Interview:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Return to article page To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------This story was printed from FindArticles.com, located at http://www.findarticles.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Interview Nov, 2000 LARA FABIAN.(Brief Article) Author/s: Evelyn Mcdonnell POP'S NEW BIG BELTER Just when you thought the world was free of Francophonic pop stars with celestial vocal prowess, Lara Fabian steps into the breach caused by Celine Dion's maternity leave. Fabian's previous four records made the Belgian belter (who now makes Montreal her home) a multimillion-selling star in the French-speaking world. With her self-titled English-language debut, she's taking on America. Fabian speaks in crisp and proficient English, though sometimes, she falls into the odd choice of words typical of a non-native speaker. For instance, math and mathematical pop up repeatedly, for reasons that are not always apparent. But Fabian insists it's passion, not calculation, that connects her classical training with her love of pop, and that drives her through the new album's melange of opera, disco, and balladry. Fabian is proudest of her songwriting; it was her anti-homophobia anthem "La Difference" that made her a star in France. She wrote or co-wrote 90 percent of Lara Fabian. Will it play in Peoria? Hit-makers Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey), Patrick Leonard (Madonna), and Brian Rawling (Cher) each produced tracks--you do the math. EVELYN MCDONNELL: You've already had great success as a Francophonic pop star. Why is it important to you to reach the English-speaking world as well? LARA FABIAN: Because English is the universal language. No matter where you come from, if you sing in English, you can cross over to the world. EM: If you didn't cross over, would you be content with the success you've had thus far? LF: It's funny you should say "content"; contentment is a mathematical word. It doesn't apply to music. It's not like you finish a meal and you're happy. Music is limitless: You want to reach as many people as you can. I have always had the dream to succeed. Growing up, I loved Queen, Journey, Toto, Barbra Streisand. I'm not a Francophone; I'm a music lover and a songwriter.

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Interview:

EM: Was it hard to write in English? LF: Yes and no. Music by itself says a few things; the language you write in flows out of the music. EM: You worked with powerful producers on this record. Were you intimidated? LF: Yes, I was scared, it was like stage fright, but I worked through it. If you've gotten to the door, you shouldn't doubt you can open it. EM: Columbia Records is backing Lara Fabian with the first money-back guarantee in the company's history. Whose idea was that? LF: I don't want to talk about that. That's a record-company thing. EM: Okay. Due to your French connection and vocal range, you have been and are going to continue to be compared to Celine Dion. Does that get annoying? LF: I've been compared to so many people--Streisand, Celine--it doesn't bother me. Why worry about being compared to the best? EM: What inspired you to write a song about homophobia? LF: A conversation with my best friend, who is gay. He said to me, "What frightens people about homosexuals is the difference." And I said, "What difference could there be?" We're all people. It's ignorance and fear that breed prejudice. Evelyn McDonnell is a frequent Interview contributor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------COPYRIGHT 2000 Brant Publications, Inc. in association with The Gale Group and LookSmart. COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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