JOËL LAVOIE
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Okay, this guy knows his music. Joël has music in his blood, he was raised on it, surrounded, fed music his whole life. Of course, you guessed it, he’s a multi-instrumentalist. I worked on a show accompanying poet Jocelyne Verret Chiasson and when I met up with Joël we decided to try putting one of her poems to music. We had both recently taken a workshop on musical production with Marc Pérusse and so we delved right into it in Joël’s home studio. In terms of different computer programs, instruments, and gear, Joël was well equipped for the task.
After our session with Jocelyne’s poem, Joël played me some crazy intricate instrumental tracks he’s been working on. He offered me two to use to inspire lyrics. Lyrics :
TRANSITION (Jocelyne Verret Chiasson/A. M. Lemire, J. Lavoie)
À vous qui aimez l’alcool, la poudre des vedettes plus que moi, sauvez-vous, sinon, je vous décapiterai tous, à commencer par toi et toi et toi… La violence de vos silences, de vos absences m’ont aguerrie. Je repars au combat avec une boussole apalachines En essayant de toujours voler plus haut J’ai traversé des déserts sans points d’eau. Ils étaient toujours arides, vide de toi; je repars à zéro faisant le plein de moi. Je m’anatomise, je dédramatise; je fuis le noir cerise, me rend à Belize Aux poubelles les promesses non tenues, les désillusions, les gros mots, les larmes non retenues. J’ouvre grand les yeux, je n’y laisserai pas ma peau; la lumière du passé éclairera mon présent, l’avenir sera beau. Je mettrai un pas devant l’autre sans me presser, ne reviendrai plus jamais en arrière, c’est décidé. Je m’anatomise, je dédramatise; je fuis le noir cerise, me rend à Belize Je cours vers la lumière émeraude pour ne plus que la douleur me taraude. Je fonce droit devant misant sur le soleil levant. Je suis une femme en devenir |
joellavoie.ca
Lyrics :
WHAT IF (done over Joël's composition "Dance For Two")
What if I’d weathered your drinking If I’d moved to Vancouver with you If I’d held the hand that held mine What if I hadn’t held my tongue If I’d asked you not to run What if I’d been less understanding Had more of a spine Had sent you packing after the unwanted visitor, The broken down car, the forgotten calls What if I’d asked you to use the gold If I’d loved myself just a little bit better Just a little bit more What if I’d been stronger Healthier Happier What if I had fought just that much harder Accepted anger and passion were the same with different names if I’d have confessed everything in a letter What if he hadn’t left me Would I have believed you (more) when you said you would stay would I still have driven you away If I had been a little quieter Less rambunctious Less inquisitive If I had been less picky Less French More graceful Less clumsy with my words What if I had a perfect complexion Better posture If I thought less Bought less Cried less I wouldn’t have been me |
