Hélène Segara

[Nakharar]

Hélène SEGARA

 

http://www.centreathanor.com/upload/calendrier/141/HELENE%20SEGARA%20retaillé.jpg

 

 

Hélène Segara rose to fame after landing the role of Esmeralda in the hit musical "Notre-Dame De Paris". Managed by Dalida's brother, Orlando, she has gone on to become one of the most popular female singers on the Francophone music scène.

 

Hélène Ségara was born in Six-Four-les-Plages, a small seaside town on the Mediterranean coast, on 26 February 1971. Hélène spent her early childhood living with her Italian father, an office clerk who worked at the Seyne-sur-Mer shipyard, and her Armenian-born mother, who worked in the local tax office. When her parents divorced in 1979 Hélène went to live with her mother, but relations between the two became increasingly strained and the young girl began to spend more and more time with her grandparents.

 

Hélène had been a passionate music fan from an early age and her childhood dream was to launch a professional singing career. Her grandparents actively encouraged her passion and, at the tender age of 11, Hélène took the first step towards achieving her dream, winning a local song contest with her performance of the Nana Mouskouri classic "L'Amour en héritage".

 

Meanwhile, Hélène's relationship with her mother continued to deteriorate and, when she turned 14, she decided to move out and go and live with her father. The move coincided with a particularly turbulent period in Hélène's adolescence. The teenage rebel insisting on leaving school as soon as she could and began singing in a series of clubs and bars along the French Riviera. Hélène wasted no time in adapting to her new lifestyle, earning valuable live performance experience and attracting a local following of fans.

 

The talented teenage singer soon built up her own extensive repertoire, largely made up of covers of French and Anglo-Saxon hits. In 1993 Hélène went into the studio for the first time to record a debut EP entitled "Loin" (Far). Unfortunately, Hélène's debut release failed to make any kind of impact on the French charts.

 

 

 

Paris

 

In 1996 Hélène decided to make a few major changes in her life, leaving the South of France to move to Paris with her 6-year-old son Raphaël. Life in the French capital proved to be fairly tough for the first few months, Hélène missing the warm Mediterranean sun and the vibrant Latin temperament of the people in the South. However, Hélène gradually built up a small circle of new friends and colleagues who introduced her to producer Fabrizio Salvadori. It was Salvadori who would bring the young singer to the attention of Orlando (brother and producer of the famous 70's diva Dalida).

 

Orlando was immediately impressed by Hélène's voice and offered his services as her impresario. Under Orlando's guidance, Hélène would totally change her media image, shedding several kilos in the process. Orlando went on to introduce his young protégéé to a host of leading songwriters and composers – and before long, Hélène was ready to record her official debut single "Je vous aime Adieu". The song, which proved to be an instant hit with the French public, was to launch young Hélène Ségara's career in style.

 

Encouraged by the success of this first single, Hélène went into the studio to begin work on her debut album "Cœur de verre" (Heart of Glass). The album was written by the hit songwriting team which had come up with "Je vous aime Adieu" - Thierry Geoffroy, Christian Loigerot and Christian Vié – and also featured contributions from Hélène herself. Following the huge critical success of "Je vous aime adieu" (the song won 'Le prix Rolf Marbot' awarded by the French music copyright association, Sacem, in the spring of '97) Hélène went on to release a second single from the album. The single "Les Vallées d'Irlande" was written by the brotherly double act Alain and Marc Nacash.

 

However, the highlight of Hélène's first album was undoubtedly her duet with the classical Italian singing star Andrea Bocelli. The pair teamed up on the track "Vivo per lei" – although their duet was actually a virtual one, the singers recording their individual contributions in their own separate studios.

 

 

 

Esmeralda

 

In 1997 Hélène auditioned for the role of Esmerelda, the female lead in Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante's musical "Notre-Dame de Paris". Much to her disappointment, Hélène was pipped at the post by the Israeli-American star Noa, who was finally chosen to play Esmerelda. However, after recording the album version of "Notre-Dame de Paris", Noa decided that her hectic schedule would not allow her to set off on tour with the stage version of the musical. Plamondon and Cocciante were thus faced with the problem of finding a new Esmerelda to step in and take Noa's place at the last moment. And it was then that the pair came up with the bright idea of casting Hélène in the role.

 

Hélène thus found herself thrown into rehearsals with the musical's French/Quebecois cast, preparing for the role she thought she'd lost. As music fans will know, "Notre-Dame de Paris" has proved a phenomenal hit to date, turning young Hélène Ségara into a household name. Plamondon and Cocciante's musical, which premièred at the Palais des Congrès in Paris in September '98, went on to play to capacity audiences over the next six months. And in March '99 the cast took "Notre Dame de Paris" to Quebec, where ticket sales have gone on smashing records.

 

Needless to say, "Notre-Dame de Paris" has attracted enormous attention in the media and Hélène Ségara, along with the other singers performing lead roles in the show, has reaped huge benefits in terms of her career. Indeed, the young French singer was recently invited into the studio to record the soundtrack to the French version of Disney's cartoon film "Anastasia". Hélène has also been busy on the fund-raising front, recording a duet with one of her Notre-Dame co-stars, Garou ("L'Amour existe encore") for the compilation CD "Ensemble contre le sida" (All Together In The Fight Against AIDS).

 

 

The Dalida Connection

 

At the end of 1999 producers began working on two new versions of "Notre-Dame de Paris" (a new French version and an English adaptation). Hélène did not join the rest of the cast in work on these new productions, however. Her voice was suffering from over-exertion and her recent performance in Quebec had not gone down well with audiences or local music critics who complained that her vocals had been too weak. Quitting "Notre-Dame de Paris" at the beginning of 2000, Hélène decided to focus her attention on her solo career instead, working under the guiding eye of Orlando, brother, mentor and producer to the legendary Dalida.

 

Héléne's new album, "Au nom d'une femme", proved to be a huge hit with the record-buying public, thanks to the phenomenal success of the first single release, "Il y a trop de gens qui t'aiment" (written by Christia Vie and Christian Loigerot, the duo behind "Je vous aime Adieu"). Hélène's new single was soon to be heard on radio stations right across Europe and, within weeks of its release, rocketed to the top of the charts.

 

Ms. Ségara went on to triumph at the Midem record industry festival, held in Cannes in January 2000, carrying off the award for Best Female Newcomer of the Year at the NRJ Music Awards. But Hélène was pipped at the post at the "Victoires de la Musique" awards the following month, when the award for best new female star went to rising world music star Natacha Atlas. Furious at this outcome, Orlando angrily contested the judges' decision.

 

The awards appeared to have little bearing on Hélène Ségara's career however. While Hélène may have lost out to Natacha Atlas at the "Victoires de la Musique", she continued to triumph in the French charts with no less than three hit singles - "Il y a trop de gens qui t'aiment", "Parlez-moi de nous" (a duet with Andrea Bocelli) and "Ave Maria Païen". Meanwhile, her album sold like hotcakes, sales rapidly topping the 800,000 mark.

 

Hélène toured extensively in France throughout the summer of 2000 and in October of that year triumphed at the Olympia, packing out the legendary Paris music-hall four nights running. One of the highlights of the show was a duet with Bruno Pelletier, her ex co-star from the hit musical "Notre-Dame de Paris". In November Hélène joined a host of French stars in the studio to record the fund-raising album 'Ensemble contre le sida' (Together Against Aids), which featured modern versions of carols and Christmas songs.

 

Following the phenomenal success of her album, "Au nom d'une femme" - which , in the year after its release, sold over a million copies - Hélène went on to triumph at the "Victoires de la musique" awards in February 2001, carrying off the trophy for Best Female Artist of the Year. In October 2001 Hélène Segara was back in the music news with a double CD album, recorded live at her first concert at the Olympia the previous year.

 

 

Beaming

 

Then, Hélène Segara decided to conquer the Spanish-speaking world. She had all her songs translated into Spanish by singer Nilda Fernandez and, in May 2002, she released a compilation in Spanish entitled "Hélène". Hélène’s fans had yet to wait until March 2003 before she would release an original album.

 

This new album entitled "Humaine" was claimed to testify of the artist’s maturity. It featured a series of songs that she qualified herself as ‘light, profound and solemn’. Pregnant with her second child, she looked particularly beaming while promoting the single "L’amour est un soleil" (Love is sunshine).

 

The singer set up touring again, while her record almost topped the 500,000 mark in six months. Her fans reveled in that perfectly-paced, professional show. The tour lasted a few months, during which the artist was accompanied by both her husband--who is also her drums-player--and their baby. Later, she would give a series of gigs at the Olympia from November 3rd to 8th.

 

December 2003

[Vigil]

She is Italian as much as she is Armenian, so, to label her, exclusively, "Armenian" is an insult to Italians because you are assuming being Armenian is better than being Italian.

[Vigil]

Nakharar, I forget to mention in no way was I trying to pick on you.

[Teutonic Knight]

I know many 1/2 Italian 1/2 Armenian people and each and every one of them are extremely good looking.

I hope there are more inter-ethnic mixtures such as this.

[groul]

I hope there are more inter-ethnic mixtures such as this.

For the inter-ethnic marriages the chances are that the kids will end up being assimilated and totally cut off their Armenian roots.

 

IMHO, there are not that many Armenians around to be so generous just for the sake of producing "nice chicks for international use"

 

So unless Armenians somehow boost their demographic habits and make having 3-4 kids per family a minimal standard, I do not welcome any marriages which result in non-Armenian kids.

 

And to avoid possible accusations of intolerance: if the result of the inter-ethnic marriage is Armenian, then I am totally stand for it. I do not care if he or she is black, or Chinese, or Russian, or a Turk as long as their kids are Armenians.

 

That means that the non-Armenian parts must be assimilated by their Armenian environment.

Edited August 7, 2004 by groul

[gamavor]

or a Turk

 

This is a bit tooo much....

[Stormig]

For the inter-ethnic marriages the chances are that the kids will end up being assimilated and totally cut off their Armenian roots.

 

IMHO, there are not that many Armenians around to be so generous just for the sake of producing "nice chicks for international use"

 

So unless Armenians somehow boost their demographic habits and make having 3-4 kids per family a minimal standard, I do not welcome any marriages which result in non-Armenian kids.

 

And to avoid possible accusations of intolerance: if the result of the inter-ethnic marriage is Armenian, then I am totally stand for it. I do not care if he or she is black, or Chinese, or Russian, or a Turk as long as their kids are Armenians.

 

That means that the non-Armenian parts must be assimilated by their Armenian environment.

Not impossible but apparently very rare. If the Armenian parent of the couple had joy in their culture and tolerance for everyone else, I'd think, this would make them someone proud yet open-minded, ideal in getting other people interested in Armenia and Armenians, not least the spouse and of course the children.

[Nakharar]

I know many 1/2 Italian 1/2 Armenian people and each and every one of them are extremely good looking.

I hope there are more inter-ethnic mixtures such as this.

 

I couldn't agree more!

 

What about Armenian-Danish or Armenian-Swedish combinations. My girlfriend is Dutch so this combination could also result in something worthwhile.

[gamavor]

[Vigil]

For the inter-ethnic marriages the chances are that the kids will end up being assimilated and totally cut off their Armenian roots.

 

Agree

 

IMHO, there are not that many Armenians around to be so generous just for the sake of producing "nice chicks for international use"

 

Agree

 

So unless Armenians somehow boost their demographic habits and make having 3-4 kids per family a minimal standard, I do not welcome any marriages which result in non-Armenian kids.

 

Agree

 

And to avoid possible accusations of intolerance: if the result of the inter-ethnic marriage is Armenian, then I am totally stand for it. I do not care if he or she is black, or Chinese, or Russian, or a Turk as long as their kids are Armenians.

 

I Disagree because I would never consider a half Armenian an Armenian unless the other half is semi white. If you are half black and or Asian, you will never be considered Armenian by my standards, well, Asian is not as bad, but still.

 

Furthermore, I would never ever consider a half Turk/Armenian an Armenian. At least if you are going to make the plunge marry someone that will hinder you're rank on the social stage.

 

However, in no way would pick a Madonna Kabala whore over a "Semite" looking Armenian.

Edited August 7, 2004 by Vigil

[Nakharar]

"Semites", especially the Jewish variant, are pretty "white" looking. A paler shade of "white" when compared to some Armenians. I didn't know that there are ranks among nationalities. How high up the ladder are we?

[Vigil]

"Semites", especially the Jewish variant, are pretty "white" looking. A paler shade of "white" when compared to some Armenians. I didn't know that there are ranks among nationalities. How high up the ladder are we?

(Laugh) Sorry, I sound like a Neo-Nazi or something. In general I wouldn't consider a "black man" and or an Armenian Jew an Armenian. Now, you can argue with me and or try to convince that my ideas are racist, but I know better.

 

I am not saying that biologically being "black" holds draw backs, but socially it does. Furthermore, Armenians never were and never will be "black", so, we need start getting rid of this slave mentality that the meida keeps selling to youngsters.

Edited August 7, 2004 by Vigil

[Nakharar]

I never said you are a racist. If you imply that Armenians have to get rid of their minority complex or stop acting "black", I totally agree. But since most of us are a small minority living in foreign countries, it is easier said than done.

[Vigil]

I never said you are a racist. If you imply that Armenians have to get rid of their minority complex or stop acting "black", I totally agree. But since most of us are a small minority living in foreign countries, it is easier said than done.

 

Yes, exactly the "minority" complex has to go. Sorry, Nakharar, I was not implying that you were calling me a "racist", but when ever anything about "race" is mentioned a couple Southern Baptists start complaining.

[groul]

Vigil,

 

I would never consider a half Armenian an Armenian unless the other half is semi white.

Ah, white, black, yellow, I do not really care.

 

My opinion on what makes Armenian an Armenian is the following: there is no such single component that can solely define national self identity but rather a mixture of those components.

 

Those components in my opinion are:

1. blood (or genes)

2. land (or Hayreniq)

3. culture (of which the most important part is the language, than the feeling of being the owner of particular historical heritage)

 

Possessing only one component usually is not enough, but having two of them in some cases can be enough.

 

E.g.:

1. You have Armenian blood, you speak Armenian but do not live in Armenia: you are an Armenian

2. You have Armenian blood, live in Armenia, but do not speak Armenian: you are still an Armenian.

3. Now in case you do not have Armenian blood, but permanently live in Armenia and speak Armenian: the chances are you will eventually become an Armenian (there is a huge impact of language on one's mentality. So if you mostly speak Armenian, at some point you start somehow thinking as an Armenian)

etc. etc.

 

If you are half black and or Asian, you will never be considered Armenian by my standards, well, Asian is not as bad, but still.

I have seen a black guy who was a real Armenian patriot. I had a feeling he is more Armenian than many of those nardi-qebab-patriots

 

And I remember a mulato girl living in Yerevan, whose name was Gayane. She was an Armenian. Another case: there is a black kid who is adopted by an Armenian woman here in Yerevan. He speaks only ARmenian and he thinks like an Armenian (and he will go to army, I think )

 

I would never ever consider a half Turk/Armenian an Armenian.

I know such people. E.g. there is an Armenian guy in Artsakh, married to an Azeri woman. They have kids. The woman works in Artsakh and she renders some unique services for her new homeland. On the other hand, there are lots of cases when kids from an Armenian/Azeri marriage have become Azeries (those who live in Azeri environment).

 

RE: Jews

Mixed marriages with Jews are still OK, I think, as long as the kids are raised as Armenians. From the Jewish point of view I guess the opposite is OK. In any case Armenian-Jewish families where there is no strong feeling of belonging to one of those two nations usually do not feel comfortable neither in Armenian nor in Jewish environments. At least, this is what I have seen.

 

===========================

 

Now, Vigil, we are actually saying almost the same things. The problem is that we model those situations (Armenian marrying a black, etc.) for our own environments: that means that you are thinking L.A. and I am thinking Yerevan. Marrying a non-Armenian in Armenia is less risky than in the U.S. or elsewhere outside Armenia because in the first case there is still the land component present which partially compensates for the lost of the blood component.

 

And exactly for the same reason the "minority complex" can be something huge in L.A., but not in Armenia.

Edited August 7, 2004 by groul

[Vigil]

Groul, I respect you and you're views, but I will never accept a "black Armenian" as an Armenian. I am not a "colorful" thinker, which means I do not buy into this "one world" and "one human race" utopian fantasies.

 

Learn from the mistakes European countries have made.

 

I do not like the fact that Armenians are having interracial and interethnic marriages, but if you are going to take the plunge pick a reasonable candidate.

 

Groul, you are making being Armenian the equivalent of being Jewish. If you all are really desperate why not just import Africans like Israel?

 

I hate getting into this topic because it has been discussed on all levels, but be warned, you can not close this door once it is open.

 

Another case: there is a black kid who is adopted by an Armenian woman here in Yerevan. He speaks only ARmenian and he thinks like an Armenian (and he will go to army, I think )

 

Yeah, I heard of this lady, but every time I think of her it makes me puke. There are many Armenian orphans and yet she adopted a "African"? These are the flat out stupid decisions Armenians make that really makes me question our future.

 

Mixed marriages with Jews are still OK, I think, as long as the kids are raised as Armenians. From the Jewish point of view I guess the opposite is OK. In any case Armenian-Jewish families where there is no strong feeling of belonging to one of those two nations usually do not feel comfortable neither in Armenian nor in Jewish environments. At least, this is what I have seen.

 

No, once you let Jews into Armenia in the next few years they willconnect themselves to the economy and once this is done Armenia's national interest become second to those of Israel.

 

For the record I will never ever consider a half Jew a Armenian, sorry, but by their own definition of what a Jew is, a half Armenian, is a Jew. I see no reason why they are in Armenia when they should go back to Israel.

 

Now, this Jewish community wants us to give them property based on fabrications that they use to have property in Armenia during the middle ages. Sorry, I have these views and in no way am I "prejudice", "racist", and or "Anti-Semitic" because if I was I would base my assumptions on biological differences, which I am not.

Edited August 7, 2004 by Vigil

[groul]

Vigil,

 

but I will never accept a "black Armenian" as an Armenian.

It is your right

 

I am not a "colorful" thinker, which means I do not buy into this "one world" and "one human race" utopian fantasies.

I am not a liberal cosmopolitan too.

 

Learn from the mistakes European countries have made.

Hey, I guess you got the wrong impression from my words, because...

 

I do not like the fact that Armenians are having interracial and interethnic marriages, but if you are going to take the plunge pick a reasonable candidate.

 

... I do not welcome mixed marriages, but as long as they occure its OK for me if the kids are raised Armenians.

 

Groul, you are making being Armenian the equivalent of being Jewish. If you all are really desperate why not just import Africans like Israel? laugh.gif

We are not desperate, though we should be. But bringing in foreign immigrant will not solve the problem of Armenians becoming fewer and fewer every day.

 

As I once said, I do not care that much for the republic but for the Armenian people (AZG).

 

I hate getting into this topic because it has been discussed on all levels, but be warned, you can not close this door once it is open.

 

Well, me either. So just one more short remark, and I stop

 

Another case: there is a black kid who is adopted by an Armenian woman here in Yerevan. He speaks only ARmenian and he thinks like an Armenian (and he will go to army, I think )

Yeah, I heard of this lady, but every time I think of her it makes me puke. There are many Armenian orphans and yet she adopted a "African"? These are the flat out stupid decisions Armenians make that really makes me question our future.

Well actually she adopted bunch of Armenian kids too.

[Teutonic Knight]

Karen jan, that's your opinion but someone who is 90% Armenian and 10% black, asian or semitic is NOT an Armenian and can NEVER be an Armenian even if he/she speaks Armenian and has an Armenian name. Someone who is 10% Armenian and 90% Ukrainian, Italian, Dutch or even Maltese or the darkest of Sicilians can be a perfect Armenian. Skin color is irrelevant. Phenotype/morphology combined with culture and values are all that matters.

[Bakersfieldian]

Karen jan, that's your opinion but someone who is 90% Armenian and 10% black, asian or semitic is NOT an Armenian and can NEVER be an Armenian even if he/she speaks Armenian and has an Armenian name. Someone who is 10% Armenian and 90% Ukrainian, Italian, Dutch or even Maltese or the darkest of Sicilians can be a perfect Armenian. Skin color is irrelevant. Phenotype/morphology combined with culture and values are all that matters.

No appologies forthcoming or necessary.

 

Well said and agreed.

[Vigil]

Karen jan, that's your opinion but someone who is 90% Armenian and 10% black, asian or semitic is NOT an Armenian and can NEVER be an Armenian even if he/she speaks Armenian and has an Armenian name. Someone who is 10% Armenian and 90% Ukrainian, Italian, Dutch or even Maltese or the darkest of Sicilians can be a perfect Armenian. Skin color is irrelevant. Phenotype/morphology combined with culture and values are all that matters.

 

Tk, I agree with this statement, however, in no way would I want to promote it, but like I said earlier if you are going to "take the plunge" pick a reasonable partner or else do not force the culture on a child that will never accepted into it.

[Stormig]

Pretty sad, but it is easy to tell who are diasporans and who actually lives in Armenia.

What if this "black" were to become an Armenian hero?

[Vigil]

Pretty sad, but it is easy to tell who are diasporans and who actually lives in Armenia. What if this "black" were to become an Armenian hero?

 

What is pretty sad is how you are trying to force and, eventually, justify "your" decisions. Like I stated earlier, people like you are only trying to convince themselves.

Edited August 8, 2004 by Vigil

[Stormig]

What is pretty sad is how you are trying to force and, eventually, justify you're decisions. Like I stated earlier, people like you are only trying to convince themselves.

And people like you are only diasporans who always pontificate ad nauseam like they know crap when they can't even spell "your" for weeks on end.

[Vigil]

And people like you are only diasporans who always pontificate ad nauseam like they know crap when they can't even spell "your" for weeks on end.

Your = possessive of 'You'.

You're = contraction of 'you are'.

 

So, what? Everyone makes mistakes, now are you going to go make a entire thread about how bad my grammer is as well? Yes, I know I make grammer and or spelling mistakes, but in no way does it "weaken" my argument. This is not a graded essay and the only thing I care about is making sure, you, as a fellow member understands me. I can write essays using big words and perfect grammer, but in no way would it strenghten my argument.

 

Stormig, I told you nicely to quit camping my posts and unlike you I did not insult you. So, do not make it seem like we are these fascist members that are out to recreate the Nazi regime because we are far from it.

 

You are just "mad" that somone like me is creating more "buzz" then you and "your" mundane ideas of "unity". No one needs to come on these boards and learn how we are all "equal" because all that nonsense is a constant part of society. If we "truly are equal" then why do we need to constantly be reminded of this 'equality"? IF we truly are "eqaul", why don't you open the borders to Turkey and grant everyone citizenship?

 

Every channel you flip through, you can see these ideas being forced feed into our thoughs, ideas, and goals. Furthermore, the only reason they are done so is to speed up assimlation. The United States and countries like the United States, want to racially and ethnically homogenize the landscape, so, any idea of "preservation" is threat to national security.

 

STORMIG, YOU WIN! My ideas are ignored by the "mainstream", however, because my ideas are "radical" they get more attention, but in no way are they stupid or any less valid.

 

You are being more fascist then any "Hiteresque" leader has ever been. Why not just marry a Ethopian Jew and get on with "your" life?

[Stormig]

I wasn't camping your posts, self-proclaimed radical hero/theoretician. I asked a valid question - what if an Armenian citizen of black ancestry could be a great contributor to the country? Such a person being ostracised because of their skin colour, or phenotype, or morphology, without being given a chance, is more Hitleresque than I would have expected. It was you that jumped into the whole "you try to convince yourselves" shenanigans. BS. Answer my contentions before waving arms at "us" and the "mainstream" or what have you, crying foul at the damn liberals trying to make things out for what they are not - it became boring a long time ago. Then again you don't have to answer - just shut up if you're going to post 90% familiar stuff anyway - you, them, us, blah blah blah.