They won Destination Eurovision back in January and watched their Eurovision song “Mercy” reach #3 on the French charts. And today, after climbing the odds table and becoming international media darlingsMadame Monsieur finally had their first rehearsal at Eurovision. Afterwards the duo — that’sÉmilie Satt and Jean-Karl Lucas — sat down with wiwiblogger William Lee Adams to sound off on their staging, the news that baby Mercy is safe in Sicily and their debut album.

They recently learned that Mercy — who was born on board an SOS Mediterranee rescue boat last spring — is living with her mother in a refugee camp.

“We learnt that they were safe and sound even if the situation is really complicated,” Émilie says. “The birth of Mercy is more than a year — [and she has lived in] one of the biggest camps in Europe — but things are hopefully gonna get better and we were really moved to know that they’re alive.”

Mercy and her mother were moved by Madame Monsieur’s performance, and the song has a happy ending. But the singers understand “it’s another reality that they’re living” in the refugee camp. “It’s very painful to see that but hopefully she can get out of the camp soon,” Jean-Karl says.

And what of their first rehearsal? “We want to symbolize the birth as if it was the night just before the sun rises,” Madame says. “It starts from something very close, from very early morning. It’s coming to life, going from the blue to orange colour.”

“It ends in a very light filled stage and with the gestures that we hope everybody’s gonna make. It symbolises the birth and the hope.”

They aren’t yet satisfied with their lighting scheme and were already working with producers to fix it following their first take.

“There is a lot of work to do. We have one more week to rehearse, there’s a lot of adjustments to make. Especially about the colours. It’s not about red — it’s too aggressive. We want to have a warm orange just like in the morning. And the light on our face will be brighter and warmer.”

Aside from staging, they also told us about the joy they felt after publishing their album Vu d’ici, which is already a critical success in France. “We are very happy of how the people get the album. They really understand what we want to do and it’s a relief, too. We can’t wait to take these songs on tour.”

Among their fans is Jean-Paul Gaultier, the legendary fashion designer who is responsible for their costumes. Apparently he told them that he had watched their Destination Eurovision performance and voted for them, adding, “I love your style and I get who you are”.

Watch more of our interviews on wiwi.tv

10 Comments
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Ffs
Ffs
5 years ago

As absurd as Norway

GourKa
GourKa
5 years ago

I like it…. WINNER

Yruj
Yruj
5 years ago

i hope commentators will inform the public about their clothes as well 🙂

perrrs
perrrs
5 years ago

Singing about refugees in expensive clothes by famous high fashion designer from France. Apsurd at this Eurovision song contest.

drag kvinna
5 years ago
Reply to  perrrs

it is their famous -let them eat cake- attitude

James
James
5 years ago
Reply to  perrrs

How are they expensive?

Roby0888
Roby0888
5 years ago

Well I have to say it’s a relief… I for one won’t miss you on that boat… Your over the top reactions and insistence in the commentaries with this song were kinda conterproductive and irritating to all the fans of the other songs…
I still think MM have a chance to win this and I’m confident the message will get across 🙂

Ffs
Ffs
5 years ago

No

Jello
Jello
5 years ago
Reply to  Ffs

Yes

Geeky Monky
Geeky Monky
5 years ago
Reply to  Ffs

Woof! Yess! Woof!