Show #194

After last weeks points vacuum, we’re hoping our superfans are in better spirits when it comes to the next four contest contenders vying for their approval. We also inject some Gallic charm into our proceedings with this weeks National Triple Play, and bring you all up to date with the latest stories in the Eurovision News…

This Weeks Highlights

Diljá

2023 Contest Contender

Diljá Pétursdóttir, mostly known as Diljá, is an Icelandic singer. She is set to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song 'Power'.

Pasha Parfeni

2023 Contest Contender

Pavel Parfeni, known professionally as Pasha Parfeny, is a Moldovan musician, singer and songwriter. He represented Moldova at the 2012 contest in Baku and was formerly the lead singer of SunStroke Project. He is set to represent Moldova again in 2023 with the song 'Soarele și luna'.

France has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 64 times since its debut at the first contest in 1956. France is one of only seven countries to be present at the first contest, and has been absent from only two contests in its history, missing the 1974 and 1982 contests. Along with Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, France is one of the “Big Five” countries that are automatically prequalified for the final, due to being the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). France has won the contest five times. France first won the contest in 1958 with “Dors, mon amour” performed by André Claveau. Three more victories followed in the 1960s, with “Tom Pillibi” performed by Jacqueline Boyer in 1960, “Un premier amour” performed by Isabelle Aubret in 1962 and “Un jour, un enfant” performed by Frida Boccara, who won in 1969 in a four-way tie with the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. France’s fifth victory came in 1977, when Marie Myriam won with the song “L’Oiseau et l’Enfant”. During its successful run in the 20th century, France has also finished second four times, with Paule Desjardins (1957), Catherine Ferry (1976), Joëlle Ursull (1990) and Amina (1991), who lost out to Sweden’s Carola in a tie-break. After reaching the top five in 24 contests in the 20th century, France has had less success in the 21st century, only making the top five three times, with Natasha St-Pier fourth (2001), Sandrine François fifth (2002) and Barbara Pravi second (2021). France’s other top 10 results in the century are Patricia Kaas’s eighth place in 2009 and Amir’s sixth place in 2016. France finished last for the first time in 2014, when Twin Twin received only two points.

Ahez is a French vocal group from Carhaix, Brittany, consisting of Marine Lavigne, Sterenn Diridollou and Sterenn Le Guillou. Alexis Morvan Rosius, known professionally as Alvan, is a French singer and songwriter.

Diridollou, Lavigne and Le Guillou met during their studies at Diwan secondary school in Carhaix, Brittany, where they practised the traditional singing style kan ha diskan. The name “Ahez” comes from Ker Ahez, a popular etymology for the Breton name of Carhaix (Karaez), and Ahes, a Breton mythological figure. The group started performing at fest-noz festivals in 2018, and took part in the 2018 edition of the Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient with the band Eben.

In the summer of 2021, they met singer and producer Alvan in a bar in Rennes. Together, they participated in Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez ! 2022 (“Eurovision France, you decide ! 2022”), the French national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, with the song “Fulenn”.
They went on to win the competition, winning both the jury vote and televote.
“Fulenn” was the first Eurovision entry to be sung in Breton since 1996.

Track List