J'ai volé la vie - France 1989 - Eurovision songs with live orchestra

[@surprisedadrianlol]

Everyone is commenting about how young she is, but no one is talking about how good she sings as one of her age.

[@MegaStara]

Yeah I have to agree with you, I do like her voice and attitude.

[@nicoledickson6099]

Agreed. She can sing!

[@Channel-xc5he]

Why we're not talking about how cute she is ? I can't stop smiling when I look at her.

[@angello.ingram]

@@Channel-xc5he Because it's kinda creepy to most people

[@philipdawson7800]

It's kinda crazy that Eurovision didn't insert an age limit until 1990, but credit to Nathalie, she performed excellently on that stage. Honestly, one of the better performances that night.

[@intreoo]

I actually assumed they started the age limit after 1986 due to Sandra Kim's controversial win. Beyond shocked to learn that it wasn't until 4 years later lol.

[@davidwilding1993]

In my opinion this is one of the best Eurovision performances of all time. Vocal quality and stage confidence way beyond her young age.

[@ESC-lover]

She smiled before she started singing!She had so much fun! Great song and great stage presence!

[@bogdantobultoc3217]

Indeed, apart from her good voice & interpretation, the stage presence was quite impressive!❤ (compared, say, to Sandra Kim...)

[@gustavoceballos5327]

Nathalie Pâque was the youngest contestant to have ever perform in the Eurovision Song Contest history (11 years and 11 months). At that time the Junior Eurovision Song Contest hasn’t been released until 2003, and the Contest had no minimum age limit until 1990.

[@johnniejames1701]

Definitely the best song in 1989 and one of the best of all times!!! A great voice and performance!!! Her confidence was amazing!!! My winner that year!

[@IvanDal92ry2]

hazen ghannen haian gannen ?

[@TIGERDO100]

The Spanish song was the best, then the UK one and then this. The official winner I would have had at the bottom!

[@ivaplavac817]

​@@TIGERDO100 your mother would have be on bottom

[@ivaplavac817]

Riva is the BEST ,greetings from croatia

[@goonerbean4680]

U.K. was the best

[@nacht98]

back when there wasn't a JESC.

[@halloweenville1]

You can hear her nerves in the first few lines , she's 11 years old singing to Thousands of people across Europe, i think i would have literally shat myself on stage, if it had of been me.

[@realPhali]

And by the time she gets to the chorus she is just absolutely knocking it out of the park. Simply amazing.

[@halloweenville1]

@@realPhali One of the best of the year, along with Norway and Spain.

[@nifty512]

@@halloweenville1 Israel had a 12 year old boy called gili natanel who sung derech hamelech that year and it was very good aswell

[@halloweenville1]

​@@nifty512 Yes he was one of my favorites, even the middle part where he slips up a bit, makes it even more endearing, The whole of Eurovision 1989 was brilliant, Spain- UK and Norway were also fantastic. only one i didn't like was the winning song.

[@76Rubes]

@@halloweenville1 and Sweden also.

[@House..231Van]

Excellent performance .

[@MR.HEE.]

That time when i was kid she was one of my favorit.

[@nonyenelson3898]

Me too

[@spannamatronic]

I agree with the age rule, but she didn't really put a foot wrong here. Hell, she performed better than Madonna would do 20 years later.

[@JeSuisRene]

*30 years, no?

[@spannamatronic]

@@JeSuisRene showing my age there

[@PAINNN666]

And what age rule now?

[@lexezlao]

@@PAINNN666 contestants can only be older than 16

[@PAINNN666]

@@lexezlao Ok.

[@KevinLindsayJr]

I never knew about this entry until today, what a great performace. France were truly robbed in 1989 Nathalie here reminds me of a mini Bonnie Langford

[@LucaLindholm]

Same here. Discovered it June 19th and instantly fell in love with this song. ESC was so good in the '70-'80-'90...

[@TIGERDO100]

Check out the Spanish entry, wait for the second time the chrus is sung, its better but this was a good song too. UK entry was good too, Austrian wasn't bad & Dutch one was interesting.

[@JOTA13333]

A superb performance in JESC. One of the best JESC performances of all time. Now, seriously, is impressive the voice and the attitude of this so young singer in that ESC (She was 11 in that time, so young as you can see a childish voice). Impressive!

[@jarikomi]

everything in this song and performance is absolutely fantastic !!!

[@chip9685]

She's younger than some of the participants of Eurovision 2022... this performance is such a mind-blowing achievement

[@philos9997]

Elle avait été choisie pour représenter la France parce qu'en 1989, les jeunes chanteuses comme Elsa et Vanessa Paradis étaient très à la mode. Mais aussi parce que 3 ans plus tôt, le pays gagnant était la Belgique représenté par la jeune chanteuse Sandra Kim avec le titre "J'aime la vie". Nathalie Pâque, qui avait 12 ans lorsqu'elle a représenté la France à l'Eurovision en 1989 avec ce titre est belge d'origine. Toujours en 1989, la chanteuse adolescente âgée de 12 ans et également belge Melody fera un tube en France, un peu plus tard dans l'année avec "Y'a pas que les grands qui rêvent". Quant à sa coupe de cheveux, même si elle fait parfaitement démodée aujourd'hui, beaucoup de jeunes filles de cet âge-là étaient coiffées comme cela à l'époque. A noter qu'à cause de la participation de Nathalie Pâque et du candidat espagnol cette même année 1989, qui était très jeune aussi, il a été décidé ensuite que les chanteurs participant au concours de l'Eurovision devaient au minimum être âgés de 16 ans révolus le jour de leur participation au concours.

[@sergiomontessuarez]

C'était le candidat d'Israël qui avait 11 ou 12 ans aussi. Il chantait avec une fille un peu plus âgée que lui. L'Espagne a été répresentée par Nina avec "Nacida para amar".

[@Christophevalere]

@Philos999. Je crois que vous vouliez parler du candidat israélien et non espagnol.

[@luisencinas7069]

@@Christophevalere a tout à fait d'accord avec toi. La chanson israélienne est interprétée par le jeune Gili Netanel qui a 12 ans, et qui change avec Galit Burg (21 ans). Il est à noter qu'il a - malgré un oubli d'une partie du deuxième couplet - réalisé une très bonne prestation vocale.

[@ilovemovies725]

Heu...La coupe de cheveux en 1989 , non.... Vanessa Paradis ou Elsa, Charlotte Gainsbourg et toutes les ados vedettes du cinéma français de l'époque, aucunes n'étaient coiffées avec cette paillasse sur la tête, même les filles au fin fond de ma province. J'avais 17 ans et je me souviens avoir éclaté de rire quand elle s'est pointée chez Drucker ou Jacques Martin en me demandant ce que c'était que ce truc qui allait nous représenter pour l'eurovision (dont je me contrefichais, soit dit en passant mais enfin... ). Maintenant , je la trouve choupine, même avec (ou malgré) ses minauderies de singe-savant bien apprises pour ce show qui a toujours été un monument de ringardise et de kitsh , sauf peut-être dans les années 60 et par la suite pour quelques candidats ci et là ( la chanson "si" de Gigliola Cinquetti en 1974 par ex, elle qui avait déjà gagné en 64. La variété italienne , pas les quelques produits ultra-commerciaux qu'on nous balance de temps en temps, étant vraiment formidable, la meilleure d'Europe continentale et de loin...). Elle a une très bonne voix ceci étant mais le style était tellement dépassé déjà, il n'y avait encore qu'à l'eurovision qu'on voyait ça...

[@rolandbendig0815]

great song....great voice

[@Solidflyer5082]

In my opinion I love the song I don’t care that she is 11 She did brilliant and she proved that at even if your at a young age that shouldn’t stop you from doing something you should love

[@helenefrench4275]

What a fantastic performance for such a young lady :)

[@davidalexandregalioto7526]

She was one of my favorit

[@piahansen4179]

Wow that vouce at 11 years old i liked the song then

[@Euroviking86]

Lovely synth-ballad, really gripping and very well performed by almost-12 year old Nathalie. She has the distinction of being the final Eurovision entrant below the age of 15 to take part, as the age rules were set in stone the following year.

[@equestriangirly2296]

Thank God. Seeing children performing alongside adults does look stupid. People were annoyed by Sandra Kim lying about her age and by 1989 they were outraged and decided enough was enough. Besides, from what I've read this poor girl was convinced she was going to win and broke down following her 8th place finish. That kind of thing can scar a child mentally and follow them for years.

[@smophie6260]

EquestrianGirl Y I used to hold a different opinion on this subject, but now looking into the mental side, imagine the pressure knowing you carry a nation in a contest just to place 8th. I’m glad they introduced the age rule and jesc contest. Where children can be children.

[@MrDragonorp]

@@smophie6260 yeah, tho I dont think the pressure is really needed, its only contest and it's not that big frankly, it happens every year and it only affects Europe in general for like a week, maximum a month, the rest of the year everyone forgets frankly and no one seems to care enough.

[@JeSuisRene]

Isn’t she also the youngest soloist in the ESC?

[@Euroviking86]

@@JeSuisRene You're right! So that's two distinctions she holds.

[@שגיארייזמן]

Very very nice and exciting song.tank you from Israel ❤❤❤

[@MrSilentwater]

So Sweet 🤗❤️

[@SamsungA-ir4td]

Voici les paroles de cette belle chanson : J’pourrais pas vous dire mon âge J’saurais pas écrire mon nom J’ai grandi ortie sauvage Sur des écorces de goudron J’sais pas d’où viennent les images Qui sont collées à mes yeux Ni d’où monte cette rage De chanter ce que je veux J’ai volé la vie - oui, je l’avoue Je n’sais plus à qui ni où Je m’suis enfuie en faisant Un pied de nez au néant J’ai volé la vie sans un regret À deux ombres qui passaient Mais mon rayon de soleil, je l’ai gardé J’sais pas à quoi je ressemble J’sais pas vers qui je m’en vais Mais de mes châteaux de cendres Je sens que le feu renaît Je sens que mes yeux s’éclairent Que quelqu’un m’envoie du jour Que j’arrive à la frontière Qui me sépare de l’amour J’ai volé la vie - oui, je l’avoue Je n’sais plus à qui ni où Je m’suis enfuie en faisant Un pied de nez au néant J’ai volé la vie sans un regret À deux ombres qui passaient Mais mon rayon de soleil, je l’ai gardé J’ai volé la vie - oui, je l’avoue Je n’sais plus à qui ni où Je m’suis enfuie en faisant Un pied de nez au néant J’ai volé la vie sans un regret À deux ombres qui passaient Mais mon rayon de soleil, je l’ai gardé

[@yolandefoix]

jolie performence belle voix pour une fille de son age bravo!!!

[@Fonseca429]

So young!

[@sergedimovic9415]

terdes paroles bien plus fortes donnant des images subtiles pour aboutir au final à un jolie ode à la vie! à noter le tres joli solo saxo!DIMO😇

[@fehhh2972]

Your hair and voice are so pretty, i love her! 🇧🇷🇫🇷🇧🇷🇫🇷🇧🇷🇫🇷

[@christophevalere7945]

A mon avis, cette chanson a été sous évaluée. Elle méritait largement de figurer dans le top 5.

[@nicoledickson6099]

One of the greatest songs. Honestly she should've at least got top 3. But the juries ain't having none of that.

[@goonerbean4680]

Top 5 but definitely not the best. U.K. delivered its best entry

[@TIGERDO100]

I really liked the song at the time + still do!

[@TheGoaBase]

Such a good song and amazing voice the girl ..great! ...and the worst song won!

[@noahbowie5985]

I forgot how young she actually was at the time

[@JeSuisRene]

Noah Bowie 11

[@TIGERDO100]

@@JeSuisRene 12 I'm pretty sure they said on British TV on the night. Very good song in any case

[@rainbowveil]

@@TIGERDO100 No she wasn’t 12,I don’t know what the British tv said but her birthday (12) would be in 5 days,she was 11 at that time.

[@DimDDG]

@@rainbowveil yes

[@s56ify]

wow so good! I did not know her :O

[@arianemocquot9745]

...Oue,oue je vole la vie comme on a le fait a moi...!!!💞

[@ilovemovies725]

Waow , les 5 là qui avaient liké ce commentaire , vous êtes forts! Moi y'en avoir rien compris à ce sabir ! " Comme on a le fait a moi" ? Et en français, ça donne quoi?

[@GalaxyNokiaGames]

15 years later, France would debut in Junior Eurovision

[@mehmettas6896]

a magnificent song that should definitely have been first

[@erichocquart870]

Superbe.

[@PedroSantos-yc9id]

J'adore!!!

[@oj3396]

11 years !

[@theodoremosin8267]

+Oliver Dragovic Yes, no wonder they introduced the minium age of 16 at the next ESC. 11 is way too young. She could sing but she still sounds like a child, looks like a child and has the stage performance of a child. As such she really had no place in the contest and those who entered her in France should have known better.

[@Furienna]

Even though I can agree with the minimum age rule in general, I have to disagree with you about Nathalie Paque. She did a very professional performance and could rightfully compete with the older entrants.

[@halloweenville1]

She had no place in the competition, that's a bit harsh, who cares what age she was, are you saying that a child is not worthy to stand on a stage and sing, she completely OWNED that stage and had the best voice of the night, children have watched this show for generations and it's nice to occasionally see them being represented by young singers, you sound a bit jealous to me.

[@beckdaniella1205]

Halloweenville No one said she wasn't good. Calm down. They said she was too young and the majority of people wanted an appropriate age for Eurovision. You don't know how many responsibilities a child must have in an adult competition. Reflect about that.

[@paulojrneto]

She turned 12 two days later.

[@Adyman182]

She's younger than the 2006 Eurovision winners, and a ton of participants from the 2010s even...

[@DanTony68]

I guess you're thinking of JESC, right ? In 1989, Nathalie Pâque was almost 12 years old (she was born in 1977 May 11th and the contest took place on May 6th).

[@smophie6260]

This was pre jesc

[@nannasmor]

Great song and singer has she been elder this has won i think

[@kandlaker]

SUCH a pleasant song performed SO cutely - taking me back to age 11... 🙂

[@bulgaria9003]

This changed ESC

[@jean-polstalon935]

Quelle voix quand même à 12 ans car elle est née en 1977

[@miska734]

Nice song !!!

[@JULIAN-qs4ed]

Junior Eurovision precursor.

[@chopitalapro]

Junior Eurovision ahead of its time

[@bluegardenya]

çok çok çok beğendim..

[@bluegardenya]

hergün izliyorum..büyük yetenek..

[@benjaminsanchezbelmonte9850]

que bueno que fue el año 1989 en eurovision por cierto parece muy pequeña para participar en cualquier caso bonita cancion

[@BorjasVault]

In my Top 5 eurovision 1989

[@bluegardenya]

ne tatlı..harika bir ses ve yorum..hemde o yaşta..selamlar nhalie,ye..

[@Channel-xc5he]

2:59 Cutest smile ever ❤

[@nickburton100]

Is she still performing?

[@inasvids4747]

There has to be an esc junior or smn like that

[@timotejtrampuz8651]

2020 france wins jesc

[@jean-polstalon935]

et sachez aussi que ce soir de l'Eurovision,elle fera un duo avec Céline Dion en personne!!!

[@ilovemovies725]

Yes, Guy Matteoni the conductor , had worked with early Celine, signing and conducting, arranging and producing "Visa pour les beaux jours" , side B to "D'amour ou d'amitié", Celine's first successful single in France back in 1982/1983.

[@The8OJ4N]

It's not Blue Jeans and Bloody Tears but it's ok.

[@thekat2784]

xD

[@frankmeyer9837]

❤

[@franckvielcazal9799]

L'eurovision. C'était ça. Après 2024. Le show doit finir. Hélas. Toute chose a une fin.

[@mr.y.mysterious.video1]

No wonder they changed the rules, too much responsibility for a kid

[@jlhabitan50]

There's Junior Eurovision so that kids could take part.

[@spannamatronic]

I think the massive variable that is the orchestra made it harder back then. With a backing track it's not so difficult. Israel's kid had sound problems and crumbled somewhat, but Nathalie does a great job here and is better than some of the adults.

[@milos-simic]

@@spannamatronic Why was the orchestra problem?

[@morbidsearch]

@@spannamatronic Agreed. The Israeli entry that year makes me uncomfortable

[@smophie6260]

jlhabitan50 not back then

[@allegriniedmond9885]

peu scrupuleux, les parents aussi..

[@chiriladorin-alexandru2776]

paris 1990.

[@smophie6260]

Switzerland 1989

[@MUSIQUESANNEES-]

pouh la la, vive la france

[@krisx74]

Does anyone know who the saxophonist is?

[@Zelenox]

Oh

[@christianoalveri9614]

Jai daim ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Christophevalere]

C'est l'eurovision junior?

[@DanTony68]

En effet, on pourrait presque le croire, d'autant plus que Nathalie Pâque était plus jeune (à peine 12 ans) que certains vainqueurs du JESC. Le représentant israélien avait lui aussi 12 ans, et suite à des protestations de plusieurs pays, l'UER décida de modifier le règlement en imposant aux candidats d'avoir 16 ans révolus.

[@raymondchujr1227]

She Must Be In JESC

[@ariccua6101]

So, I think this was France's secret in the Juniors, eh? /joke Also, how on earth was she not approached for anything in the JESC?

[@losvizzero6176]

Nice

[@laurentguichard5479]

NATHALIE PAQUE aurait pu chanté avec OLIVIER TOUSSAINT et MARJORIE NOEL

[@JONAS-co4ut]

Another gem of 1989 - such a good year. Shame about the Croatian/Yugoslav winner. Disgrace and insult to the rest!

[@toringepedersen9614]

?

[@agrobertson]

She got more balls than me, and shes a woman.

[@smophie6260]

Um

[@bgfraise]

Heute aktuell 2024

[@adamkim4484]

When she didn't even try to hide the fact she was 11

[@smophie6260]

That wouldn’t work considering Sandra Kim did exactly that years prior so a rehash wouldn’t favour her much

[@luisbvg]

how old is she?

[@jesperhjellnes5861]

She turned 12 years the week after the contest.

[@smophie6260]

11

[@bearwolf7984]

Parece uno de los electroduendes

[@CrackPi]

The lyrics though… coming from a kid….

[@nannasmor]

Great song but children shall not be in an adult competition

[@meowpoosaymeow]

How did they allow her sing at that age

[@smophie6260]

Rules were different then

[@GPBKM]

It's funny, because there was another (forgotten) kid in the contest that same year, Gili, representing Israel, who was 12 years old, only 5 months older than Nathalie... 1989 was definitely the year of the kids in Eurovision... lol

[@jbingfa]

well she is cute...

[@philippealba8951]

The same style of Céline Dion voice 😮

[@ilovemovies725]

Yes , Guy Matteoni , the conductor and composer , was one of the early producers , arrangers , songwriters of Celine Dion. B-side to Celine's first successful single in france back in 1982 "D'amour ou d'amitié " was by Matteoni , a song called "Visa pour les beaux jours" , same style , a little bit more uptempo. It could have been a eurovision song actually.

[@andrijadjordjevic9584]

Give me the scissors ASAP, please!!!

[@ilovemovies725]

Ha ha ha !!!

[@bluegardenya]

ne tatlı.

[@jannepori]

Bad hair day?

[@philos9997]

In France, and also in Belgium I suppose (This Young girl singer is native from Belgium), you must believe me, in the last 80's, nearly between 1987 and 1990, there were a lot of Young girls aged between 8 and 16 who were haired like this. It was the fame. Also, this Young singer Nathalie Paque was chosen to represent France at the Eurovision song contest of 1989 because in 1986, the song contest winner was the Young singer Sandra Kim with the song "J'aime la vie" who represented Belgium, but also because in France, during the last 80's, it was the fame of Young teenage singers, as Elsa (Who's complete real name is Elsa Lunghini) with her big hits : "T'en va pas" (In English "Papa, please Don't go") in 1986, "Quelque chose dans mon cœur" ("Something in my heart") in 1987, "Un roman d'amitié" (A friendship novel) (Friend you give me a Reason)" (Duet sang in English and french with the haiwaian singer Glenn Medeiros), "Jour de neige" ("Snow's day") in 1988, and who was only 16 years old in 1989, and Vanessa Paradis with her big hits "Joe le taxi" in 1987 who also made a hit in England later, and "Marylin et John" ("Marylin and John", song about the relation between Marylin Monroe and John Kennedy) in 1988 and who was also 16 years old in 1989. You probably know her because she was the wife of the famous actor Johnny Depp during the 90's and 2000's year, until 2012. So, Nathalie Paque who was only 12 years old in 1989 was a lot chosen to represent France at the Eurovision song contest because it was the fame of Young singers at that time. Also, in 1989, in France, another Young singer coming from Belgium, Melody, who was also 12 years old, made a big hit with the song "Y'a pas que les grands qui rêvent" (In English "Adults are not the only ones persons to dream" or, if you want "Children or teenagers also can dream as adults").

[@smophie6260]

Nah, just the 80s

[@famicom_guy]

Bad hair decade

[@ilovemovies725]

​​@@famicom_guyDon't believe the guy who says girls in france were styled like this back in 1989 ( Nathalie is actually belgium). I'm french , was 17 at the time and burst into laughter when she first appeared on french TV and I saw her with that...mane. " What's that ???" Was my reaction " Is that chipmunk with hair down to her feet going to represent france in ESC ???' ( by the way , the interest for the contest in france was already crumbling at that time, and understandably so in my opinion but I thought "Couldn't they at least cut her hair in a nice way???") I don't know about Belgium but neither our many teenagers in pop at the time nor those even more numerous in films were styled that way. Vanessa Paradis was the big thing back then in 1989 and she certainly didn't sport such a horrid haircut , not even during her first appearances in 1987, neither did her more "classical" rival , Elsa in 1986 when she released her first big hit.

[@ilovemovies725]

​​@@philos9997yeah...and both Elsa or Vanessa Paradis or Charlotte Gainsbourg sported such a horrid haircut, did they ? ESC used to send contestants that are pure products who must abide by very conventional and conservative rules they thought were what the general audiences expected ( in contradiction with everything that could be observed everywhere..1989 !!! Honestly, the years of Madonna and the cure etc ..) Even Sandra kim has since then confessed that if she could have tossed those ridiculous neckties and bows and pinkish trousers you didn't see anywhere else other than ESC , she'd gladly have done so! Just to look the nearest she could to Vanessa Paradis...

[@laurentguichard5479]

j' ai entendu à la radio un chanteur s'appelle JULIEN JOURDELAN il aurait pu également chanté avec NATHALIE PAQUE . à ce propos qu' est devenue la chanteuse LUCIENNE KATORZE-JUILLET ?

[@ilovemovies725]

Elle est en boucle , chantant la marseillaise!

[@wherever1717]

merci non

[@filipcarpentier860]

Une Belge qui a représenté la France

[@escpikayohann4760]

Et alors La même chose est arrivé en 2004 (Jonathan cerrada représentait la France alors qu'il était belge)

[@filipcarpentier860]

@@escpikayohann4760 Calme toi, c'est juste un remarque. Mon Dieu !

[@escpikayohann4760]

@@filipcarpentier860 désolé je ne voulais pas te vexé Je voulais juste dire une remarque aussi :/

[@filipcarpentier860]

@@escpikayohann4760 Pas de soucis. Je te souhaite déjà une excellente 2021 !!!

[@wernerruckdeschel580]

Das Mädchen war eigentlich Belgierin? Ein Mensch, der Arges dabei denkt.

[@frankly-he1kf]

Everything about this is grotesque. ...

[@smophie6260]

Depends how you see it, Sandra Kim was in the same situation, wonderful singers but the audience was primarily older people which is spine tingling, thank god jesc exists now

[@BarbieChaite]

horrible sur le fond la forme et les oreilles et la coiffure et les mimiques de mamie

[@bengistar]

C'est ce que l'on dira aussi de nous dans 20 - 30 ans !

[@GPBKM]

It's funny, because there was another (forgotten) kid in the contest that same year, Gili, representing Israel, who was 12 years old, only 5 months older than Nathalie... 1989 was definitely the year of the kids in Eurovision... 😂😂😂

[@inasvids4747]

There has to be an esc junior or smn like that