France: Destination Eurovision Details Revealed

France Televisions has revealed more details today about “Destination Eurovision”, the country’s selection process for Eurovision 2018.

Carolina Got, General Director of France 2 confirmed this morning that Destination Eurovision will be held over a number of shows and is set to be hosted by the singer Garou. Garou is a very popular French language performer having been born in Quebec Canada. Between 2011 and 2016 he was one of the judges on La plus belle voix. His debut album Seul which was released in 2000, went on to be the best selling French album of 2001 and one of the best selling of all time.

During the press conference this morning it was confirmed that should the winning song be entirely in French, that no English lyrics would be added to the song for the Eurovision Song Contest. In addition producers have not ruled out the possibility of singers from outside of France competing in the selection. Over the years a number of French speaking international performers have represented France at the contest including Anggun and Natasha St-Pier

The French Delegation and the team behind Destination Eurovision have begun their search for the participating singers and songs for the selection process. It was earlier reported that around 15 entries will be performed, divided between the two semi-finals. The shows will be pre-recorded, with the results will be decided on by a panel of judges. The final will be broadcast live, with a televote in addition to the jury vote deciding the winner of the contest and France’s entry at Eurovision.

The last time France held a televised national final was in 2014, where a combination of votes from televiewers and a jury panel saw Twin Twin fly the French flag at the Eurovision Song Contest. They came in last place in Copenhagen, scoring only 2 points, France’s worst result since it entered the contest.

Last year’s French entry, Alma with the song “Requiem,” finished in 12th place at the Eurovision Grand Final, bringing France’s second consecutive result on the left-hand side of the scoreboard.

Source: Eurovision-fr.net

[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”France in the Eurovision Song Contest”] France was one of seven countries to participate in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Since then they have participated in every contest aside from 1974 and 1982. Their withdrawal in 1974 was caused by the death of President Georges Pompidou, while 1982’s withdrawal was a result of TF1 declining to enter the contest. France has won the contest on five occasions, the most recent being in 1977 when Marie Myriam performed “L’oiseau et l’enfant”. France’s best result of the 2000s came in 2001 when Natasha St-Pier finished 4th in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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