Refugee and immigrant students breathe new life into classic Quebec song

In a Quebec City playground, about a dozen kids sing, danceand clap their hands to a beloved song they've remixed and reinvented.

The tune is a fresh, new version of the hugely popular Quebec song by Gerry Boulet, Toujours Vivant, which the students at Quebec City's Saint-Malo elementary school have reimagined as part of an intergenerational, intercultural music project.

"I like to do this, because we dance. We sing.It's happy. It's fun," said student Destin Kigenge, who is originally from Malawi.

The students, who are between the ages of 10 and 12, are in a specialclass for refugees and immigrants. Theytook part in a year-long project to learn Quebec songs from every decade of the last century.

Before COVID-19 forced seniors' residences into lockdown, the students would also visit with seniors to listen to the music together.

Watch these kids dance:

Students remix Toujours Vivant

4 years ago

Duration 4:28

Immigrant children at Quebec City's Saint-Malo elementary school learn about Quebec culture through an intergenerational, intercultural music project.

Teacher Nancy Fall spearheaded the initiative, which culminated in the choreographed dance party in the park.

This is the second editionof the project. Last year's song and performance involved the students writing an original song that shed light on their experiences coming to Quebec.

For musician and musictherapist Caroline Dupont, giving children who are new to Canada the opportunity to meetsenior Quebecers and enjoy music together is the best part of the project.

"It's intergenerational," she said. "It creates an opportunity to go meet the elders, which is a double opportunity for the elders, who get to meet the new faces of the Qubcois community, and for the children to meet the elders and the wisdom that is part of Quebec's history."

Ludovic Dub, a musician who volunteers as a vocal coach and choir director,said italso helps the children integrate into Quebec society by learning about its musical historyand learning the language.

He said half the students couldn't speak French a year ago, and now they are fluent. The metaphors and poetic language used in music helped, he said.

He saidmusic makes themfeel like Quebecers and understand they are the province's next generation.

"I know they are going to pass through life with this idea that 'we did something, we are Quebecers, we sang in French, we put it our way, and Quebecers will like what we do,'" he said.

For Dub, who has been in Quebec for five years, it also gave him the chance to learn about the province's musical culture.

1990spop song transformed

Dub said the new song transforms the 1990s pop song which the students chose as their favourite and gives it a new mix of reggaeton and soca sound.

"It's important to see things that unite us, not that divide us," he said of the new youth anthem. "This will change the whole world."

Dub said because older Quebecers will instantly recognize the song, both generations can relate to it.

"As a musician, I think rhythm is the thing that can break everything down," Dub said. "With rhythm we can move in the same direction."

"That's why music is a central builder of culture."

A dozen adults were involved in the production, doing everything from donating matching jerseys to filming and editing the video.

• Listen to Julia Caron'sreport on Toujours Vivant here.