By Christine Jean-Pierre
CSMS Magazine
Haitian/Canadian, Régine Chassagne, lead singer in the Canadian rock band sensation Arcade Fire, was the guest of the CBS Sunday Morning news magazine. Régine, like most famous Haitian artists, takes pride in her Haitianism. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Régine grew up in St-Lambert, a suburb south of Montreal. Her parents were one of the lucky ones, who survived the Papa Doc massacre of the mulatto families in what was infamously known as the Jérémie Vespers.
The Duvalier’s crimes were alluded to in the Arcade Fire song “Haiti”, in which Régine sings, Mes cousins jamais nés hantent les nuits de Duvalier (“My unborn cousins haunt Duvalier’s nights”).[4] The line is in reference to the relatives who were killed during that sadistic crusade. Régine recounted her humble beginning in the alleys of shopping malls.
Régine went on to join bands like Les Jongleurs de la Mandragore, and Azúcar. She is also songwriter and music producer. She wrote the music for the two-minute David Uloth sketch “The Shine”, and contributed to the UNICEF benefit project as part of the North American Hallowe’en Prevention Initiative. Régine Chassagne married Win Butler in 2003, a native of Texas, who cofounded Arcade Fire.
Note: You can watch the Haiti video on our front page.
