The Light FM radiostation host, Tanguy, welcomed Dani Klein, the singer of the ban Vaya Con Dios, few weeks ago at Byblos. The multilingual Belgian singer told him about the evolution of this oscillating band between blues, rock, pop and Latino, which became famous in the eighties due to the song called “Just a Friend of Mine”.

Tanguy: Welcome to Lebanon, it’s a pleasure to have you in such a beautiful frame at Byblos. First of all, I want to ask you an obvious question, why does your band carry a Spanish name?
Dani Klein: I often hear this question. In fact, we simply wanted to give our band an independent name from the Anglophone culture even though I sing in English, and it happened by chance: one day, while I was watching television with Dirk Chouf, the partner I founded the band with, we came across a program about the Cuban areas in Miami, “Vaya con Dios” was written on the wall. We liked it because it’s a way to say “let the best happen to you”, even when you are nonbeliever, just like me.

Did u always have this love for foreign languages?
Yes, I guess it’s related to the fact that I am from Brussels, which is at the crossroads of the languages. It’s true that I sing in French and English. For me, it’s an obvious fact: I always listened to French music during my childhood, and then during the hippie’s era, we used to listen to American and English music, and I felt myself in it when I started to compose music.

Can u tell us about the evolution of the band since its foundation in 1986 till now?
Many things have changed, notably musicians who started with us: Dirk was dead in 1991 and another one had to leave the band because he was addicted to heroine (life isn’t always perfect…). I also felt that I needed to retire from the scene to be able to evaluate the situation.

But in 1999, you reappear with the band “Purple prose”…
Yes, but it was to sing without looking for celebrity, it was just for the pleasure to do it with the band of Brussels with whom I used to sing in these days, even though I think that the other members of the band were probably disappointed.

But you didn’t give up on the idea of reforming one day the band with whom you were successful…
Indeed, in 2004, “Vaya con Dios” was reformed with new musicians and a peculiar varied style, between blues, rock, pop, and Latino, along with the same care for languages. In the album “The Promise”, there are really many influences and even a song in kimbundu, from Manga, an Angolan artist, as well as a Mexican-Spanish song.

I knew that on top of your busy schedule with a two night-performance in Lebanon, you are working on a new album in French? Right?
I surely enjoyed the hearty welcome of the Lebanese audience, 8000 persons cheered. Moreover, I am thinking about spending two more days to visit this beautiful country. It’s true that I am preparing an album exclusively in French for the first time in my career …