PPerhaps a new genre is emerging: the documentary which owes its viral success to children and young adults who convince their parents to watch it. At the beginning of September, we reported the Kaizen phenomenon, the film which follows the ascent of Everest by YouTuber Inoxtag.
Two weeks later, it was the case of DJ Mehdi: Made in France, d’Arte. The six-episode series dedicated to the genius of musical production from rap to electro has recorded 4.7 million views since it was posted online on September 12 on Arte.tv and YouTube. “The two films have nothing to do with each other, neither on the subject, nor the means, but people put them in parallel, was surprised Bruno Nahlon, the producer of the Arte series. Probably because both say the same thing: “come on, put your phone down and live your life!” »
On Facebook, sociologist Irène Théry, 72, convinced by her sons, shared her favorite. After devouring the episodes “over the course of an early morning of insomnia”, believing that “rap, electro, it wasn’t for [elle] “, she concluded: “It’s never too late”.
DJ Mehdi attracts sixty-year-olds who get to know someone they had never heard of, old parents who discovered his death at the same time as his existence (DJ Mehdi died in 2011, at age 34), and fifty-somethings who still wonder how they could have missed this charismatic artist – already too old or too busy. These latest fans of DJ Mehdi could only approve of this message of musical reconciliation around a rap and electro figure and this hymn to creativity and work.
How do we recognize them?
They wondered if they were the only ones who had never heard of DJ Mehdi (no), and what they were doing at the time. Right after watching the series, they promoted it on social media, saying “for those who don’t know him”. The first episodes gave them nostalgia for audio cassettes and the spirit of celebration around the Football World Cup in 1998. At several points, pieces made them say : “Ah, that was him? » They think he left too soon, even though they found out too late. Aware of not having been among the first viewers of the series, they specify that they have seen it twice.
How they speak
“He was too little known, especially by me. » “I hope music teachers will make their students listen to this. » “I could have crossed paths with him. » “I’m not a fan of rap and yet…” “It’s not my generation but…” “What a masterclass!” » “I didn’t realize its impact in the history of French music. » “I did not understand the scope of Uncle from the country. » “I don’t know why I hadn’t heard more about it.” “He built bridges between cultures. » “I had completely missed this phenomenon. » “What a great documentary even though I knew neither him nor his work! » “What an inspiring journey, I am on the verge of getting back into music! » “If he hadn’t died, he probably would have…”
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