FRANCE WINTER 2008 REVIEW

Now the time has come to the French National Final. This one has also some great pieces but I doubt the best song will win in France. First I must say the tele2 has not searched for the best quality for all, some are still only live versions and some are so low in volume you can hardly hear. At least this time all songs are well numbered and named. Thankyou Greg for that.

01 - "Histoire de luv'" K-Maro & Shym
Just as the K-Maro should have gone to Eurovision in 2007 this great piece of modern pop, the mix of melodic rap and pop could in my mind turn out to bring new style to any contest. As a K-Maro fan I support this one 100%. Bonne chance!

02 - "Dessine-moi un mouton" Mylene Farmer
Mylene is Mylene. It is a good song and sung god. But there is a haunting tune that seams to go on and on and on and the crushing guitars don’t help either. But she sings fantastique as always. Bravo Mylene.

03 - "L'accordéoniste" Olivia Ruiz
Seams the quality in French National Final is higher than usually. And also the range of style is huge. Now the real music. Edith Piaf was the best France saw in last century and this Oliva almost Bring her alive again. A 4 minute pleasure but in USC it would not be recognised for what it is. Pure art.

04 - "Comme toi" Najoua Belyzel
Welcome back Najoua, The first winner of USC in 2006. Two years after her triumph she tries to go a 2nd time and again she is magnificent but where is the song? This is very weak compared to Gabriel. The verses are weak but the strong chorus though could get her high results. Watch out for this one.

05 - "Puisque c'est ma rose" Jeff & Romain Cortese
If the German ballad marathon makes you fall asleep at times, this first ballad comes as 5th song and as such you appreciate it more. Lovelly piece of music but not for USC. And is there no rule in USC to prevent the children from enter? In 2006-2007 there sure was not and well the children did not invade. I only remember one entry from Denmark to be sung by ca very young singer..

06 - "Nous ne sommes pas" Laura Presgurvic & Co
Now, N O W, I wake up. This is pure pop and if I am in France at the time of final I will pick up the phone. Are you not here? Oh yes you are here and should be able to go all the way. The only problem is that it finish too early. Bravo Greg!!

07 - "Rosso" Cerena
Spanish passion now from France. Italian passion too. I didn’t know this kind existed in France but I like it a lot. Italian sseams to be all over in preselection this year and I love it. Rosso rocks but wouldn’t go high in USC because no matter how good artist is the song is not soty marerial.

08 - "Mets un peu de musique" Ever & Ever
Was this not already in Eurovision ini 1985? Hm….for Luxembourg? Maybe not but it sounds very very old indeed. But inf this was nf 1986 I would give it high points though. But it is 2007.
(4 if it was 1985)

09 - "Emmenez-moi" Damien Sargue
I can’t hear Greg. Schhhh all this is a hearing problem test. A child with a bad mp3 version. Poor boy. He even got a boring song. Sorry no sympathy here.

10 - "La fidélité" Elodie Frégé
As much as I appreciate different style I don’t like this anti rhythmic thing. Where is melody? It is just same phrase over again…and the “pow” synth pad is so annoying. Next please.

11 - "Pour elle" Julian Cely
Oh a ballad. And good luck since he has that **** before him so it seams better than it is. Ordinary mid tempo ballad from France. But an Ok entry for the 2nd half. Not really no.

12 - "Du courage" La Grande Sophie
Crushing guitars is a huge risk when it comes to me. Has to be used in a very rhythmic way for me to like and here it is simply just noice. And why is she knowing only one word? Du courage…yes indeed she need a lot of currage to entry with this awful song.

13 - "L'envie d'aimer" Daniel Lévi
Oh, the French have christmas fever too. But I already start to miss the German nf now. I do not wanna sleep at this stage in a show. No, this makes me nervous. I need to go get a drink to survive.
(NO STARS)

14 - "SOS" Lorie
Oh how appropriate to make a plee for rescue. But at last some up tempo after 5 bad numbers. Maybe too much rap and scratching for my taste but it is good. I only wonder if it is from 2007 or if it is 1993…Well, no maters, this is what a national final should have more of.

15 - "Belle" Patrick Fiori, Garou & Daniel Lavoie
Ohhhhh…if the other ballads so far bored me this singer can pull off a number magnifique. I am totally sweapt away by this great musical style song sung in perfection. But it could be as well a modern ballad as well. First one I really would love to see the video of so here it is VIDEO. Enjoy. France has found a winner. Congratulations. Only amazing and when they enter one by one you must all realise this is pure art. Originelle, pas du tout criminelle. Bravo Greg, merci encore une fois. And remember this is a LIVE recording you have!

16 - "Les rois du monde" Philippe D'avilla, Grégori Baquet & Damien Sargue
And now classics go pop. I always had a weakness for when you take classic symphonic music and mix with pop and here they do it very well.

17 - "Je t'aime plus que tout" Ronan Keating & Cécilia Cara
Why is this here. Next, I even couldn’t listen. No need to mention the problem with keaton not being French in origine.
(NO STARS)

18 - "Mon cabaret" Sofia Essaïdi
Arghhhh
(NO STARS – NO STARS AT ALL)

19 - "Butterfly" Superbus
No please now they destry the end completely. That “pow” sound is back and same same same….all over in a loop. Butterfly fly fly away and do not return.

20 - "Tourner ma page" Jenifer
This is just too much rap for me.
(NO STARS)

Well, France has brought masterpieces and even winner potentials to USC but will they beat the other? I doubt it. But I suggest you attend the French national final for the highlights and endure the nightmares with it. It is worth it. So please the modern K-Maro or the masterpiece "Belle" or the pure pop with Laura Presgurvic, if she is French.