Monté La Riviè
Encyclopedia
"Monté la riviè" was the French
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992
, performed in Antillean Creole
and French
(the first occasion on which France had not sung almost entirely in French) by Martinique
-born singer Kali
.
The song was performed sixth on the night (following Greece
's Cleopatra with "Olou Tou Kosmou I Elpida" and preceding Sweden
's Christer Björkman
with "I morgon är en annan dag
"). At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 8th in a field of 23.
The song deals with the suggestion that the listener "go up the river", which is ultimately shown to be a metaphor as the river is "the river of love, the river of life" and the listener is told that "One day you'll see the source of the river". Thus, the lyrics deal with the need to find peace and love in the modern world.
The music - also composed by the performer - is often described as being inspired by the sounds of Haiti
, however it also makes a nod to the synthesiser sounds increasingly popular at the Contest at the time.
The song was also recorded entirely in Haitian Creole, the only time to date that this language has ever featured at the Contest.
It was succeeded as French representative
at the 1993 Contest
by Patrick Fiori
with "Mama Corsica
".
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992
Eurovision Song Contest 1992
The Eurovision Song Contest 1992 was the 37th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1992 in Malmö, Sweden. The presenters were Lydia Cappolicchio and Harald Treutiger. Linda Martin, representing Ireland, was the winner of this Eurovision with the song Why Me?. The song was written by Johnny...
, performed in Antillean Creole
Antillean Creole
Antillean Creole is a creole language with a vocabulary based on French. It is spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. Its grammar and vocabulary also include elements of Carib and African languages. Antillean Creole is related to Haitian Creole, but has a number of distinctive features; they are...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
(the first occasion on which France had not sung almost entirely in French) by Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
-born singer Kali
Jean-Marc Monnerville
Jean-Marc Monnerville – better known as Kali – was born in Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique, on 21 February 1956. His mother was a writer and primary school teacher; his father a professional musician who had formerly played with the African Band in Paris. The young Jean-Marc thus grew up...
.
The song was performed sixth on the night (following Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's Cleopatra with "Olou Tou Kosmou I Elpida" and preceding Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Christer Björkman
Christer Björkman
Christer Samuel Björkman is a Swedish singer. He was a hairdresser, and had a hair-salon in Borås. He started his career by recording a song called "Våga och vinn" which was produced by Bruno Glenmark in the mid-1980s....
with "I morgon är en annan dag
I morgon är en annan dag
I morgon är en annan dag is a ballad which Christer Björkman sang when he won the Swedish Melodifestivalen 1992. The song was written by Niklas Strömstedt. In the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, I morgon är en annan dag finished 22nd, which was second to last place...
"). At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 8th in a field of 23.
The song deals with the suggestion that the listener "go up the river", which is ultimately shown to be a metaphor as the river is "the river of love, the river of life" and the listener is told that "One day you'll see the source of the river". Thus, the lyrics deal with the need to find peace and love in the modern world.
The music - also composed by the performer - is often described as being inspired by the sounds of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, however it also makes a nod to the synthesiser sounds increasingly popular at the Contest at the time.
The song was also recorded entirely in Haitian Creole, the only time to date that this language has ever featured at the Contest.
It was succeeded as French representative
France in the Eurovision Song Contest
France 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...
at the 1993 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1993
The Eurovision Song Contest 1993 was the 38th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 15 May 1993 in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. The presenter was Fionnuala Sweeney. Niamh Kavanagh was the winner of this Eurovision for Ireland with the song, "In Your Eyes"...
by Patrick Fiori
Patrick Fiori
Patrick Fiori is a French singer.-Biography:Fiori was born to an Armenian father and a Corsican mother in Marseille, France. When he was only 12 years old, he was offered his first role in the musical La légende des santonniers...
with "Mama Corsica
Mama Corsica
"Mama Corsica" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993, performed in Corsican and French by Patrick Fiori....
".