It is a complete artist who died this Saturday, April 23: with his warm voice, his Belgian expressions and his songs committed to Europe, Arno was an idol for many singers. And for all generations by the way: at 72, he had just shared the stage with Stromae and recorded his voice for a duet with… Mireille Mathieu.
It was the singer herself who revealed it this Saturday evening, during a beautiful tribute sent to AFP: “His almost testamentary desire was to record a duet with me… He had chosen one of my songs ‘La Paloma adieu’ which he re-orchestrated in his own way. Two weeks ago in Brussels, he recorded his voice with great courage, and sent me his version“, explained the interpreter of angry paris. A song that will be released on the Flemish posthumous album, which he continued to record even when very ill. The singer, meanwhile, was keen to finish this duet: “Today, I recorded my part in a studio near Avignon. I learned the terrible news of his death at the end of the session… His departure touches me deeply…“, she says, very moved.
Paying homage to a “true poet“, to “a unique being“, she concludes, hoping that Arno continues to sing where he is now: “This Paloma goes to the firmament of stars“. An incredible mutual admiration between the two artists, knowing that they had never met in real life, prevented in recent years from seeing each other by the pandemic. Before his death, the singer – victim of pancreatic cancer – had also paid a fine tribute in the Parisian to his colleague, who really impressed him. “I have pictures of her when she was young, how beautiful she was! She does not change. And how well she sings! For me, France is the Eiffel Tower and Mireille Mathieu. We know her all over the world“, he had expressed himself, admiringly.
A dream of singing with her that already dates back several years as he explained in another interview. “I am a fan of Mireille Mathieu. My dream is to do something with Mirelle Mathieu but she’s afraid of me“he had told on the radio Nostalgia with his unique way of speaking. A tribute he had continued… in his own way. “It’s true, I find that Mireille Mathieu is French surrealism. She has a hairdo like a dick, but I think it’s great, she’s a woman who doesn’t change. I’ve known her since I was little and she hasn’t changed. It’s an icon, it’s amazing and I’m serious, huh, I think it’s really a piece of art“, he concluded, making the presenters laugh a lot.
Arno’s last wish, whose funeral should take place quickly, has been revealed and there is no doubt that it will be respected.