France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Encyclopedia
France will select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 through an internal selection by French broadcaster France Télévisions
. On 19 February it was revealed that France 2 had selected Congo
lese singer and dancer Jessy Matador
to represent France at Eurovision, with the hope of creating a summer hit and to promote the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in France. Matador's song will be "Allez Ola Olé
", as announced on 24 February.
placed 8th at the 2009 Contest
in Moscow
, Russia
, France 3
will continue with an internal selection for the French entry for the 2010 contest in Oslo
, Norway
.
Bruno Berberes, the Head of Delegation for France for the ninth time, has revealed that France Télévisions has secured a big name to represent France at the Contest in May 2010. Berberes said that "We can't give less than Patricia Kaas" after her success at Moscow, and the contest's success in France after years of obsurity and ridicule.
It has been speculated that France Télévisions' selected artist is a recent former Eurovision entry who scored well at the Contest. It was speculated that this was Natasha St-Pier
, who achieved 4th place at the 2001 Contest
. However Berberes has denied that France Télévisions have approached St-Pier to go to Oslo.
On 15 February, Télé Loisirs stated that the final choice for the French entry would be between Emmanuel Moire
, singermade famous for playing Louis XIV in the successful musical Le Roi Soleil
, and Congo
lese singer and dancer Jessy Matador
. It was said that France Télévisions
would like to see beyond Eurovision, hoping to create a hit song for Matador to coincide with the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
In the morning of 17 February on the talk show Le Grand Direct on the private radio channel Europe 1
, it was claimed by journalist Gaëlle Placek that France "will be represented by Jessy Matador", before she explains that "France Télévisions is not willing to win the contest but aims to promote a song in relation to the Football World Cup
and to have a smash hit for next Summer". "France's got very few chances to win Eurovision with this singer", Placek added. Matador was confirmed at the French representative at the contest on 19 February by Nicolas Pernikoff, entertainment manager at France 2
, with tight connections to the FIFA World Cup. No information on the song selection has yet been announced. On 24 February it was announced that Matador will sing "Allez Ola Olé
" at the contest. The song's title is a reference to the 1998 album Music of the World Cup: Allez! Ola! Ole!
, the official album for the 1998 World Cup
, held in France.
Matador's selection has provoked anger and disappointment from French Eurofans, claiming that France 3 sacrifices Eurovision for promotion of other events "which should not be allowed from a public channel", and that France 3 are not willing to win Eurovision. France 3 responded with positivity and support for Matador's entry, and his stage presentation and song "to glow on Eurovision stage".
On 19 March a one minute clip of "Allez Ola Olé" was published on the website chartsinfrance.net, with the full song released soon after. The song received positive feedback from the fan community, believing it will be singled out for its festive and upbeat nature in a year when ballads dominate the contest.
As will all automatic finalists, France was given one semi-final in which they were obligated to broadcast and vote in. This was initially decided to be the second semi-final on 27 May. However France 3 was given permission by the EBU to change its voting rights to the first semi-final on 25 May after scheduling problems prevented live broadcast of the second semi-final. At the same time, France 3 would commit itself to more intense promotion of the contest, including the commitment to broadcast both semi-finals (the first one live, the second one in a taped format).
France Télévisions
France Télévisions is the French public national television broadcaster. It is a state-owned company formed from the bringing together of the public television channels France 2 and France 3 , later joined by the legally independent channels France 5 , France Ô , and France 4 France Télévisions ...
. On 19 February it was revealed that France 2 had selected Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
lese singer and dancer Jessy Matador
Jessy Matador
Jessy Kimbangi better known by his stage name Jessy Matador is a singer from France.-Biography:Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 27 October 1982, Matador began his career as a dancer in 2001...
to represent France at Eurovision, with the hope of creating a summer hit and to promote the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in France. Matador's song will be "Allez Ola Olé
Allez Ola Olé
"Allez Ola Olé" is a French language song performed by Jessy Matador that represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The song was chosen internally, and was announced 24 February 2010...
", as announced on 24 February.
Selection process
After Patricia KaasPatricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas is a French singer and actress.Kaas is a very successful French-speaking singer, with an International following...
placed 8th at the 2009 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, France 3
France 3
France 3 is the second largest French public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5, and France Ô....
will continue with an internal selection for the French entry for the 2010 contest in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Bruno Berberes, the Head of Delegation for France for the ninth time, has revealed that France Télévisions has secured a big name to represent France at the Contest in May 2010. Berberes said that "We can't give less than Patricia Kaas" after her success at Moscow, and the contest's success in France after years of obsurity and ridicule.
It has been speculated that France Télévisions' selected artist is a recent former Eurovision entry who scored well at the Contest. It was speculated that this was Natasha St-Pier
Natasha St-Pier
Natasha St Pier is a Canadian pop singer.-Career:Natasha St Pier released her first album, Émergence, in 1996, produced by composer/producer Steve Barakatt...
, who achieved 4th place at the 2001 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2001
The Eurovision Song Contest 2001 was the 46th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 12 May 2001 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the first time in 36 years that Denmark hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, thanks to the Olsen Brothers' win the previous year in Stockholm...
. However Berberes has denied that France Télévisions have approached St-Pier to go to Oslo.
On 15 February, Télé Loisirs stated that the final choice for the French entry would be between Emmanuel Moire
Emmanuel Moire
Emmanuel Moire is a French singer. He and his twin brother Nicolas were born in Le Mans on 16 June 1979. Emmanuel is an eclectic artist. He sings and plays the piano, with a hundred tunes to his credit.-Singing career:...
, singermade famous for playing Louis XIV in the successful musical Le Roi Soleil
Le Roi Soleil (musical)
Le Roi Soleil is a successful French musical about the life of Louis XIV . It premiered on 22 September 2005 at the Palais des Sports in Paris.-Plot:...
, and Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
lese singer and dancer Jessy Matador
Jessy Matador
Jessy Kimbangi better known by his stage name Jessy Matador is a singer from France.-Biography:Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 27 October 1982, Matador began his career as a dancer in 2001...
. It was said that France Télévisions
France Télévisions
France Télévisions is the French public national television broadcaster. It is a state-owned company formed from the bringing together of the public television channels France 2 and France 3 , later joined by the legally independent channels France 5 , France Ô , and France 4 France Télévisions ...
would like to see beyond Eurovision, hoping to create a hit song for Matador to coincide with the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
In the morning of 17 February on the talk show Le Grand Direct on the private radio channel Europe 1
Europe 1
Europe 1, formerly known as Europe n° 1, is a privately owned radio network created in 1955. It is one of the leading French radio broadcasters and heard throughout France...
, it was claimed by journalist Gaëlle Placek that France "will be represented by Jessy Matador", before she explains that "France Télévisions is not willing to win the contest but aims to promote a song in relation to the Football World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and to have a smash hit for next Summer". "France's got very few chances to win Eurovision with this singer", Placek added. Matador was confirmed at the French representative at the contest on 19 February by Nicolas Pernikoff, entertainment manager at France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
, with tight connections to the FIFA World Cup. No information on the song selection has yet been announced. On 24 February it was announced that Matador will sing "Allez Ola Olé
Allez Ola Olé
"Allez Ola Olé" is a French language song performed by Jessy Matador that represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The song was chosen internally, and was announced 24 February 2010...
" at the contest. The song's title is a reference to the 1998 album Music of the World Cup: Allez! Ola! Ole!
Music Of The World Cup: Allez! Ola! Ole!
Music of the World Cup: Allez! Ola! Ole! is an album with various artists, released on 9 June 1998 as the official music album for 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.-Track listing:#"La Copa de la Vida" – Ricky Martin...
, the official album for the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, held in France.
Matador's selection has provoked anger and disappointment from French Eurofans, claiming that France 3 sacrifices Eurovision for promotion of other events "which should not be allowed from a public channel", and that France 3 are not willing to win Eurovision. France 3 responded with positivity and support for Matador's entry, and his stage presentation and song "to glow on Eurovision stage".
On 19 March a one minute clip of "Allez Ola Olé" was published on the website chartsinfrance.net, with the full song released soon after. The song received positive feedback from the fan community, believing it will be singled out for its festive and upbeat nature in a year when ballads dominate the contest.
At Eurovision
As a member of the "Big Four" countries, France automatically qualifies to the final on 29 May. France will perform in 18th position.As will all automatic finalists, France was given one semi-final in which they were obligated to broadcast and vote in. This was initially decided to be the second semi-final on 27 May. However France 3 was given permission by the EBU to change its voting rights to the first semi-final on 25 May after scheduling problems prevented live broadcast of the second semi-final. At the same time, France 3 would commit itself to more intense promotion of the contest, including the commitment to broadcast both semi-finals (the first one live, the second one in a taped format).
See also
- France in the Eurovision Song ContestFrance in the Eurovision Song ContestFrance is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest and has entered the competition fifty-four times since their debut at the very first contest in 1956. France is one of only seven countries to be present at the very first contest, and has only been absent from two...
- Eurovision Song Contest 2010Eurovision Song Contest 2010The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 was the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast from the Telenor Arena in Bærum, Greater Oslo, Norway. It was the third time Norway had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1986 and 1996. The 2010 winner was Germany with Lena singing "Satellite",...
- Huffington Post Analysis