France: The Top Ten
Hello everybody! I am only just coming back down to earth after a sensational World Cup victory for France ten days ago. In celebration of a moment that has sent the Western European country into total pandemonium, I am sharing with all of you my top 10 French entries. This is a slightly more difficult choice to make than my Israeli top 10 a few weeks ago (http://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/israel-top-ten.html) because the reality is that there are far more entries to choose from. France was one of the original Eurovision countries and there are a whopping 61 entries to sift through in picking out the top 10. I am proud to say that the French top 10 covers almost every decade of Eurovision history and is a nice indicator of France as a country and what its music has told us over time.
10. 'Tom Pillibi' by Jacqueline Boyer (1960)
Perhaps appropriately, we begin in 1960 with France's second victory in the first contest to be held on British soil. The song is classed as a ballad because it is a love song but the language reveals many more complications around the subject of the song. Tom supposedly has a pair of castles and a pair of boats or does he? Is he a liar as described in the song or is that made up by the singer who seems to be making all of this up anyway. One thing's for sure, she loves this guy and perhaps Jacqueline's victory in London at the beginning of Eurovision history is a good indicator of what to expect from French entrants and nominally the French chanteuse belting out a well put-together ballad that wins over European voters.
9. 'Un, deux, trois' by Catherine Ferry (1976)
1976 may be known to most Eurovision fans as the year of Brotherhood of Man opening the show with a memorable British winner. It is easy to forget however that only 17 points separated them from the French runner up Catherine Ferry. The song is simple, but to coin the French term, it is full of joie de vivre with lines about life not being a book by Kafka and eyes of child kings leading to some beautiful imagery in the lyrics. Combined with a bouncy melody, this song represents a chanteuse that didn't go down the typical route and is unlucky to be a bit of a forgotten French classic because it didn't win. What can you say? When you have so many songs that have come close to winning but not won, some are going to get forgotten, just ask any British Eurovision fan!
8. 'Et bonjour à toi l'artiste' by Nicole Rieu (1975)
And now for one of those funny little things we tend to get in the world of Eurovision music. Songs about singers. Or for that matter songs about artists, illusionists, writers, etc. Nicole Rieu covers all her bases in her Eurovision entry but the result is a gloriously wrapped piece of music that where its subtlety is also what makes it shine. Nicole's voice is sweet and soft but booms perfectly into the key change at the end. The song came fourth in Stockholm and so again, will fall into the category of forgotten classic but I do urge people to give this a listen as it really is a song that punches far above its weight. The song is a ballad not simply to artists or to a specific artists but to the glory of life and creativity.
7. 'Je veux donner ma voix' by Nayah (1999)
The year is 1999, the rules of Eurovision have just been changed to allow countries to sing in any language they like. Fourteen of the twenty-three entries have at least some English in them. This is the beginning of the French sticking very clear to their values of performing in French at all costs. Not only that, they gave us another classic French chanteuse with a song about the singer giving her voice to peace and harmony and as you will hear on the last note, she really does give every bit of her voice to the song. Perhaps there was not a more fitting song for the French to send to the last contest held in Jerusalem (until 2019?). This came 19th on the night and will not likely be picked up by many French Eurovision fans as a classic but it is one of my personal French favourites.
6. 'Européennes' by Cocktail Chic (1986)
In at number six, is a song that I enjoy for how refreshing not French it is. This may sound like a bad thing on a list of top 10 French entries, but it is already becoming clear to see the extent to which the French have had a bit of a formula for doing Eurovision. In 1986, France held a national final and the result was decided through the television company phoning up random viewers to ask for their opinion on each song. Whilst televoting has certainly come a long way since then, it is also one of the first songs in which we can observe something working for the public perhaps not being quite so popular with the juries. The song placed 17th on the night with a measly 13 points (it didn't help that 1986 was the year of arguably the finest Francophone entry in Eurovision history with Belgium's 'J'aime la vie') but this song about a group of young girls travelling Europe with a fun electric guitar behind it that dates the song but in a surprisingly fun way that makes it a good listen in 2018. Perhaps tellingly though, the French have never sent a vocal group (girl-group or boy-band) since they sent this.
5. 'L'oiseau et l'enfant' by Marie Myriam (1977)
It's perhaps fitting that we kick off the top 5 with the last French winner. When Marie Myriam took the crown in Wembley in 1977, there's no way anybody would have known how long the wait would be for another French winner. In any case, this song is a modern French classic that most French people know. The song itself is called the bird and the child and calls for the protection of innocence and beauty in a metaphorically dark world. The song builds to a resounding crescendo at the event and Marie's performance on the night was superb. This is a song that is timeless and deserves its place as a Eurovision winner but there are four other French Eurovision entries that I rank higher.
4. 'Moustache' by Twin Twin (2014)
Bizarrely, we now move from the latest French victory to the only time that the French have ever placed rock bottom at a Eurovision Song Contest. After a string of miserable results for France at Eurovision, the delegation decided to give the selection of the French entry back over to the public. The public chose Twin Twin and whilst it was perhaps never going to win the contest, it was a breath of fresh air for France. This entry was the first time in a long time that the French broadcaster sent a song that was representative of French pop music with a catchy hook and lyrics that were unashamedly French whilst taking advantage of how en vogue English was at the time. If I had to explain why it came last in Copenhagen, I would say that the song being about a moustache made it seem gimmicky and the vocals weren't the best. Had those two things been different however, this could have easily been a top-half finisher. Have a listen, I dare you to not smile!
3. 'J'ai cherché' by Amir (2016)
Following on from Twin Twin, this is what a French Eurovision entry done right looks like. As soon as most people heard the original version of this song (which came in slightly over three minutes), we all knew that this was the beginning of the French Eurovision revolution. Amir and team not only brought France from being serial flops to contenders for winning the whole contest but also kick-started a love of Eurovision in France that has seen people get behind Alma in 2017 and Destination Eurovision in 2018. Let's not forget how well-tipped Madame Monsieur were for victory (http://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/eurovision-season-2018-une-victoire.html)! I can say a couple of things for certain, if France win Eurovision in the next five years, they have Amir to thank for the buzz that this song managed to create in France and around Europe. Be it not for 2016 being a particularly strong year, Amir could easily have placed even higher than his lofty 6th place. He is a lovable character, a fantastic performer, a wonderful artist and the rightful winner of bronze medal on best French Eurovision entries of all time!
2. 'C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison' by Amina (1991)
You have to feel sorry for Amina. If this tied for 1st result had come out post-2008, she would have been France's most recent victor of the contest and what a story that would have been. Amina has North-African ancestry and collaborated on the song with renowned Senegalese musician Wasis Diop. She herself was born in Carthage, Tunisia and moved with her mother to Paris when she was 13. In talking about the amazing role that immigrants have played in France's World Cup victory, we can't forget that it is all across French society that immigrants have played in important part in their national and global success. The song is called "It's the last who spoke who is right" and whilst you can make of that what you will, the song has a unique character with a haunting musical interlude and Amina doing fantastic things with her stunning voice. Having talked a lot about the French chanteuse, it is interesting to see how this role has transformed over time and come to include French women from many different backgrounds singing about many different things, but ultimately being on stage and giving everything to their song with their magnificent voices.
1. 'Je n'ai que mon âme' by Natasha St-Pier (2001)
And with everything that we have explored regarding French chanteuses, the French history with immigrants and what makes a stereotypical French entry, it is perhaps only right to put it all together for what is to date my favourite French entry of all time. Natasha is Canadian of Acadian origin (descendants of the French colonialists) and had hardly spent any time in France when she was chosen to represent the French at Eurovision with what would be her breakout single. Natasha nonetheless performed the retractable roof off of the Parken in Copenhagen with a vocally perfect song that built nicely and had a key change that was subtle but incredibly heartfelt. This is a stereotypical French entry. It's a ballad about a doomed relationship with soaring vocals sung by a women with an incredible and expansive voice. The song placed fourth on the night, but it is perhaps important to note that the French have never placed higher at Eurovision since. How long will that record stand for? Will the French broadcaster stick with their modern buzz around the contest or will they ultimately go back to a chanteuse singing a powerful ballad in order to try to bring the contest back to France for the first time since Paris hosted the 1978 show?
And now I want to hear from you. What is your French top 10? Should Madame-Monsieur have made it? Do you have an old winner that you prefer? Please let me know in the comments and don't forget to subscribe to the blog which you can do at the link at the top of the page. Vive la France!
10. 'Tom Pillibi' by Jacqueline Boyer (1960)
Perhaps appropriately, we begin in 1960 with France's second victory in the first contest to be held on British soil. The song is classed as a ballad because it is a love song but the language reveals many more complications around the subject of the song. Tom supposedly has a pair of castles and a pair of boats or does he? Is he a liar as described in the song or is that made up by the singer who seems to be making all of this up anyway. One thing's for sure, she loves this guy and perhaps Jacqueline's victory in London at the beginning of Eurovision history is a good indicator of what to expect from French entrants and nominally the French chanteuse belting out a well put-together ballad that wins over European voters.
9. 'Un, deux, trois' by Catherine Ferry (1976)
1976 may be known to most Eurovision fans as the year of Brotherhood of Man opening the show with a memorable British winner. It is easy to forget however that only 17 points separated them from the French runner up Catherine Ferry. The song is simple, but to coin the French term, it is full of joie de vivre with lines about life not being a book by Kafka and eyes of child kings leading to some beautiful imagery in the lyrics. Combined with a bouncy melody, this song represents a chanteuse that didn't go down the typical route and is unlucky to be a bit of a forgotten French classic because it didn't win. What can you say? When you have so many songs that have come close to winning but not won, some are going to get forgotten, just ask any British Eurovision fan!
8. 'Et bonjour à toi l'artiste' by Nicole Rieu (1975)
And now for one of those funny little things we tend to get in the world of Eurovision music. Songs about singers. Or for that matter songs about artists, illusionists, writers, etc. Nicole Rieu covers all her bases in her Eurovision entry but the result is a gloriously wrapped piece of music that where its subtlety is also what makes it shine. Nicole's voice is sweet and soft but booms perfectly into the key change at the end. The song came fourth in Stockholm and so again, will fall into the category of forgotten classic but I do urge people to give this a listen as it really is a song that punches far above its weight. The song is a ballad not simply to artists or to a specific artists but to the glory of life and creativity.
7. 'Je veux donner ma voix' by Nayah (1999)
The year is 1999, the rules of Eurovision have just been changed to allow countries to sing in any language they like. Fourteen of the twenty-three entries have at least some English in them. This is the beginning of the French sticking very clear to their values of performing in French at all costs. Not only that, they gave us another classic French chanteuse with a song about the singer giving her voice to peace and harmony and as you will hear on the last note, she really does give every bit of her voice to the song. Perhaps there was not a more fitting song for the French to send to the last contest held in Jerusalem (until 2019?). This came 19th on the night and will not likely be picked up by many French Eurovision fans as a classic but it is one of my personal French favourites.
6. 'Européennes' by Cocktail Chic (1986)
In at number six, is a song that I enjoy for how refreshing not French it is. This may sound like a bad thing on a list of top 10 French entries, but it is already becoming clear to see the extent to which the French have had a bit of a formula for doing Eurovision. In 1986, France held a national final and the result was decided through the television company phoning up random viewers to ask for their opinion on each song. Whilst televoting has certainly come a long way since then, it is also one of the first songs in which we can observe something working for the public perhaps not being quite so popular with the juries. The song placed 17th on the night with a measly 13 points (it didn't help that 1986 was the year of arguably the finest Francophone entry in Eurovision history with Belgium's 'J'aime la vie') but this song about a group of young girls travelling Europe with a fun electric guitar behind it that dates the song but in a surprisingly fun way that makes it a good listen in 2018. Perhaps tellingly though, the French have never sent a vocal group (girl-group or boy-band) since they sent this.
5. 'L'oiseau et l'enfant' by Marie Myriam (1977)
It's perhaps fitting that we kick off the top 5 with the last French winner. When Marie Myriam took the crown in Wembley in 1977, there's no way anybody would have known how long the wait would be for another French winner. In any case, this song is a modern French classic that most French people know. The song itself is called the bird and the child and calls for the protection of innocence and beauty in a metaphorically dark world. The song builds to a resounding crescendo at the event and Marie's performance on the night was superb. This is a song that is timeless and deserves its place as a Eurovision winner but there are four other French Eurovision entries that I rank higher.
4. 'Moustache' by Twin Twin (2014)
Bizarrely, we now move from the latest French victory to the only time that the French have ever placed rock bottom at a Eurovision Song Contest. After a string of miserable results for France at Eurovision, the delegation decided to give the selection of the French entry back over to the public. The public chose Twin Twin and whilst it was perhaps never going to win the contest, it was a breath of fresh air for France. This entry was the first time in a long time that the French broadcaster sent a song that was representative of French pop music with a catchy hook and lyrics that were unashamedly French whilst taking advantage of how en vogue English was at the time. If I had to explain why it came last in Copenhagen, I would say that the song being about a moustache made it seem gimmicky and the vocals weren't the best. Had those two things been different however, this could have easily been a top-half finisher. Have a listen, I dare you to not smile!
3. 'J'ai cherché' by Amir (2016)
Following on from Twin Twin, this is what a French Eurovision entry done right looks like. As soon as most people heard the original version of this song (which came in slightly over three minutes), we all knew that this was the beginning of the French Eurovision revolution. Amir and team not only brought France from being serial flops to contenders for winning the whole contest but also kick-started a love of Eurovision in France that has seen people get behind Alma in 2017 and Destination Eurovision in 2018. Let's not forget how well-tipped Madame Monsieur were for victory (http://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/eurovision-season-2018-une-victoire.html)! I can say a couple of things for certain, if France win Eurovision in the next five years, they have Amir to thank for the buzz that this song managed to create in France and around Europe. Be it not for 2016 being a particularly strong year, Amir could easily have placed even higher than his lofty 6th place. He is a lovable character, a fantastic performer, a wonderful artist and the rightful winner of bronze medal on best French Eurovision entries of all time!
2. 'C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison' by Amina (1991)
You have to feel sorry for Amina. If this tied for 1st result had come out post-2008, she would have been France's most recent victor of the contest and what a story that would have been. Amina has North-African ancestry and collaborated on the song with renowned Senegalese musician Wasis Diop. She herself was born in Carthage, Tunisia and moved with her mother to Paris when she was 13. In talking about the amazing role that immigrants have played in France's World Cup victory, we can't forget that it is all across French society that immigrants have played in important part in their national and global success. The song is called "It's the last who spoke who is right" and whilst you can make of that what you will, the song has a unique character with a haunting musical interlude and Amina doing fantastic things with her stunning voice. Having talked a lot about the French chanteuse, it is interesting to see how this role has transformed over time and come to include French women from many different backgrounds singing about many different things, but ultimately being on stage and giving everything to their song with their magnificent voices.
1. 'Je n'ai que mon âme' by Natasha St-Pier (2001)
And with everything that we have explored regarding French chanteuses, the French history with immigrants and what makes a stereotypical French entry, it is perhaps only right to put it all together for what is to date my favourite French entry of all time. Natasha is Canadian of Acadian origin (descendants of the French colonialists) and had hardly spent any time in France when she was chosen to represent the French at Eurovision with what would be her breakout single. Natasha nonetheless performed the retractable roof off of the Parken in Copenhagen with a vocally perfect song that built nicely and had a key change that was subtle but incredibly heartfelt. This is a stereotypical French entry. It's a ballad about a doomed relationship with soaring vocals sung by a women with an incredible and expansive voice. The song placed fourth on the night, but it is perhaps important to note that the French have never placed higher at Eurovision since. How long will that record stand for? Will the French broadcaster stick with their modern buzz around the contest or will they ultimately go back to a chanteuse singing a powerful ballad in order to try to bring the contest back to France for the first time since Paris hosted the 1978 show?
And now I want to hear from you. What is your French top 10? Should Madame-Monsieur have made it? Do you have an old winner that you prefer? Please let me know in the comments and don't forget to subscribe to the blog which you can do at the link at the top of the page. Vive la France!
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