A few months after Véronique Béliveau announced her retirement from singing, she is preparing to take the microphone again for an evening. She will take the stage on Monday as part of the fourth edition of The night of depression at the St-Denis Theater in Montreal.
The traditional Night of Depression was created in 2020 and has one goal: to shake off the January blues that strike more than once after returning from the holidays. The show, which brings together more than fifteen artists under the patronage of Christian Bégin, aims to displace Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year, which for some falls on the third or fourth Monday of January.
For this new edition, Véronique Béliveau will meet on stage peers from different backgrounds; France Castel, Anne Dorval, Laurent Paquin, Guylaine Tanguay, Gisèle Lullaby, Marie-Eve Janvier and Pierre Flynn are just some of the personalities who accepted Christian Bégin's invitation.
“It’s a big party; We are several singers and artists from different backgrounds who come together to spend the year happily. We sing depressing songs – that's the concept – but it often gets silly. “I was promised a very exciting evening, so I couldn’t miss this opportunity,” says the singer.
Far from the scene
The one who was elevated to the rank of pop music icon in the 1970s and 1980s with the titles Transit, Cover Girl (Cache ton coeur) and Make A Move On Me, has become more discreet in recent years and has his public Services reduced to a strict minimum. She chose to work in the shadows of the limelight alongside her partner Josélito Michaud for his production company.
As with The Night of Depression, the rare occasions when she could be heard singing were the result of invitations she “just couldn’t refuse.” An example? Masked Singers, where in 2022 she performed songs by Lady Gaga, Pat Benatar and Miley Cyrus incognito under her firefly costume.
“It's been quite a journey! I felt like I was returning to my childhood. We don't have the opportunity to give a performance like this anywhere else. I had a lot of fun, it was an extraordinary experience,” she says.
Enough to make her pursue her singing career? Not exactly.
“Every time I sing, I am convinced that it is the last time I will do it. I'm happy, I like the experience, but I don't miss being a singer. I don't think I could do that today with social media; Everyone always has something to say. I went somewhere else,” she says.
Thao's latest adventures
However, Véronique Béliveau has not ignored her creative side. As an author, she has just completed the third volume of her children's book series featuring Thao, a young Vietnamese heroine inspired by her daughter. Although no release date has been set yet, it is expected to be released later this year.
“We are in the process of finishing the illustrations. For me, Thao’s Adventures has come full circle and should be available soon,” she says.
- The Night of Depression takes place on Monday from 7:30 p.m. at the Théâtre St-Denis. The proceeds from the show will be donated to the Ronald Denis Foundation, which supports people who suffer from massive obesity and are often affected by depression.