France FRANCE 2021 - Barbara Pravi - Voilà

[escYOUnited]

Écoutez moi
Moi la chanteuse à demi
Parlez de moi
À vos amours, à vos amis
Parler leur de cette fille aux yeux noirs et de son rêve fou
Moi c'que j'veux c'est écrire des histoires qui arrivent jusqu'à vous
C'est tout

Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis
Me voilà même si mise à nue j'ai peur, oui
Me voilà dans le bruit et dans le silence

Regardez moi, ou du moins ce qu'il en reste
Regardez moi, avant que je me déteste
Quoi vous dire, que les lèvres d'une autre ne vous diront pas
C'est peu de chose mais moi tout ce que j'ai je le dépose là, voilà

Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis
Me voilà même si mise à nue c'est fini
C'est ma gueule c'est mon cri, me voilà tant pis
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà juste ici
Moi mon rêve mon envie, comme j'en crève comme j'en ris
Me voilà dans le bruit et dans le silence

Ne partez pas, j'vous en supplie restez longtemps
Ça m'sauvera peut-être pas, non
Mais faire sans vous j'sais pas comment
Aimez moi comme on aime un ami qui s'en va pour toujours
J'veux qu'on m'aime parce que moi je sais pas bien aimer mes contours

Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis
Me voilà même si mise à nue c'est fini
Me voilà dans le bruit et dans la fureur aussi
Regardez moi enfin et mes yeux et mes mains
Tout c'que j'ai est ici, c'est ma gueule c'est mon cri
Me voilà, me voilà, me voilà
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà
Voilà​

 

[Ezio]

I am obsessed with French chansons, especially from musical theatre, such as "L'envie d'aimer" and "Belle".

Voilà adds to the diversity to the Song Contest, which is a good thing. But the song itself is joyless, arid, yet loud, and thus really offputting to me. I can't enjoy it. If it were calmer, if her voice was deeper, maybe then I could connect it with it.

 

[RainyWoods]

It's probably the best song France have picked in a long time. As a composition I'd say it's beautiful. At moments it's stunning. I like Voilà, sure. I don't love it though. There's something about Barbara that's making it all hard to connect with. Technically she's very good. Impressive even. I feel though like I'm at the theatre watching a musical rather than listening to a chanteuse pour her heart out. I don't quite buy it all. As much as it thrills me during certain moments, I'm also left too cold at other times. I felt like this from my very first experience with the song. I had goosebumps when the music started to gallop as it reached its final moments, and yet I didn't have much of an ache to go back and live it all again, which is just bizarre as the song is totally made for me.

If Voilà had a Patricia Kaas or Marianne Faithfull-esque voice behind it I'd be throwing my chunkiest 12. It might be a bit mean considering the quality and beauty of the composition but I think seems fair for now. I know it happened almost twelve years ago but I just can't help but compare Voilà to Et S'il Fallait Le Faire, and the latter is in a different league. You've got to let that whisky mature.

 

[94ayd]

I knew I wasn't wrong to study French for 6 years - they always serve taste. My favourites won every selection since 2014 but this time it's really something else. I had an instant attraction to Barbara since the 1-minute snippets but tonight really blew me away, I was on the verge of tears. Such a simple yet honest and professional performer. There was no room for competition after she sang, all the others looked and sounded like amateurs. I did enjoy Pony X though, an upgraded version of Twin Twin. I feel complete winner vibes from her just like I did the first time I heard Salvador Sobral perform Amar pelos dois. And to think she composed the last two JESC entries, which are totally different. To me she's the kind of artist Sia is. I wouldn't mind if we came close to winning just like in 2017 but lost to . Will have to see how compares. And points of course.

PS Gotta commend on the diversity of featured ethnic backgrounds and styles, also Amir for the taste and the guy for being an even more good-looking dopple ganger of his.

 

[crashworld]

That's why it's so utterly sad for Eden - She has ZERO chances in finishing high and she's in a very strong and competitive semi (countries-wise). My comment might not have been "nice" to Israel/Eden but it's the truth - they simply don't have a competitive or quality entry. They will heavily rely on Eden's charming personality and her power and energy as a performer.

We have yet to see the final staging/version of "Set Me Free". We all know what a charismatic & great performer + good staging can do to an average song (ala Cyprus 2018). So I wouldn't write off Eden's chances of finishing high as yet.

 

[Sammy]

When I hear this I'm not so much remembered of the Piaf, but also of Barbara, Patricia Kaas or ZAZ. For me she's not a copy of one chanson of Piaf, but she's blending into the tradition of the french chanson adding new flavors without denying its roots.

 

[astatine86]

'Amour fou' was robbed, and that is the truth of the matter x

Please, tell me you've just quoted Queen Rachel from X-Factor UK.
Also, I agree!

 

[DannyDS]

Please, tell me you've just quoted Queen Rachel from X-Factor UK.
Also, I agree!

I DID. I love her

 

[lavieenrose]

When I hear this I'm not so much remembered of the Piaf, but also of Barbara, Patricia Kaas or ZAZ. For me she's not a copy of one chanson of Piaf, but she's blending into the tradition of the french chanson adding new flavors without denying its roots.

Right on. As the forum's resident Piaf Fanboy (check the name), one thing I really like here is that it definitely takes from her tradition but isn't so unfettered that it comes off as some kind of kitschy pastiche. It's very much someone charting their own identity with an inspiration in tow.

 

[Mainshow]

After thinking about Marie's statement that she wants to see France win Eurovision ASAP so that she can retire, I can totally understand why her jury votes were a pile of shit... she was trying to sabotage France so that she can linger in her position forever.

 

[astatine86]

I DID. I love her

OMG, I love you! (and that is the truth of the matter!)

 

[hijirio]

Okurrrr now my genuine comments about the French entry.
I don't know how to say what I think without drawing the arrows of criticism from all the hyped fans in this thread.

Good points:
It's better than last year. :-)

Bad points:
It's too French, in a bad way, it almost feels gimmicky. I can imagine watching Eurovision with my friends and they will say "oh, baguette, tour eiffel, edith piaf, omg this is soooo french i love it!!!!"
In that way, it reminds me of 2018 with the viking guys. I really don't like it when entries stick to their national stereotypes.
And beyond that, the song doesn't make me feel anything.
A generous 4 points from me.

On a side note, can France use the same jury for Eurovision too, please? A jury that stans alternative bops like Pony X and LMK, that's what we need from all countries. Take notes!!

 

[BarefootBoogaloo]

If Voilà had a...Marianne Faithfull-esque voice

 

[Mrm]

Please pick this presenter to represent France next year! Thanks!

 

[lavieenrose]

Ask me again in the alternate universe where her votes actually matter, but I thought that 1) Marie's votes were definitely not out of the question as someone scoring rationally and 2) if she were trolling, that would be ever so slightly iconic

 

[HayashiM]

So, NF is done and Barbara Pravi was surprisingly the one to get the crown in the end.

Let’s start with the pros, because it would be unfair and incredibly stupid to say there’re none.
Barbara is a great singer. Voice control is there, she knows how to transmit emotions. She’s definitely a performer, and a good one at that. Voilà is a charismatic ballad we don’t see often in ESC, no doubt only a few will be left indifferent.

But I didn’t want it as our representative.

First, I can’t shake out of my head the Edith Piaf similarity. You may find it endearing, but personally it’s really jarring. I don’t know if it was intentional or not (I hope it isn’t), but don’t you think it’s ironic that for someone who wants to show who she really is, her gestures and stage presence are more than similar to one of our biggest artists ?
Second, like I said again and again, I don’t want a ballad for France. I dream of the day we'll start to be bolder and send the unexpected. We're already doing in that aspect in JESC, I'm sure it can works in the big one too. We're pre-qualifier, it's the occasion to try new genres and bring different things to the ESC stage.
Third, I'm sure we can send en entry with a French flair still without sounding like a pool of clichés like Voilà is. Many of you said it : it sounds like a classical French ballad. It ticks all the boxes to the point it loses its own identity. And I think it's my biggest pet peeve with this song : I can't relate. French music changed a lot over the years, it would have been perfectly fine in the XXth century but now I don't think it fits in our musical scene (and I'm not only talking about the one we hear on radio).

On another note, I was (pleasantly) surprised by how well Pony X and LMK did with jury vote.

This genuinely sounds 99% like Jan Bors' video on the subject, isn't he your elder brother or something? (this is meant as a compliment, btw)

I am sorry - as could be expected, I don't have that perspective. I really don't hear a cliché, I hear pure emotion and I don't give a flying flamingo someone might have expressed that emotion in a similar way many decades ago.
...
Insert an originally long paragraph that's better resumed by

When I hear this I'm not so much remembered of the Piaf, but also of Barbara, Patricia Kaas or ZAZ. For me she's not a copy of one chanson of Piaf, but she's blending into the tradition of the french chanson adding new flavors without denying its roots.

There's not just Edith Piaf to (French) chanson. And true quality music remains timeless, no matter the time it was written in or the person it was written by.

 

[Etanna]

I knew I wasn't wrong to study French for 6 years - they always serve taste. My favourites won every selection since 2014 but this time it's really something else. I had an instant attraction to Barbara since the 1-minute snippets but tonight really blew me away, I was on the verge of tears. Such a simple yet honest and professional performer. There was no room for competition after she sang, all the others looked and sounded like amateurs. I did enjoy Pony X though, an upgraded version of Twin Twin. I feel complete winner vibes from her just like I did the first time I heard Salvador Sobral perform Amar pelos dois. And to think she composed the last two JESC entries, which are totally different. To me she's the kind of artist Sia is. I wouldn't mind if we came close to winning just like in 2017 but lost to . Will have to see how compares. And points of course.

PS Gotta commend on the diversity of featured ethnic backgrounds and styles, also Amir for the taste and the guy for being an even more good-looking dopple ganger of his.

Good point about Switzerland there, if they send something like last year the songs might cancel each other out

 

[Funix]

Overall a good song, but not a screaming WINNER tune in my ears. 7,5/10

 

[Uto]

I knew I wasn't wrong to study French for 6 years - they always serve taste.

Tom Leeb called, asked for your name. Think he wants to have a word with you.

 

[HayashiM]

Tom Leeb called, asked for your name. Think he wants to have a word with you.

Last year got cancelled though, so we can legit pretend it has never happened...

 

[anto475]

I do like it a lot, I'm very very happy this won!