Renée Martel: Devoted to Music

Her career really took off in 1968, with the hits Liverpool, Je vais à Londres and Johnny Angel. The singer was kind enough to answer our questions.

I remember it was a Christmas album on which I was singing with my parents. I was standing on a chair during the recording. At the time, you sang, it was recorded and that was it. If you made mistakes, too bad! They were recording the album as you sang. My father used to nudge me with his elbow when it was my turn to sing. I was about six and a half years old.

Yes, all the time! Stage fright is positive, it shows that you’re aware of what you’re going to do on stage. You’re about to show the audience who you are and what you’re capable of.

I’ve been doing this for so many years, it’s always been my life. It’s no longer a matter of finding inspiration; it’s a necessity. When I was five, singing came into my life and I never asked myself why. If I were told today that it’s over, that I have to stay at home, I wouldn’t know what else to do.

About three years ago, an eleven-year-old girl came to see my show. I will always remember her. We met, and she was shaking when I shook her hand. She told me, “You’re my idol!” How was that possible? She was 11 and I was almost 70! Then she told me, sadly, that I hadn’t sung her favourite piece. “Oh no, and what is your favourite piece?” Then she answered Donne-moi un jour, a song I wrote with my son’s father many years ago. I almost passed out from shock! Here is an 11-year-old, and not only does she know Donne-moi un jour, it’s her favourite song! I couldn’t believe it.

For the past decade, I have had audience members of all ages. Sometimes they’re children, sometimes teenagers, sometimes in their twenties. Those in their thirties know my songs because of their parents. It’s fun, because it makes me realize that my music has staying power.

I go home. I always create at home. Every year, I take two months off, away from home. I go to Mexico, always in the same condo unit. I go chat with iguanas! It really allows me to take a step back and relax.

We’ve known each other for 42 years and we love to sing together. I’ve been sick for ten years and I told him, “I wouldn’t want to end my career without having done at least one show with you.” Then, we made an album and toured together. We were so happy!

We have great chemistry. You can’t sing with just anyone. Patrick has a wonderful voice.

Yes, I wear two hearing aids. I’ve been hearing-impaired since I was born. It’s hereditary.

I don’t wear my hearing aids on stage, it would be too loud. Otherwise, I wear them all the time. I have already blown out TV speakers! My children used to tell me, “Mom, the TV is too loud. Put your hearing aids on, mom!” Today, I’m used to it.

My mother had hearing loss, but it was gradual. For myself, it was from birth. I’ve always had hearing problems. I used to go to the doctor to receive treatments. Implants were suggested to me, but my audioprosthetist advised me to try hearing aids first. That was a long time ago! They ended up working out for me.

As time goes by, I see more people with hearing aids. When I wore hearing aids for the first time, I was sitting in the living room and heard this huge noise. It was my cat eating!

I was about thirty years old. That’s when I heard birds singing for the first time. I found it really loud! Sometimes, I would walk and say to myself, “My God, I’m so noisy!” There were all these sounds I had never heard before. When you are born with hearing problems and receive your first hearing aids, you must get used to hearing new sounds for the first time. Today, I can say that I am used to it!

Thank you for sharing, Ms. Martel!