The town of Avignon in the south of France is famous for its bridge, the Palais des Papes and local girl turned international star Mireille Mathieu.<br /><br />Mathieu is celebrating a 50-year career in the music industry with a tour, which will make a stop in her town.<br /><br />Fans travelled from far and wide to see her. Rudolph came from Germany.<br /><br />“In German, we call her the nightingale of Avignon because her voice has a certain quality to it,” he said.<br /><br />While Coco and Annie travelled from Montpellier:<br /><br />“We came specially to see her. A 50-year career is something to be celebrated and we’ve not seen her before,” they enthused. <br /><br />For some, such as Vincent, watching Mathieu perform was an experience not to be missed.<br /><br />“(I’m) from New York. I live there and then I flew over just for that. It was like a bucket-list thing. I want to see that and the Grand Canyon… Some other great things. That was it,” he told euronews.<br /><br />Over her 50-year career, Mathieu has sold 120 million records internationally – more than any other French female singer.<br /><br />With over 1,200 fans lined up to see her, the Avignon gig was packed.<br /><br />“It was really moving to sing in my hometown because it’s my jubilee year”, Mireille told us. “I couldn’t sing in the town where everything started for me.<br /><br />“It all began with a talent show. The Avignon town council paid my train ticket to Paris for a TV singing contest. It’s been an emotional ride. My whole family was with me – my mum, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces – everyone.<br /><br />“Friends and strangers have followed my career for a long time.”<br /><br />Mathieu has released a ‘Best Of’ triple CD, which includes previously unreleased material, as well as hits. Her music is still as popular outside France.<br /><br />“The album enabled me to do my first French tour in nine years. I’m one of just a few French artists to produce most of my work outside France. But I’ve remained very French. I’m proud of this and of singing in French. And I am also able to sing in the language of the country in which I’m performing – I know this has an effect on the public.”<br /><br />Mathieu started her career by covering Edith Piaf classics. <br /><br />So, 50 years later, would the singer change anything if she could do it all again?<br /><br />“I don’t have any regrets – the lyrics of Edith Piaf’s song ring true,” said Mathieu. “When we regret nothing, we can always find the positive in a situation. So, for me, I would do everything exactly the same as I have done, even though I’ve made mistakes along the way.”
