Patricia Kaas: "I have always been amazed at Russian women"

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-12 17:37

Patricia Kaas is one of the most famous French women and already practically her own in Russia. Her low, sensual voice often sounds on the concert stages of our country, but still, every singer's return to Russia is met with invariable warmth and admiration.

Now she again pleases our compatriots - in October she toured the cities with a tour, and in December she will give two big concerts - on December 2 in St. Petersburg and on December 3 in Moscow. This time Kaas presents a new large-scale program "Kaas sings Piaf", dedicated to the legendary French Sparrow. Patricia will perform Piaf's timeless hits in new arrangements and sets that recreate the atmosphere of the 30s.

About why she chose the work of Edith Piaf, which French woman still inspires her and what surprises her in Russian women, Patricia Kaas told in an interview with Cleo.

It takes courage and considerable life experience to prepare a whole concert program based on Piaf's songs.

Why did you choose the image of Edith Piaf?

Piaf is one of the most significant images of France. She is a great artist with great songs. I love her image, it is very close to me. Before the release of the album "Kaas sings Piaf", I sang her songs before. But in order to prepare a whole concert program based on Piaf's songs, you need courage and considerable life experience. Therefore, only a few years ago I felt ready and worthy to salute this wonderful singer, her love of life, passion, love. To create the program, I listened to the entire repertoire of Edith Piaf - more than 400 songs, and chose those 24 that are closest to me emotionally.

Blitz survey "Cleo":

- Are you friends with the Internet?

- Yes, especially when it comes to buying clothes over the Internet.

- What is an unacceptable luxury for you?

- Be at home and enjoy doing nothing.

- Where did you spend your last vacation?

- At home, in the south of France.

- Did you have a nickname as a child?

- Paddy Pax. Paddy comes from Pat, which is an abbreviated version of my name, and Pax is a choreographic circle for girls drummers, in which my sister and I eagerly studied as children.

- Are you an owl or a lark?

- I can hardly be called a sleepyhead, I sleep quite a bit, while I am definitely one hundred percent owl. My touring schedule, concerts in the evenings do not allow to go to bed early. I got used to this kind of life and now I always go to bed late and just hate getting up early.

Do you feel that you are in some way similar to Edith Piaf?

And no, and at the same time yes. On the one hand, we have completely different voices, and we are children of different eras, on the other, there are some similarities in our biographies: we are both from poor families, we are both popular French performers, both are extremely sincere on stage, we both had a very difficult life path, but, fortunately, my life is not as tragic as hers. We are also somewhat similar in our loneliness, and this helps me to understand, feel and perform her songs. True, Edith Piaf tried to drown out loneliness by parties with friends and alcohol, and I am more inclined to solitude and to some extent resigned to the artist's loneliness.

Which of Piaf's songs do you like the most?

La belle histoire d'amour, T'es beau tu sais and Avec ce soleil all have their own story. I sing all these compositions in my own way, not copying Edith Piaf, but rethinking her. In addition, in my album all these compositions have found new arrangements by the wonderful Polish composer Abel Kozheniewski.

- How do you relieve stress?

- I'm not very stressed at all.

- What turns you on?

- My passion for music.

- Which animal do you associate yourself with?

- With my dog Tequila, who has been my favorite little friend for many years and which I recently lost …

- Do you have a talisman?

- My teddy bear. At one time, I was a passionate collector of plush toys. At one time I gave the bear to my mother, and after her death I took him with me and for some time even put it in the corner of the stage at concerts..

- What melody is on your mobile?

- Hymne à l'amour.

- What is your psychological age?

- I think it corresponds to my real age.

Piaf is truly a legendary native of France. What other famous French women inspire you?

Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve … One of my concert programs, Cabaret, is dedicated to outstanding women - Coco Chanel and Marlene Dietrich, the atmosphere of the 30s. At one time, the strength and passion of these women inspired me to create the show "Cabaret", now Edith Piaf inspired me to "Kaas chante Piaf".

In your new show, the atmosphere of the 30-40s is again conveyed. Today it is fashionable to return some elements from the past. Would you like to return from that era?

Perhaps, the beauty of women of that time, I like the fashion of those years.

You are the face of a cosmetic company, which means you are a beauty model. How does it feel - to be such a model?

I am delighted to be the face of L'Etoile for so many years. I've never been particularly confident, and this ad campaign makes me feel more beautiful at heart.

How do you take care of your appearance yourself?

I take care of myself, lead a healthy lifestyle, I do not smoke or drink, I try to get enough sleep, I use high-quality cosmetics that are most suitable for my skin.

There is a certain stereotype of the French woman - slender, always elegant, non-negligent, well-groomed and not yet dieting, but a lover of delicious food. Is it really so?

Yes, but I must say that Russian women seem to me much more elegant than French women.

By the way, about Russian women. What else do you think of them?

I like their femininity and elegance, a combination of cordiality, sentimentality and resilience, strength. I am a "frosty", since childhood I do not like the cold, so I was always amazed at how Russian women manage to wear short skirts in winter, I would not risk it.

In Russia you are already your own person, you often come here. What attracts you to our country?

I like the emotionality of Russians, your inner strength, I like what you put into the concept of "Russian soul."

I am connected with Russia by a love story that began 25 years ago. Russia is a huge and beautiful country. I appreciate the Russian public for their love for me and my music, for their understanding of me as a person, I like the emotionality of Russians, your inner strength, I like what you put into the concept of "Russian soul". I am always glad to be on tour in Russia. Now I am in Europe, I just returned from a tour of the regions of Russia, we visited 9 cities, and we had a crazy schedule, but the flowers, gifts and emotions of the Russian public supported me so much that I hardly feel tired and will be glad to return to Moscow and Petersburg in December.

Your first producer, Gerard Depardieu, is also a favorite person in Russia and even received Russian citizenship. Would you give up our citizenship?

I knew that you would ask this question! In France, people think that I have an apartment in Moscow, while in Russia they generally say that I have a Russian lover … Both are just rumors. Probably not worth guessing, but at the moment French citizenship is enough for me.