Review: It seems to take twenty years, to locate the quickly atypical achievement of Emeline Michel. Twenty is also the symbolic number of songs performed in the evening of December 9^th, 2006 by the “Siren of Gonaives”. It was under the bare sky of the “Sugar Cane Historical Park” (Parc Historique de la Canne à Sucre) under the threat of rain. The show of the Beauty and the Beasts… on stage.

 

The beautiful voice of conscious generation of 1980, Emeline Michel, and beasts of stage like Makarios Césaire (Guitar), Dominick Kanzaa (Guitar), Carroll Hodge (Drums) added to invited artists such as Raoul Denis Jr (Cello), Joel Widmaier (Drums), recounted in three hours the two decade long career of our "Queen of us all". The rain, fortunately failed to steal a good show, the culmination of twenty years of touring stage performer of "Pè Letènèl” organized by Yole Dérose Productions.

 

"This tour, placed in difficult circumstances, is a success,” welcomed Clarens Renois, the Master of Ceremonies. Emeline, real ball of emotion, had attracted a big crowd in Gonaives, a few days earlier, on December 5^th and 6^th at the occasion of the anniversary of her Hometown College, the Immaculate Conception. This Saturday, the same emotion was palpable at the “Sugar Cane Historical Park” (Parc Historique de la Canne à Sucre), dressed in its natural finery (old mill dating from colonial times, trees dominating the scene...).

 

"Twenty years of emotion, but the passion is still there,” noted Clarens Renois, in the projection of a short film displayed for the public. "The little girl is now our Gonaives Creole Diva", has introduced the MC. At 8:45 pm, a dry voice, seductive, loud, pierces the assistance: Emeline arrives on stage with her long skirt, barefoot, as usual.

"The voice, she says, is the only instrument that passes through the body". Her back twists demonstrate it well. Before each song, an introduction. At each note, a dance. That too, is Emeline Michel: song goes through her whole body, through her closed eyes, her gesture, her complicity with her musicians, and her exchanges with the audience... She has found the perfect teammate in Makarios Césaire, co-author of "Nation Soleil", guitarist-star of the evening. The song "Kote w moun?” considered as the passport or identity card of the artist, says it all.

"La Chanson de Jocelyne" though somewhat less popular than "Pè Letènel" or "A.K.I.K.O." is particularly poignant because the lyrics say the misery of Jocelyne, young girl from the suburbs, and describe the implacable side of Port-au-Prince, town often in ebullition through this democratic transition that never ends.

Emeline, revealed in 1986 during the show “In Tribute to the Youth” organized by Yole and Ansy Dérose in Sylvio Cator Stadium, belongs to the conscious generation of Sidon Joseph, Georges Lys Hérard,... and Beethova Obas. She wears, like a veil, the hope of a better Haiti.

During the show, there is no trace of despair. James Germain and Beethova Obas have played to perfection “3 Fey, 3 Rasin" and "Viejo" with Emeline. Sometimes on the stage, sometimes in the audience, Emeline was "Everyone’s Bride”.

For the 20^th Anniversary celebrating the career of the diva of Creole song, nothing has been left to chance. Jean-René Delsoin, confirmed once again his talent as a choreographer with seven dancers of his Company, by giving punch to the show as enchanting as romantic. The body, also, can talk...

Behind every diva, are hidden songwriters, talented musicians and impresarios. Yole Dérose, once again, played her role to perfection. “Celebrating twenty years of career is a real challenge”, said the Beautiful Widow. “We could never forget Emeline".