La Voix: How a 17-Year-Old Turned a Céline Dion Ballad into a Breakthrough
Under the hot stage lights and the hush that falls before a big note, Jade Mathieu stepped forward and took hold of a familiar melody—an interpretation of “D’abord, c’est quoi l’amour” that lifted her into the semi-final. The moment, on la voix, was part technical showmanship, part personal declaration: a 17-year-old with years of performance behind her staking a claim on a future in music.
What did Jade sing on La Voix and why did it matter?
Jade Mathieu chose a song from Céline Dion’s album Incognito, the ballad “D’abord, c’est quoi l’amour, ” written by Eddy Marnay and Steven Tracey. Her rendition moved her past the qualifications and into the semi-final of the program’s 11th season. The production did not have rights to share her performance publicly, but the semi-final recording will appear on the upcoming La Voix 11 album, allowing listeners to hear the interpretation that carried her forward.
How did coaches and teammates react?
Mario Pelchat, coach on La Voix, gave a succinct assessment that has followed Jade since the stage: “You were born to sing, ” he told her. The decision to keep Jade required a reshuffle in his team—she took the seat that had belonged to his niece Maïka, and Jason Coroa, another member of Pelchat’s squad, also advanced after his rendition of Ginette Reno’s “Je ne suis qu’une chanson. ” The choice left veteran René Lajoie to depart; Pelchat told René that he already had a full career, noting René’s 25 years with the quartet Tocadéo.
Who is Jade Mathieu and what does this reveal about the human story behind the performance?
Jade Mathieu is 17 and studies jazz voice. She has performed roughly seven hundred shows and taken part in several competitions, including appearances on international talent programs. She is autistic at level 1, and she performs with professional aims: she wants to build a career in music, dreams of meeting Céline Dion, and has ambitions that include singing an anthem at a major sporting event and working in musical theatre. “She really is my favorite artist, ” Jade said of Céline Dion, explaining that her work is a central inspiration; she also described the documentary Je suis: Céline Dion as motivating after seeing it at its Montreal premiere.
The social dimension of the performance is clear in the way contestants describe their team: a closely knit group that makes choices difficult. “We connected so much, Renée, Jordan, the twins and everyone. We formed a little family, and it’s so heartbreaking and cruel—the musical chairs, ” Jade reflected on the pressure and emotion of the selection process. Her manager and mother, Julie Hébert, was present, reinforcing that this is also a family project.
What happens next and who is responding?
Jade will be heard on the La Voix 11 compilation with the semi-final recording. Coach Mario Pelchat has locked his team choices for the next stage, which now includes Jade and Jason. For those eliminated, the exit is framed variously as a natural next step or a tough break; in René Lajoie’s case, the coach pointed to an already substantial career as a reason for letting him go. The program’s production choices—rights management for performances and the compilation album—will shape how audiences can follow these artists beyond the broadcast.
Musically and economically, the inclusion on the season album offers a tangible next step: studio exposure and a recorded track tied to a national televised moment. For Jade personally, the vote of confidence from her coach and the public attention that followed the qualifications create momentum for the career she has long pursued.
Back on that stage, minutes after the last note faded, Jade left the chair next to Jason Coroa with a mixture of relief and resolve. The little family she described will regroup, and the semi-final will test whether this breakthrough becomes a lasting platform. For now, her voice—measured, shaped by years of shows, and inspired by a singer she calls her favorite—has pierced the noise and given her a path forward on la voix.
