"Évidemment" Explanation and Analysis

This year France was determined to give us the Frenchiest woman who ever Frenched, even if they had to go to Canada to find her.
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[@scarlettshadow6532]

Can confirm there are still dozens of us Disko fans. We're in small numbers but there

[@efraimgarcia7876]

Underappreciated banger of 2022.

[@Winterbay]

The song least deserving of NQing last year imo

[@goopygoofball]

Such a bop... It's still my most listened ESC 2022 song, so it's saying something

[@EmoBearRights]

It includes the Peace Around who knows her music too. Those lads shouldn't have been last - it was so wrong - Bulgaria had a worse song, Austria a worse performance and Albania worse staging.

[@Winterbay]

Albania was a whole mess

[@Tollkirschenkind]

I loved Fulenn and I still like it. The staging was messy and the song only grew on me after a few listens, and that's not what works in the finale unfortunately. But damn, it didn't deserve second to last!

[@efi3825]

I honestly flirted with the idea of picking up contemporary dance because of the dancer in Fulenn.

[@samuelgordino]

I still listen to it. I didn't vote for ir because I love Konstrata more.

[@Alex-lp6bg]

The Spanish called it Franxugueiras because of all the similarities between it and their Tanxugueiras 😂 (only beaten by Chanel in their National Finals)

[@gretablackwell495]

I wanted it to score higher if only for the use of an endangered language. Language revival is an interesting subject to me, and I think a popular piece of music could help convince some people to learn some basics in a new language. (This isn’t even just a case of me being overly hopeful- I have seen some people this year start learning Finnish because they really liked Cha Cha Cha. It’s possible, y’all.)

[@Tollkirschenkind]

@@gretablackwell495 I started to learn Italian (which of course isn't an endangered language, simply a new one for me) because of Brividi last year 😅

[@efraimgarcia7876]

Actually, the two times France has won Junior Eurovision (2020 and 2022) has been with songs co-written by Barbara Pravi. Elle sait ce qu'elle fait.

[@akmalbasyhaazis]

Elle est comme l'Adrian Newey du JESC 😂

[@jimboitano5020]

Not since 1980 has Eurovision been so blessed with such talented daughters of Moroccan heritage. What a treat for us to see such sisterly competition between France and Sweden. Both would be worthy winners.

[@schnitzelsemmel]

oh i would love morocco competing themselves. you'd think they would've been over the anti-Israel trip now, but they apparently aren't.

[@paulojrneto]

Noa Kirel also is said to have Moroccan heritage.

[@jimboitano5020]

@@paulojrneto Oh, I didn’t know that about Noa. Thanks for that info. What an outstanding addition to this list! All three are contenders in the final. But as a North American myself, my heart goes to La Zarra.

[@j0hnegan]

Loreen (Sweden 2012 winner and 2023 rep) is also Moroccan.

[@pizza1354]

I've been learning French for about 3 years in school amd I recently decided that I actually want to LEARN the language as it is mesmerizing. When Evidemment dropped I knew that I'd be listening to that masterpiece daily. The song completely surpassed my expectations. After Evidemment I decided to take a closer look on La Zarra's discography. MY GOD HER SONGS ARE GOOD. She is a treasure

[@RockiesSweden]

Gonna add here, disco is pretty French as well. A lot of the French House scene (think Daft Punk) is heavily influenced by disco, so a nu disco influence is natural.

[@iyawakarehen]

i mean, even at the time, there were more than a few successful disco acts from france/in french and some of the songs still are mad popular

[@gilmelnik]

I can't believe he made a whole video about the French Eurovision song without saying douze points!

[@SonneOlga]

I fell in love with Fulenn the very moment I heard it for the first time.

[@BenCG]

I'm so glad you brought up the way that televoters respond to what I basically call self-stereotyping. What you overlooked, whether intentionally or not, is that not every country can do that. That goes against our liberal ideals, but it's sadly true. Finland waited nearly 50 years for their first win until they sent a representative of their biggest musical exports, and have continued to struggle when they try just about anything else! Look at the televoters response to Rasmussen giving it full Viking for Denmark despite a relatively anaemic song. Donatan and Cleo are another excellent example. It was this principle that, for Chanel last year, made me think it could be the rocket fuel in the engine of a consistently successful style of package, that it was Spain doing this instead of Cyprus or Armenia. They even tried it with the trumpets and the fan, but the night was Ukraine's for the taking. I think Spain's path to victory lies somewhere musically and visually between SloMo and Eaea, they just need to find it. (Rosalia, where are you?) Germany might get a moderately better response this year, because few people who have ever thought about German music haven't at least *heard* of Rammstein. Unfortunately, this ability to tap into a televote by wielding your country's soft power is not a privilege that, say North Macedonia, Lithuania, San Marino, Czechia, and Malta have. Their ability to do well is narrowed to sending 'generic but good' or 'novelty/meme'. But, the beauty of Eurovision is that it's the perfect place to start building your soft power. Abba kicked that off for Sweden, but more recently, with a powerful combination of undue tragedy, imagination and doggedly hard work, it's paid off handsomely for Ukraine. I'd love to know what everyone thinks other countries could do to tap into their soft power without haemorrhaging jury points.

[@yosh66]

San Marino's entire soft power is based on sending Valentina and Serhat to ESC. If they duet, we might as well travel to the little guy for the year after

[@EdJonesVideos]

If La Zarra does well, it would be a bitter pill to swallow not just for LPS fans but because it proves that we've yet to find a way of doing 'Celticness' well at Eurovision. 'Our' culture (though I realise calling it that is a stretch) was given a chance at Eurovision by France last year and by Ireland in 2014 - relatively similar songs, which both flopped. That it was in a Celtic language hurt even more - Wales' attempts at Junior Eurovision in Welsh have also been poorly received.

[@schnitzelsemmel]

ireland should ditch their pre-selection tragedy and bootcamp some irish music.

[@MintyDragonfly]

Celtic sound used to do very well for Ireland, I’m wondering if it maybe got a bit oversaturated in the 90s and maybe it’s due for a revival? Just not in the way Fulenn did it (I strongly think it was due to the bad harmonies and terrible camera work because it’s a great song on its own). I still love B*Witched, does that count 🥺

[@sileylav]

Though it seems Ireland might be finally figuring it out at Junior Eurovision. Sophie Lennon did manage fourth last year with a very Celtic-sounding song.

[@BenCG]

The key is to do it in a modern, accessible and impactful way. Not a camp (Can-Linn/Ryan Dolan), dated (Dervish) or esoteric (Fulenn) way. These are Celtic examples, but other countries showcasing other cultures have missed the mark with these mistakes too. Ireland has other things it can play on, Wild Youth are basically a young U2 in Swedish laminate.

[@neconeconeco]

@@BenCG "Wild Youth are basically a young U2 in Swedish laminate." damn

[@pirukiddingme1908]

Justice for Fulenn!

[@everest938]

God I love this channel. The analysis is impeccable (LOVE the inclusion of queer theory!!) and the humour made me laugh out loud so many times. Shout out to “France abandoned its republican ideals”. Not gonna lie though, I am a little jealous of the level of analysis 😂😂 it’s the level of deep Eurovision thought that I aspire to have

[@overthinkingit]

Thank you so much for the kind words! You have our permission to pass these takes off as your own to impress your friends.

[@jimboitano5020]

I totally agree about this channel!. Matt is kind of my hero. He taught me everything I know aobut Konstrakta.

[@MatthewWrather]

​@@jimboitano5020 Awww, shucks. We're glad that you enjoy!

[@TashaKoenig]

All folked out makes me sad. I'm still upset my winner Fulenn got last... Regional cultures need to be exemplified too wah ((oh yea and LPS justice

[@neconeconeco]

Great surprise to see a video about this song! totally understand why you might avoid the weeds of Quebec/France discourse but there's an extra layer to the theme of the song being a self aware introspection on being "the voice of France" knowing she's Canadian, some people still say that the French spoken in Quebec is "not French at all". I really love how this song is a very self aware look at French culture and the French music heritage and i'm overjoyed with it as an entry.

[@natasha5306]

Saying a former colony doesn't speak the right language is quite '-ist' these days. We need to get past that. Céline Dion didn't win for nothing!

[@carthkaras6449]

Votre prononciation is on point. I had the same though as you, in order for a country like France to win they need to fall into stereotypes to please the european audience... I think that it's sad... It cuts the country from its history, its people. The francophone music industry is huge and there are tons of artists with a large variety of style, music types that are unknown from the anglosphere.

[@edmundtory6931]

French ESC songs always pay attention to lyrics. Thanks for this great explanation

[@greciabarraza4986]

We got over sea chantries Norway: her name is she queen of the kings….

[@d_dave7200]

That was your mistake. Never get over sea chanties ;)

[@aprilhoy4010]

This performance as drag is fascinating; so is the comparison to Voila. I was surprised to realize how much the songs had in common. I hated Voila's self-seriousness but really like this year's entry. Now that you mention it, the campiness probably has at least as much to do with it as the fun danciness of the song. Fulenn was done dirty by some combination of the jury, voters, and the ecosystem of the contest that year. The music and the pagan vibes and the Breton representation kicked so much ass. It deserved better.

[@jurgnobs1308]

as someone who studied linguistics, I want to compliment you on paying attention to grammatical and linguistic things in the lyrics, eventhough they are often not easy to grasp for someone who doesnt speak the language

[@emrk6517]

Évidemment kinda evokes the same feeling in me as Voyage Voyage by Desireless and Moi Lolita by Alizée, so I really like it. Also, there's lyrics that I enjoy in French like: Dans mon jardin d’enfer, poussent des fleurs que j’arrose de mes rêves, de mes pleurs/ In my hellish garden grow flowers I water with my dreams and my tears. The way you explained the lyrics actually makes a lot of sense.

[@polypam23]

I loved Fulenn, I still love it! All these Celtic vibes ❤. Actually I voted for them I don't like stereotypes. So, Voilà and Grande Amore for me are big NO. Évidemment c'est toujours en suspense. On verra

[@tai2527]

To be honest, I didn't like Fulenn's stereotype of the mysterious, magical Celtic mists 😅

[@TheSongwritingCat]

This is a song I will actually listen to after the contest is over.

[@sileylav]

Never thought I'd see an Arrested Development nevernude joke snuck into a Eurovision video, but I'm not complaining

[@Zoeswildart]

As a French person, I can say your French is not bad at all! (Super interesting video, thank you so much)

[@MatthewWrather]

Merci beaucoup!

[@idraote]

I loved Fulenn and not just because the boy was/is hot. The song was stunning and original, which cannot be said for Barbara Pravi's "Voilà" the chorus of which is taken directly from Edith Piaf's "Padam, padam". Evidemment is a good song. and La Zarra is a striking singer.

[@tadesubaru1383]

I'm sorry but as a Spaniard, SloModidn't feel spanish at all. It felt Latino and USian. Like Despacito or any other reggaeton that mixes english with latino spanish

[@joaovitormatos8147]

That's the point. It didn't feel Spanish _for Spaniards_ . You guys don't vote for your song, we do. And, for us, it felt stereotypically Spanish

[@element4element4]

This video, the over analysis and humour was great. Loved it.

[@JudeJadeJune]

Cool video as always thanks for all the context😮

[@manolocorp]

Love these analisys, merci beaucoup!

[@panosg2686]

Took me way too much to realise the Barbara they are talking about is not Barbara Pravi.

[@overthinkingit]

And to us, "Barbara" means Streisand.

[@Minotaure_]

First time I watched a video from you, I loved it! I hope you are going to have a good time in France in May ! Thank you.

[@renskedunnewold1995]

I think Fulenn could have done much better with some good staging. I also think the vocals disappointed a bit, but good staging can do so much for mid songs

[@TinaTissue28]

The camera panning in and out just made me feel a bit dizzy. Like the song is pretty chaotic, and it was clearly trying to keep with the vibe. Just poorly executed, and I say this as someone who absolutely loved the song

[@AammaK]

I find it funny that Europe's image of France is essentially American image of France in Hollywood. At least in the Nordics, I assume. I mean shouldn't we be much more aware of the diversity of each region round here? It's not like minoryty cultures haven't been seen before. I'm not saying it's the sole reason for Fulen's flop, but I think it's something worth examining in the future. It's also interesting how much better a lot of vaguely and somehow universally "ethnic" and/or subly orientalistic tones do in ESC than genuine local ethnic influence, although I think we've gotten past that mostly after the 2000's. For me the most Frech of the Frech entries have always felt forced more so than authentic and culturally representative. I'm glad at least they're being self aware about it this time😄

[@annikania2682]

2:40 I think you said another important point earlier. Last years entry: It’s a diet version of Go_A‘s shum. At least that is what it felt like. The same problem will arise for Moldova this year, I think. It might not be as bad as with France‘s points, because… France will get „big-5-don’t-need-to-qualify“ deductions. But France last year was a well made choice. It just wasn’t the right year, it was too close to something similar and more popular. …that’s also a prediction that I have for Loreen‘s entry this year: Its too reminiscent of „euphoria“, and not as good. I don’t think she win win. I am not sure what I think about Frances entry this year. I have only heard the Studio version, and I am worried it might not work on stage, but otherwise, I am quite fond of it. I would have preferred it to be less disco, personally.

[@neconeconeco]

i'm not so sure about Moldova getting Fulenn'd just for being a forest rave. 2022 had two much more accessible folk inspired songs, but SSL doesn't have the same competition and should stand out well against the other entries.

[@pedjabrepedja]

Awwww so glad that you're gonna do Austria in your next video. Can't wait, and hope for Serbia also

[@metchoumetch3176]

French disco is "Born to be alive".

[@KriFFek]

This was such a good video! And also funny 😊

[@ricardini1710]

France submited more "contemporary" music in 2014 and we all know the result. and if this work from them "if isn´t baroque, dont fix it "

[@YorranKlees]

I really enjoyed this video, you're spot on. This year, France clearly made a song for a foreign audience, just like The Artist targeted the US audience specifically back then. The official clip agregates so many clichés (the good ones, I mean) that it becomes a masterpiece when adding a mix of majestic intro and a disco beat. And all of that in french, évidemment.

[@CasualUmami]

About Austria: I wouldn't call Teodora (without h) an Austrian name, and her parents are Serbian and she was born in Serbia. Selina sounds more international than Austrian, though the -Maria add-on probably helps to not be molested by xenophobics. I'd guess the choice of their stage names was not really motivated by de-Austriafication.

[@minimi870]

Well, I'm not Austrian, but I am German. Those are absolutely austrian names. Maybe not exclusively austrian, but still Austrian. With Selina, you wouldn't write like that if it was English for example, you'd write "Selena". And Teodora, I'm sure is the same. It would be a bit outdated in Germany, but wouldn't sound foreign. It's not about de-Austrification. Just making them more internationally accessible

[@mcdelay]

Thanks for all explanation! You r fantastic and good lukz for la Zarra. Kiss from France,😘

[@elizabeth184]

2:00 the biggest reason fulenn didn't do well was - it was at position 6 in the running order. Way too early to get noticed properly. It was strange & weird, not to everyone's taste, and a song like that would have done tons better in the 20s in the running. A song going on early has to be impeccably done and/or a big fan favourite ahead of time. Incidentally, it was my personal favourite & got my televote on the night. 😉

[@fonsie_games]

Oh my god you were right the UK came second last like france last year

[@buddhidev7877]

One of the best entry of this year

[@oscarisaksson1028]

Please do Moldova next🙏🏽

[@pillbugm8914]

I still like Fulenn idc the recorded version bangs.

[@fabricehaubois2442]

Thank you for explaining all of that, as. French person, I had no clue, so thanks for all that research and analysis… the only thing I’d take issue with you on, is the prononciation of the rolled ‘ r ‘… that’s common in rural france and Québec, and was more prevalent in older generations, so it’s a nice link from her native Canada, and to the past, not that it’s necessarily done by design

[@jupiter3067]

Thank you for educating us a little more of this artist and song and for a very nice "refreshing" (even all the garbages in France right now) of all the french music culture.

[@bessonnet]

Congratulations for your wedding ❤ félicitations et meilleurs vœux de bonheur !

[@noellenn2122]

The exaggerated(?) souvenir shop style of La Zarra’s frenchiness is, imho, very typical of similar offerings from the Quebecois. You can look to Couer de Pirate for similar frenched chanson. CdP is ofc, from Quebec. Maybe there is something there that speaks to the colony’s attachment to/separation from the motherland…?

[@Jaqexizr]

Best wishes on your honeymoon. You'll have a great time évidemment!!

[@EmoBearRights]

Suddenly I understand Smoke City's Underwater Love - after the rain comes sun.

[@Mloofylicious]

There's hardly a less German name than Teodora Spirić.

[@jonathanbrett-warren2031]

Are we doing sea shanties again? Cue Norway...

[@gallifrey7249]

I need a video like this but for Portugal 🥰

[@marksoasis]

Hi Matt,, love your channel, just discovered this past week, between the two semi finals. I just want to weigh in on Fulenn. You mentioned 4 reasons it flopped. I read the lyrics only this past week. I see “I dance with the devil.” When I saw the performance live, on peacock, last year, I saw the eyes of the performers, esp. the male singer. They were trying the convey the spirit of that evil. But definitely, a darkness entered into my soul. The song gave me a feeling of revulsion, the faces of the singers gave me the creeps. Of course they were performing. But I wonder if other viewers, both jury and televote, felt similarly.

[@MusicGirl3211]

While this is a great analysis of the stylistic aspects of chanson… am I overthinking the overthinking video by seeing that a lot of the lyrics seem to correlate with singing about le grande France in regard to how politics cannot be trusted, feeling betrayed as young people growing up in a world where we are being left behind by those stuck in the past? It makes the style and retro feel of the music feel more pointed and ironic than a genuine tribute to that era of music. It’s a break up song for the French people and their government

[@heidiedarwit]

La dirección de camaras en Turin 2022 fue deplorable. La peor que recuerde

[@EricK-bs2ks]

May I get a link to your discord? All the links on your website are dead.

[@overthinkingit]

Hit me up at eurovision at overthinkingit dot com.

[@dymphrpeeters8799]

fulenn and disko fan here :DD I love this years french song too, but it feels too typical for me xD a little similar to how due vite sounds like we have heard it a thousand times already. tho with evidemment I at least feel like it is exaggerated making it a little uh... satiric?

[@schnitzelsemmel]

The self-awereness of hetero-images is probably the strongest force in nation building. France is famously one of the first "nations" in a "modern" sense.

[@chourineur9250]

Merci pour tout... ça sent la victoire ! 😁👌🐓

[@J0HN_D03]

*4:50** Completely RIDICULOUS...* *1st: There's NO correlation between her name and the brand* *2nd: Even if there was, can you stop thinking France can only be represented by somebody holding a "FRENCH" name????? France is a mix of European cultures above all. Then, we've had a contestant who was called "Amir", a guy who immigrated in France with his Palestinian parents when he was a child...*

[@NoopyP]

The stereotypical image of France foreigners have is definitely very different than what we have to offer lol

[@PennyAfNorberg]

How does swedish feel?

[@vanjasmudformerlyknownasma6813]

This is the best song this year...

[@ameliecarre4783]

If France must send a Piaf knockoff every year to satisfy the cliché expectations, that's gonna be extremely boring. Maybe we should sent singers dressed as rats who'll be cutting courgettes and tomatoes on stage as well, just to be sure ?

[@BenCG]

Where's your Discord?

[@overthinkingit]

So we're purposely not pushing it that hard because we don't want an unmanageable number of people on there. But if you check the end of the Rosa Linn video there are instructions, if you want in.

[@bacaliaros]

Ok stop! Where do I sign to be part of this discord thing?! -DIsclaimer: I don't even have a discord account-

[@overthinkingit]

Watch the end of the Rosa Linn video. 😉

[@EKsUrbanTracks]

Your French in perfect. - A French (who hated Fulenn)

[@tomislavm8789]

I love you. You are treasure. Thank you for doing what you are doing. 😍 Btw. La Zarra is so beuthifull and epic. Btw. have fun on honeymoon.

[@NoopyP]

I did love LPS 🍕

[@evidemment14]

"Car après le beau temps vient la pluie", is not a 'close paraphrase' for the 'inversed' sentence; in fact, it is a rhetorical 'inversion' to create an 'inversed effect' on the audience; "Cuz after great weather comes rain". If it were an anastrophe (involving a syntactic change only and not semantic), then we could infer there's a paraphrase, but it's not the case here as the meaning's changed - reversed. If the auditor ought to imagine that after the rain, it is going to be beautiful weather again, anyway, it would be an overinterpretation; then we could have an ellipsis situation in our hands, in which the inferred part is omitted, but that's unlikely as La Zarra proceeds: "c'est ce qu'on oublie", "lest we forget", leaving no room for interpreting, Great review tho, all's well put together, keep it up

[@rageguy311]

I want more beagles featured. Or Mark presenting...while sipping whiskey.

[@J0HN_D03]

*2001: 4th*

[@anakosovic6727]

14:08😂❤

[@WennAde]

Fulenn was my favourite 2022, but it's true the vocals weren't spot on

[@galf91201]

Please make one of your amazing videos on Armenia 🇦🇲

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

Tbf all the camera work last year was dodgy.

[@mgolas4643]

Mother La Zarra was robbed!! 😭

[@Odysseus19]

I didn't know that Donald Cerrone gave history lessons?

[@tonyttt31]

Daft Punk

[@BatmanRaoul]

Hi from Paris, your analysis is excellent. Your accent when you speak french is soooo cute But ... your fake french accent when you speak english is 🤨 so old fashioned Anyway, je m'abonne à votre chaîne ! 👋Murielle

[@perfect6537]

Please make one for "Unicorn" (Israel) that talks about the Holocaust and the resurrection of the Jewish people, the ability of the Jewish people to heal people just like unicorn (the cure for Corona, Pfizer) and especially Israel, a high-tech powerhouse and a country with the strongest military in the world. The song talks about wanting a better future and leaving the past behind.

[@DonPaliPalacios]

Ah, the lyrics make so much sense now! ("I'm not your enemy", "Do you wanna check my DNA?", "History caught in a loop"...)

[@J0HN_D03]

*OK, I give you another explanation: this contest is RIGGED, 100% FAKE*

[@keineahnung5466]

good to know, but unfortunately the song with the already so often heard disco beat, is boring.

[@MrOtter1234]

this is a video about évidemment explanation and analysis so why are you talking about Barabare pravi and other french singers if the titel said "éVIDEMMENT"

[@mattadelamarq]

i am the first one who liked the video ;)

[@fenzelian]

I am the first one who liked this comment

[@mattadelamarq]

@@fenzelian

[@kosanlazarevic1780]

14:22 Andrew Tate reference?

[@kayleighmoran]

What are you on? That is the best, or worse, manspleining rant I have ever heard. Wtf just stop.