Bond" theme (those of you who went to a concert in Canada knows what I'm talking about... the little instrumental part at the end of the song...). The English lyrics are already composed.
2. S'aimer sans lumières
3. S'aimer
4. Par coeur
5. Les amants
Manuel Tadros and Roch Voisine met by coincidence for this song, which talks about an old couple thinking about death. «I wrote a text for a musician of the Mercedes Band who also works with Roch, says Manuel Tadros. One day, Roch read the text and he liked it. Then he called me and proposed me a melody. One evening, I called him at midnight to tell him that I finalised the lyrics and I faxed them to him. His answer was :« Manuel, my grandfather past away last week. It couldn't come at a better time.»
Roch Voisine composed the song "Les amants de Sarajevo" (The lovers of Sarajevo). But the lyrics of this songs were not accepted by BMG, they found this song to political. But Roch wants to redo this song, either in concert or on a next album.
6. Comme j'ai toujours envie d'aimer (Marc Hamilton)
It was not long ago that Roch thought of recording this song for his Special Edition Chaque Feu. During a rehearsal, somebody on Roch's team proposed this song to Roch so that he could warm up his voice and fingers. And that's how an idea became a big hit...
