Acadian artist wins Music PEI award

Angele Arsenault at Music PEI Awards photo La Voix Acadienne

It’s a perfect Angèle Arsenault smile, beaming broadly her joie de vivre as she receives the Music PEI “Lifetime Achievement” award.

M. Arsenault is one of PEI’s most successful artists. Singer, songwriter, musician – she has done it all. After leaving the Maritimes, she had a huge success in Quebec with 20 record albums, TV appearances and awards. Her love for music and her audience is infectious.

I asked her once what was the secret of her success. She said she studied Bette Midler who poured joy into her music and performance. Midler, she said, held nothing back and she made her a model. For the audience, every performance from PEI’s Acadian charmer is a moment of joy. Angèle has an infectious spirit lifts the audience.

Here is a video from 1978 of her popular song Moi j’mange. I’ve seen her do this song many times. When she sings it there is a love between her and the audience as she gets people into her space.

“I do not think that one day I would receive a Music PEI award since my career was spent mostly in French. And I lived so long away from the Island. But when I decided to return in 1996, they built me a bridge, “she said, which made people laugh.”

“Born into a large family, Angèle Arsenault noted that even though many of his relatives and friends were present in the hall, theater Homburg was not large enough to accommodate them all.”

“I congratulate all the finalists and winners all, especially Rémi Arsenault, my nephew, who just earn the money for the musician of the year. Take note, there are others who are practicing. My little nephew Zakary coming pretty good on guitar, “she said. La Voix Acadienne