The French Barbara Pravi and the Swiss Gjon’s Tears on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam (Netherlands), during their rehearsals, respectively on May 15 and 14, 2021. – EBU / ANDRES PUTTING
- French Barbara Pravi and Swiss Gjon’s Tears compete in Eurovision 2021 with two French songs, respectively here and The whole universe.
- No song in French has won the competition since Celine Dion’s victory in 1988.
- This year, songs from France and Switzerland are among the favorites. The French language was deliberately chosen by the two artists.
From our special correspondent in Rotterdam (Netherlands)
What if, this year, a French song won the Eurovision Song Contest? This scenario has not happened since Celine Dion lifted the trophy for Switzerland with Do not go without me. It was in 1988. Then, English established its hegemony on the competition …
But this time, the language of Molière can hope for a happy end, or rather a happy ending, in the final of the 2021 edition, on May 22 in Rotterdam. Two pieces in French take pride of place
prominently among the favorites : here, Frenchwoman Barbara Pravi and The whole universe from Switzerland Gjon’s Tears.
“A deep love for words”
“The French language was not an option for me, assures the French representative. I have been asked several times if I will add words in English. I didn’t, not because I don’t want my song to be international, but because what I do is French song, I especially have a deep love for words. “
“We avoided the controversies over the fact that our artist sings in English”, rejoices Stéphane Bern, referring to the controversies of recent years when the Secretaries of State for the Francophonie rebelled to hear English. at the turn of a verse or a chorus of I sought Amir, Requiem Alma or King by Bilal Hassani, respectively candidates in 2016, 2017 and 2019. “It is important that we send the signal that French is also the language of Europe”, adds the host, who will comment on this edition alongside Laurence Boccolini .
The Francophonie suffered from the withdrawal of Luxembourg and Monaco
There was a time when the French language was on the rise in competition. Between 1956, the year of the creation of Eurovision, and 1990, it dominated the charts: 14 French-speaking songs won a trophy during this period, against nine in English. A podium completed by three pieces in… Dutch.
For thirty years, only Swedish, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Serbian, Crimean Tatar and Portuguese have had the opportunity to triumph from time to time, intersecting a tunnel of English-speaking victories. The decline of French can be explained in particular by the fact that Luxembourg has not participated since 1993 and Monaco since 2006, leaving France alone to defend its language. All the more so since, in 1999, the competition rules were modified: they no longer oblige artists to sing in one of the national languages of the country they represent.
Since that date, Belgium has sent only two titles in French – the last in 2005 – and has yielded to the sirens of Shakespeare’s language. The situation is similar for Switzerland, which nevertheless presented two Italian-speaking titles and two French-speaking ones before returning to French with Gjon’s Tears who is trying his luck this year with The whole universe.
Barbara Pravi is delighted that this other song in French is also getting noticed. ” This is [le duo] Aliose who co-wrote Gjon’s song. These are people that I love a lot, with whom I have worked a lot. It’s funny, I have the impression of being neck and neck with friends, ”she laughs.
“I’m breaking”, sings the Maltese Destiny
“My song was written in English but I found that in French it took on a larger dimension, that there was something stronger in the interpretation,” explains the Swiss artist, semi-finalist of The Voice on TF1 two years ago. Defending French is for me a deliberate choice in relation to that, but also to the fact that it is one of the national languages of Switzerland and that it is my mother tongue. “
Would he like to see more songs in French representing his country in the future? The question was put to him at a press conference. “I hope that the slogan will not be ‘Let’s sing in English because it’s better for the Eurovision format’. It is essential that artists trust their instincts. No one should be forced to sing in French, so that everyone can choose the language that suits them best, ”replied Gjon’s Tears.
To complete the French-speaking picture, the Maltese Destiny is participating in this edition with a song entitled I break… While the entire text is in English. A sign of the return to favor of French in the competition?