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​

 

[cassio]

Brings me back to France ESC 2009. ...... France 7 point

 

[Scooby]

So far this is my winner

 

[toinou03]

Meanwhile Nayah just flopped in The Voice France...

 

[SAYAY]

France giving art. I absolutely adore this. I am honestly getting Amar Pelos Dois vibes from this song, because this is also very timeless song and I love that. France, it is a solid well deserved points from me.

 

[i anixi]

This is magnificent from every angle you look at it.
If it doesn't win eurovision with a never-seen-before record of points, than this is no music contest - I'm of course assuming nothing remotely approaching this level of quality will come up, because it hardly ever does, so how would it happen twice in the same year?

 

[mauve]

After weeks, still one of my most fave songs this ESC. I listen to it a lot and always gives me goosebumps.

 

[LakZaNokte]

Nice song. Nothing grounbreaking but still is nice.

7 pts

 

[pardoESC]

10 points from me

I like the song a lot

 

[FRFanESC]

The queen (new official promotional shooting).

 

[SwedishFailurez]

This is magnificent from every angle you look at it.
If it doesn't win eurovision with a never-seen-before record of points, than this is no music contest - I'm of course assuming nothing remotely approaching this level of quality will come up, because it hardly ever does, so how would it happen twice in the same year?

To put this straight, this is a popularity contest. Truly great songs have indeed won the contest, and sometimes novelty acts have also taken the trophy. It all depends on how much steam the entry might generate which results in attention from mainstream media and if the live performance/overall show is convincing enough for the audience (including the juries) to vote for it. Even if the pre-contest hype is leaning towards Gjon's entry right now and some might think that said entry will cannibalize on this or each other.

However, the reality might that this might be a headbutt battle between Barbara and Gjon for the victory because "Voila" is a different beast of its own. "Tout l’univers" is a much more contemporary ballad that is cold, strictly conventional, but yet truly compelling in its own right. That song is more of a male counterpart of Victora's offerings with a roman tongue. "Tout l’univers" is aimed at a different demographic while, the song more similar to "Arcade" or even "Beautiful Mess" in that regard "Voila" though is more organically executed in how the song itself works. It's simple, but also raw and stylized which makes the song more comparable to "Amar pelos dois". Barbara has been proven to be a great live performer for a song like this, and Gjon will probably nail "Tout l’univers" too if the emotion of his song can be felt through the live performance.

On the surface, both songs seem to be the same, and "Voila" might be seen as the little sister to big brother "Tout l’univers" just at the moment. But both songs are very distinct because they are different genres that also have different demographics. When it comes to popularity both can still achieve 250+ points in the televoting since both songs really do appeal to different people. If people are arguing about the song that should win based on quality, it's very subjective.

 

[i anixi]

To put this straight, this is a popularity contest. Truly great songs have indeed won the contest, and sometimes novelty acts have also taken the trophy. It all depends on how much steam the entry might generate which results in attention from mainstream media and if the live performance/overall show is convincing enough for the audience (including the juries) to vote for it. Even if the pre-contest hype is leaning towards Gjon's entry right now and some might think that said entry will cannibalize on this or each other.

However, the reality might that this might be a headbutt battle between Barbara and Gjon for the victory because "Voila" is a different beast of its own. "Tout l’univers" is a much more contemporary ballad that is cold, strictly conventional, but yet truly compelling in its own right. That song is more of a male counterpart of Victora's offerings with a roman tongue. "Tout l’univers" is aimed at a different demographic while, the song more similar to "Arcade" or even "Beautiful Mess" in that regard "Voila" though is more organically executed in how the song itself works. It's simple, but also raw and stylized which makes the song more comparable to "Amar pelos dois". Barbara has been proven to be a great live performer for a song like this, and Gjon will probably nail "Tout l’univers" too if the emotion of his song can be felt through the live performance.

On the surface, both songs seem to be the same, and "Voila" might be seen as the little sister to big brother "Tout l’univers" just at the moment. But both songs are very distinct because they are different genres that also have different demographics. When it comes to popularity both can still achieve 250+ points in the televoting since both songs really do appeal to different people. If people are arguing about the song that should win based on quality, it's very subjective.

When I wrote that about France, Switzerland was not yet known. Had to bit my tongue when it came out
That's what usually happens when we state superficial truths as immovable facts and use exageration as a figure of speech. I really only meant to convey my opinion that France is quite superb. As it happened, Switzerland turned out superb as well, with all the differences you so accurately point out. Furthermore, other songs have come out which I also find quite deserving, in different styles ( not Malta, though, please...).
Lets say I stuck my neck out too early...
This turned out to be quite a good eurovision year.

 

[SwedishFailurez]

When I wrote that about France, Switzerland was not yet known. Had to bit my tongue when it came out
That's what usually happens when we state superficial truths as immovable facts and use exageration as a figure of speech. I really only meant to convey my opinion that France is quite superb. As it happened, Switzerland turned out superb as well, with all the differences you so accurately point out. Furthermore, other songs have come out which I also find quite deserving, in different styles ( not Malta, though, please...).
Lets say I stuck my neck out too early...
This turned out to be quite a good eurovision year.

Well, to be honest, I missed the date of your post (which I actually like by the way).

But I still stand by what I wrote which was meant to be more about the general thoughts of what a Eurovision winner should be rather than a counterpoint towards your opinion.

The forum's reaction to the 2015 split results is an example I would like to bring up because we were eager to abolish the juries because of Il Volo's all-time high televote result and Italy was thought to be the worthy winners instead. This also plays a part in what different audiences prefer as the juries wanted "Heroes" by a landslide, but the televoters wanted "Grande Amore" with the same extreme. Both songs also did quite well in their respective opposite end of the results (276 televote points for Sweden and 171 juryvote points for Italy). It's more due to the voting system itself that the winner is decided mostly by popularity as the top 3 usually are people's second/third-hand favorites. Neither songs were among my absolute favorites that year, but they have a broader appeal than convincing people to vote without being the best. Even if "Voila" might only be placed 7th overall in specific countries' jury votes, but can still be pushed towards 200+ jury points because of that diverse collection of small points everywhere.

There you have it, discussing things we are passionate about is indeed fun.

 

[Trece]

What i have discovered today. İ think i have listened this song 3 or 4 times and not recently, but today it came to my head, i could easily remember the chorus and get the melody, as for me its very good sign. France is among my favorites this year, yes it reminds me Edit Piaf but thats the positive thing as it brings that warm nostalgic vibe and i love to listen this song. And Barbara herself very charismatic and artistic, thats why she slayed live.

 

[i anixi]

Well, to be honest, I missed the date of your post (which I actually like by the way).

But I still stand by what I wrote which was meant to be more about the general thoughts of what a Eurovision winner should be rather than a counterpoint towards your opinion.

The forum's reaction to the 2015 split results is an example I would like to bring up because we were eager to abolish the juries because of Il Volo's all-time high televote result and Italy was thought to be the worthy winners instead. This also plays a part in what different audiences prefer as the juries wanted "Heroes" by a landslide, but the televoters wanted "Grande Amore" with the same extreme. Both songs also did quite well in their respective opposite end of the results (276 televote points for Sweden and 171 juryvote points for Italy). It's more due to the voting system itself that the winner is decided mostly by popularity as the top 3 usually are people's second/third-hand favorites. Neither songs were among my absolute favorites that year, but they have a broader appeal than convincing people to vote without being the best. Even if "Voila" might only be placed 7th overall in specific countries' jury votes, but can still be pushed towards 200+ jury points because of that diverse collection of small points everywhere.

There you have it, discussing things we are passionate about is indeed fun.

It is indeed

I quite aprove of the present voting system btw, I've noticed it somehow contributes to making esc a more current affair results wise than any other voting before.
Picking at your example, I much preferred Sweden's great staging show elevating a very current and hummable song, to cheesy old Il Volo.
Interesting combined winners also came out of 2016 and 2019 and even 2018.
Let's see what the combined efforts of both jury and public will make out in May. Or are we going back to 2017 and agree on everything? If we do, let's hope we do it in French

 

[Trece]

Okay i am getting on France hype train in the middle of the route but this song is brilliant. İ could even imagine it as soundtrack of some classy French movie which wins all Cannes etc reward

 

[Iker]

The only thing that could need some polish is the animation with the birds. Everything else should stay the exact same. I loved her outfit it was simple but the belt thingy really elevated it.

I agree on the outfit at the French NF, this was chic - if they want to change it please keep it in the same style.

 

[Ana Raquel]

Increased to

I think the perfect entry in this genre would be Patricia's instrumental + Barbara's voice.


Also I still hate how gorgeous she is this is cruel.

 

[VikingTiger]

I still like Barbara and Voila a lot. Initially I gave this 12p. Those 12 points were based on Barbara's live performance, which I found stunning and very effective. And also on my love for the old french tradition of chansons in the ESC. I still love and listen to entries like Un Jour, un Enfant and the brilliant Je Suis l'Enfant Soleil.
But having that said, I must admit that Voila does not quite do the trick on it's own, without watching Barbara at the same time as listening. I find myselv playing Et s'Il Fallait le Faire rather than Voila these days, and that has been the case ever since Barbara won the French election.
Thus I'm downgrading France to "only" 10 points this year.
BUT - since the ESC is a song contest in the name only, and it's the whole package that counts in May - this might as get my 12 p after all.

 

[Flamenkax]

 

[crashworld]

Now that all songs have been released (except Belarus, but I doubt I will like the artist's song to make a huge change).
I am re-evaluating all songs as per studio form and re-looking into my grading system and how I have ranked the songs according to my personal preference.

I realize the song is really down in my personal ranking. I do appreciate France by sending in something authentic and true to the artist. But I just have no desire to listen to the song, which is strange as I do enjoy Juliette's song (much more) even though they are pretty similar in style.

So I am downgrading the rating to .