2019: France | Bilal Hassani | Roi

Bilal Hassani

Bilal Hassani expectedly won the right to represent France in Tel Aviv with the song Roi, although it was not as smooth a passage to the Eurovision final as some might have forecast.

Once again, decided by way of the French national final Destination Eurovision, Hassani had to endure a vote of indifference from most of the international judges selected to award fifty percent of the points. It was only a landslide of public votes which saved the 19-year-old from a loss to second placed Seemone with Tous les deux: the favourite with the judges.

Whether either song possesses the power to break France's 42 year run of losses is highly speculative, but the feeling here is that it is distinctly unlikely that Roi will break into the Top 10.

Alas, the lineup at DE 2019 was fairly dull, so it was really no surprise that Hassani's more vibrant and personal performance would stand out against the competition. Unfortunately, the song (co-written with France's 2018 contestants, Madame Monsieur) sounds like a substandard protest, full of hackneyed phrases aimed at the now generation of youngsters seemingly so consumed with their identity.

It was mainly due to this set of fans that Hassani crossed the finish line in first place. However, the wider Eurovision audience is unlikely to be so adoringly fervent about Roi, particularly if Hassani turns in a similarly substandard vocal in Israel.

There has been a strong case that France needed to move forward with their Eurovision choices. Over more recent years, one can argue that they have really tried. While this song fits in nicely with 2019 sensibilities, it nevertheless feels as if it is a step backwards and, consequently, unlikely to do any major damage in May.

Roi is not necessarily bad, it's just that Bilal Hassani does not provide it with the irresistibly fascinating performance that some might think he does.

What are your thoughts?

France 

Artist: Bilal Hassani

Song:  Roi

Big 5

France: Madame Monsieur Win French NF: Review

Madame Monsieur: French representatives in Lisbon

After a taut, close fought French national final, the duo Madame Monsieur secured a popular victory with their entry, Mercy.

The song was not well-received by everyone though. Destination Eurovision - an effective French mini version of the Contest - threw up a highly visible disparity between what the international judges preferred and the choice of the public.

In fact, the whole affair essentially became a two horse race between pre-show favourites Madame Monsieur and 18-year-old Lisandro Cuxi and his track, Eva. The accumulation of judges' scores pointed to a victory for Lisandro's Michael Jackson/Bobby Brown Eighties-inspired track, but over 28% of the televote went to Mercy - enough to take the husband and wife pairing to Lisbon.

Without doubt then, viewers were particularly empathetic to Mercy: a catchy pop song that tells the true story of a Nigerian baby born on a boat called Aquarius, owned by the charitable organisation SOS Mediterranean and helping in the rescue of refugees.

Such a subject is naturally emotive; lyrically Madame Monsieur have cleverly intertwined the name of baby Mercy with the notion of thanks and the humanitarian effort. Nevertheless, this topic has provoked criticism from some quarters, claiming it is too politically charged, but in essence it is simply the story of a birth in the midst of turbulent circumstances.

Musically, Madame Monsieur are equally straightforward. They have adoped an electro-pop vibe; a strangely dispassionate sound considering the need for a sympathetic warmth the subject matter demands. However, this is offset by Émilie Satt's sensitive vocal styling and heartfelt rendition of the story.

The subtlety of the lyrics may fly over the heads of non-French speakers but as a pop song the entry works well. With the right staging it should draw a substantial amount of votes and keep France on its improving trajectory up the left-hand side of the scoreboard.

Overall, think The Common Linnets mashed up with Norma John with a soupçon of the Pet Shop Boys...

FRANCE

Artist: Madame Monsieur

Song: Mercy

Big 5 Finalist

Eurovision 2016: Review: France: Amir Haddad: J’ai cherché

Amir: In search of an elusive French Eurovision victory

Instead of the usual low-rent, three act national final transmitted on a backwater television channel, the new Team France have opted for an internal selection for Eurovision 2016. Hence, Amir Haddad will travel to Sweden with the song J'ai cherché, a catchy dance/pop track which has already attracted a lot of attention.

Amir's choice as French representative comes hot on the heels of his appearance on France's version of The Voice - on which he secured a very creditable third place - and a short spell on his home Top 100 with the hit, Oasis. J'ai cherché has followed it on to the chart but, as yet, has not made too much of an impression.

Originally released as the lead single to his new album Au cœur de moi, the track ticks many of the boxes to make it a success at Eurovision: it has an energetic, modern sing-along chorus - which has now been switched into English - as well as possessing a memorable foot tapping, hand clapping melody. Combine all of that with a singer who the camera loves, and France could be looking at its best placing since the beginning of the millennium when it pocketed back-to-back Top 5 places.

There has even been talk of a French win this year, which is not totally out of the question. Although France has strong rivals for a victory, it may be Amir's vocals which are the deciding factor. Recent live renditions of the song were not too promising, especially as it approached the final thirty seconds or so. However, any doubts should have been dispelled if his performance at the London Eurovision Party is any marker. He seemed much more relaxed and in control than ever before.

If he continues with that attitude, there's a distinct possibility that J'ai cherché could be playing over the end credits of Eurovision on May 14. It's been a long wait for France and a deserved win may be on the cards...

What do you think?

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Image by Eliora (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Lisa Angell: I'd Do It All Again

Lisa Angell

Lisa Angell would like to sing for France again

Despite finishing near the bottom of the Eurovision scoreboard, France's Lisa Angell has told The Huffington Post that she would jump at the chance of representing her country again in the competition.

Disappointment

Understandably disappointed that her song N'oubliez pas scored just four points and only ranked 25th out of 27 entries, she initially blamed herself for the lowly placing. A Top 10 finish was in her sights, but having now reviewed her performance, she feels France's result was less about her presentation skills and more about the whole voting process eclipsing the song.

Fortunately, her entry is included on her eponymous fourth album, already released during May in the UK.

A rewarding experience

Undoubtedly, she hopes the commercial ramifications of her involvement will be even more rewarding than the realisation of her childhood dream of participating in Eurovision. After all, performing a good song in front of 200 million television viewers has it advantages. It quickly brings the artist to the attention of a wider public and enables album and concert ticket sales from places previously thought improbable.

Humiliation?

Commercial considerations apart, her enthusiasm for entering the Eurovision fray once again is probably driven by a sense of artistic injustice, along with an acute feeling of disappointment for the French team which assisted her.

Logically, it is factors such as these which force big name artists away from participating in the Contest, much to the chagrin of its fans - especially those in the Big 5 nations who would appear to have more to lose than most.

Music and politics

As Ms. Angell has stated (and other singers have long since recognised)..."je pense que la musique et la politique, ça ne marche pas." [I think that music and politics do not work well together]. So, bravo to her for even considering a future participation in the Contest.

Lisa Angell's album is available for download at both Amazon and iTunes

Image: Nathalie Guyon / France TV

Eurovision 2015: France: Lisa Angell: N'oubliez pas

Lisa Angell is the French Representative

Sometimes, the Eurovision Song Contest can take you by surprise. Case in point, the somewhat covert announcement of the French entry for 2015.

After last year's dire result for France, the new Eurovision broadcaster for the country, France 2, has announced in almost hushed tones, that their choice for Vienna is an emotive ballad called N'oubliez pas, sung by the relatively unknown chanteuse, Lisa Angell.

"Participation is a dream come true," states the singer, whose style and presentation hark back to France's more successful, classic era at the Contest. No surprise then that several voices have already condemned the selection as old-fashioned, cheesy and destined to perform badly on the scoreboard come May 23. Quite probably it is not the winner, but this is the type of song that works best for France, in my opinion. Remember Sandrine François' fifth place in 2002 with the stunning, Il faut du temps?

N'oubliez pas, however, was written last November amidst the commemoration services for the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1. Its lyrics are a message of peace and remembrance. Lisa Angell, a songstress of more than twenty years experience, has the power in her voice to deliver the theme of the composition with conviction and compassion. Unfortunately, it's now a message with heightened resonance since the recent events in Paris.

By May, the fallout from those attacks may have faded somewhat and that will leave N'oubliez pas to stand on its own merits. In an ideal world, it would have no problem doing so. Eurovision is not an ideal world, though. These days, it seems it is more to do with the presentation and the 'look' of the singer than it is the song. It's therefore a brave step by France 2 to pick someone who is in her mid-Forties and equally one who does not conform to today's image of the 'ideal pop star'.

That said, the performance will demand good staging and lighting. It will need to be as equally as powerful as the song in order to deliver its message and keep it fresh in the mind of the voters. Above all, Lisa Angell will have to provide a vocal of equivalently outstanding quality as the studio version of the song.

I hope that she can and, in doing so, help France nearer to the top of the scoreboard where this song belongs.

What do you think?

Eurovision 2014: France: Moustache

As someone who has been a lover of all things francophone for a long time (I don't have a French degree for nothing, I guess), I always look forward to hearing what France will be gifting to Eurovision each year.

For the most part, I'm not usually disappointed. The last five entries have all been highly enjoyable and, in my opinion, vastly underrated on the scoreboard. Missing out on a Top 20 placing in 2012 and 2013 appeared to be extremely unlucky.

It may just be that the songs performed by Anggun and Amandine Bourgeois were just too good for the competition and that's why France's choice in 2014 appears cheap and amateurish by comparison.

Twin Twin and their Moustache are the product of a French national final (of sorts), the first the country has organised in seven years. The band's rivals were a cookie-cutter boy band and, perhaps, a more meaningful entry from a solo female act (in which France normally specializes). Instead we have three guys - Twin Twin is not a clue here - frenetically yearning after more facial hair.

To be honest, they all look as if they are hirsute enough, but apparently what sounds like a trivial and disposable tune has a deeper meaning. A quick look at the lyrics, and with some help from the group's members, the mustache here represents yet another accessory in our consumerist society. They have everything else they could ever need etc...Yes, there is some humour involved here somewhere.

 

Accusations of plagiarism have surrounded Moustache, with apparent similarities to Stromae's Papaoutai. The intro does indeed sound as if it has been lifted but, according to the group, the song was written a year ahead of the Belgian's composition.

Either way, I can't see France raising the winner's trophy with this. The melody is certainly catchy and its light hip-hop styling will certainly have the audience in Copenhagen on its feet. That may garner it a few extra votes - enough to see France placed higher up the scoreboard than in recent years, perhaps. Just not far enough, though.

Eurovision 2013: France: L'enfer et moi

It was confirmed in January this year that the internal selection of L'enfer et moi (Hell and Me) sung by Amandine Bourgeois would be the representative for France in Malmö.

About Amandine Bourgeois

Like several of the singers in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Ms. Bourgeois is a product of a reality TV show. In 2008, she was the winner of the French version of Pop Idol: La Nouvelle Star. 

Following this success, she has since released two albums: 20 m2 (a Top 5 hit in France) and in 2012, Sans amour mon amour which was recorded at London's Abbey Road studios. Her connection with London has also seen her appear at the Royal Albert Hall as the support act to Johnny Hallyday.

Song Review: L'enfer et moi

One of the more unusual offerings at the 2013 Eurovision is this bluesy rock number that showcases Amandine Bourgeois's vocals perfectly. The melody is driven by a pounding guitar riff that steadily intensifies throughout the song. This is complemented by Amandine's rasping voice which grows evermore wild as the track progresses.

If I were a betting man, I would put some money on this song. The more I hear it, the more I enjoy it. However, as one of the Big 5 nations, it will not be performed in full at the semi-finals and could suffer as a consequence. If it has visual appeal and is performed well, then there is no reason why this should not secure a Top 10 placing. 8/10.

France has automatic entry to the Final on the evening of May 18.

What do you think of its chances?

Image: By Albin Olsson (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Eurovision 2012: Anggun: Echo (You & I)

France has selected Anggun to sing Echo (You And I) as the song to represent the country in Baku in May.

Of Indonesian decent, Anggun began having international success in the late 1990s when she released her first English album Snow On the Sahara, selling most of the copies in France, Italy and her native Indonesia. She has gone on to release several more best-selling albums, the most recent Echoes in August, 2011.

So this is a lady with some pedigree and the song that she will sing at Eurovision proves that. It's a very modern dance tune, in the vein of the the current David Guetta output. It only takes a couple of listens before you are hooked, particularly to the very catchy whistling refrain that can be heard several times throughout the song.

This one is a very strong contender, but then again I thought Amaury Vassili was likely to win last year for France. So, what do I know?

However, Anggun is scheduled to appear around Europe to promote Echo (You and I), so the song has every chance of becoming one of the leading favourites when all is said and done.

Am I sticking my neck out saying this is a likely winner? What do you think?