Black Pink, Pharrell Williams, Mika, Vianney, Polnareff gathered for the Yellow Pieces gala
WE WERE THERE – The concert event, in favor of hospitalized children, took place at the Zenith on Wednesday and will be broadcast on Saturday evening on France 2.
For four hours, an exceptional concert marked the end of the Yellow Pieces operation. It was long, but it was worth it. And, for viewers, the broadcast of the show on France 2 on Saturday will be shortened to two hours. On Wednesday, the Zénith de Paris welcomed a dozen artists mobilized for the operation: from the American pop star Pharrell Williams to the Swedish Daniel Lozakovich, a 21-year-old virtuoso violinist, via the BlackPink, the Korean girl band, who made their fans hysterical. French-speaking artists including Mika, Gims, Vianney and even Christine and the Queens also answered the call. Brigitte Macron and Didier Deschamps, the sponsors of this 34e edition of the Yellow Pieces, attended the evening behind the scenes.
8:30 p.m. The show begins. Mika, the godfather of this evening, goes on stage in an extravagant sequined costume, as usual. His speech ends with the arrival of Pharrell Williams, whose voice has not resonated in French concert halls since 2014. Accompanied by four dancers, the American pop star launches his greatest hit, Happy, that the audience takes up in chorus. Pharrell takes the opportunity to pay tribute to Daft Punk (separated for almost two years) by interpreting Get Lucky. Bright blue jumpsuit and ear-to-ear smile, rapper Kid Cudi makes his turn. Accompanied on the piano by Alexandre Kantorow for his song Poursuit of Happinessthe 38-year-old American ignites the audience, who sings, dances and jumps until the floor of the Zenith shakes.
A show rich in artistry and emotion
On the French-speaking artist side, we were served. Vianney, who recently announced that he was taking a “break” in his career, took up his guitar for an evening. Moved, he interpreted, alongside Mentissa, former candidate of The Voice, And Bam, song he wrote to her. With its tube Gently, the rapper Soolking in turn set the audience on fire. The less convinced sat with their arms crossed for half the song, before letting themselves be carried away by the chorus, heard all summer long on the radio and in bars. Mika, Gims, Christine and the Queens and Michel Polnareff were also able to perform their greatest hits. But disappointment: Angèle is missing. The 27-year-old singer canceled at the last minute. Viewers are only entitled to a video of her performing Taxi at the Zenith, recorded a few days earlier.
In front of sumptuous marine decorations, the cellist Gautier Capuçon then enchants the room with the Suite for solo cello n°1 of Bach. Pianist Alexandre Kantorow, the only Frenchman to have won first prize in the Tchaikovsky competition, takes over. Then comes Swedish Daniel Lozakovich, a 21-year-old virtuoso violinist, playing Bach and Tchaikovsky to perfection. The hairs of the wick of his bow break as his frenzied performance progresses. In the room, the spectators are white-hot when the turn of the BlackPink comes.
The BlackPink, the highlight of the show
It’s midnight when the girl band comes on stage. After 3 hours of show, the public could be bored. But it is not so; such a poster for 13 euros the place deserves a little patience. Pink glow sticks, signs, disguises… The fans – the «Blinks» as they call themselves – are overexcited. Miniskirts and high black boots, Korean women interpret Shut Down et Pink Venom, two songs from Born Pink, their latest album. No matter the song, K-pop fans are jubilant. And measure their luck: the BlackPink are not about to return to the French scene. Their European tour ended in December and the four artists are flying to Asia, where they will perform until the summer.
