a tribute that spans generations

“My grandmother was a strong, committed, deeply human person,” remembers Clémence Chevreau, granddaughter and custodian of Anne Sylvestre’s precious artistic heritage. A legacy that it would be wrong to reduce to only Fabulettes, wonders of children’s refrains that have become classics, which have left in the shadows a rich repertoire for adults: nearly 300 songs, full of poetry and convictions.

“She dealt with the issues of her time with texts of great finesse,” underlines Clémence, who recalls the rigor of writing acquired by her ancestor thanks to a solid training as a Latinist. It is this background that allowed Anne-Marie Beugras – her real name – to establish herself as one of the first authors and composers, at a time when women were mainly interpreters of songs written by men. A pioneer, she was also a pioneer by setting up her own record label in the 1970s.

A work that is still current

“She knew how to make her mark and gave strength to many women,” says her granddaughter. With her crafted words, the singer took a stand on heavy subjects, such as rape (Sweet home) or abortion (No you don’t have a name), and espoused the great causes of feminism, in A witch like any other Or Eve’s fault, and ecology, in Cry my land.

Fights that are still current and keep his work alive. As proof, this year, fifteen artists from different generations and worlds – Emily Loizeau, Les ogres de Barback, Michèle Bernard, François Morel and Sanseverino… – have reappropriated his songs to share them with the public in an album with varied arrangements that exudes freshness.

At the same time, the complete texts of his texts (excluding Fabulettes): a book that one reads “like a collection of poetry”. For her admirers, five years after her death, these two outings are an opportunity to measure the mark left by Anne Sylvestre. “She taught me that a song could be both light and deeply political,” says Christel, 52. Ludovic, 68, continues to introduce younger people to the work of an “anti-star whose concerts transformed the room into a fraternal assembly”. As for Clémence, “Grandma Anne” had only given her one piece of advice: “Believe in yourself!” A timeless message, from which we should all draw inspiration… in song.