MONTREAL – Quebec comedian Genevieve Côté has created a Gangham Style YouTube video that parodies Montreal’s former mayor.
It’s hilarious and timely, as this week, the former mayor of Montreal, Gérald Tremblay was in the news again with the release of a 2004 report that allegedly confirms that he was unaware of any corruption.
Her video shows Tremblay dancing and singing reworked lyrics to PSY’s Gangham Style hit, repeatedly saying “J’t’ai pas au courant” (I didn’t know).
It also features cameos of figures from Quebec’s corruption scandals, including France Charbonneau, who heads the province’s inquiry into corruption in the construction industry.
In an exclusive interview with Global News, Genevieve Côté talks about how the parody came about.
Your videos aren’t always politically focused – what inspired you to make this particular parody?
This is the first time I’ve touched a subject like politics . . . I usually parody singers like Lady Gaga, Celine Dion or characters like Bart Simpson. With all that is said about corruption, it was a good subject for parody and the chance for me to test my style of humour with a political personality.
Get breaking National news
I saw in my head Gerald singing the words “J’t’ai pas au courant” (in English: I was unaware) and I could also imagine him doing PSY’s dance choreography. I was also inspired by Lisa LeBlanc’s “Aujourd’hui, ma vie c’est d’la marde.” I love this girl, she’s doing so many great songs with really good subjects of the reality.
How did you get started with parodies?
My inspirations are the comedy group Rock’n’roll and Beautiful Ears (often called RBO) and the amazing Weird Al Yankovic.
Who worked with you on the project?
I had the assistance of my major sponsor, Benoit St-Jean at Une job.ca, who believed in the potential of my project, Céline Carrier at Style Graphique, Martin Duchesne at MD Construction, and Nancy Chantal at Voyage Imagine.
I worked with my director Mathieu Genest, who’s very talented, he’s directed all my videos and my one-woman show that’s currently running – where he created a tornado behind me when I do my imitation of Maria Callas – it’s beautiful and breathtaking. When I asked Mathieu to explode the Turcot Interchange, he said “Geneviève, you’re amazing!” but really, he is the amazing one!
My make-up artist, Franca Perrotto, took six hours to turn me into Gérald Tremblay.
The actors in the video with me are Gabe Masson, Jean-Jacques Beaudoin and Céline Carrier (in the role of Judge Charbonneau).
When and where did you shoot the video?
We shot the video on November 3 in St-Henri, a neighbourhood in Montreal and a very interesting place to film. We arrived at 1 pm and finished around 8 pm.
The scenes like those in the Gangham video, such as the elevator shot, were filmed in a building on St. Ambroise. It was very funny because sometimes when the elevator doors opened Gérald (me) and Justice Charbonneau (Céline) would ask those in the elevator to dance with us. This gave us some excellent bloopers!
Who wrote the lyrics?
I wrote the lyrics with the help of Luc Boily my former writing teacher who teaches at the National School of Humour in Montreal. He also knows a lot about politics, which helped me a lot in the creative process.
Who’s that singing?
This is me! Without vocal effects! I do not just imitate the voices of women such as Ginette Reno or Edith Piaf, I also do male voices and I love it, it surprises people!
In my show I imitate the voice of singer Mika in a French parody, and I’ve also parodied Quebec comedian André Sauvé and tenor Marc Hervieux. People are very surprised that I measure only 4’11” and weigh 86 pounds!
Do you think Gérald Tremblay will watch the video?
I hope that people will appreciate and laugh with all their heart – and I hope that if Gérald watches the video he will laugh too. That said, it can’t to be easy to be mayor and run a big city like Montreal.
Corruption is not new, it’s everywhere and it will always be. Even in elementary school, when we give our teacher an apple with the intention of getting an A+ . . . is this not a form of corruption?
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.