Bons Baisers D'Amérique is a French television show which is shown in over 100 countries. Élise was interviewed in December of 1998. The show originally aired in April, 1999.
We will try to describe the scene going on the best we can. This will appear in blue type.
Show host Élisabeth Paradis is riding a tram car in San Francisco, California while describing the show.
Élisabeth: Tonight we talk to Élise Duguay. "Let's Talk About Love" is the World Tour of the most popular Quebecois singer in the world, Céline Dion. The Tour stopped not long ago in Montreal, and we got a chance to talk to one of her background vocalists, Élise Duguay.
We see a gorgeous shot of Élise standing in front of a sunlit window in her home playing "My Heart Will Go On" on the flute.
Élise: They were looking for a background singer in 1994. There were three singers from the United States. One decided to leave, so Mégo, the band leader, thought of me.
It's 2:00PM We now see Élise dressed in a white tee shirt and red shorts, doing aerobics in front of her television in her living room. She laughing at having the camera there.
(voiceover) Élise: In the United States, the background singers don't dance as much as they sing. We do both with Céline. So I have to train myself. I do aerobics everyday that I have shows.
We see Élise now wearing a black coat and blue jeans. She's locking her front door of her home, heading off to the Molson Center.
(voiceover as she's walking down the sidewalk) Élise: Also, I exercise my voice. I do a little at home, plus we do our vocal exercises during sound check.
It is now 4:00PM Élise is now at the Molson Center, walking towards the stage where the band is already warming up. There are also several small children playing on the stage.
(Élise is standing off to the side) Élise: I love it when it's like this: There's no one here. It's quiet-look. It's calm. But tonight, it's going to be crazy!
Pointing to the people onstage: Élise: They're doing sound check.
We can see and hear Élise, Julie LeBlanc, and Gregory Charles warming up with the rest of the performers, minus Céline.
(voiceover) Élise: I never really sang by myself. When I was younger, I listened to performers like Michael Jackson. But I always sang background, I never sang the principal melody. For me, it's like an instrument in the air. It's part of the orchestra. I'm part of the band. That's how I see it.
It's now 7:00PM Élise and Julie are now settled into their dressing room. Julie is sitting to Élise's right, eating chocolates. There are several people in the room, preparing to start doing their hair.
(She's speaking while someone is brushing her hair out) Élise: I think it's an art. It's good to perform with the main vocalist, but also with the other background singers. It's good to mix the voices.
Élise's hair is now pulled straight up on the top of her head in barrettes. They obviously are still in the middle of doing her hair.
Élise: This is great huh? I think I'm ready to perform!
Someone begins to do the Woody Woodpecker sound off camera. Julie bursts out laughing as Élise joins the person. The camera turns and we see Céline, out of makeup and her hair in a ponytail with her head stuck in the door
Élise: Come in here! Come in!
Céline: Hey, look whose the center of attention tonight! (she gestures to the cameras)
Élise: It's mine! It's all mine tonight!
Céline crosses her eyes and puckers her lips, then disappears back out of the doorway. Élise and Julie start to apply their make-up.
Élise: Every time we start a show, and Céline comes out, it's great! You can't get used to something like this: It's impossible to get used to! We feel the people. They cheer and applaud, and we feel it's a little for us too.
Élise waves everyone out of the room so she and Julie can change. It's now 8:55PM Élise, dressed and ready to go, is standing in a hallway alone doing vocal exercises.
(voiceover) Élise: I'm fine in the back. I don't have what it takes to be in the spotlight.
The scene now changes back to Élise's home, she's sitting at her dining room table speaking to the interviewer.
Élise: You have to be generous. I don't want to say that I'm not generous, because I am. But, it's necessary that you open yourself up completely. I like my private life to be with my family and friends, to come home to my house. I like my privacy a lot.
We're now back at the Molson Center, the musicians are walking out to the stage, the crowd cheering. It then quickly flips to Élise performing during "Dans Un Autre Monde"
(voiceover) Élise: Céline is, I think, accessible enough to the fans, to the musicians, and me. The people who come to see us, they remember us and appreciate us.
It now changes to the end of "My Heart Will Go On", the fans are all cheering and singing along. Quickly flips to Élise exiting the stage area behind Céline.
Élise: It's great; you can't ask for more than that. It's huge, it's everywhere. Sometimes things get hectic, but it's still a great life, but at the same time, it's not a real life.