Top of the Pops: Eurovision Special!
Breaking news! This year could be the French year at the Eurovision Song Contest. Fingers crossed!
Eurovision is an international TV song competition launched in 1956. And this year our performer will be Amir. He will sing his emotional song “J’ai cherché” for the big finale on Saturday May 14 in Stockholm, Sweden - the host country of this 61st edition of the ESC. Check out Amir’s clip here. For more information click here.
Our young hopeful is tipped by the bookies for 2nd place! Yes we are on the starting blocks. To support our candidate and calm our nerves we decided to check out the previous ESC winners and have created a special edition of Top Of The Pops for your listening pleasure! The Mediathèque team chose to shed some light on the 5 French victories at Eurovision.
I know you’re desperate to discover it … So here it is!
5. André Claveau - Dors mon amour (1958) Here's the first ever French winner of the competition and the only man. Well done! Listen to his album here
4. Jacqueline Boyer - Tom Pillibi (1960) This fantastic French lady was up next to win with an unforgettable hit. You definitely have to give her a try! (Track 22)
3. Isabelle Aubret - Un premier amour (1962) Another song about love, one of the most popular subjects for singer/songwriters… But you already know that … I’ll let you listen to Isabelle’s beautiful voice
2. Frida Boccara - Un jour, un enfant (1969) A fabulous woman able to speak nearly 8 languages but most of all an internationally recognised singer! Click here:
1. Marie Myriam - L’Enfant et l’Oiseau (1977) Marie Myriam is our most recent winner at ESC! And also one of the unavoidable songs we had to learn at Primary school (yes, personal experience). Listen to her full album on Culturethèque
I know what you’re thinking: what? Your last winner was awarded in 1977? ... right?
But wait wait wait! French pride being what it is, I have to add some precisions. France has taken part in 58 out of the 60 ESC competitions. Officially, France has won the contest 5 times but if we take into account the 4 French singers who took part in the competition for Luxemburg, we’ve actually won 9 titles! So we can say that France is the country with the highest number of wins - 9 victories against 7 for Sweden.
Dear Swedish friends, the competition is launched! And we hope that our new candidate will be as successful as his illustrious predecessors!