France in Eurovision: All songs from 1956-2018 (REACTION)

[@suleymantekingurmen7643]

Here are some facts: 1. The reason why they were absent in 1974 was that the French President's (at the time) death. The reason why they were absent in 1982 was that TF1 called this Drivel (which means Insanity) so they acquired France Télévisions to continue Eurovision. 2. The language in Diwanit Bugale was Breton (One of France's languages alongside with Corsican), Speaking of Corsican, The language in Sognu was indeed Corsican. 3. The organizer of Eurovision for France from 1956 to 1981 was TF1. Thanks for learning!

[@turklerinortaktarihi9182]

Türk müsün:)

[@Monica4ever9]

And France did come back in 2021 - Voila! 2.nd place

[@luisjalopez]

FINALLY SOMEONE THAT APPRECIATES FRANCE 2001, that song deserved so much more. Also France is a very good country in ESC, they need more love

[@ESCunited]

Well, there is no love shortage on my end. Love France in Eurovision.

[@TM-xo4tm]

Natasha was amazing. A pure beauty and a great voice

[@naewsqrg]

One of the best songs on Eurovision...ever. I didn't get easily emotional about a song, but that touches me in a different way. Song sublime, performance sublime, just perfection. Gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it, I have such a soft spot for that song. She should have won Eurovision in 2001.

[@Robert89349]

Allez Olla Ole is one of these songs that won the contest commercially. It was a huge commercial success across Europe and you can still listen to it playing in the beach bars of Southern Europe.

[@user-vf3tz1lj2v]

Definitely agree on 1991, and to think that Amina would have won when tie-break rules were changed...

[@veramargit]

Under the current rules, in the event of more than one country scoring the same total number of points, a count is made of the numbers of countries who awarded points to each of the tied countries, and the one who received points from the most countries is declared the winner. If the numbers are still tied, it is counted how many sets of maximum points (12 points) each country received. If there is still a tie, the numbers of 10-point scores awarded are compared-and then the numbers of 8-point scores, all the way down the list. In the extremely unlikely event of there then still being a tie for first place, the song performed earliest in the running order is declared the winner. Since 2008, the same tie-break rule now applies to ties for all places.[22]

[@Tomek-mf2ln]

I was angry when fucking Carola won, homophoob bitch, bad song.

[@gwenivercall]

I have been ranting about this for over 20 years!

[@KathrinePandell]

Moustache is one of my favourte dance-party-playlist songs from the Eurovision together with Verka Serduchka and Epic Sax Guy. I don't know why but the song just makes me happy exactly because it isn't deep song with a lot of meaning. Love these reaction videos, Matt, I always look forward to them!

[@alexbeud6572]

As a french guy i have things so add so here's some FUN (and someone not really) FAAAAAACTS : - Most of french ESC entries or ESC singers didn't go through in french pop culture, there are some exceptions tho : The entries from 1963 ("Si Jolie" by Alain Barrière) and 1965 ("N'oublie Jamais" by Guy Mardel) are somekind of old school classics here. Also, singers from the entries of 1971 (Serge Lama), 1988 (Gérard Lenorman), 1993 (Patrick Fiori) and 2001 (Natacha St-Pier) are still active, and are still big names. Sébastien Tellier (2008) was already a kinda big name in french electronic scene back then. Fiori (1993) has been most known for his part in the Notre-Dame de Paris musical he did years after his ESC participation. Patricia Kaas (2009) was already a big name. - France was really close to try carribean vibe earlier than 1992 : actually, for the 1983 entry, the song "Vivre" by Guy Bonnet has been selected in a national selection. But in second place in this national selection, there were a carribean band called La Compagnie Créole with their song "Vive le Douanier Rousseau". Both band and song are still cult classics in France, they have hits by dozens and may be the most famous carribean band here. You have to check this ! - Staying in French Overseas, Jean Gabilou (1981's entry "Humanahum") comes from Tahiti and is one of biggest polynesian singers. He had a hard time tho despite his good third place, because he sang his song having flu, and most of all his wife died in Tahiti when he was in rehearsals in Dublin for the contest, yet he decided to still run the contest. - The 1990 entry, "White and Black Blues" by Joëlle Ursull, has been composed by the infamous Serge Gainsbourg. It was one of the last songs he composed, since he died in 1991. - The singer of the 2004 entry, Jonatan Cerrada, was the first winner of the french edition of Pop Idol. - Sébastien Tellier in 2008 is the only french ESC entry to have been mostly sung in English, yet he had to add some french lines for the contest, because i don't know why but french politicians really really take care about only french-speaking songs at ESC. Actually, he composed the song before have been asked to send an entry to ESC. He told that if they asked him to do a song especially for ESC, he'd do something entirely in French. Although he answered by saying in the radio : "if i sing in english at Eurovision, tomorrow your baguette won't become less good" He's cool, Sébastien. Wow it's a lot of words. Really hope Barbara will do good this year in Rotterdam, so she will finally break the spell about how ESC is wiewed in France.

[@Werderina]

I’ve never been a big fan of French music. Anyway it’s always fun watching and listening to you!

[@daveyboy19761]

Completely agree with 2001 and 2002, my 12 points for each year.

[@olivierdk2]

1990 Joelle ursull song was a hit, n°2 in the top 50 in France, 21st in Eurochart Hot 100,... 1996 it's Breton Gaelic (linguistically almost to similar the Welsh and Irish )

[@therealtrashbread]

Merci!

[@rogercook9693]

Totally agreeable with the comments regarding 2001 and 2002. Amazing songs. But my all time favourite Eurovision song is 2009, Patricia Kaas just blew me away!!

[@escnath30]

Omg merci 🙏 from France 🇫🇷

[@alexablood]

I haven’t bothered before this year 1962: Amazing, really classy 1963: This is really creepy 1964: Unoriginal 1965: Eh 1966: Ok 1967: I like this a lot 1968: This is really good 1969: The best that year 1970: Amazing 1971: Good 1972: Eh 1973: I like this ;A; 1975: Ok 1976: Not a fan 1977: My favorite winner ever 1978: This is good 1979: Best song that year easily 1980: Annoying 1981: My Winner 1983: Meh 1984: Not very good 1985: My Winner 1986: Nah, sounds off 1987: Bland 1988: Love this 1989: 11? She is a very good singer for that age 1990: Yes! 1991: My Winner 1992: My Winner, easily 1993: Amazing 1994: My 3rd 1995: Yay 1996: Great 1997: Great 1998: 1 Point imo 1999: Not good 2000: Hmm 2001: Really good 2002: My 2nd 2003: I love this 2004: Rip-Off of other songs 2005: Meh 2006: Boring 2007: I really like this 2008: Amazing entry, bad song 2009: My Winner, my 2nd of that decade. 2010: I hate this, they ruined it. 2011: This should have been so good. 2012: Deserved low place 2013: Such a grower, stupid Televote 2014: Guilty Pleasure, this is absolutely trash though 2015: Boring, rip-off of 2009 2016: Amazing bop 2017: My 4th, should have gotten higher in jury vote 2018: I really don’t like this, it’s beyond repetitive

[@flaekon]

2007

[@ShynnyFr]

Not Irish, it is "Breton" language from the region of Brittany :) 15:15

[@StellaMare7]

1992 is absolutely Caribbean, the singer/artist Kali is from Martinique (an overseas department of France), and the song is even partially in Antillean Creole.

[@francismoles9852]

For the anecdote, in 1976, to the choir it was the known singer Daniel Balavoine, and had while 40 years the record of points for France

[@Chloeee9]

Will you continue to review all songs from... after the 2019 season ? I would like to see the ones from "traditional" countries such as Monaco or Luxembourg !

[@AgatheH]

Did you know that the singer from 1971 is Serge Lama, who wrote and sang the hit "Je suis malade", that got famous when sung by Lara Fabian

[@jupiter3067]

In the same way.. Alain Barrière made a great career, as did Annie Cordier, Gérard Lenorman, Isabelle Aubrey. Some of french singers who represented Luxembourg also had lot of success :-)

[@AgatheH]

@@jupiter3067 Like France Gall too

[@menavisionuk1720]

I loved twin twin. Think I am the only one 😂

[@ShynnyFr]

Thank you from France, I love Fatals Picards 2007 :D

[@Ursalux]

If you are wondering what the language is in 1996 it is Breton which is a Celtic language like Irish and Welsh.

[@ElLuchador535]

1988 is a great song, you must hear it more times, first times I didn't like it at all but then I've been loving the song more and more.

[@Marti-is2xh]

in 1976 in the chorists there was a great singer (Daniel Balvoine) but his dead 10 years after in helicopter crash during the famous Paris-Dakar :(

[@wrenrhodes1155]

was ging to ask where france gall was, then i remembered that even thou she was french she actually sung for luxembourg

[@amirtiker]

1963 it's a big classic here in israel, didn't knew it was on eurovision!

[@hideinmysuitcase7803]

2001 & 2002 winning material!

[@Miaew]

2007 2008 it's there you see that my country just let go and wanted to be fun and have fun. 2007 was a song mocking all the "i love you, i miss you" that why it's so -too much- pink, too much theater x)) And 2008 you have a men that is working with the best electro french musician, Daft Punk, Sebastian, Kavinsky, EdBanger Label, singing a cheap song having chorist dressing as jesus long hair and beard x)) It's just fun for now on x)) and the country is just trying to put differents artists and genre, not trying to win anymore i feel x)

[@swanskogjsson151]

A lovely country in the ESC. A bit overrated in the early days, a bit underrated nowdays. Love your reactions! Here’s my opinion: 1956-1: 6p, sweet 1956-2: 4p, nope 1957: 4p, old fashioned 1958: 6p, quite good, but the wrong winner 1959: 6p, likable 1960: 10p, great, cute and catchy 1961: 5p, a bit to jazzy 1962: 8p, dark and charming 1963: 3p, not so good 1964: 5p, sweet 1965: 3p, nope, boring 1966: 7p, sweet and charming 1967: 5p, okay 1968: 8p, beautiful song 1969: 7p, good, but don’t stand out for me. 1970: 3p, Nope. Good singer, though 1971: 5p, okay 1972: 8p, good entry 1973: 4p, boring 1975: 10p, great entry 1976: 12p, just brilliant 1977: 12p, very nice entry and well performed 1978: 8p, nice and charming 1979: 12p, love this 1980: 6p, funny 1981: 6p, okay, solid 1983: 10p, I love this dramatic 1984: 6p, allright 1985: 8p, nicely done, sweet 1986: 2p, their worst entry 1987: 5p, an okay entry 1988: 3p, boring and dull 1989: 4p, okay 1990: 12p, loved this one 1991: 12p, better than Carola, says I as a Swede 1992: 12p, I still play this onefrom Martinique 1993: 12p, another classic entry 1994: 10p, like it, catchy 1995: 4p, not mycup of tea, a bit like Belgium 1992 1996: 12, Love it. Breton language is beautiful 1997: 6p, okay but a bit dull 1998: 8p, I like it 1999: 8p, a good entry 2000: 6p, the song is good, but the performance isn’t 2001: 12p, the absolutely best entry 2001 2002: 8p, not as good as 2001, but still good. 2003: 7p, decent 2004: 4p, quite boring 2005: 3p, dull and boring,IMO 2006: 3p, dull and boring 2007:10p, I like it 2008: 12p, Just brilliant! Personal favourite! 2009: 8p, Good but a bit old fashioned 2010: 8p, catchy and nice 2011: 7p, not as good as I remember it 2012: 6p, a bit boring 2013: 12p, I love this. Shoud’ve won 2014: 6p, catchy and funny. Crazy. 2015: 8p, good 2016: 10p, well performed, nice! 2017: 12p, this was my favourite, but they should sing in french 2018: 12p, Love this entry

[@MikeTeaveeJr]

I've also been inside the building that hosted the 1978 Contest.

[@mayamills5174]

Funny you said 'Elle était si jolie' (the 1963 song) isn't an evergreen because in Israel it is definitely considered to be an evergreen and a french classic, most people don't even know it was in ESC.

[@LB-yf3ee]

1990's "Black and White Blues" did it become a great hit in France, although I do not know if it was a summer hit since I wasn't born. But it is still remembered as one of our best Eurovision songs, especially since it was one of the last songs Serge Gainsbourg wrote before his death.

[@jupiter3067]

Yes it was a great hit in France.

[@JaNeZoKu]

1963 is beautiful, my winner that year and one of my all-time favourites. I played it at the French class I'm attending, everybody loved it. :)

[@johnhuggins1394]

I remember Marie Mryaim in 1977 with the song Bird and the Child.It beat one of the UKs best songs into second place with Rock Bottom 2010 was a good catchy song by France.It did not do very well though with Germany winning The guy coming on in a golf buggy in 2008 dressed like a hippy I won't forget

[@storym6704]

Omg you love Alma!! 💕

[@lemondedejustineofficiel780]

Thank you from France

[@LiliLovesStuff]

Oh France

[@iurietivladut7607]

i personally believe 2010 was amazing, it just improved the whole spirit in that arena. It was in my top 3 with Romania and Turkey! And possibly one of the best ever french entry

[@felyne1527]

1958. It's not a bad song but Italy should have won this year, and we can see it by the extraordinary success of the song in the entire world (By the was good luck to our neighbour in Eurovision 2019) 1960. Now we can talk about winner, her voice was totally on point and the song is great 1963. Totally disagree with you, I think it's one of our best Eurovision song. This ballad is very powerful and emotional. And in fact even some hold people in France can remember this song. It should have won 1965. This song had success in France thanks to its message and again, even today a lot of people can remember it 1967. Just need to say that I love her voice 1969. I just think the other 3 winners are better 1971. Serge Lama was a famous singer in France and I think that was a bit surprising for French to see this finish that low. It's maybe because of Monaco?! 1973. This song is so random. . . 1976. That's a totally deserved 2nd place 1977. Incredible, one of the best winner in the Eurovision History 1979. This song gives me chills when she say "Éh Reviens! Je suis l'enfant soleil!" But yeah it's not as good as "Tu verra, tu te reconnaîtra" 1980. Wtf 1990. Now that's a grandiose song, far from the 80's songs. Written by Serge Ginsburg (If my mind is correct), he wanted her to be as perfect as possible vocally speaking and that was 100% the case, should have won 1991. Our last win, and it was 100% deserved. Oh wait, she is not the winner?! WHAT?! I don't like to say that but THIS is the real winner, how the fuck did the Swedish song won when you have this masterpiece. She was robbed. 1992. Now that's great! I don't know if I can call that a guilty pleasure but I really like it. It transport me to another world. And by the way it's not Caribbean, it's French Creole 1993. I don't really like this guy but it was good 1994. This is weird 1995. I really like this song, love the melody 1997. One of my favorite entry. I love it, it feels a little bit mystical and sensible 1998. I really dislike this one 2001. Wow, but without the part in English it would have been even better 2002. Wow 2005. This is just bad 2007. So funny, and I like this group 2008. Even more funny, everything in this performance was funny like the camera angles for example 2009. Incredible, should have finish higher 2011. Disappointed 2017. I preferred the first version of the song

[@carlosdeus4148]

Loved your comment on 2001 - for me the Winner and the best result of France in the 21st Century!! A pity it hasn’t won

[@daveyboy19761]

1996 was sung in Breton

[@escfanforever569]

I'm ready for the live stream tomorrow 🙋

[@ESCunited]

That makes two of us!!!!!

[@mariosportsmaster7662]

France 59 and France 60 are father and daughter, I think that is the only time that happened in Eurovision/ Grand Prix history.

[@euro--towelie1890]

I CAN'T WAIT! The week is only complete when I get Matt's reactions, and plus he reacts to old songs which are 1000000% better then newer ones

[@ESCunited]

The older songs deserve so much more recognition

[@euro--towelie1890]

@@ESCunited Indeed and that's why I'm so happy that you all at ESC United agree :)

[@youtpfpm6097]

1976, among the 4 chorists behind the female singer, there is her boyfriend who will become 10.000 more famous than her in France : Daniel Balavoine.

[@ייעיננ]

The best ever song from France to Eurovision 1979 Ann Marie Daviv

[@benjischneider5511]

Kali 1992 still my all time favourite....global pop at its best.

[@Iw0s]

ffs everybody hates 2007 song but it's my all time favourite, i don't get it it's an amazing song

[@sannev8407]

Do you have Italy or Ireland?

[@r1riesj]

I love these recaps of countries. Thanks Matt for doing it. And I fully agree about 1991. Though I was cheering for Israel that year ;-)

[@Brewitz123]

I like: 1958-1960, 1976-1978, 1984, 2001

[@kaitlinbilous4605]

Did you know that Andre Claveau was the first winner NOT to defend his title

[@houssamlabiod]

Is that Lisa Kudrow at 12:18 ? ... Just kidding !

[@le_savaistu2062]

I love Frensh 😍😍😍😍

[@Bandido894]

90's was mainly their decade (excluding win 1977) 1. Amina(ta oohps!) 1991, 1994 (Interesting, kind of anarchist performer),1997, 2012, 2016.

[@filipcarpentier76]

No matter what France should have won this year it was by far the best entry!!Still don't understand why Patricia Kaas did so "bad" once again the best entry by far in 2009.Still so disappointed that France didn't won in 2001 and 2002, such amazings songs losing to the Estonia and Latvia crap...really?1996 was so beatifull it deserved so much more, way better than Ireland.But the year that I'm still angry about is 1991...WTF how Amina had to lose to the bs of Carola is beyond me, such a great song losing to a meaningless schlager ..unbelievable..one of the biggest crimes in the eurovision

[@mirroroffthewall5932]

Wow, our opinions are so different. France 1983 is my favorite French entry and I also adore France 1980, 1997 and 2006. At least we can agree that France 1991, 2001 and 2002 deserved to win. I like all French entries except the first one from 1956, 1957, 1958, 1987 and 1988.

[@icesam931]

Loved Kali

[@snowcold5932]

I live for your pronunciation of Revenons a nos moutons

[@ESCunited]

Hey, I did what I could :)

[@adrienhusson8247]

1991 who would hate you ? Please. We should have won that year. Not even a question there

[@johnhuggins1394]

This is how the Brits felt when Jade did not win in 2009.A very powerful song with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the piano.Sgould have won by a country mile

[@SchinniNobody]

I want Austria! As soon as possible :(

[@tomsakmens5571]

Is there really no one else that likes 2006? Really? At least in studio I get a nice french rainy day vibe, in that way it's perfection. Other than that in 2007-2011 France got my vote :D

[@edithpiaf7846]

It's me or France always on Eurovision's winner before 2000's ?

[@esc9726]

2003 entry had to be as successful as 2001 and 2002

[@Leebpascal1]

You're aware that Chanson means song in french ?

[@sexysadie2901]

Chanson is a whole music genre.

[@Leebpascal1]

@@sexysadie2901 Wrong. Wikipedia : A chanson is in general any lyric driven french song [...]

[@lebenslachen]

🧡🧡🧡 2016, 2003, 1999, 1994, 1977, 2014 (yes! 😉) 🧡🧡 2002, 2004, 1985, 1992, 2007

[@jupiter3067]

For your information, in the 90's, there was a real incomfortable situation with all the over-the-sea territories. Lot of them wanted to separate from France. That's why there were so many different music styles. Carabean rythm (Joelle Ursul, Kali) , arabic style (Amina), Corsica style (Patrick Fiori), Britain (Dan Ar Braz) (yes they sing in Britain, more irish than corsican) and after presenting very very good songs in those years, but never have win the competition, France came back to its pattern... ballads with white women (there were some exceptions, but those were more or less tries to laugh at this competition (Fatal Picard, Twin Twin and so on). Natasha St-Pierre in 2001 should have win, for sure. This french-canadian singer did just give some interview this month, explaining how disappointed she was finishing 4th. Everybody told her she can't miss the victory. The bookmakers gave this song the winner far from all others competitors. She told that she was unable to call her parents in Canada to announce them she didn't win. I think that France is always one year to late and try to imitate the previous winner. That's why people don't vote for France. But in the last 30 years, I think France was sometimes better than the winner :-)

[@luis_zuniga]

1991 absolutely deserved to win

[@kennet7837]

1956-2012? I think you meant 2018.

[@ESCunited]

Yep, that I fixed that almost right away but you caught it anyway :)

[@ייעיננ]

Merci 🇫🇷 2018 best ever after 1979

[@HanikSheli]

Elle était si jolie not remarkable?! Its one of the classics of Eurovision! Great song.

[@LB-yf3ee]

I had never been through all our Eurovision songs, but now I feel like we almost never understood Eurovision, except for 1990/91 and since Amir. We kept sending extremely boring songs, and that's why Eurovision is mocked and made ridiculous in France. I was disappointed for Mercy since it is a wonderful song, but I guess I was more won over by the lyrics and the song loses most of its interest when you don't understand them.

[@marrinelbalanubaba]

2015

[@EmoBearRights]

Re: your opinion in 1991 - yup co-signed. And then you go and spoil it all be hyping up 2001-2 - hell to the no!!! 👎👎sorry not sorry but I hate the Dion school of warbling. Not everyone hates France 2007 - I love it and was introduced to it by Harlequin Brin who's a massive fan! 2013 - I'm an indie rock so cosigning that!

[@amara1850]

Listen dont talk please 😊

[@CharlieGB03]

Romania!

[@treekangaroo.7691]

I want eurovision us too happen!

[@j-rmarimoutou7767]

I agree... You speak too much.

[@ninjeanne9324]

Stop to talk!

[@joaop9778]

Hi! please react to Portugal!

[@bud7z-rainbowsixchaise56]

Stop speak and listen