Barbara Pravi says the “Voilà” lyrics are a call to accept her as she is

This is me. Here I am. Accept me for what I am, voilà. That’s the simple but powerful message found in Barbara Pravi‘s Eurovision 2021 song. The “Voilà” lyrics are simple and direct, portraying a woman who has been hiding in the shadows, marinating in the insecurities and shame that come with living on mute. In her text we hear a woman ready to take ownership of herself and her dream to write music and to sing.

“Listen to me, Me, the wannabe singer,” she sings. “Talk about me to your loved ones, to your friends. Tell them about this girl with black eyes and her crazy dream. Me, what I want is to write stories that reach you. That’s all.”

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Barbara Pravi: What do the “Voilà” lyrics mean?

Whether you speak French or not, the journey of a woman from insecurity to strength, from self-doubt to self-acceptance comes through clearly in the dramatic swells of “Voilà”. In an interview with me ahead of the final, Barbara connected this to her own story — that of a woman who has overcome her own demons and the ugliness of domestic violence.

“I often think that ‘Voilà’ is the end and the beginning of something,” she said. “It’s the end of twenty five years of a battle with myself to feel happy, to feel proud, to understand that I am capable of doing things. It’s the beginning because now I am ready to say hello, that’s me, and I don’t mind if you like me…because that’s just what I am. That’s everything I am…..This is all I have, this is all I got, here I am, and voilà.”

“My crazy dream is to spread messages and say things. I want my things to be heard by people. This is the only thing I have — I only have my voice, my soul, all my body and everything to sing. This is the message of ‘Voilà’. It says please hear me because I only have this. If you aren’t here to hear me, then I am nothing.”

It’s like coming out as a singer — something Barbara says she was fully able to do during the Eurovision submission process last September.

“Until September my music was confidential. I live in Paris, so I know that people in Paris know me. It’s only a small town. I want to make music for the world. I want all the world to hear my songs and it will be a dream. The difference is I don’t want my music to be confidential anymore. If it can be more gigantic I will be very proud and very happy.”

“Voilà” lyrics — Barbara Pravi (France ESC 2021 selection)

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