“France has not won for 43 years. This time, we want to bring the cup home. ” This is the wildest dream of Alexandra Redde-Amiel, director of entertainment for France Televisions and new head of the French delegation to Eurovision. Even if, officially, the objective is rather to “get closer to the podium” with Tom Leeb. In other words: being in the Top 5. What even Amir (6th in 2016) had failed to do. The last time France shone was in 2002 with Sandrine François (5th) and in 2001 with Natasha St-Pier (4th).
To achieve this, exit “Destination Eurovision”, the shortlisted telecrochet for the past two years. “It was complicated to find eighteen songs that really had potential, recognizes Takis Candilis, number 2 of the public audiovisual group. And in the end, Bilal Hassani (Editor's note: candidate in 2019) spoke more to our audience than to that of Eurovision. "
The French camp therefore preferred an internal choice and launched a call for tenders open to foreign authors and composers. With precise specifications: a universal title, in the emotion and which makes live a true moment, an experiment with the televiewers. And in the theme submitted by Eurovision: "Open up".
“We listened to a hundred blind, to retain five or six. But only one was really unanimous, says Takis Candilis. We even wanted to hear it ten times in a row. "
"The Best in me", the song that will represent France
Even Delphine Ernotte, the president of France Télévisions, was immediately won over. The favorite song? A pop-folk ride, with piano and strings, entitled "The Best in me" (The best in me) which will be unveiled live from the Eiffel Tower, this Sunday evening on France 2.
Behind him is a trio of Swedes, a first: Thomas G: Son, Peter Boström and John Lundvik. "The fruit of a European creation", points out Candilis. Randomly, they have already won the Eurovision with "Euphoria", performed by Loreen in 2012.
It remained to find a French singer. "With Tom Leeb, this was obvious," continues Alexandra Redde-Amiel. Besides, we didn't even do a casting. Her voice is very authentic, pure. He also has a lot of charisma. He is an accomplished artist and someone humble. The planets aligned when he said: Yes! , a little before Christmas. Eurovision can impress. With this love song Bryan Adams, it will mark the spirits. She is far from lukewarm. "
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Only problem, the Swedish words were 100% in English. It's up to Tom Leeb to reclaim them. And for that, he called on… Amir, who also had “a crush”. Together, they rewrote the verses and kept the catchy choruses of the original version. Half and therefore half, except for the radios, which impose more French. “90% of the winners sang in English, recalls the head of the French delegation. In the end, it gives a real wow effect! Next step before the final in Rotterdam (Netherlands) on May 16: the staging of the show, with five singers.