Andriamad: “Our main goal is to bring people together, to give joy and positive emotions” | Exclusive interview! (video)

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

EurovisionFun had the pleasure and honor of hosting Andriamad, in an exclusive interview. Andriamad is a music duo characterized by its pop, electronic and tropical music and consists of Cécile and Kévin. This year, they are going to take part in the national final of France for Eurovision, Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez !, with the song “Alléluia“. The final will take place next January and will be organized by France Télévisions in collaboration with the French television station France 2.

 

 

Interview with Andriamad

 

First of all, thank you very much for this interview. You are one of the finalists of the French national final for Eurovision 2021. How did you decide to participate and how did you feel after the announcement that you were finally selected?

Hi ! First of all thank you for your support! We decided this year to try the national selection of Eurovision, our goal is to bring people together, this is our way to help the situation, with art, joy, music, positive energy and a message of peace. We are very happy and excited about our choice! This opportunity is amazing for us, it brings a kind of magic in the air.

What does France’s representation at Eurovision mean to you?

We want to represent the open mind of France, the mix of every culture, the respect for the different in a global way. France has always been a hospitable country, so we want to show this part of it.

Tell us more about you. What was the central idea behind the creation of your band?

We met 4 years ago, and the central idea was to combine our personality in music, influence and state of mind. Andriamad is from the beginning a project about sharing, with tolerance and an open mind. In every song we release, we try to put a positive message and we try in our music and on stage, to bring people together.

In Greece, you are popular both for your music and for your covers of popular songs. Have you ever visited or would you like to visit our country?

We would like to do a concert after all this time in Greece, with pleasure! Every time we hear about Greece, we see a very beautiful country. We have already visited Corfu and we loved this island. So we would like to visit the other islands of Greece and of course Greece in general.

So you decided to participate with the song “Alléluia”. What is the meaning of the song? What message do you want to convey to the world with this?

We composed the song a few months ago in our small studio in Paris and we decided to write a peaceful song about the period we have just been through and a song about the open mind, the tolerance and the positive curiosity for others, because this is what we hope most, to bring people together no matter who you are or where you are from. It’s just all these positive vibes we want to give. We also wanted to include a word that can be understood by everyone, and to have the ability to celebrate life with joy, so we chose to sing some “Allléuia” among the lyrics.

Is the video clip of the song in your next plans?

We were already working on the lyric video, which is now available on YouTube! We want to insist on the lyrics of the song and its meaning and give the vibe first with this video. We will now work on everything related to the national final. Maybe after all this we can think of a video clip.

Have you thought about how you would like to present the song in the national final?

COLORFUL AND GENEROUS 🙂 and the rest … a surprise!

This year France won the Junior Eurovision. Is the thought of doubling the victories for the country, in such a difficult year for the whole planet, among your goals?

We are already happy to participate in the competition. Our main goal is to bring people together, to give joy and positive emotions. For us, the main idea is to convey our message with our song. The rest is just an amazing bonus. 😉

In closing, I would like to ask you, what is your favorite song that represented France in the competition?

Ne partez pas sans moi by Celine Dion. She is such an amazing artist and we respect her a lot.

*After the interview, Andriamad send a message to the readers of EurovisionFun*

We warmly thank Andriamad for this interview and we wish them best of luck next year in the national final!

France: Barbara Pravi speaks exclusively at Eurovision Fun!

/1 Comment/in , /by

She is one of the big favorites to represent France at Eurovision 2021. The talented Barbara Pravi with Voila, hopes to be the winner of “Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez!” and then travel to Rotterdam. Barbara Pravi speaks for the first time after the announcement of the candidates for the French national final at Eurovision Fun and we are really very happy to host her!

Barbara, welcome to Eurovision Fun and thank you very much for this interview! First we would like you to tell us some things about you, so that our readers can get to know you better.

My name is Barbara, I’m an author, composer and singer. I write for me, and also for other French artist (i wrote Bim Bam Toi for example or J’imagine who won Eurovision Junior this year !! So happy).  Also, I’m very engaged for the woman’s rights in my country. I often make songs about violence against woman, or abortion… 

PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 08: Barbara Pravi poses for Photo session at Le Reservoir on November 8, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Wolff – Patrick/Redferns)

How did you decide to participate in Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez !?

I already compose 2 songs for the contest (Junior), so this year I was saying to myself « Wait. Why are you always hiding behind other people ? Why don’t you go on stage and say to the world : this is what I am, this is all I have. My eyes, my hands, my voice, and this is the only reason I live ». 

What is the message you want to convey with Voila?

My song says « This is what I am. This is all I have. It is not much, but it is my truth ». I think it’s like when you meet someone : you have the choice to « appreciate » him/her, or not. But this is what the person are !! So …  It is a message of affirmation. I am a woman, and I say to all my sisters « We dont have to hide. Go, lets affirm who we are, without culpability, without fear ». 

Are you a fan of the contest? Which is your favorite French entry?

Of course i am! I’m in love with Bilal Hassani because I love his message, and I’m very admirative of his courage. I also adore Madame Monsieur, they are friends and they really are wonderful people. 

What should we expect from you on the stage?

I’m not a « show girl », with lights everywhere, and lots of dancers, video projections and everything. When I sing, I tried to be very simple, very authentic, so you can expect truth, you can expect emotions and real feelings. 

Was there a role model in your artistic career in general?

Actually, not really. I love music, but I dont have a « role model ». I couldn’t « admire » someone I don’t personally know. Thats the reason why I truly love some artists (like Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, more recently Pomme for example), but my real role model are the people I know  : My mother, my sister, who are two wonderful and brilliant woman, my friends etc… 

Let’s go to Junior Eurovision now. What was your inspiration for J ’Imagine and what does winning the contest mean to you?

With my partner – Igit- we would like to make a song which brings hope and light to people. That’s why we wrote « J’imagine ». The song says « I dream », I dream about a world where we are all united, I dream about joy and faith. I think we all need good mood song during this strange period of covid. 

Have you ever visited Greece?

I’ve been to Greece last summer with my best friend ! In Thessaloniki. It was a crazy crazy trip, but only last 1 week so I really wish I could come back, stay longer and visit your country. Also, I LOVE greek’s wine and actually know it pretty well… voila ! 

Barbara thank you very much! Good luck to you and Voila.

It was my pleasure!

We remind you that the song that will be selected for Eurovision 2021, will be chosen by 50% of the television audience and by 50% by a professional jury of 10 people. There will be two voting phases, but the public will be in control of both. The jury will consist of 10 people, 5 French and 5 from other countries. According to Le Parisien, presenters of Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez! will be Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini. “Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez!” is expected to take place in late January, in a regional city of France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEqrfHpYqEk

Interview was taken by Stella Gialetzi

France: Barbara Pravi performs “Voila” live and impresses us!

/0 Comments/in , /by

One day after the announcement of the candidates at “Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez!”, but also their songs, Barbara Pravi who is considered by many as one of the favorites to win the national final and represent France in Eurovision 2021, published the live interpretation of her entry- Voila and the result is really impressive!

Barbara Pravi, is also one of the composers of this year’s winning French participation in Junior Eurovision, J’Imagine, sings Voila from the living room of her house and proves that sometimes live is better than a studio material!

The song that will be selected for Eurovision 2021, will be selected by 50% by the television audience and by 50% by a professional jury of 10 people. There will be two voting phases, but the public will be in control of both. The jury will consist of 10 people, 5 French and 5 from other countries.

According to Le Parisien, presenters of Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez! will be Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini. “Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez!” is expected to take place at the end of January!

Do you think Barbara can be the winner of the French national final for Eurovision 2021?

France: Listen to the songs of the national final for Eurovision 2021!

/0 Comments/in , /by

France Télévisions recently announced the 12 artists and the titles of their songs, which will compete in the national final of the country, “Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez!”. The winner will represent France in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam!

Following a process the 12 artists and their songs that will compete for the ticket to Rotterdam are:

You can listen all the songs below. If there isn’t a video from YouTube click the tittle of the song only via your mobile, because its geoblocked in pc.

LMK – Magique

Ali – Paris Me Dit

Casanova – Tutti

Barbara Pravi – Voilà

Cephaz – On A Mangé Le Soleil

Amui – Maeva

Andriamad – Alléluia

Philippine – Bah Non

Juliette Moraine – Pourvu Qu’on M’Aime

21 Juin Le Duo – Peux-Tu Me Dire;

Terence James – Je T’Emmènerai Danser

Poney X – Amour Fou

The song that will be selected for Eurovision 2021, will be selected by 50% of the television audience and 50% by a professional jury of 10 people. There will be two voting phases, but the public will be in control of both. The jury will consist of 10 people, 5 French and 5 from other countries.

According to Le Parisien, presenters of Eurovision: C’est vous qui décidez! will be Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini.

Source: Eurovision.tv

France: Valentina performs J’Imagine live and the difference with Junior Eurovision is huge!

/2 Comments/in , /by

The winner of Junior Eurovision 2020 Valentina was invited to a show on French public broadcaster, on the night of Saturday 5/12, where she performed live J’Imagine.

As you will see in the video that follows, unfortunately Valentina’s live performance has nothing to do with her corresponding interpretation in the live on tape video, where she competed in Junior Eurovision 2020 a few days ago.

The EBU, answering an official question on Spanish delegation, said that all participants performed their entries live in the contest. However, yesterday’s live appearance of Valentina reinforces the accusations that some countries did not sing live, as as you will see and mainly hear, there is a big difference between the two interpretations.

Watch the video below and leave your own comments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iIMGA0aUZE

Was it a bad day for Valentina or did she really sing playback at Junior Eurovision 2020?

EBU: “All the contestants sang live at Junior Eurovision 2020”!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

There is no Eurovision Song Contest without drama, the same of course could not be the case at Junior Eurovision 2020. The 18th Junior Eurovision Song Contest had France as the winner, but there were many who claimed that in Valentina’s live on tape video, she sang playback. The same accusations were leveled against the videos of Belarus and Russia.

In fact, on the occasion of the accusations that literally closed the internet after the end of the contest, the head of the entertainment program of the Spanish public television (TVE), Toñi Prieto, formally asked the EBU, if indeed all the contestants in the live on tape videos, they performed their songs live.

EBU responded immediately to TVE, saying that as it was in the rules of this year’s contest, all participants in the live on tape videos, sang live, with the backing vocals playback. EBU emphasizes that there were also the necessary control and safety valves, to confirm the above.

The winner Valentina also referred to the issue, rejecting all the accusations:

We remind you that in Junior Eurovision 2020 the contestants had to videotape a live interpretation of their song, at an earlier time than the contest. These 12 live on tape videos competed on Sunday, as due to the pandemic, the live presence of the artists in Warsaw was impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iIMGA0aUZE

Source: Eurofestivales

 

Editorial: How fair will the “live on tape video” be for Eurovision 2021?

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

The announcement of the EBU and the Dutch organizers for the live on tape video that will be made by the 41 participants of Eurovision 2021, although it ensures that the contest will take place even in the worst case scenario regarding the course of the pandemic, but leaves many questions in the part of justice and equal conditions that should govern the competition.

What exactly is live on tape video?

According to what was announced, all participating broadcasters were asked to record a live performance of their entry in their country. This recording will be delivered before the contest and will take place in a studio. The recording will take place in real time (as it would in the Contest) without making changes to the vocals or any part of the show itself after the recording.

There will be freedom in the delegations, to present as they consider their entries better, but instructions will be given which will ensure the fairness and integrity of the competition. There will be no audience and the recording should be unique and not be published before the event in May.

Delegations are allowed to use similar technical capabilities and dimensions that would be available on stage in Rotterdam, but are also free to choose a more limited production facility. Video recordings must not contain augmented or virtual reality, overlays, confetti, drone shots, water, color use or green screen.

How to ensure meritocracy and fairness in the contest?

In addition to the above, the EBU also announced a series of safety valves, which will ensure that the 41 live video tapes will have been made under the same conditions. Indicatively, we mention that those present in the video recording will be a representative of the Dutch public broadcaster, while the shooting will be watched by the executive supervisor of the contest, as well as a representative from an independent voting observer (E&Y). The duration of the shooting will be one hour and at this time the participants will be able to videotape up to three times their appearance. The selection of the shot will be made by the Head of Delegation and another authorized representative.

Our doubts about live on tape video

First of all, let’s say that even under normal conditions, not everyone competes on equal terms. What do we mean by that? We see in recent years on the eurovision stage, impressive appearances, with the help of the use of technology. Technology that not all broadcasters can use. Fro example Serbian public broadcaster cannot spend the money that Swedish public broadcaster spends. Albanian television cannot spend the money spent by Russian or Azerbaijani television and so on.

So, many times the countries participating in the contest can start from different points of view, but what mitigates the above a bit is that they share the same stage and it is ensured that everyone sings live. With the advancement of technology, and given that each country can use any studio it wants, even that is in question.

We read that Russia uses virtual reality in its appearance for Junior Eurovision 2020, where the contest will take place via live on tape video. An effect that other countries probably will not have at their disposal, for economic and technical reasons.

Of course for the live on tape videos of Eurovision 2021 the EBU has banned such special effects. However, LEDs are not prohibited and it is possible for different sized scenes, something that, as you understand, will differentiate the final result.

What we all hope is that everything you read remains on a theoretical level only. The situation with the pandemic to improve and to have a Eurovision as close to normal as possible, with the 41 artists performing their songs on the stage of the Ahoy Arena!

What is your opinion about the live on tape video? Are equal conditions guaranteed for all?

France: Stephane Bern to present “Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez” | 12 will be the finalists!

/0 Comments/in , /by

French Public Television (TV France) announced earlier its plans for the second half of the TV season. As mentioned in the relevant press conference, the country’s national final for Eurovision 2021, Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez, will be held in January with 12 participants and presenter Stephane Bern. Read more

Eurovision 2021: Participants will record their songs “live-on-tape” to ensure Contest will happen!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

The EBU recently revealed how to ensure that Eurovision 2021 will happen, even in the worst case scenario with the course of the coronary pandemic.

Eurovision 2021 will take place in every way

After yesterday’s announcement that the distribution of countries in the two semifinals remains the same as that of Eurovision 2020, but also the presentation of the four possible scenarios for the conduct of Eurovision 2021, now another detail is given, concerning scenario D. In the new announcement of the EBU, concern the case in which in May the situation with the pandemic will be such that it will not allow air travel and reconnaissance, having a contest as Junior Eurovision 2020 will happen in a few days . With video appearances of the participants!

What is the process

All participating broadcasters were asked to record a live performance of their entries in their country. This recording will be delivered before the contest and will take place in a studio. The recording will take place in real time (as it would in the contest) without making changes to the vocals or any part of the show itself after the recording.

There will be freedom in the delegations, to present as they consider their participations better, but instructions will be given which will ensure the fairness and integrity of the competition. There will be no audience and the recording should be unique and not be published before the event in May.

Delegations are allowed to use similar technical capabilities and dimensions that would be available on stage in Rotterdam, but are also free to choose a more limited production facility. Video recordings must not contain augmented or virtual reality, overlays, confetti, drone shots, water, color use or green screen.

How will it be fair?

Normally in the Eurovision Song Contest all the artists would appear on the same stage under the same conditions giving everyone the same opportunity to shine. For the live recordings, the Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest approved additional measures to guarantee the fairness of the contest.

Prior to the recording, each participating broadcaster will meet with a representative from Host Broadcasters and submit a recording session schedule, studio setup and camera schedule.

The Head of Delegation will be on site during the registration period of 60 minutes and up to three authorized expirations, either alone or with an appropriate mandate, to make the final decision on the selection of the final receipt (from three).

A live link will be created during the recording to allow the Eurovision Executive Supervisor and a representative from an independent voting observer (E&Y) and Host Broadcaster to monitor the recording, provide assistance and support, and ensure the integrity and fairness of the contest.

No videos of the appearances from the national finals can be submitted, but each country can record on the same stage. The “live-on-tape” recordings must be delivered by the end of March.

Of course, as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, all of the above will apply in the case of contestants who will not be able to attend Rotterdam in May. The 65th Eurovision Song Contest will take place anyway!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Eurovision 2021: Allocation draw in semi-finals remains the same as in 2020!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

A little while ago through the official social networks of the contest, it was announced that the draw of the semi-finals of this year’s contest will also apply to Eurovision 2021. Read more