PATRICE MICHAUD WINS 2014 PRIX DE LA CHANSON SOCAN

Montréal – For his song “Mécaniques générales,” the Cap-Chat, Quebec-raised singer-songwriter Patrice Michaud is the winner of the 2014 Prix de la chanson SOCAN, Canada’s most prestigious award for independent songwriting. Michaud receives $5,000, a Gibson 1941 SJ-100 acoustic guitar, and a prize pack from Roland consisting of a BOSS Micro-BR BR-80 Digital Recorder, two CM-30 CUBE Monitors, and one set of RH-300 Stereo Headphones.

“Measuring how much the public loves your song always is a very strange, and even more moving experience. I don’t know if one eventually gets over that feeling. I hope not. Many thanks to SOCAN and everyone who voted,” said Michaud, who has already distinguished himself as a winner of various honours at the Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée, the ADISQ Awards, and the Festival international de la chanson de Granby

From June 3 to July 3, 2014, the public voted on www.prixchansonsocan.ca to choose their favourite of five independent songs determined by a panel of Canadian music experts. Fans could vote once a day in the public, online voting process, and SOCAN did not play any role in the selection or voting outcome.

The other nominated French songs were:

• “Andromède” – written and performed by Louis-Philippe Gingras
• “La fièvre des fleurs” – written and performed by Klô Pelgag; published by Éditions Coop Faux Monnayeurs, David Murphy & cie
• “Nos corps” – written by Jimmy Hunt, Emmanuel Éthier, and Christophe Lamarche Ledoux; performed by Jimmy Hunt; published by Les Éditions Dare to Care
• “Soleil blanc” – written and performed by Philémon Cimon; published by Éditorial Avenue

“The song ‘Mécaniques générales,’ which was the first single from the album Le feu de chaque jour launched in February, has been back on the Top 10 charts of radio stations across the province for the past few weeks. It’s no wonder. What a perfect song to hit the road with the top down; so long as one does not ‘blow up the bridge’ (‘on a fait sauter le pont’) as Patrice suggests! We have seen the public get on board and vote massively for the tune’s catchy chorus, which allows us to give Patrice the Prix de la chanson SOCAN 2014,” said Geneviève Côté, SOCAN’s Chief Quebec Affairs Officer. “The five nominated songs this year were inspired and different, demonstrating the diversity and depth of the talent of songwriters here. We are thrilled to celebrate the success of our more than 120,000 members and congratulate Patrice on his accomplishment. Patrice, we’re sure you’ll stay one of our national treasures!”

With “Mécaniques générales,” Patrice Michaud revitalizes an age-old topic with unpredictable straightforward images while avoiding the pitfalls of convoluted verses, easy rhymes and cheesy choruses. A well-worked song,” said Prix de la SOCAN panelist André Péloquin from Voir magazine.

The winner of the English Prix de la chanson SOCAN, the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, was Alejandra Ribera of Montreal for her song, “I Want.”

About SOCAN
SOCAN is a member-based and governed organization that represents the Canadian performing rights of more than three-million Canadian and international music creators and publishers. SOCAN is proud to play a leading role in supporting the long-term success of its more than 120,000 Canadian members, and the Canadian music industry overall. SOCAN licenses more than 125,000 businesses in Canada, and distributes royalties to its members and music rights organizations around the world. SOCAN also distributes royalties to its members for the use of their music internationally in collaboration with its peer societies.

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Media contacts:

SOCAN: Anne Richard, richarda@socan.ca, 514-844-8377, ext. 4943
Capital Image (for SOCAN): Véronique Beauchamp, 514-739-1188, poste 247,vbeauchamp@capital-image.com
For Patrice Michaud: Éliane Lévesque, eliane.levesque@equipespectra.ca