France were one of Eurovision's most successful nations winning five times in the early days, but unfortunately, their luck hasn't been great of late.  They saw disappointing results with ordinary songs in 1999 and 2000.  2001 saw them enter a wonderful song, and the performer sang in English - a one and only for France at Eurovision - they secured 4th place.  This form was kept up for a year at least with one of my faves 'Il Faut Du Temps' in 2002 by Sandrine Francois.  They saw the UK award them 10 points and managed a fantastic 5th place.  Things then went downhill... their 2003 entry wasn't bad, but not great, 2004 was a boring male ballad amid lots of other boring male ballads and 2005 saw France's entrant Ortal point at everyone in Europe and tell them how selfish they all are singing "chacun pense a soi" - not the best way to pick up votes!  In fairness, the song was good, but it just went somewhat wrong on the night.  Last year saw France enter Virginie Pouchain and while I enjoyed the performance, it really wasn't anything special and they finished nearer the bottom of the scoreboard for a second year running.

 

 

In one of their most high profile selections EVER, France chose aging acoustic all-male group Les Fatals Picards to represent them with ‘L’amour A La Francaise’ (French Love).  This is a difficult one to review – it’s sweet charm is appealing, yet it’s difficult to know if the French are taking the whole thing seriously or not, and if it’s good enough for the voting public to take to.  It’s worth noting that this is the first time France have every decided to unashamedly send an entry that will definitely partly be sung in English.  It’s a pleasant song, which starts and finished nicely – but that’s all I think it is – nice - and it may take a lunatic cringe to vote for this, or, on the other hand, people may fall for its elegant charm and France could do surprisingly well.  It starts slowly, and gradually builds into a speedy little number which is still fairly easy on the ears.  Each line is sung half in English and half in French, and for those like me who can understand the French language, it’s easy to appreciate, but for those who don’t, the song could simply be irritating.  A very hard one to call – I just want the big French ‘Chanteurs de Voix’ back from 2001 and 2002 – that was when France did well and actually deserved to win!

 

 

Despite having a much more elaborate selection process than usual, France have still managed to pick something charming and inoffensive - albeit that it is very different from other French entries.  I don't see this making much of an impression, and amidst a field of other more powerful songs, it's likely France will, yet again, get lost among the competition.

 

 

Not a chance - unless it comes across as an entertaining novelty entry - but I'm still not expecting big things at all.

 

 

France’s entry did have a certain charm to it, but when the whole thing went on stage it just seemed so silly, and came across as a complete novelty entry – none of which stood a chance against Verka Serduchka from the Ukraine.  This lacked complete warmth, the guys didn’t seem to embrace Eurovision, rather, it seemed that they mocked it, laughing at it, where Verka seemed to enjoy herself thoroughly onstage, providing something very entertaining indeed.  The lead singer simply didn’t take his vocal seriously enough, and it definitely matters nowadays in Eurovision.  All in all, I thought this was complete tripe, deserving of a place near the bottom of the scoreboard.  As for my prediction, predicting 21^st-23^rd it seems I was bang on when they came in 22^nd place.