France in the Eurovision Song Contest

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France
France
Member station {{{Member station}}}
Appearances
Appearances 65
First appearance 1956
External links
France 2 page
35px France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023


France has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 65 times since its debut at the first contest in 1956. France is one of only seven countries to be present at the first contest, and has been absent from only two contests in its history, missing the 1974 and 1982 contests. Along with Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, France is one of the "Big Five" countries that are automatically prequalified for the final, due to being the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). France has won the contest five times.

France first won the contest in 1958 with "Dors, mon amour" performed by André Claveau. Three more victories followed in the 1960s, with "Tom Pillibi" performed by Jacqueline Boyer in 1960, "Un premier amour" performed by Isabelle Aubret in 1962 and "Un jour, un enfant" performed by Frida Boccara, who won in 1969 in a four-way tie with the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. France's fifth victory came in 1977, when Marie Myriam won with the song "L'Oiseau et l'Enfant". During its successful run in the 20th century, France has also finished second four times, with Paule Desjardins (1957), Catherine Ferry (1976), Joëlle Ursull (1990) and Amina (1991), who lost out to Sweden's Carola in a tie-break.

After reaching the top five in 24 contests in the 20th century, France has had less success in the 21st century, only making the top five three times, with Natasha St-Pier fourth (2001), Sandrine François fifth (2002) and Barbara Pravi second (2021). France's other top 10 results in the century are Patricia Kaas's eighth place in 2009 and Amir's sixth place in 2016. France finished last for the first time in 2014, when Twin Twin received only two points.

Organisation

Several French broadcasters have been used to present Eurovision in the country, formerly RTF (1956–1964), ORTF (1965–1974), TF1 (1975–1981) and Antenne 2 (1983–1992). Since 1993, France Télévisions has been responsible for France's participation in the contest, with the final being broadcast on France 2 (1993–98, 2015–present) and France 3 (1999–2014), and the semi-final which France votes in was broadcast on France 4 (2005–2010, 2016–19), later France Ô (2011–15) and since 2021, Culturebox (fr). The semi-final in 2004 was not broadcast; viewers who were close enough to Monaco were able to watch that year's semi-final via TMC Monte-Carlo. Radio coverage has been provided, although not every year or since 2013, by France Inter from 1971 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2012, France Bleu (also in 1976). In 1982, RTL Radio transmitted the contest due to the country's absence that year.

France has often changed the selection process for the country's entry for the contest, with either a national final or an internal selection (occasionally a combination of both formats) having been held over the years.

Contest history

France is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision, winning the contest five times, coming second five times and coming third seven times. However, France has only hosted the Eurovision contest three times (1959, 1961, 1978).[1] France was ranked first in number of victories (either alone or tied with other countries) without interruptions from 1960 to 1993. Moreover, Amina was close to victory with the song "C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison" in 1991, when she finished in joint first place (with the same number of points as Sweden). Therefore, the 'countback' rule applied, but both countries had an equal number of twelve points (four lots), but the victory went to Sweden, when France had fewer 10-point scores. Today, with the new rules, France would have won the competition, because they received points from more countries than Sweden. One year before, France was also close to winning with Joëlle Ursull performing "White and Black Blues". The song finished in joint-second place with Ireland's entry.

However, in recent years, the French results have been mixed. Since 1998, when the televoting was introduced, France has almost always ranked in the bottom 10 countries in the final, coming 15th (2004), 16th (2019 and 2023), 18th (2003 and 2008), 19th (1999 and 2008), 22nd (2006, 2007 and 2012), 23rd (2000, 2005 and 2013), 24th (1998 and 2022), 25th (2015), and 26th (last place, for the first time in its Eurovision history) in 2014.

France has had some good results during the 21st century. In 2001, Canadian singer Natasha St-Pier came fourth with her song "Je n'ai que mon âme", being the favourite to win the contest by fans and odds. This good result was carried into the 2002, when Sandrine François came fifth with "Il faut du temps" and received the Marcel Bezençon international press award for the best entry of that year. The positive experience with Sébastien Tellier in 2008 created considerable interest among the French showbiz for the contest, which resulted in Eurovision being seen by the French media as a valuable advertising campaign. With these ambitions, Patricia Kaas represented France in the 2009 with "Et s'il fallait le faire", finishing in eighth place. Kaas received the Marcel Bezençon artistic award, which was voted on by previous winners and presented to the best artist. In the 2016, Amir with his song "J'ai cherché" ended in sixth place and broke a 40-year record by scoring the most points in France's Eurovision history, by scoring 257 points in the final. That record would later be broken once again in 2021, as Barbara Pravi with her song "Voilà" finished in second place with 499 points, France's best result since 1991, only 25 points behind eventual winners Måneskin from Italy.

Absences

Since their debut in 1956, France has only missed two contests, in 1974 and 1982. In 1974, after selecting a singer and song to represent them at the contest, France withdrew after the President of France Georges Pompidou died in the week of the contest.[2] If they had participated, France would have been represented by Dani with the song "La Vie à vingt-cinq ans".

In November 1981, TF1 declined to enter the Eurovision Song Contest for 1982, with the head of entertainment, Pierre Bouteiller, saying, "The absence of talent and the mediocrity of the songs were where annoyance set in. Eurovision is a monument to inanity [sometimes translated as "drivel"]."[3] Antenne 2 took over the job due to public reaction of TF1's withdrawal, hosting a national final to select their entry as well, from the 1983 contest.

France and the "Big Five"

Since 1999, France, along with Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, have automatically qualified for the Eurovision final regardless of their results in previous contests.[4] These countries earned this special status by being the four biggest financial contributors to the EBU, and subsequently became known as the "Big Four". Italy returned to the contest in 2011, thus upgrading the countries to members of a "Big Five".[5][6]

Participation overview

Table key
1 First place
2 Second place
3 Third place
◁ Last place
X Entry selected but did not compete
† Upcoming event
Year Artist Song Language Final Points Semi Points
1956 Mathé Altéry "Le Temps perdu" French N/A[lower-alpha 1] N/A[lower-alpha 1] No semi-finals
Dany Dauberson "Il est là" French
1957 Paule Desjardins "La Belle amour" French 2 17
1958 André Claveau "Dors mon amour" French 1 27
1959 Jean Philippe "Oui oui oui oui" French 3 15
1960 Jacqueline Boyer "Tom Pillibi" French 1 32
1961 Jean-Paul Mauric "Printemps (avril carillonne)" French 4 13
1962 Isabelle Aubret "Un premier amour" French 1 26
1963 Alain Barrière "Elle était si jolie" French 5 25
1964 Rachel "Le Chant de Mallory" French 4 14
1965 Guy Mardel "N'avoue jamais" French 3 22
1966 Dominique Walter "Chez nous" French 16 1
1967 Noëlle Cordier "Il doit faire beau là-bas" French 3 20
1968 Isabelle Aubret "La Source" French 3 20
1969 Frida Boccara "Un jour, un enfant" French 1 18
1970 Guy Bonnet "Marie-Blanche" French 4 8
1971 Serge Lama "Un jardin sur la terre" French 10 82
1972 Betty Mars "Comé-comédie" French 11 81
1973 Martine Clémenceau "Sans toi" French 15 65
1974 Dani "La Vie à vingt-cinq ans" French Withdrawn X
1975 Nicole "Et bonjour à toi l'artiste" French 4 91
1976 Catherine Ferry "Un, deux, trois" French 2 147
1977 Marie Myriam "L'Oiseau et l'Enfant" French 1 136
1978 Joël Prévost "Il y aura toujours des violons" French 3 119
1979 Anne-Marie David "Je suis l'enfant soleil" French 3 106
1980 Profil "Hé, hé m'sieurs dames" French 11 45
1981 Jean Gabilou "Humanahum" French 3 125
1983 Guy Bonnet "Vivre" French 8 56
1984 Annick Thoumazeau "Autant d'amoureux que d'étoiles" French 8 61
1985 Roger Bens "Femme dans ses rêves aussi" French 10 56
1986 Cocktail Chic "Européennes" French 17 13
1987 Christine Minier "Les Mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche" French 14 44
1988 Gérard Lenorman "Chanteur de charme" French 10 64
1989 Nathalie Pâque "J'ai volé la vie" French 8 60
1990 Joëlle Ursull "White and Black Blues" French 2 132
1991 Amina "C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison" French 2 146
1992 Kali "Monté la riviè" French, Antillean Creole 8 73
1993 Patrick Fiori "Mama Corsica" French, Corsican 4 121 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet
1994 Nina Morato "Je suis un vrai garçon" French 7 74 No semi-finals
1995 Nathalie Santamaria "Il me donne rendez-vous" French 4 94
1996 Dan Ar Braz and l'Héritage des Celtes "Diwanit bugale" Breton 19 18 11 55
1997 Fanny "Sentiments songes" French 7 95 No semi-finals
1998 Marie Line "Où aller" French 24 3
1999 Nayah "Je veux donner ma voix" French 19 14
2000 Sofia Mestari "On aura le ciel" French 23 5
2001 Natasha St-Pier "Je n'ai que mon âme" French, English 4 142
2002 Sandrine François "Il faut du temps" French 5 104
2003 Louisa Baïleche "Monts et merveilles" French 18 19
2004 Jonatan Cerrada "À chaque pas" French, Spanish 15 40 Member of the "Big Four"
2005 Ortal "Chacun pense à soi" French 23 11
2006 Virginie Pouchain "Il était temps" French 22 5
2007 Les Fatals Picards "L'Amour à la française" French, English ("Franglais") 22 19
2008 Sébastien Tellier "Divine" English[lower-alpha 2] 19 47
2009 Patricia Kaas "Et s'il fallait le faire" French 8 107
2010 Jessy Matador "Allez Ola Olé" French 12 82
2011 Amaury Vassili "Sognu" Corsican 15 82 Member of the "Big Five"
2012 Anggun "Echo (You and I)" French, English 22 21
2013 Amandine Bourgeois "L'Enfer et moi" French 23 14
2014 Twin Twin "Moustache" French[lower-alpha 3] 26 ◁ 2
2015 Lisa Angell "N'oubliez pas" French 25 4
2016 Amir "J'ai cherché" French, English 6 257
2017 Alma "Requiem" French, English 12 135
2018 Madame Monsieur "Mercy" French 13 173
2019 Bilal Hassani "Roi" French, English 16 105
2020 Tom Leeb "Mon alliée (The Best in Me)" French, English Contest cancelled[lower-alpha 4] X
2021 Barbara Pravi "Voilà" French 2 499
2022 Alvan and Ahez "Fulenn" Breton 24 17
2023 La Zarra "Évidemment" French 16 104
2024 Slimane "Mon amour"[7] French Upcoming †

Hostings

Year Location Venue Presenters
1959 Cannes Palais des Festivals Jacqueline Joubert
1961
1978 Paris Palais des Congrès Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone

Awards

Marcel Bezençon Awards

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Further information: Marcel Bezençon Awards
Year Category Song Composer(s)
lyrics (l) / music (m)		 Performer Final Points Host city Ref.
2002 Press Award "Il faut du temps" Rick Allison (m), Patrick Bruel (m&l), Marie-Florence Gros (l) Sandrine François 5 104 Estonia Tallinn
[8]
2009 Artistic Award[lower-alpha 5] "Et s'il fallait le faire" Anse Lazio, Fred Blondin Patricia Kaas 8 107 Russia Moscow
[9]
2011 Composer Award "Sognu" Daniel Moyne (m), Quentin Bachelet (m),
Jean-Pierre Marcellesi (l), Julie Miller (l)		 Amaury Vassili 15 82 Germany Düsseldorf
[10]
2018 Press Award "Mercy" Émilie Satt (m&l), Jean-Karl Lucas (m&l) Madame Monsieur 13 173 Portugal Lisbon
[11]
2021 Press Award
Artistic Award[lower-alpha 6]		 "Voilà" Barbara Pravi, Lili Poe, Igit (m&l) Barbara Pravi 2 499 Netherlands Rotterdam
[12]

Winner by OGAE members

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Further information: OGAE
Year Song Performer Final Points Host city Ref.
2016 "J'ai cherché" Amir 6 257 Sweden Stockholm
[13]

Related involvement

Conductors

Year Conductor[lower-alpha 7] Musical Director Notes Ref.
1956 Franck Pourcel N/A [14]
1957
1958
1959 Franck Pourcel [lower-alpha 8]
1960 Franck Pourcel N/A
1961 Franck Pourcel [lower-alpha 9]
1962 Franck Pourcel N/A
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968 Alain Goraguer
1969 Franck Pourcel
1970 [15]
1971
1972
1973 Jean Claudric
1974 Jean-Claude Petit [lower-alpha 10]
1975 Jean Musy
1976 Tony Rallo
1977 Raymond Donnez
1978 Alain Goraguer François Rauber
1979 Guy Matteoni N/A
1980 Italy Sylvano Santorio [lower-alpha 11] [16]
1981 David Sprinfield
1983 François Rauber
1984
1985 Michel Bernholc [lower-alpha 12]
1986 Jean-Claude Petit
1987
1988 Guy Matteoni
1989
1990 Régis Dupré
1991 Jérôme Pillement
1992 Magdi Vasco Noverraz
1993 Christian Cravero
1994 Alain Goraguer
1995 Michel Bernholc
1996 Republic of Ireland Fiachra Trench
1997 Régis Dupré
1998 United Kingdom Martin Koch Host conductor[lower-alpha 13]
1999 No orchestra [lower-alpha 14]
2000

Heads of delegation

Year Head of delegation Ref.
2002–2012 Bruno Berberes
[17]
2013–2015 Frederic Valencak
[18]
2016–2018 Edoardo Grassi
[19]
2019 Steven Clerima
[19]
2020–present Alexandra Redde-Amiel
[20][21]

Commentators and spokespersons

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Year Commentator Spokesperson Ref.
Final Semi-final
1956 Michèle Rebel No semi-finals No spokesperson
1957 Robert Beauvais Claude Darget
1958 Pierre Tchernia[22] Armand Lanoux
1959 Claude Darget[23] Marianne Lecène
1960 Pierre Tchernia[24] Armand Lanoux
1961 Robert Beauvais[25]
1962 Pierre Tchernia André Valmy
1963 Armand Lanoux
1964 Robert Beauvais Jean-Claude Massoulier
1965 Pierre Tchernia[26]
1966 François Deguelt
1967 Pierre Tchernia[27]
1968
1969
1970
1971 Georges de Caunes No spokesperson
1972 Pierre Tchernia
1973
1974 Did not participate
1975 Georges de Caunes Marc Menant
1976 Jean-Claude Massoulier
1977 Georges de Caunes
1978 Léon Zitrone[28] Patrice Laffont
1979 Marc Menant Fabienne Égal
1980 Patrick Sabatier
1981 Denise Fabre
1982 Andre Torrent Did not participate
1983 Léon Zitrone Nicole André
1984
1985 Patrice Laffont Clémentine Célarié
1986 Patricia Lesieur
1987 Patrick Simpson-Jones Lionel Cassan
1988 Lionel Cassan Catherine Ceylac
1989 Marie-Ange Nardi
1990 Richard Adaridi Valérie Maurice
1991 Léon Zitrone Daniela Lumbroso
1992 Thierry Beccaro Olivier Minne
1993 Patrice Laffont
1994 Laurent Romejko
1995 Olivier Minne Thierry Beccaro
1996 Laurent Broomhead
1997 Frédéric Ferrer and Marie Myriam
1998 Chris Mayne, Laura Mayne Marie Myriam
1999 Julien Lepers
2000
2001 Marc-Olivier Fogiel, Dave Corinne Hermès
2002 Marie Myriam
2003 Laurent Ruquier, Isabelle Mergault Sandrine François
2004 Laurent Ruquier, Elsa Fayer No broadcast Alex Taylor
2005 Julien Lepers, Guy Carlier Peggy Olmi Marie Myriam
2006 Michel Drucker, Claudy Siar Peggy Olmi, Eric Jean-Jean Sophie Jovillard
2007 Julien Lepers, Tex Peggy Olmi, Yann Renoard Vanessa Dolmen
2008 Julien Lepers, Jean-Paul Gaultier Cyril Hanouna
2009 Cyril Hanouna, Julien Courbet Yann Renoard
2010 Cyril Hanouna, Stéphane Bern Audrey Chauveau
2011 Laurent Boyer, Catherine Lara Audrey Chauveau, Bruno Berberes Cyril Féraud
2012 Cyril Féraud, Mireille Dumas Amaury Vassili
2013 Marine Vignes
2014 Cyril Féraud, Natasha St-Pier Elodie Suigo
2015 Stéphane Bern, Marianne James Mareva Galanter, Jérémy Parayre Virginie Guilhaume
2016 Marianne James, Jarry Élodie Gossuin
2017 Stéphane Bern, Marianne James, Amir
2018 Stéphane Bern, Christophe Willem, Alma Christophe Willem, André Manoukian
2019 Stéphane Bern, André Manoukian Sandy Héribert, André Manoukian Julia Molkhou
[29][30]
2021 Stéphane Bern, Laurence Boccolini Laurence Boccolini Carla
2022 Élodie Gossuin
[31][32]
2023 Anggun, André Manoukian Anggun
[33][34][35][36]

Photogallery

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The 1956 contest had secret voting and, apart from the winner, no results were released.
  2. ↑ Contains some words in French
  3. ↑ Contains phrases in English and Spanish
  4. ↑ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  5. ↑ Voted by previous winners.
  6. ↑ Voted by the national commentators.
  7. ↑ All conductors are of French nationality unless otherwise noted.
  8. ↑ Also conducted for Austria, Germany, Monaco, Sweden, and Switzerland
  9. ↑ Also conducted for Austria and Germany
  10. ↑ Announced as the French conductor prior to the country's withdrawal
  11. ↑ Conducted at the national final by François Rauber
  12. ↑ Conducted at the national final by François Rauber.
  13. ↑ Koch conducted a small string arrangement added to the performance over the course of rehearsals; he did not take the traditional conductor's bow.
  14. ↑ Although the international final did not feature the orchestra, there was one for the national final, conducted by Rene Coll.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ History - Eurovision Song Contest 1974 Eurovision.tv
  3. ↑ 1982 Eurovision source in French
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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