French Eurovision debut - in English
MP demands to know why France’s Eurovision entry will be in English for the first time since the competition began.
A FRENCH MP is demanding to know why the country’s Eurovision entry is almost entirely in English.
UMP deputy François-Michel Gonnot has asked the minister of culture Christine Albanel to explain why Sébastien Tellier’s entry Divine contains just 13 words of French. It is the first time since the launch of the competition in 1956 that France’s Eurovision entry has been sung in English.
In a written question the MP writes: “The choice made by France 3 (which chose the song) has shocked many of our citizens who cannot understand why, for the first time, France has decided not to defend its language in front of hundreds of millions of viewers across the world.”
Singer Sébastien Tellier, 33, is signed to the record label Record Makers which was founded by the French group Air for artists who, among other things, like to write in English.
In his Eurovision song, Tellier, nicknamed the ‘Chabal of the Chanson’ for his resemblance to the rugby player, sings 13 words in French ”Toi et moi c'est comme tu sais ; comment mon cœur a succombé” (You and me, it’s like you know ; how my heart has succumbed).
As if striking a balance this year, Ireland’s entry by puppet Dustin the Turkey is entitled Irelande Douze Pointe.
Photo: Laurent Brancovitz
