Mikolas Josef Zoe Destination Eurovision France

In semi-final one, the international jurors sensationally awarded nil points to up-and-coming songstress Florina. And now, ahead of the second show, France 2 has revealed the next batch of foreign experts for Destination Eurovision 2019. There are a number of familiar faces, most notably recent Eurovision alums Mikolas Josef and Zoë.

Mikolas represented Czech Republic at the 2018 contest with “Lie To Me”. While in Lisbon, he overcame a back injury to deliver the central European nation its best ever result — 6th in the grand final. Since then, he’s gone on to release the hugely popular “Me Gusta”.

Zoë is a known Francophile with several chansons to her name. In fact, her Eurovision 2016 entry “Loin D’ici” was the only entry to be performed entirely in the French language in Stockholm — even though she was representing German-speaking Austria. She’s become a national final regular, playing a prominent role in San Marino’s 2018 selection process.

Another standout name is Sweden’s Christer Björkman. He sang for Sweden in 1992 and has overseen the country’s Melodifestivalen since 2002. He featured on the international panel for all three rounds of Destination Eurovision in 2018. The jury is completed by Natia Mshvenieradze and Anushik Ter-Ghukasyan, the heads of delegation for Georgia and Armenia respectively.

The jury will provide 50% of the overall score with the remainder coming from the public televote. Four out of nine acts will progress to join the semi one qualifiers in the final. Meanwhile, the Francophone panel of Christophe Willem, André Manoukian and Vitaa will provide critique but will have no sway on the result.

Destination Eurovision semi-final two will be broadcast at 21.00 CET on Saturday 19 January.

What do you think of the panel? Are you excited for semi-final 2? Let us know in the comments.

Follow all our France Eurovision 2019 news.

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Rob
Rob
5 years ago

1-person juries are a farce & not helping France whatsoever with their national selection. Also, it is a bad idea to have people who are so heavily involved in ESC world giving their judgement. It is all too incestuous and you are getting opinion purely from within the bubble. Bjorkman has no clue and will naturally gravitate towards a crappy, uptempo pop song that is closest to fitting the template of his narrow, MF-riddled mind.

James
James
5 years ago
Reply to  Rob

“1 person juries”. Or you can simply call them jurors and the ones presented make up the overall international jury.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

….and we thought the jury votes were bad in the first semi final! Brace yourselves…

Geo
Geo
5 years ago

Well, of course Bjorkman can’t miss another national final. This man is gross, just stick to your boring and predictible Sweden…

eurovision6
eurovision6
5 years ago
Reply to  Geo

I agree, many of us do not want Björkman here either /from Sweden

Oh I've been waiting for this Russian Fla-la-lag
Oh I've been waiting for this Russian Fla-la-lag
5 years ago

Can’t wait to see another memorable Zoe face here

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

100% televoting is the way to go in any national final. There ain’t no bloc voting within your own country. Power to the people. For better, for worse.

Idksmth
Idksmth
5 years ago

Mostly agree, but we had that tragedy called Battista Aquaviva qualifying with the public in the spot number 3, so this could be applied for other NF, but not Destination Eurovision.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Idksmth

As I said, for better, for worse. Sometimes, televoting produces results I personally disagree with but I still think it’s the fairest method. Frankly, I’m surprised that not more people agree with me on this.

jt123jt
jt123jt
5 years ago

I’m from Romania and I agree with 100% televote….but this year my country will have international juries for first time. Must admit that I have hopes that international juries will like traditions and will ”kill” that teenage nightmare Laura Bretan that goes to Eurovision instead of school, just because her evangelist family needs yet another Ferrari.

romanian
romanian
5 years ago

no, no, no, my country will have international jury for the first time, and i’m happy because:
1. local artists are more or less popular, sometimes is not an objective vote from the citizens
2. traditional acts are more loved by foreigners. Romania never sent something traditional like Moldova did in 2009 (Nelly Ciobanu)
3. I hope international jury will kill the chances of that annoying teenager Laura Bretan, the daughter of some evangelists who just need another Ferrari.

CyxCy
CyxCy
5 years ago

I found this moment of friendship between Chimène and Emmanuel. It was in 2015. I hope they will meet in the final and they will have the opportunity to sing in duet. After, maybe neither of them will win (do not forget about Bilal and other serious competitors), but it will be a nice moment to watch.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx1Q25SJd2k[/youtube]

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

I just don’t get the point of international jurors when it comes to picking your national entry…

romanian
romanian
5 years ago

The oldest musical competition in Europe, Sanremo works very well for Italy, but the rest of us just want to do well in ESC, we just want to know how Europe would vote. LOL.

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago
Reply to  romanian

…and yet Italy is one of the most successful countries this decade? Another country that would never want foreign involvement in its choice, Hungary, has qualified every year since 2011, also. I don’t think calling a few ‘professionals’ from abroad will give a good indication of what Europe would vote for.

James
James
5 years ago

It works for some but not necessarily for others, especially with countries trying to find a consistent working formula for them. Italy’s Sanremo is its own thing and still doesn’t consider itself an actual Eurovision national qualifier so getting jurors from abroad is an unnecessary aspect for them to consider adding.

Portugal’s Festival da Canção is another matter though, but interesting still. They have mixed results in the main contest itself but they’re still hell-bent on sticking with local jurors as it thinks both ways as a song festival for Portuguese music and as a national ESC selection.

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
5 years ago

Because in Tel Aviv there will be international juries. So if some international jurors also vote in a national final, then it could likely be the case that the jury’s fave also does well in the final jury vote at ESC – and yes, even though the jurors are not the same persons, I know that 🙂 It’s just to see “Europe’s taste” before the contest…

Colin
Colin
5 years ago

For reasons mentioned above, I think it’s useful to hear their input. However, it’s not good to give them all the power in jury voting. French juries should have something to say.

Anna
Anna
5 years ago

and why do we have Armenie once again? That is strange.

Celeste
Celeste
5 years ago
Reply to  Anna

Because they are two head of delegation in Armenia, so one for each semi 😉

Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin
5 years ago
Reply to  Celeste

Wtf? Why are there two heads of delegation? Does EBU even allow that?

Still. They should have just invited one juror from Armenia.

James
James
5 years ago

The UK had until last year two co-heads of delegation, Helen Ridell and Gary Freeman.

James
James
5 years ago
Reply to  James

Erratum: It’s Guy Freeman, not Gary. lol hehe

romanian
romanian
5 years ago

Zoe thinks that because she is beautiful, she can get away with anything. She is gorgeous indeed, but she better vote honestly.

Greetings from Austria
Greetings from Austria
5 years ago
Reply to  romanian

excuse me, what’s this hate on Zoë?

romanian
romanian
5 years ago

I don’t hate her, but she was last year in San Marino national selection, and that was shady.

Greetings from Austria
Greetings from Austria
5 years ago
Reply to  romanian

Well, her mimics might have not been the best, ideed. But you can’t say that she is not voting honestly when she wasn’t even allowed to vote in 1in360. Also you have to keep in mind that she actually co-wrote a lot of the songs.

romanian
romanian
5 years ago

All right then, good luck for Austria in 2019, higher than 3rd place.

Greetings from Austria
Greetings from Austria
5 years ago
Reply to  romanian

Thanks a lot, already so damn excited who our entry is going to be. Good luck also to Romania, some songs sound very promising!

romanian
romanian
5 years ago

Thank you, Austria has the right way to do it, to give freedom to the singer (Nathan, Cesar).

Oh I've been waiting for this Russian Fla-la-lag
Oh I've been waiting for this Russian Fla-la-lag
5 years ago
Reply to  romanian

You leave Zoe out of this

Tom
Tom
5 years ago

Why Armenia again??? There already is one juror from Caucasian country anyway. They should invite someone from Baltics or Balkans. I don’t get it. ._.

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago
Reply to  Tom

They do. Sweden. Peace.

DyGh
DyGh
5 years ago
Reply to  blondboybc

Tell me since when Sweden is located in the Baltics or Balkans

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
5 years ago
Reply to  blondboybc

Sweden is no “Baltics”, sorry. This is defined as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania 😉

Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin
5 years ago

Why the hell are they inviting Björkman again to be a juror? He tried to sabotage France last year and he’ll do it again this year.

Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin
5 years ago

And why are they having Armenia be a juror again when they already were part of the jury in SF1? There are A LOT of other countries, you know?

Salade cesarien
Salade cesarien
5 years ago

My thoughts as well. He will vote in his own interest and not for the good of the French realm.

Popyy
Popyy
5 years ago

He was right last year though. Mercy did not do well in the final.

Rose
Rose
5 years ago
Reply to  Popyy

13th is hardly bad. Better than last, no? And it finished in the top half. Not to mention, 2018 was a STRONG year full of lots of different kinds of songs fighting for the televotes.

srulik
srulik
5 years ago

France is really gearing up for a top 10 finish

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago
Reply to  srulik

Not when they’re sending that dollar store version of Conchita

Julienbch
Julienbch
5 years ago

Why is everyone comparing Conchita and Bilal? Seriously, she was a bearded woman, he’s a gay man who likes to wear wigs and make-up.

Loin dici
Loin dici
5 years ago
Reply to  Julienbch

Because they’re both LGBT people sending the same empowerment message, albeit in different tone and personality. Because Conchita had done it before with an incredibly high standard, fans see Bilal’s as something not as strong and also outdated.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

What a nasty comment. I love it.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

* That could be misleading. I love the nasty comment, not the act. The act is horrendously awful.

Jack
Jack
5 years ago
Reply to  srulik

France is really gearing up for another 11-15th finish

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

At least we already know Zoe speaks French.

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Fluently!

Skiwalko
5 years ago

DUN DUN DUUUN! Guess who’s back.

Jack
Jack
5 years ago

Already guessing Christer & Zoe will give their 12 to Gabriella.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Jack

If I had to bet, I would say Björkman will give 12 points to Ugo.

West
West
5 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

I would give Ugo 12 points (unless his live vocals are terrible) tbh. I think it’s the best song in this selection (I repeat – unless his live vocals are terrible).

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  West

It’s not my favorite on this semi, but I kinda like his song too. He seems to be a charming guy, if his vocals are good, I guess he has good chances to make it to the final.

Greetings from Austria
Greetings from Austria
5 years ago
Reply to  Jack

I’m gonna say Zoë will go for Seemone!

Stephanie
5 years ago

I think so too. A simple, gentle, all-French song is what I think Zoe will gravitate to. I’m also pretty sure Christer will give his 12 to Ugo seeing as how he has a thing for non-threatening, cute, young male singers (case in point: high scores in both the semi and final to Max Cinnamon last year), and Miki I’m sure will go for Tracy (her song has a similar vibe to “Lie to Me”)

Miki's camel
Miki's camel
5 years ago
Reply to  Jack

I’d say that Miki is going to give his points to Tracy de Sà