‘Le Petit Roi’ Is a Coca-Cola Tribute to a Big Star

On New Year’s Eve, Coca-Cola paid tribute to the legendary Jean-Pierre Ferland, who passed away in April 2024 at the age of 89. To honour his legacy, Coca-Cola brought together ten Quebec artists from different generations to record a heartfelt and celebratory reinterpretation of his classic song "Le petit roi." – (The little king)

Jean-Pierre Ferland (1934-2024), an iconic figure in Quebec music, touched generations with unforgettable hits such as "Le Chat du Café des Artistes," "Une chance qu'on s'a," and "Je reviens chez nous." His immense artistic contribution also extended to television and earned him a place in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

An extended version is also available. It offers a glimpse into the recording sessions and includes touching testimonials from the artists about the influence of Jean-Pierre Ferland and his music on their respective careers. A 90-second film was broadcast during Quebec's biggest annual rendezvous: Bye bye 2024 on December 31st.

Under the musical direction of Louis-Jean Cormier, who also created the arrangements, this new version of "Le petit roi" brings together an exceptional cast of artists who were all inspired by Jean-Pierre Ferland: Claude Dubois, Marjo, Pierre Lapointe, Sarahmée, Klo Pelgag, Les Louanges, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Rose Perron, and Émile Bourgault.

This initiative, ideated and developed by WPP's Open X, led in Montreal by TAXI, a VML Canada company, is part of Coca-Cola's "Real Magic" platform, which celebrates authentic moments of human connection. For the holiday season, Coca-Cola wanted to offer the Quebec public a celebration of its music and artists.