France’s Destination Eurovision made its debut last night, with four acts qualifying for the final. We’ll be seeing Lisandro Cuxi, Emmy Liyana, Malo’ and Louka again on January 27. But, as ever with Eurovision, the results didn’t quite please everyone.
Fans in France — and around the world — have had issues with Noée‘s elimination. Her classic ballad, “L’un près de l’autre”, certainly seemed to go down well with those watching at home.
The public, of course, do not have the chance to vote in the semi-finals. The acts’ fate was only in the hands of the intenational and French juries.
The international juries certainly seemed to enjoy Noée’s entry, giving her 20 points overall. At this stage, she was tied with Malo’ in third place, therefore qualifying for the final. Louka, meanwhile, only took 14 points from the international juries.
But only Amir gave her any points from the French jurors, and then ultimately gave Louka enough points to eliminate Noée anyway. Judging by social media, that wasn’t the most popular decision:
#DestinationEurovision I’d rather we had stopped after the international jury… Noée and Ehla were robbed ? ! Emmy Liyana ??
— Bastian ?????? (@PikaBastian) January 13, 2018
International jury got it right…. Mamma Mia was pretty awful tonight didn't deserve to go through, Noee was strong even if simple. Ciao overrate by the French jury. Best two songs got through though, all that matters! #DestinationEurovision
— Aussievision (@aussievisionnet) January 13, 2018
j'suis dépitée pour Noée sa chanson était trop douce et elle avait grave le profil, je comprends pas qu'on ait pu lui préférer Louka?????
— briséis (@MmePendragon) January 14, 2018
Noée’s Twitter page also features many messages of support for the singer. But far from being upset or angry, Noée posted a simple message on her Facebook, thanking her supporters.
“How to thank you for all this love I’ve received since last night…My most beautiful victory is your returns and your words of encouragement. I’m not disappointed, I’ve been through an adventure with emotion…”
Destination Eurovision: iTunes Charts
It’s not just on social media that the public are having their say, though. On the French iTunes chart (as of 20:00 CET on January 14), Lisandro Cuxi and Emmy Liyana both sit in the top ten, at #5 and #7 respectively.
But the next Destination Eurovision act to appear is, in fact, Noée. “L’un près de l’autre” is sitting at #13, just ahead of “Ciao” by Malo’, which is #15. Louka, on the other hand, only sits at #66 with “Mamma Mia”.
Of course, the public will get a chance to have their say at the Destination Eurovision final. For now though, any post-show success may just have to be a little bittersweet for Noée.
Destination Eurovision: Ratings Success
One bright spot for Destination Eurovision coming out of last night’s show is the general reception. Whilst there were some complaints about the show’s length, overall reception to the show seems to be positive.
The show’s ratings were also strong, pulling in 2.5 million viewers. Thought not the highest in the time slot, those figures are almost what Eurovision itself was drawing just a few years ago. It’s another sign of the French Eurovision revival in full swing!
What did you think about Destination Eurovision and its result? Should Noée have made it in instead of Louka, or even one of the other acts? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Yes, she was robbed. A very sweet song that immediately makes you think of Paris and its streets. Also, her voice live sounds the same as in the studio recording. If I were Louxembourg or any other French speaking country that wasn’t even thinking about competing this year, I’d pay all I owe to the organisers and ask her to be my representative!
What happened with my comment??
I wrote no. As I didn’t like the song at all. Sounded like one of those runn of the mill cliched euroballads. Time to move on…..It’s 2018
Mamma Mia is a hit made for french radio and that’s why it went through. But it has nothing to do on the ESC stage
Mamma mia is so bad. France started to believe too much in its luck and forgot how it is on the last place. No rap please. French and German rap has no chance. Have you forgot that this goes nowhere?
Hum…”France started to believe too much in its luck…”
Please no ! I’m French and like Mamma Mia back off !
The jury made this choice not us !
Absolutely, yes. Noée should have qualified. As somebody said, it would make up a much more diverse mix. I think the jury had a very strategic take on their choices and they probably felt it would replicate a bit Amar pelos Dois’s universe, which I understand. Also I got Amir’s point, that the end of the song could be somehow more dramatic.
I don’t think Louka was that bad live. But I like both, I did however prefer Louka.
Vocally Noée slayed. Her song is very sweet in a very french classic way. I think Louka made it just because he has a big name behind him. But his song is very weak and so were his vocals…
I like both songs. However, I do think that “Mamma Mia” might do better at the Eurovision Song Contest. And we all want France to do well (I guess).
My partner, who is French, actually compared Noee to Indila. Nuff said.
Another thing should be that the francophone juries vote first. They should also submit their votes rather than saying it live cause then judges can change the votes to what they want.
They did! Before the interntaional jury was called, they handed in their envelopes,
Noée would’ve made the top 4 way more diverse and interesting. As I said before, Louka and Lisandro fit the same spot of male pop singer and Lisandro was miles ahead not only with the song but also vocals, charisma and overall package. Noée was classic and although I’m not saying she should’ve won she should’ve gone through over Louka.
Yes. I dare to say a possible Salvador spiral is lost
Hell yeah! Noée’s song represents perfectly well what France is, is a beautiful yet atemporal song, and it surely would have conquered the hearts of many Eurovision fans around the world, it’s easily one of the best songs in NFs this year! Mamma Mia’s also a good song, but Loukas didn’t delivered it well that night and he was quite bad singing live. L’un près de l’autre was definitely robbed, like Unstoppable, I Love You, Statements and A Million Years were last year!
Louka and Noée were two of my three favorites going into the semi, and while I feel Louka had a better studio cut, I think many would agree that the live vocals lacked the power and precision of the preview. Noée was serving some Parisian power and French realness and I think her performance was the superior of the two.
Louka continues to fall in Itunes. Now #69.
Lisandro Cuxi #6
Emmy Liyana #7
Noée up #12
Malo’ down #17
Ehla #52
Ehla should have qualified over both Louka and Noee
Agree
Both of them should qualify instead of Malo
Try not to get too upset over the 4th and 5th place songs in a semi final. I mean, ultimately, neither are going to finish above Lisandro or Emmy, right? Noée might just get more success (itunes or otherwise) due to her being eliminated somewhat unfairly.
Louka had the better song but Noée had the better performance. Overall I Think Louka was better. He’s more fitting for this new modern France in ESC.
Noée is good but the song is a standard French ballad. We have heard those a million times in the contest. It’s the kind of entry you would expect France to send. Kind of how you would expect Ireland to send Celtic sound, Sweden something ABBA-esque or any ex-Yu country sending another ballad with ethnic instrument thrown in. It’s not exciting any-more, we want fresh new sounds!
Nassi has to win this competition, if not….it’s a new revolution !
I can see Nassi vs Lissandro at the end….
Nope. Louka’s song has more prospect as a ESC entry. Noée‘s song is cute but forgettable and old fashioned.
Look at how badly Louka is charting even in France. No one would vote for that at Eurovision. Noee is a better prospect because she is a better performer and frankly her song is better too. Good song is more appropriate for Eurovision than bad song.
There is nothing more forgotten than Louka’s song.
You guys also said Salvador sobral was old fashioned. Chris hated it. Same thing here. Potential esc winner lost.
That may be your opinion, but I strongly disagree with it. As a matter of fact, I have already purchased the song and have it on replay.
Amir and Isabelle literally said that there wasn’t enough drama towards the end of her song, and I kinda agree with them. An “Aliona Moon”-like bridge, with Noée singing six eighth-notes per bar, louder and louder, and with a key change before the last chorus might have worked. But instead her bridge was… a shorter version of her verses, and it didn’t give enough energy in the end of the song. Louka’s song is catchy, but the lyrics are pretty basic, his voice is average, and the song is a bit generic. I actually would have preferred Noée. Anyway, I… Read more »
Hell no. Louka is the only thing I care about in this competition. “Mamma mia” is the best song by far. Yes, his delivery wasn’t perfect be he can work on his vocals and deliver a great performance in the final. The others mignt sing really well, but the songs are sub par and boring, some with really awkward lyrics (“single mother”, really?). France sending anything other than “Mamma mia” will end them a spot in the bottom 20. I’m so glad Amir was able to see this and gave Louka the necessary points to advance to the final. And… Read more »
I agree, Mamma Mia is the best song in the whole competition! He just needs to work on his vocals and that’s it.
Hi, is there any site with full versions of songs (but not live versions)?
itunes? spotify maybe
Thank you 🙂
Deezer and iTunes for sure.
Thank you 🙂
Noée’s song was my favorite from the snippets and both the full version and her live performance lived up to my expectations. I understand others might find it too simple, too classic, too old-fashioned, too French, or too whatever, but to me it was just an instant earworm. So yeah, I’d have loved for her to qualify.
At the end of the day, though, she probably wouldn’t have won the ticket to Lisbon anyway, and I’m just glad I found such a lovely song that I’ll be listening to for a long time to come.
Noee gave me the feels that Salvador Sobral gave me! So yeah, she deserved to go through! Let’s hope for a wildcard! <3
Should Noée have qualified instead of Louka? No. Definitely not. Louka’s performance wasn’t excelent, but his song is great and he deserves a chance to get some courage and confidence before the final.
But Ehla shoud have qualified instead of Malo. She was amazing and he wasn’t.
Louka deserves his place in the final. The right four songs went through in my own opinion. Moving on and looking forward to semi-final 2 already.
Well done France, your a force to be reckoned with this year.
Nothing in the first semi final would get France out of the bottom 5.
First of all, Noee should have qualified. She was better. Period. Hopefully, French will vote in the final and show who they prefer. So not a big deal. He/She will be the artist who will carry the french flag in Lisbon this May after all. I wasn’t tired of the length of the show. I think there weren’t long pauses, the pace was good. Also, I’m happy it did well in the ratings, because that shows French are interested in Eurovision again, after several years. And that started with Amir in 2016. He really brough life to a contest that… Read more »
They came 10th in 2010
No. His song is catchy, she’s boring.
The French charts disagree.
Amir had to give high points because of his connections to Maitre Gims. You can check it on the Internet. Everybody knows what happened between both after NRJ Music Awards. It was even in newspapers. So, he had to support Louka. I think that I have heard he even mentioned sth. like that to some French fans who attended the recordings briefly, but not sure if it is true, only rumours. But everybody can check about the “connections” and the scandal between Amir and Maitre Gims and how bad Amir felt after all the controversy which happened at NRJ Music… Read more »
FAN WILDCARD PLEASE!! Noée was robbed 🙁
Louka was good, Noee was outstanding! So, yes, I would rather have her in the finals. Heck, if France had sent Noee to Lisabon, I would possibly vote for her in the grand finals. I don’t care if her song is old-fashioned. It’s heartfelt and wonderfully sung. It’s definitely my kind of song
She blew me away with her delicate and angelical voice. She sang so effortlessly while poor Louka looked like he needed an oxygen tank right his performance as he was constantly out of breath. It was very difficult seeing him struggle.
Noee was on 3/4 place after international juries, but after votes from france juries she ended on 6 position .
I like idea in Iceland few years ago after their 3 semi they have decicision taht , jury can have the chance to choose one wild card song to compete in the final
I think that must be in MF because older singer with no modern song don t have chance to go to final or second chance with 100 % televote .
Neither. For me Louka is a bad copy of Amir. Same look, same references (Patrick Bruel), attempt to play in the same yard with a song and staging close to “J’ai cherché” … Not a surprise if Amir like it. Except that everything was really, but then really far from equaling Amir. No, I do not hang, next. Noée … yes it was a cute girl, with a pretty voice, and a nice song all in French … But it was old and boring to die. The last waltz to be a hit in France was François Feldman’s “Waltzes of… Read more »
By faaaaaaaar YES!!!!!
Noée is talent and charizma all the way. Louka lacks both unfortunately. Austria 2016 was a huge fan favorite and i find Noées song way way way better. I wouldnt be surprised if Amir has connections with any from Loukas team and wanted to be supportive… because it was a BAD performance.
Noée is definitely included in my best of 2018 preselection playlist 🙂
I take it your a Mirela fan by bringing up the theory that Amir has connectons to Louka…
Louka’s live performance wasn’t that great but his song is better than Noee’s at the end of the day for me.
Nah. Louka very much deserved it.
With Noee, it’s the case of an average song sung greatly. You can sing it amazingly… but it’s still an average song. Just look at Blackbird.
Meanwhile I still got Mamma Mia in my head. And while it won’t be a winner, it is a killer song, and I want killer songs in my final!
I didn’t like Louka much. His vocals were weak and that song sounds like a chart success wannabe. Malo was not my cup of tea either. In my opinion, Ehla and Noée deserved to qualify instead. The former had a simple, yet effective song and performance and the latter was very classy.
Ée… no.
Sure, I liked her song better than Louka’s, but please respect jury’s decision, you can’t please *everybody*.
Why respect the jury decision? They clearly didn’t vote on song quality or performance, and there being no public vote was completely wrong.
Bonsoir Lisboa, La chanson de Noée est absolument magnifique et son interprétation très douce. Son élimination est incroyable. J’aurais certainement voté pour elle. France2 devrait introduire le télévote dès les 1/2 finales car il y avait très peu de points d’écart entre Louka, Elha et Noée. Le télévote aurait permis ce départage. J’attendais beaucoup de Louka sur les extraits avec son refrain entraînant, mais son rap parait laborieux. Parmi les 4 qualifiés, je voterais pour Lisandro, mais on attend la 2e 1/2 finale avec Madame Monsieur et Jane Constance. A noter que c’est le jury francophone qui a sortie la… Read more »
T’as des goûts de chiotte ?????
Si tu veux, mais à ce moment explique moi pourquoi ? On a le droit de ne pas être d’accord. Je suis curieux de connaître tes chansons préférées. Si moi j’ai des goûts de chiotte comme tu dis, je ne suis pas le seul. J’attends qu’un expert de la musique comme toi me révèle la vérité sur les meilleures chansons. Comme ça je pourrais te consulter avant le télévote pour me dire pour qui je dois voter en finale. Heureusement que tu passais par là, on courrait droit à la catastrophe. Cordialement,
No. Her song and voice are nice, but this is Eurovision and she would flop in Lisbon. Louka was nervous and he can polish his performance. Mamma Mia is one of the strongest songs in this SF.
Louka had the better song. Noee’s performance was much better than Louka’s, but the song was old fashioned and boring.
Of course she would have deserved it more than Louka! Louka’s performance wasn’t good and overall the song was quite boring and forgettable live. Noee was so good, her song is really sweet. There could have been worse choices than Louka, but I still don’t get it.
Noée has a beautiful voice. She sang a song that was lyrically poetic, to a waltz that was musically moving. Interestingly, Chris Halpin said in the Wiwibloggs review video that Noée’s song “belonged in the 1970 edition of Eurovision, and still would have lost” – as harsh as his opinion is, this perhaps explains why the French jurors did not mark Noée very highly. They didn’t consider her song “modern” enough for Eurovision in 2018, despite the fact Portugal won in 2017 with a song straight out the 1950s! (Can you tell how I feel about this yet?) In my… Read more »
It’s not that it doesn’t feel modern, so much as it’s exactly the type of song you’d expect to hear from France, just like if Ireland sent a folk-style song. J’ai cherche worked because it was the exact opposite: a simple, contemporary pop song with a great hook.
Agreed (on the Noée song sounding typically French).
On Amir’s 2015 song (“J’ai cherché”), I like it very much. It has good rhythm, character, meaning, and some interesting harmonies. However, I find Louka’s “Mamma Mia” isn’t quite up to the same standard. The song itself lacks impact – this is mainly to do with its circular harmonies and its comparatively weak “et, et et, et et” hook. It is only my opinion though. 🙂
You’re definitely right about Mamma Mia – it’s far too repetitive with little development to actually go anywhere in the final. I used the example of J’ai cherche more because that’s the song that these entries have to be as good as (or better than) for me. The only two so far that really come close are Ok ou ko and Ciao.
No. Whilst her performance was great, the song just wasn’t strong enough. Mamma Mia isn’t great, but it was ultimately a more deserving song.
At the end of the day, however, only one of these songs really matters because it’ll probably be France’s entry: Ok ou ko.
I think she should have qualified instead ot Malo’. I really, really, really dislike his song and voice.
Both Ehla and Noee should have qualified
“Should Noée have qualified instead of Louka in France’s Destination Eurovision?”
The answer is yes, Yes and YES!! Her performance was so good. I absolutely loved it. She was so much better than Louka. OK, he is cute and everything (lol), but his performance was SUCH a disappointment. I seriously thought he had NO chance after that performance. :p
IMO Noee’s performance was much better than Louka’s. “Mamma Mia” seems quite generic. There were plenty of similar songs in France before, so it’s a bit boring.
She was absolutely robbed. Her vocals and delivery were on point and the song was beautiful. The French jury need to clean their ears out…or they were paid off by Malo, who’s singing was mediocre at best. #justicefornoee