It’s time for another participant to be revealed for France’s national final Destination Eurovision. Next is the singer-songwriter and The Voice alum Sweem. He will be singing “Là-haut” (Yonder).
Born Clément Bighelli, Sweem was part of the 2016 series of The Voice: la plus belle voix. He auditioned with Angus & Julie Stone’s “Big Jet Plane”. It only inspired two judges to turn, but it was enough to get Sweem into the live shows.
Sweem is an experienced live performer with a folky-pop sound and is comfortable performing in both French and English. Sweem has played in such distant locations as Indonesia and New Caledonia. And yes, Sweem has a song called “Swim”.
In 2017 he released his debut EP Un matin d’hiver, and last month he released his new single “La baie d’Agonda”.
His participation in Destination Eurovision was announced through the usual video profile. In the video, the folky singer-songwriter talks about the importance of organic music — it sounds like he’d agree with Salvador Sobral on “fast food music”.
When asked about Eurovision, Sweem talks about the huge challenge and the importance of breaking down language and cultural barriers. And what’s the one thing good at breaking down these barriers? Music!
#Sweem ?
Qui est cet artiste ? Qu’est-ce qui l’anime ? Ouvrez grand vos oreilles et regardez son portrait en exclu, avant de le retrouver dans #DestinationEurovision, à partir du 13 janvier 2018 sur @france2tv ! @SweemOff pic.twitter.com/qej8WBTMSh— Eurovision France ?? (@EurovisionF2) January 2, 2018
Sweem’s entry for Destination Eurovision is “Là-haute” (Yonder). From the short clip in the promo video, it involves some clean electric guitar and is quiet in the verses. However, it erupts with a strong, uplifting chorus that has plenty of potential to be memorable in a live performance.
DESTINATION EUROVISION – KNOWN COMPETITORS
- Malo’ – “Ciao”
- June the Girl – “Same”
- Louka – “Mamma Mia”
- IGIT – “Lisboa Jérusalem”
- Emmy Liyana – “Ok ou ko”
- Madame Monsieur – “Mercy”
The remaining competing songs will be revealed over the coming days, in the build-up to the first semi-final. The first semi airs on 13 January. Nine songs will compete in each of the two semi-finals, and four songs from each semi will go to the grand final.
You can follow the official Eurovision France 2 Facebook page for the latest updates.
What do you think of the “Là-haut” snippet? Will this be one of the four songs to qualify for the grand final? Share your thoughts below!
THIS IS SUBLIME, FRESH AN MODERN, PLESE SEND THIS SONG TO EUROVISION
I’m starting to have hope that we might have a strong showing from the whole Big 5 this year. France’s entries all sound great, Italy’s had a pretty solid track record for the last few years that I’d be surprised if they didn’t continue, the UK managed to get their shit together last year so I’m hoping and praying they can replicate that and improve their position this time (‘course, I don’t know any of their candidates), Spain brought back Operacion Triunfo which could at least get more Spanish fans interested in the contest (and all three entrants who won… Read more »
No time for mistakes. ESC 2018 will be a bloodbath.
I’m not inspired by any of the acts yet.
The next song is reavealed : Noée – “L’un près de l’autre”. She participated in the talent show “Nouvelle star” (similar to “Pop idol” in the UK) in 2016.
france is doing amazing love all 7 songs so far can’t wait to in them in full : )
hear*
I hear a simple four-chord song, but the vocal on it is very memorable.
Well done.
Another good song, another good artist!
I believe all the songs we’ve listened so far will be far better in the live performance. Looking forward to the rest!
This one seems to be the strongest so far, but ofc we need more than snippets. Imagine if he goes to Lisbon, then we wil have Waylon, Eugent and Sweem fighting for the glass hat.
I really love the way France and Bulgaria are organising their reveals and acts. It gives the fans something to be excited about!
Bulgaria is over killing with the teasing
wtf!!! his voice has killed me!!!!!! I love it!!!!!
SAME! And the fact he went on The Voice of France and ONLY 2 COACHES TURNED is RIDICULOUS!!!!
France is really taking it seriously this time! All of These Songs are top 10 material. I can say that France is the national selection I’m the most hyped about, also more than Melfest. Well done, France!
wow wow wow , what’s happening for FRANCE!! each songs they present each day has the potential for a top 5 in Lisbon. I have never seen this quality in melfest or other national selection.
Thank you FRANCE you are making me dream, it will be an epic esc !!!!
Oh my good, I am FALLING in love with this snippets! God! I’ve lived in France for a while and I can garantee you that there is a lot of talent and great music in this amazing country! Is just that they didn’t “want” to show it to the world! Now is their time to shine!
Congratulations to the head of the French delegation, he is doing an outstandingly superb job! I am more hyped about “Destination eurovision” than Melodifestivalen, that’s a great acomplisment ?
I hope the UK and Spain learn from France, I am hopeful for them ?
The UK? Learn? Ahahahaha… Sorry, I will try and be professional. *cough* The UK is seemingly very happy with its consistent placing on the right-hand side of the scoreboard. Most of my acquaintances here in UK consider Eurovision only as a joke and a good laugh, usually directly at the other acts on the night. Those fans who DO take Eurovision seriously in the UK are mostly unable to have any influence over the BBC, its budget or its selection process. (I have an unpleasant history there, I’m afraid.) Hence the UK is doomed to continuously repeat the same mistakes,… Read more »
This was exactly the same for us in France, but a lot people rediscovered Eurovision thanks to Amir (still in the top charts today) and ESC2016 which was a very good year. Not saying that everyone here love Eurovision but the stereotypes like “Eurovision is a joke, old-fashioned, and we will never win because Europeans hate us” got REALLY hurt.
I agree with Alexis. Both of France and the UK’s hate came and come from the bad results. You only need to score well once and the country’s faith rise up again which was the case for France with Amir. Once people are interested again the artists are interested again too because it can bring them fame, and thus it leads the country to have far more good options to present to Eurovision. You just need to try again and again, and one day it’ll work. If France waited decades for such a results, the UK can do it too… Read more »
Blame it on the Jemini.
The UK didn’t like Eurovision decades before Jemini
Perhaps because the late eternally-reposed Terry Wogan spoiled his viewers to be that way.
Well, you got Terry Wogan to thank for that.
He made UK viewers be this cynical towards Eurovision through his commentary that it’s ben tough since to shae that off.
The UK didn’t like Eurovision before Wogan either. Not sure of the reason behind it, but it’s probably to do with the ‘us v them’ mentality some Brits have towards Europe.
That’s word. Based on the comments I saw on old classic ESC videos, many from the UK seem to just be longing on Eurovision being a “proper” song contest again and be able to send their best artists to the competition and wanting to win every single year.
All in all, they seem to just have extremely unrealistic high expectations, as Terry Wogan further conditioned.
Erratum: I means to say “weird”.
*meant. (I type too fast lol)
lovely music, beautiful and original voice, again good job, each day I discover destination eurovision’s entries I m marvelled
All this french songs start sounding the same to me…very down the middle of the road
what a bad faith!!! sounding the same!!!! no you can’t say that!!!! very down the middle of the road!!!! loooooooooooool no no you can’t say that too!!!!
Wtf, calm down man! Everybody can have their own opinion, you can’t force him to love These Songs…
loooooool I’m very calm man, of course he has the right to love or not, but to say that all are the same and with poor quality, that’s not right and unfair,
He didn’t say, that the Songs are bad. He meant, that they Sound average to him. He didn’t say anything about poor Quality. Look, many People think the French selection is amazing, I do too. Not everybody who isn’t a Lover is a hater, you know?
who said the contrary? of course I KNOW lol you’re funny, MAN.
I don’t really understand why you try to “defend” him, lol calm down MAN I just don’ t like the blatant bad faith, that’s all
I don’t really get why you say this, especially for this one. He said that his song will be very organic, so basically his voice and his guitar. He is the first one in this case.
I was actually starting to think that, to be honest. There are a couple of standouts from the 7 we’ve heard so far, but the other 5 all sound very similar.
Stop to think, it’s ridiculous
I did. Maybe you should let other people have their own opinion and stop harassing them for not agreeing with yours.
Also, what’s with the three different profiles on this one page?
wow you are tired go to sleep, and stop to think Pleaaaaasssse