For Eurovision 2024, France is banking on one of its most popular artists: Slimane. The participation of the author, composer and performer was made official this Wednesday morning on France Inter and Mon amour, the song he will perform in the competition, will be revealed this Wednesday evening on France 2’s “8 p.m. .
This piece, which the artist “really imagined for Eurovision”, says Alexandra Redde-Amiel, head of delegation and director of entertainment and games at France Télévisions, will be “emotional”. Tuesday evening, in front of a handful of media invited to France Télévisions, she clarified that if Slimane’s candidacy had already been considered for the 2023 edition, discussions had started “quite a while ago”.
“It appeals to both young and old people”
“Slimane brings together all audiences,” emphasizes Alexandra Redde-Amiel. He pleases both young people and older people, he manages to talk to everyone. And then, at Eurovision, there is a part of sensitivity and emotion that the viewer must feel. He manages to convey this both in the performance and in the writing. We think it could be something absolutely magnificent. »
At the microphone of France Inter, Slimane said he was “happy and stressed”. “It was important for me to have the right song,” he declared to Léa Salamé. I wanted to be proud of my song, of what I want to say. » Asked about his possible fear of a disappointing result, he replied: “If the story is beautiful, so much the better, if it is a little less beautiful, perhaps it will be part of my story and I might make it -be a song. »
Collection of successes
After trying his luck at various telecrochets such as New star And X Factor, Slimane was revealed to the general public in 2016 in the fifth season of “The Voice”, which he won. Since then, he has been collecting successes, certified in gold, platinum or diamond. His hits include, among others, Panama, Come we love each other, Simple things in duet with Jenifer, Recipe And Thousands of I love you.
His collaboration with Vitaa on the project Versus also marked the French musical landscape between 2019 and 2021 with hits such as It comes and goes, I give it to you Or Before you. His studio albums, which have sold a total of more than 2 million copies, have all been number 1 in France as well as in French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland. Now aged 34, the artist also puts his talents as an author and composer at the service of others. He notably signed Perhaps this is for Florent Pagny, Tomorrow And Head spin for Amel Bent, PS: I love you for Christophe Willem and NOW, the anthem of the 2021 edition of Les Enfoirés. Slimane has also been a coach in “The Voice Kids” on TF1 since this year, a role that he will play again in 2024.
“Take Slimane to meet Europe”
The French delegation created a surprise by unveiling its song for Eurovision so early – it is the first country to do so for the 2024 edition. Usually, in recent years, Albania opened the ball at the end of December by nominating its candidate during of his Festivali I Këngës (“Festival of Songs”). This announcement well ahead of the next competition, the final of which will be held on May 11 in Malmö (Sweden), corresponds to a strategy of the French delegation.
“For us, supporting such an artist in the competition implies thinking about everything we can do with him. . This is why we make it official early. We want to prepare Slimane, take him to meet Europe,” explains Alexandra Redde-Amiel, suggesting that the artist would consider, between now and the competition, translating his song “into English and other languages because it is important to him that the song is understood. »
Good exposure on France Télévisions
Reveal My love in November also gives this piece the greatest chance of winning over the French public and, ideally, of making it a success on national territory in the hope of transforming the essay internationally. “It is important that the country supports Slimane as it has always done and even more so today,” continues the head of delegation. The artist should thus participate in numerous public service entertainment programs. A few weeks ago, he also filmed an issue of “Rendez-vous en terre stranger” whose broadcast date has not yet been set.
In the meantime, Slimane will be in Cannes on Friday for the NRJ Music Awards. After winning six trophies for his duo project with Vitaa, he can hope to win two new ones, that of French-speaking male artist of the year, and that of French-speaking collaboration of the year for At your place, his duet with Claudio Capéo. Behind the scenes of the ceremony, he will be able to meet other nominees, the Italian group Maneskin and the Swedish Loreen, who triumphed at Eurovision in 2021 and 2023 respectively. feedback.