‘Emilia Perez’ songwriter Camille responds to controversy, says we don’t support hate speech or racist speech.
By Ryan Fleming
During an interview with Deadline about her song and score Oscar nominations, (and her) Critics Choice win, Emilia Pérez songwriter Camille expressed relief in being able to talk about the recent controversy surrounding the film.
“It actually feels like a relief to be able to talk about it, and it’s important to talk about these things,” says songwriter Camille. “It’s been very painful for us because you cannot control what other people choose to say, but we don’t support hate speech or racist speech.”
While Emilia Peréz started their Oscar campaign season with a meteoric rise, earning an almost record-breaking 13 nominations, unearthed posts made on X from lead actress Karla Sofia Gascón has halted that momentum. In a recent interview with Deadline, director Jacques Audiard disavowed the actress’ posts and opinions, which Camille says is the opinion of everyone else on the film.
Even amidst a controversy as this, Camille wants to make sure everyone involved in the film gets the recognition they deserve. “We continue this campaign because we all dedicated so much of ourselves and our creativity to this film, and we are so grateful to all the people that have supported us so far. We give all space to that campaign through the last week of meeting people, doing Q&As and being back together in Los Angeles.”
I encourage Pas de Merde followers to tune in to WRIU(90.3 FM and streaming at wriu.org) Sundays at 6 pm for more great film music.
J’ai failli oublier! If you love the radio show (below) you may want to read Mr. Cresser’s latest collection of short stories. His most recent work The Book of Norman, is available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu and Rakuten Kobo.
Selections from the Picture This broadcast:
• Amelie’s Waltz from Amelie, composed by Yann Tiersen
• From The Triplets of Belleville, composed by Benoit Charest
• Tour de France
• Belleville Rendez-vous, a collaboration between -M-, aka Matthieu Chedid, and Charest
• The Jungle of Belleville
• Title theme from My Uncle, composed by Alain Romans
• Four Songs composed by Georges Auric
• Where is Your Heart from Moulin Rouge
• Suite 2 from Roman Holiday
• Suite 1: Titles and Suite III: The Eiffel Tower from The Lavender Hill Mob
• Title song from Bonjour Tristesse, performed by Juliette Greco
• Title theme from Call My Agent composed by Christophe Mink and Loik Dury
• Three songs composed by Francis Lai
• Olivier from Tender Moment
• I Wonder Why from Tender Moment, performed by Nicole Croisille
• Title song from 13 Hours in France
• Day for Night Suite from Day for Night, composed by Georges Delerue
• Truancy from The Four Hundred Blows, composed by Jean Constantin
• Charlie and Lena from Shoot the Piano Player, composed by Georges Delerue
• From Jules and Jim
• Title Theme composed by Georges Delerue
• The Whirlwind, composed by Georges Delerue, Yip Harburg and Cyrus Bassiak. performed by Jeanne Moreau
• Title song from Kid of Paris, composed and performed by Charles Aznavour
• She-She from The Seven Faces of Woman, composed and performed by Charles Aznavour
• The Other Waltz from Amelie, composed by Yann Tiersen
• Title song from Poly’s Vacation, composed and performed by Charles Trenet
• Haiti from Zou-Zou, composed by Vincent Scotto, performed by Josephine Baker
• Feeling Like a Million from Babes in Arms, composed by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, performed by Josephine Baker
• Dream Ship from Princess Tam Tam, composed by Alain Romans, performed by Django Reinhardt
• Title song from The Wild West, composed and performed by Jacques Brel
• Tender Heart from An Idiot in Paris, composed and performed by Jacques Brel
• Midnight in Paris from Have Moicy!, composed by Con Conrad and Herb Magidson, performed by the Unholy Modal Rounders
• My Funny Valentine from Chet Baker Sings, composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, performed by Chet Baker
• Belleville, written and performed by Django Reinhardt
• Minor Swing from Lacombe Lucien, written and performed by Django Reinhardt
• Title Theme from The Monkey in Winter, composed and performed by Michel Magne
• Tontons swing from Gun-toting Uncles, composed and performed by Michel Magne
• LeFestin from Ratatouille, composed by Michael Giacchino, performed by Giacchino and Camille
On June 29, I was among the lucky 7000 concert-goers gathered in Theater Antiques to behold piano man Chilly Gonzales perform at the 2019 Vienne Jazz Festival. Jazz à Vienne has been celebrating the world of jazz since 1981. The festival has a variety of concerts and different stages – the grandest being the Roman theater, built in 1 AD.
As the show started, most of us sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the arena were fanning ourselves with our programs, as the temps rose over 110 degrees before the sun went down. Chilly, it was not. But the performer nicknamed “Gonzo” cooled the audience with his humor, original songs and an impressive array of piano styles – not strictly jazz, but also blues, classical and his own uniquely “Gonzo” flavorings.
Between songs, Gonzo joked with the audience in both french and english. His french dialect has a Montreal flavor (he was born there). And I detected a slight Brooklynese present in his English – especially when he commanded the audience of clap-a-longs to follow the beat by watching “my fucking foot!” The sweaty crowd in the ancient arena laughed and sang, and most of of us stayed on the beat of his bouncing bedroom slipper.
Gonzales, whose (birth name is Jason Charles Beck, has collaborated with artists Jarvis Cocker, Feist, Peaches, Drake and Daft Punk.
In 2018, Gonzales launched his own music school. According to his Wikipedia entry, “musicians from around the world joined him to study at The Gonzervatory, an 8-day all-expenses-paid residential music performance workshop in Paris. The workshop included coaching sessions with Gonzo, followed by masterclasses from Gonzales’ friends and collaborators.” Cool!
Vienne’s Roman Theatre was built in 40-50AD and seen as the largest in Roman Antiquity
I actually came to see Gozo in Vienne quite by accident. I had purchased tickets to see Camille perform in the “Up Above My Head” collaboration, which was actually the previous night in Vienne, but I had confused dates (as I often do when on a lengthy European vacation.) So while I was quite depressed about screwing-up and missing my favorite French chanteuse Camille, Gonzo pulled me out of my funk with his wonderful show. It’s always great to see someone completely new in concert and to become an immediate fan. C’est moi!
I’d also like to note how helpful the Vienne Tourist office was, as well as the Jazz à Vienne ticket manager, who granted my wife and I free replacement tickets to see the Chilly Gonzales show after I explained how we confused our dates. As has consistently been our experience, the French people were gracious and accommodating to we stumbling and fumbling travelers.
Pas De Merde 