| WHAT LARA FABIAN’S MUSIC
MEANS TO ME … I’ve been unsure
about how to approach this essay ever since the first day that the contest was made
available over the ULTIMATE fan site – certainly not because of lack of interest
– but rather because this may well be one of the most difficult essays I’ve ever
tried to compose. As expected, I’ve found myself literally antagonizing for weeks
over how to express what I feel about Lara, knowing full well that the words I write could
potentially bring about the realization of one of my wildest dreams.
Perhaps my greatest challenge is finding the best way to
answer the question of this essay – what Lara’s music means to me. The reason
for this is that what Lara’s music means to me is something very deep, and somewhat
serious. Thus, I want to first explain and describe the passion and excitement I
feel about Lara’s music. Perhaps if I first describe the passion and enthusiasm I
have about Lara’s music, I can then justify why I feel so passionately …
and in this lies the more serious answer to what Lara’s music means to me.
My passion...
Some people would say that I’ve developed an
obsession over Lara and her music, though I feel a "passion" is a more fitting
term. At any rate, I honestly believe (and have no problem telling anyone I know)
that Lara is the best singer/songwriter ever to work in the music industry. Period. Ever
since I first put Lara’s album into my CD player, I’ve been addicted, so to
speak, to her music. It appeals to me on all levels – it entertains me, it amazes me,
it soothes me, it energizes me, it challenges me, it encourages me; the list could go on
and on. Simply put, I’ve never had an artist make such a dramatic connection with me.
I am amazed by her voice, which is unlike any other -
try as many might to compare her to someone else. Her style of music is impossible to
classify, what with a repertoire that includes diverse pieces such as Ivy, Adagio, Till
I Get Over You, Humana, Bambina, Qeudate, and Perdere l’amore. Even in
this short list, the diversity in musical style, and even language, is astounding. I
CANNOT think of another artist that could possibly rival Lara in this way. I once read an
interview, in which Lara said that she was a "chameleon", and I believe that
this is certainly a fitting description.
As a result of my amazement concerning anything Lara,
I’ve paid little attention to any other artist since I discovered her, nearly two
years ago. Though I do understand the importance of listening to and valuing the work of
other artists, I’ve been so intrigued by Lara that hardly anything else truly
captivates me. I think that this comes as a result of being exposed to a talent such as
hers. Once you see what someone like Lara is capable of, the efforts of others seem to
pale in comparison. This may sound extreme, but that is my honest opinion! I cannot wait
to see the day when she is recognized here in the United States as the premiere musical
talent that she is.
In the meantime, I do all I can to introduce Lara to
others. Anyone who meets me will soon learn that I am a HUGE fan, and I always insist that
they listen to her music. "No," I tell them, "you have not heard the best
voice in the world until you have heard Lara’s." If they don’t know whom
I’m talking about, I usually proceed to take out my wallet and show them her picture.
That way, they’ll have a face to connect with the name.
Yes, it’s true. I carry her picture with me.
Speaking of pictures, I have several taped to the front
of my door, here at my college dormitory. I also have a huge poster of her hanging in the
most prominent location of my room. I use pictures I find online as wallpaper backdrops on
my computer screen … and you can ALWAYS be sure that one of her albums (of which I
own every one) is playing in the stereo …
But most of my friends would say that my most …
passionate … moment came the night of the World Music Awards, 2001, in which I knew
Lara would perform. I even took off of work that night, so that I (along with the rest of
the country tuned in to ABC) could watch Lara grace the stage. It would be my first time
to ever see Lara perform, and I WOULD NOT MISS IT. MY VCR was ready, and so was I.
Apparently, so was a huge thunderstorm.
That night, Atlanta, Georgia was hit by a typical spring
thunderstorm - right at the time that ABC was covering the award show. As a result, the
local news station began to interrupt the broadcast – from the very beginning onward
– to provide "live, local, and late breaking alerts" concerning the
storm’s progress. Thus, I found myself watching the local weatherman speaking about
storm fronts, rather than seeing performances, one of which I knew one would be
Lara’s.
I was irate, and I WAS NOT about to miss my chance to
capture her live performance on tape.
What do I do? Exactly what any diehard Lara fan would
do, of course!
I called the station, and asked directly to speak to
someone in charge. I proceeded to explain that I was concerned about the amount of time
the news station was cutting into the World Music Awards, just to remind the viewers that
it was storming outside. Honestly, I did not think the storm was that bad, but maybe
that’s because I was too focused on Lara. At any rate, I explained that I had been
waiting to see the broadcast for weeks, and had even taken off of work.
I knew that up to 25 combined minutes of the broadcast
had been lost, so I demanded to know if Lara Fabian had performed during that lapse. Of
course, the receptionist had no idea who had been performing while we were being told
about the rainy conditions over I-75 South.
So, I asked that my name and address be taken, and that
the news station contact the ABC corporate office and send me a taped copy of any and all
footage that I had not been able to see. I did this just in case Lara had already
performed and I had missed it. I also did this to make a point. Amazingly, they agreed and
told me to call back if the performance was never shown.
Well, this story has a happy ending. The news station
never interrupted again that night (perhaps I scared them!), and Lara’s performance
came later. Naturally, it was breathtaking, and well worth the fight against the news to
ensure that the people of Atlanta were able to see the best performance of the evening!
I still get a thrill out of showing all my friends the
video, full of ridiculous news coverage of the storm!!
So why all this passion and excitement? Quite simply, I
am so dedicated to Lara because I honestly believe that I’ve been changed by her
music on a genuine level. I don’t use the term change lightly. I want others
to see and hear the music of a woman that is capable of impacting and changing a listener
so very much. I want them to experience what she has to say, and I want them to hear how
amazing she sounds saying it.
All that being said, I can now explain the underlying why
of the question, "What Lara’s music means to me?"
What does Lara’s music mean to me?
It means – or perhaps represents – the
story of the last two years of my life told in song - with compassion, understanding, and
heart. As I’ve already written, it’s what inspires me, drives me, and makes me
truly happy. It’s that deep. It’s that personal. And most amazingly, the lyrics
are that accurate.
With all the sincerity that I can offer, (on a more
serious note, beyond all of the thrill of my excitement) I would venture to say that Lara
Fabian’s music has helped me live the last two years of my life with optimism, hope,
and a sense of reality, in light of circumstances that may have otherwise left me
confused, angry, and lost.
With amazing timing, Lara Fabian’s music became a
part of my life during the summer of 2000, at the age of 19, on the eve of a critical
turning point that I could not, at that time, realize would so dramatically change my life
on so many levels. Since that time, I have come to discover the power of Lara’s
music, and it has literally been with me every day. Indeed, there has not been a single
day that has passed that I have not turned to Lara’s music and lyrics for
encouragement and inspiration.
Not one.
My first introduction to Lara was her English debut
album, and needless to say, I was captivated by the beauty and strength of her voice, the
artistic quality of her music, and the sincerity and honesty of her lyrics. I enjoyed the
musical diversity showcased by titles such as Broken Vow and I Will Love Again. In
short, I was hooked.
It did not take me long, therefore, to track down
Lara’s previous albums in French. This was natural for me, not only because of my
newfound interest in Lara, but because I have been a student of the French language since
the age of 15, and now pursue French as one of my majors at the University of Georgia. To
hear Lara sing in the language that I have come to love and devote my education to was
truly amazing.
Yet for me, the lyrical content of Lara’s music
(particularly the French material) was what made her stand apart from any other artist
that I had ever been attracted to. It was as if Lara’s words, though often
autobiographical, were written specifically for me. In some ways, I suppose that’s
what makes a great artist extraordinary – an ability to speak to the listener on a
very personal and intimate level. To touch the soul and inspire the mind – that is
what true music does. For me, Lara’s music has done just that. It’s helped
inspire me to be myself and follow my heart … despite criticism, pain, and doubt.
But it’s been a journey …
You don’t know, I won’t let you see me.
I will hide, I will lie, as true as can be. You just don’t have what it would take to
be a part of me. LARA FABIAN – PART OF ME
Hiding and lying, as true as can be – it’s a
game that I’m far too familiar with. Sadly, many men and women who have lived through
similar experiences as myself might say the same thing. Lying to yourself while
desperately believing that you are living truthfully is a way of life that many are bound
to. But when you live in a society of built on certain ideas, no one wants to be
different.
La différence … quand on y pense … mais
quelle différence? LARA FABIAN – LA DIFFERENCE
(The difference … but if you think about it
… what difference is there? LARA FABIAN – THE DIFFERENCE)
This song of Lara’s has had a profoundly powerful
impact on me that cannot be stressed enough. The truth of its message and the beauty of
its melody never cease to amaze me. This song found me in June of 2000, precisely
during the period in my life when I was first beginning to try to acknowledge to myself
who I was, and what I felt on the inside. And most painfully, what I was realizing about
myself seemed to contradict everything I had ever been taught and come to believe. How
could I be different? Why?
I was raised in a very morally, socially, and
religiously ultra-conservative family. As a result, I came to see, understand, and often
judge the world in a certain way. There were those who were right, and those who were
wrong. And to me, at the time, everything was an issue of morality. I believed in a God
who judged, and I was terrified of him judging me. I tried to deny to myself what I
felt, but how could I hide from God?
Dieu aide les exclus … puisque nous sommes
tous les enfants de Dieu. LARA FABIAN – QUE DIEU AIDE LES EXCLUS
God help the outcasts … for we are all your
children. LARA FABIAN – GOD HELP THE OUTCASTS
Hearing Lara sing about this particular
"difference" that I was beginning to deal with in my own life eventually helped
bring me to believe something that I initially never thought possible … I am who
I am because that's how I was made to be. And just as Lara says to her audience in
her LIVE ALBUM ... with homosexuality, there is NO difference! Love can be
real for anyone, and with love, there exists no difference. But I did not come to this
place in my heart without having to fight my past, my own fears … and my family.
Toi qu'on appelle l'enfant d'un monde en déroute,
Il te faudra apprendre à ignorer leurs doutes, leurs manque de confiance …regarder
droit devant. Leur prouver que tout n'est jamais qu'une question de temps…
Ne les écoute pas... Toucher tes rêves personne ne t'en empêchera! LARA FABIAN –
ALLELUIA
(They call you a child lost in a world gone crazy
… but you must learn to ignore their doubts, and lack of confidence. Look straight
ahead, for their approval is only a matter of time. Don’t listen to them, reach for
your dreams – no one will hold you back! LARA FABIAN – ALLELUIA)
I’ve learned the hard way that some people will
judge without understanding. Even your closest family and friends.
To make a very long story short, ALLELUIA carried
me through a time when I was not even welcome with my own parents, after I took an open
stand about who I was, and who I always had been. Thankfully, I had a circle of amazing
friends who emotionally supported me. And all along, I had Lara’s words to remind me
… "don’t listen to them … reach for your own dreams, no one will hold
you back." Sometimes you have to learn to shut your ears to what other people tell
you, as long as you believe in what your heart is saying. That’s why this particular
song has been such an anthem of optimism for me … I trust Lara’s words that life
can and SHOULD BE lived to the fullest, regardless of obstacles that others place in the
way.
The last two years of my life have been obstacle ridden,
but this is nothing unique. Everyone faces difficulties - that's life, that's
reality. And Lara's music is not afraid to reflect this. Her music is genuine
... she sings of no fairy tails. She sings of life truthfully.
To express the ways that I feel I've grown and matured
in the last two years is neither the intent nor the purpose of this essay, but suffice it
to say that I am happier, stronger, and more secure today than I was two years ago. I am
pursuing dreams that I used to be afraid of. No longer will I reject or deny who I am,
believing in some way that I am different. Like Lara says, "I am who I am, what else
could I be? I stand where I stand, I choose to be me." In learning to accept myself,
I’ve learned more than I ever thought possible about the beauty of an open mind and
heart. I’ve been able to let go of the mindset that I was raised to have, yet still
believe in my heart that everyone is in fact a child of God.
And these are the themes of Lara’s music.
I honestly believe that listening to Lara Fabian's music
has proven a significant factor in bringing about these changes in me, as so many of her
songs speak about the importance of self discovery, independence and growth. Songs such as
Humana and J'y Crois Encore have also moved me deeply ...
I wish to offer the deepest thanks to Lara Fabian for
everything she has ever written and sung. Your music means to me far more than
anything I could ever express in words, try as I may. My life is different
because of what you’ve taught me. I never would have believed that music could teach
me so much. But now, I do.
J'y crois encore, à tout jamais encore plus fort
... Le silence a eu tort ... J'y crois encore. LARA FABIAN - J'Y CROIS ENCORE
(I still believe, forever, and ever stronger ...
this silence has been wrong ... I still believe.)
LARA FABIAN I STILL BELIEVE
I believe that Lara Fabian will continue to make
incredible music and influence many more, just as she has so deeply influenced me. I also
believe success as an artist is not determined by platinum sales, but by the quality of
music and the sincerity of the heart. Amazingly, Lara has achieved both - a true rarity.
It is for that reason that I so admire Lara, and wish more than anything to one day see
and possibly meet the woman that has challenged and changed me so much.
One day, I know I will.
Much thanks to the Ultimate Site and to Pam Francis for
making this contest possible.
Sincerely,
Josh McElroy
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