Pascal Obispo : "Je voulais montrer tout ce que ces artistes nous avaient légué"

Pascal Obispo is a guest on RFM to discuss his new album, "Heritage," which is an album of duets with various French artists. He explains that he wanted to create this album to honor and share moments of musical pleasure and poetry with artists who have inspired him. The album will be released in two volumes, with the first part dropping on May 22nd, featuring 13 duets, and the second part scheduled for October, with an additional 12 or 13 songs. Obispo emphasizes his role as a composer who sings, a sentiment he shared during his last tour. For "Heritage," he aimed to position himself as a composer collaborating with artists who genuinely resonate with his life and musical inspirations. He mentions that he started the project with Bruno, Benabar, and Icar, and listeners can hear an excerpt of his duet with Benabar, "Reste-til du Bonheur." The song of the day featured is "Il faudrait que pleuve l'amour," a duet with Francis Cabrel. Obispo describes this collaboration as a significant event, noting that he and Cabrel have known each other for a while and previously collaborated on a song, but this is their first official duet. He recounts that he had the pleasure of reinterpreting Francis Cabrel's songs for his project, and he sent the results to Cabrel, who he believes was happy and proud. Obispo clarifies that "Heritage" is not just a compilation of covers but an homage to artists who have inspired him in French music. He expresses his admiration for artists like Paul Nareff, Souchon, and Woulzy, and even mentions being a fan of Claude François in his youth, which led him to discover the French version of "Le Soleil." He also shares his fandom for Marc Lavoine. Musically, Obispo states that "Heritage" aims for a 70s stylistic spirit, drawing inspiration from artists like George Harrison and incorporating blues chords. He notes that he not only pays homage to admired artists but also references them within his own songs, citing examples like Souchon and Woulzy, and even Johnny Hallyday. He believes this is a matter of honesty, as the artists who influenced him are the reason he is able to create music. The album is described as a fusion of French song and rock, a grand homage to French music. The album features a diverse cast of collaborators, including Zazie, Renaud, Gaëtan Roussel, Axel Bauer, Michel Jonas, Julien Clerc, and Michel Delpech. Obispo shares an excerpt of his virtual duet with Michel Delpech, "Weight is White," expressing his admiration for Delpech's voice and his past work on an entire album dedicated to Michel Delpech's songs. He also mentions the opportunity to create a virtual duet with Daniel Levy and a duet with Philippe Pascal, whom he considers an idol from his adolescence. Another featured duet is with Icar, titled "Viens le grand Icar." Obispo shares a message from Icar, who playfully asks if Obispo would be willing to include the phrase "Do you do you do you" in a future song. Obispo confirms his fondness for this expression, which has become a recurring element in his work, even appearing on merchandise. He explains that this phrase is a way for him to inject humor and lightness into his music, especially given the many serious problems in the world. He also expresses a desire to create a punk-inspired track. The conversation returns to the single with Francis Cabrel, "Il faudrait que pleuve l'amour," highlighting its theme of environmental concern and its relevance to the planet. Obispo confirms that the first volume of "Heritage" is released on May 22nd, with the second volume in October. He draws a parallel between his album release strategy and George Lucas's approach with "Star Wars," releasing films in stages. The segment concludes with Obispo introducing a song by The Cure, "Boys Don't Cry," which he and the RFM host played. He expresses his appreciation for the band, mentioning Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, and Lawrence Tollars. The song "Boys Don't Cry" plays, and the interview ends with thanks exchanged between Obispo and the RFM host.