“The red on the screens behind reminds us a little too The Voice no ? And with blue, it feels like a political rally. Can we try blue and orange instead? “On the stage Friday, in the great hall of the Palais des Festivals, Amel Bent settled with the director Tristan Carné, by interposed microphones, the details of his painting with the rapper Hatik. This Saturday evening on TF1, the duo will compete with 1, 2, 3 in two categories: Francophone collaboration of the year and Francophone song of the year.
After a special Covid-19 edition last year, recorded over a whole week in Paris and without an audience, the NRJ Music Awards are back home, live. “And that feels really good,” says the coordinator of the ceremony. Worried until the last moment of having to activate his possible plans B (with gauges reduced to 65% and even to 35%) because of the fifth wave, Jacques Grimal will finally be able to fill all the seats of the large auditorium.
The mask in the public “under penalty of exclusion”
“Last year, we had to do the show in very poor conditions. Cannes and the spectators are the essence of the NRJ Music Awards. And I think everyone is happy to find this again. So, we are going to be very straddling the sanitary instructions. And even go further. The pass is of course compulsory for everyone. And we are going to distribute masks that must absolutely be worn, on pain of exclusion. “
With the pandemic, constraints remain. And for its 23rd edition, the great TF1 show has chosen to adapt. If the Briton Ed Sheerran and the Americans of the group Imagine Dragons will be on the Croisette this Saturday evening with Nikos Aliagas, the public on the spot will have to be satisfied with recorded performances by Coldplay and especially Adele, including the release of the last album. 30 was eagerly awaited.
“For people watching their TV, the pleasure will be the same. We had the choice between having them remotely or not having them at all, it was quickly decided. Especially since for Adele, it is a European exclusivity. She only did one show for the American channel CBS. There was supposed to be another broadcast in Japan and it was canceled. We are really very lucky, ”says Jacques Grimal.
Entertainment on the Croisette
Lucky also to be able to offer again in Cannes an animation that had been lacking. Since Friday, on the forecourt of the palace, a small crowd (whose sanitary pass is also controlled) has thronged in front of the barnum where NRJ relocates all its programming. With Cauet, Manu Levy and all their cliques.
At the same time, in the convention center, the rehearsals continue. And everything must be calibrated to the millimeter. History to limit as much as possible the small technical problems which already enamelled the preceding ceremonies. The list of famous “live hazards” that Clara Luciani would like not to extend. “I have the soles which slip, I can hardly move”, explains during his balances the interpreter of The grenade.
What to do ? Candidate for the title of female artist of the year, she may defend her title Breathe again, competing for the “award” for best song, with a little soda under the shoes. The solution tested on Friday in repetition.