Eurovision 2022: What the foreign media think of France’s song and its chances of Top 10 – 20 Minutes

From our special correspondent in Turin (Italy)Mahmood, the Italian representative, told Swedish television that France’s song was his favorite Eurovision song this year. The Dutch S10 told us, on the sidelines of the interview she gave us, that she really liked Fulenn. Despite everything, the French candidacy for this edition, carried by Alvan and Ahez, arouses less enthusiasm than that of Barbara Pravi last year with Voilà – in the Top 10 bookmakers at the start of the week, she is no longer in their radar this Saturday. It must be said that the Bretons will pass in the first half of the final, in sixth position, which is statistically not the most favorable configuration to integrate the Top 10. Paradoxically, by gleaning opinions in a more or less formal way in the press center next to the Pala Alpitour in Turin, there are no real critics of Fulenn. What comes up most often is the “surprise” that many felt when they discovered the song but also when they saw France send such a proposal to the competition. Many welcome this glimpse of Breton culture, far from the Parisian prism. Here are some of the opinions collected – along with predictions for the result of the final, which will be broadcast live from 9 p.m. on France 2 this Saturday. Access to this content has been blocked in order to respect your choice of consent By clicking on “I ACCEPT”, you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners I ACCEPT And for better remunerate 20 Minutes, do not hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our “I accept for today” button in the banner below. More information on the Cookie Management Policy page. “The Breton language intrigues”Richard Van de Crommert, Dutch, is a journalist at Telegraaf “Alvan and Ahez exude youth. Fulenn is a very original song. It stays in the head. When it’s on my playlist on Spotify, I can’t help but dance. It’s true that at first listen, it may be a little chaotic but when you listen to it again, you understand how it is constructed. The Breton language is intriguing and I think everyone will like it. Maybe she can appeal more to televoting [le vote des téléspectateurs] than to juries. I like the outfits, the Celtic side, the fact that this performance shows a side of France that we are not used to seeing, it shows a local culture and it is an asset for Eurovision . The production is dynamic, it takes you by the hand and does not let go. When France sings, it won’t be a time when people go to the toilet or get supplies from the fridge, because it’s a very strong picture. I think she will be in the second half of the Top 10.” “Seeing a Celtic language live on stage is important” Neil Farren, Irish, is an editor for Eurovoix: “On stage, it’s magic. It’s something very personal to me. I am from Ireland and Irish is my mother tongue. Seeing another Celtic language breathing and living on stage is important to show Europe that. The song makes me escape, projects me into a forest, at dawn, gives me the impression of being far from the world. I believe she can expect a good result, she is strong, the set design is strong, the camera shots are dynamic. There’s energy flowing through the song that will flow through the veins of the audience. I think it will make you want to dance and vote. I predict a place in the Top 10.” “A new angle on what it means to be French” , I even believe that it is the best scenic proposal. The rendering on the screen is impactful. If you connect to this song, you vote for it. France can be proud to show off one of its regional languages. This allows you to explore new angles to tell what it means to be French. Fulenn may be divisive, but I think that’s a good thing at Eurovision. I predict a ranking between 7th and 13th place. »« France offers an experience »Clara Cabrera, Spaniard, she collaborates on the Eurovoxx site: « France offers an experience. There are many colors, it’s very visual. Fulenn is a good song. As Europeans, we do not necessarily know Breton and Brittany, all the images we have of France are very centered on Paris. I also really like the embroidery on the costumes. I believe it has the potential to garner a lot of votes because there is a storytelling [elle raconte une histoire]. Juries are mistakenly thought to be old-fashioned, liking only ballads and vocal performances, but the music industry is changing and perhaps broadcasters have chosen jurors more in tune with these contemporary trends. My prediction for France? Fifteenth place. “” Eurovision is what a country shows its identity “Fin Ross Russel, British, is editor for ESC Insight: “I’m a big fan of Eurovision and I watch a lot of national selections. In the Spanish final, there was a formidable Galician group, the Tanxugueiras, who did not win. I thought it was a shame because there could have been a representation of Celtic culture at Eurovision. When I saw Alvan and Ahez in Eurovision France, it’s up to you, I thought it was perfect! It was very cool to see the personalities who were members of the jury help Fulenn win: they understood the spirit of the title, the Breton identity, and the importance of showing that, of sharing it with an international audience. I find it difficult to make a prediction, but if I was forced to do so, I would say that France will finish 12th or 13th. For me, Eurovision is not a question of results, but what a country presents, what it shows of its identity. It’s also a way to discover artists, and I know that in the future, I want to listen to other songs by Ahez and Alvan. »