France’s Lisa Angell wasn’t a favourite in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. And while she had some devoted fans — see our entry here, for instance — she never had the mass following like that of Sweden’s Måns Zelmerlöw or Italy’s Il Volo.
Still, her 25th place result came as a nasty surprise and even harder to bear when at close of voting Lisa had only received 4 points.
It marks only a slender improvement over TwinTwin’s disastrous last place performance at Copenhagen last year.
Broadcaster France 2 and Lisa Angell see it differently, though. Angell commented that she saw her failure as “an injustice”. Angell told French radio station RTL, “I am so sorry for the whole team who did a fantastic job for me and my country because I am hacked off, there is no other word.”
Lisa went on to say that after having “given everything” and for the quality of her song, “[France] could have had more points and a decent score… …I think music and politics do not work together.” On a positive note, she remarked that she was able to be noticed on the French music scene: “At least I am being talked about, and no matter whether it is good or bad talk, it is important for being an artist.”
Nathalie André, Head of Entertainment at France 2, was critical of the result. André stated to France info that votes did not reflect Angell’s voice or the efforts of eight months put into her performance.
André also suggested if it were up to her France would withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.
Several French artists have stood by Lisa Angell and the French delegations point of view, including 2012 representative Anggun:
Pas de regrets @LisaAngell , c était très bien, dur de battre la géopolitique, que la Suède gagne alors! @EurovisionF2
— Gregoire Officiel (@Gregoireoff) May 23, 2015
Est-ce que la France doit encore participer à #Eurovision ?? — Anggun Official (@Anggun_Cipta) May 23, 2015
It remains unclear whether France 2 will withdraw.
Did France deserve this result? Or should they have received more points on Saturday? Comment below!
Source: Huffintonpost.fr, LeFigaro.fr
Sending a “Charlie Hebdo lament” to Eurovision, what did she expect? To score high with pity votes?
Even though she has an incredible voice and she definitely deserved better, the meaning/backstory of the song was hard if not impossible to grasp for the viewers. The Norwegian commentator didn’t mention it anyway. This made the song inaccessible and less powerful than it should have been. You could wonder if the staging could’ve been improved to make the viewers get the message, but at the end of the day perhaps for non-folky songs like these she should’ve just sung in English. Other honorable mentions are: France just doesn’t get any votes, running order and they should send a pop… Read more »
i was very dissappinted with this year’s contest. I was expecting Spain to do better. This year their song was amazing! It’s not fair how the results ended and I think they should withdraw from the competition. I’m from Mexico and I’m not saying this because the song was in Spanish, but because they put so much effort and the song was amazing.
France (and the rest of the Big 5, to be honest) probably need to stop and look at what recent winners have done right and translate those lessons for themselves. Lise Angell is clearly a talented performer but the song was alienating. Not because of language, but because both the song and the performer were inaccessible and bland. Like your nan’s favourite sweater: great quality, very beige. If you want a win, look at what Sweden has done: take a sound and style that is charting and start from there. It’s manipulative and manufactured but it works. The same could… Read more »
Now this was unfair. Good song, great singer, brilliantly staged. I blame the “producer-led” draw. Burying France in the second slot–when the first half of the draw was stacked with most of the favourites–was unfair.
Bring back the random draw!
France getting 25th is an injustice, but if France would send things IN ENGLISH, maybe people could understand the value in their songs…
Sadly for France, they won’t ever win again if they continue to sing in French.
I think every country should sing in their own language and get back to the idea of EUROvision and not Anglovision. It was boring that over 80% of the songs in the final were in English.
The french entry this year deserved to be top 5, it was a moving song, wonderfully sung and with an excellent presentation. Unfortunately because it was in French, the emotion of the song and performance were lost on a lot of the audience.
Chère Lisa, You have indeed suffered a big injustice! But NOT during the final, but when you were stuck with this song! If you read most of the comments here, you will understand why, there’s no need for me to go over it again! But I will say this: it is not up to you or your team to decide whether the song is a quality one! Europe has spoken (both televoters and juries) and you should listen, even ‘after the fact’! And I will also say this: thanking your team for a ‘fantastic job’ is really nice (again, not… Read more »
Waheyyyy France are the new UK! I mean, not that the UK can saymuch, but at least we know why we didn’t do well.
The French song is just too heavy for a contest like Eurovision. It’s sung beautifully. But it’s not the kind of song I’d want to listen to over and over.
It feels weighted, unlike other ballads such as “Rise Like a Phoenix” or “Grande Amore” both which have changes in rhythm to keep from feeling so somber.
The song certainly is not as bad as the result turned out, but really, the French really should understand that their music doesn’t appeal to an audience wide enough. Europeans don’t have to hate the song to make it rank low, they just have to find more appealing songs to vote for. It’s a matter of whether France’s old-styled songs can attract anyone to vote for.
Disgusting result for France. They were ROBBED. Nothing less. Year after year they have sent incredible songs to Eurovision, especially Lisa & Amandine only to consistently place in the bottom 5? It’s beyond a joke.
I love the song, although the first time I heard it I knew it probably wouldn’t do well. So giving that Eurovision is all types of musical styles, I also believe some years, some songs will do better than others, this year was a very musically multi-faciteted year which every song a would say deserved 10points or better. Maybe instating the JESC concept of everyone automatically gets 12 points but come-on these are adult singers not children, we do know that everyone put’s the best effort into the contest every year but maybe before an actual song is chosen this… Read more »
France really got screwed by the running order. So did Slovenia. HOWEVER, the jury should have given France way more points. These are the kinds of songs where they’re supposed to overcome the tendency of viewers to be uninterested in “boring ballads” or to miss the first few entries. Lisa sung phenomenally well, and the song is a gorgeous memorial to those who have died due to war. Well, hopefully one place higher than last year (and double the points… although 4 is still ridiculously low) means that France is on its way back up. But I expected a way… Read more »
Take the first step by withdrawing from the Big 5 first. Then considering withdrawing completely after 2-3 years. Without a semi-final, French team are feeling way too relaxed with their choices of song entries rather than trying a little bit harder like Sweden in order to qualify to grand-finals. Lisa & her team tried their best, the staging was epic but the song did not appeal to the viewers and juries. The contest is like a competition for which performance & song will have a lasting impression to people. France’s ballad was great but there were better in the competition… Read more »
The running order didn’t help her at all. I think this sob was very hard done by and she deserved a lot better, but I love recent French entries so I do hope they stay.
@Robyn: I think they’re reserving their modern pop artists away from Eurovision, especially the successful ones. For instance, they didn’t want to let Indila perform (as of the moment)… And I hope France would really invite her to perform in Eurovision and that she would receive a respectable ranking in the end.
I agree with what other people have said. Maybe it’s time to get rid of the big 5 plus last years winner. If they all have to go through semi-finals, they will be more inclined to make a song that can truly win. Also, political voting doesn’t help them either. Maybe the Big 5 should form their own system of neighborly voting with each other to ensure good placing…
The big five would have much better chances of winning if they went through semis like everyone else. I’d refuse automatic qualification if I was them.
I know fans say that the involvement of politics is an overused excuse for poor results BUT let’s face it guys ….. Is it really? I am not backing up their statement (since her song is kinda dated and It was just kinda forgettable at the end, tho she did a great job performing it). We should just face some facts, there are countries that are just waiting for a win and we usually see them fighting it off in the final and placing inside the top 10 every year no matter how bad the song might or even how… Read more »
Actually i just read the interview with Nathalie Andre and yes she says that if it were up to her she would withdraw but that’s not the only thing she said so read carefully my comment because i will translate what she said (just the most important) On Sweden: “I think that the Swedish deserved to win. We were all saying this when we arrived. He had the song, the scenography. He was sublime, handsome, sexy. He danced well. His song is a big hit. There’s nothing more to say about that.” On Eurovision: “It is my firt Eurovision song… Read more »
the xenophobia in these comments are so gross lol. western europe once again dominated and won like they have done every single time in the 50/50 system except 2011 but then some big five countries get righteously shat onfor being horrible and suddenly it’s all “UGH THOSE DAMN EASTERN EUROPEANS AND THEIR BLOCK VOTING AND DIASPORAS”. this decade has seen juries f*cking eastern europe over a lot more often than televotes f*cking the big five. the truth is that most of the time people vote for the songs they like and the televote is actually way less biased than juries… Read more »
How the Big 5 can improve themselves: 1. Actually send a DECENT song by a CREDIBLE artist. (looking at the UK – you have so many talented artists and you choose unknowns year after year…) 2. Instead of advancing straight through the finals, compete in the SEMI finals. Countries benefit from semis because they get double the exposure and double the experience. Sure you might not win but at least the audience get to see and remember what you were like and would remember to vote for you in the final. Enough of this “Eurovision is politics” nonesence. Belgium, Australia… Read more »
It was one of, if not the worst, song in the final. The two songs that finished with 0 points were better so she should be happy with how the voting went. I do not care how much money they contribute but countries that consistently finish in the bottom 5 in the final from the big five (France and the UK for example) should be made to qualify.
Now, Spain has a right to be upset about the voting but France need to be quiet and work on sending better songs and performers.
do us all a favor france and withdraw.. you wont be missed .. total miserable sods..
make room for another country that deserves to be in the final ..
I’m happy if France will withdraw! 2012: #1 Yes people i had France on my 1st place followed by Sweden and Albania 2013: #5 Her live performance was amazing and the song was dark, great! 2014: #26 happy they got last place, it was not a fun joke, it was a painfull joke 2015: #12 Best lyrics, amazing performance only the song wasn’t the best. I indeed think Eurovision is not fair for some countries, Germany #26 0 points?! it was in my top 3 after all… So i hope France will withdraw and come back with the WINNING song… Read more »
Lisa is good the only thing is that France should have had a good song
So music and politics don’t go together?
Well, then why did she sing a nationalistic, anti-German song?
Lisa has an amazing voice but this is a song/music contest. The background was great but in general the song was too sad for Eurovision. Still, it was an unfair result. BUT the French delegation should blame it on ORF for putting them at #2 in running order. That killed their chances. Poor Lisa though. But at least she’s getting some publicity, she was unknown before ESC. Now, France 2 should have asked Kendji Girac and do anything to make him say yes. Kendji has the right recipe for Eurovision success. He is good looking, young, super talented and his… Read more »
How can she make out that it’s political when neighbouring Italy and Belgium both made the Top 5?
Truth is her song was dull, doesn’t matter how many months you spend on your vocal work, you could spend 2 years, it doesn’t take a dull song into something attention grabbing.
It’s a song contest not a singing contest.
I’ve good advice for france, choose Indila or Black M, Kendji Girac, Maitre Gims, Magic System etc…..
My Eurovision 2016 Wishlist for the Big 5: France: Kendji Girac – He’s big across Europe and is a former talent show winner like many others. Germany: Roman Lobb – His 2012 song was amazing and I think that they need to get Stefan Raab back in charge because that man is a miracle worker. Italy: Suor Cristina – Another The Voice winner but the novelty factor plus the amazing voice behind it really would prove to be an interesting choice. Spain: Adelen – She has the teen appeal and has expressed before that she’d love to represent Spain. United… Read more »
french entries since 2002 either forgetable , crap or joke enteries..
only time the put effort in was 2009 with patrica kass and she got a deserved result .. no one to blame other than themselves .. just Spain , UK , portugal, ireland and switzerland ..
sore losers
The problem with the ESC is that the rankings don’t mean anything. You can’t deny that countries exchange their votes between themselves (Romania/Moldova, Russia/Belarus, Latvia/Lithuania, Armenia/Georgia, Cyprus/Greece and all…) and that France doesn’t. Even if it’s my country, I knew right from the start it wouldn’t do well. Nathalie André expressed a lot that SHE believed in the song, but the French fans didn’t like it that much. France TV should start listening to what we say instead of sending an outdated performer with an outdated song again. Many of this year’s true hopefuls came from The Voice, let’s send… Read more »
As I said in another post, I think they really should withdraw next year. Lisa, Twin Twin, Amandine, Angunn and Amoury were all amazing, but Europe gave them the cold shoulder. They should follow Italy’s example and return when they are fully apreciated.
The French have done a terrible work on their ESC’s participations (same for the UK), so they should not be surprised with the poor results… All their recent contestants are either completely unknown in France or former singers forgotten by everybody (the only exception was Patricia Kaas). The French themselves don’t care about these singers, so they shouldn’t be surprised that the rest of Europe does the same. Nobody had heard the name of Lisa Angell before and her song wouldn’t have been out of place in a funeral, I’m seriously amazed that she could even score 4 points. Nathalie… Read more »
Interesting that Bjorkam on tv show in Sweden gave 0 point to France. And suprise in final France get to sing second thantk to producer from ORF and EBU reference group wihh many people from nordic countries (no one win from that position in 59 years)and suprise Sweden gets good spot 10 in final, after break and amazing song from Norway and behind tham was good but boring song from Cyprus.
I loved Lisa & her song but it was not in my Top 10 so she would have received no points from me. It is difficult when every country can only give points to 10 songs. A song could be the 11th favourite with every country and get 0 points at the end. A solution could be to award points to another 9 songs. These would be 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 & 0.1. This would help the 11th song significantly. A lot of 0.9s would give them a decent score at the end & remove the… Read more »
I agree with her. The last two years the voting has been quite odd. We saw the top few songs get very high record points with a lot of countries getting less than 30 points. Since when does 50 points get you close to the top 10 with 40 countries voting??? I always thought the top 10 usually means close to 100 points. In general this year’s songs were all better than usual and should have been awarded as such. I got so bored watching almost EVERY 8,10,12 go to Sweden Russia and Italy, whereas in other years there was… Read more »
a lot of bitter fools on here , you cant genuinely defend their argument of political voting..
if this political, bloc voting, eastern voting exists then explain the success of
belgium 2015
italy 2015
netherlands 2014
austria 2014
change the record guys.
boring old excuses ..
dani
In last four years from 2012 , eastern countries don t won the contest, last year TOP 3 in final was from west Europe, and this year first and third place was from west Europe.
Spain didin’t deserve to be 21st neither … here everybody is furious and asking TVE (our national tv) to withdraw the contest. France,UK and Germany should do the same and we should make our own vision and let the other countries do ”eastvision”. I was a hardcore eurofan, but I’m done. I support France and Lisa, unfair result…
I’m half french-half spanish and I want both to withdraw, please!!!! Stop wasting money in this!!! Without the BIG 5 Eurovisión will be like the 80’s…
Oh yeah, I think France is embarrassed to be taking part. They do nothing but moan, whine and bitch that there a laughing stock in Eurovision. They do nothing but continue to prove that to be true. France deserve to be laughed at and hazed in Eurovision. As long as they send dated, shambolic messes of song, the longer we will laugh at and taunt them. Seriously. 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
They’ll never come in the top 5 ever again. They’ll be very lucky to ever get top 10 as well.
I actually agree with her. This isn’t about being a poor loser, etc. Her vocals were on point. Her presentation/staging were emotional and stirring. It was in my top 3 overall. I also questioned the low ranking. Really unwarranted. It seems Europe has a hate-on for France? Anyway, I wouldn’t blame France if they did withdraw for awhile, collect their dignity, and come back fresh and revitalized another year after some self-reflection. Regardless, bravo to France for a stunning performance. Light years ahead of last years debacle.
what a self important b*%#h
I don’t think France will withdraw. Despite the contest’s unpopularity. But they are NEVER going to win again. Seriously, I give up on France completely. They’ve no enthusiasm for the contest, they blame the voting by branding it “politically influenced”. They put in no effort and just act childish when they don’t win/do well.
In fact, speaking of doing well, I doubt they can even do it ever again. They are not interested enough.
Canal 2, you make my blood boil. 🙁 🙁 🙁 #FURIOUS
Last year they did deserve last place
but this year definitely not ! She was my no.3 in final 🙁
Well they better send a good song first. The fact that they do an internal selection is the problem (yes bbc has exactly the same problem) and i can’t accept the fact that the countries with such big music industries cant come up with a descent song
Withdrawing because of bad results is just childish. i think i should add that France never goes to Eurovision thinking “we want a good placing and winning would be even better”, instead they say “we want to win and that’s the only result we want”. Of course after sending crap every year you’re not going to win!! So next time if you don’t win the Fifa World cup or the european championship, you have to withdraw because you didn’t win!! GRANDISSEZ UN PEU LA FRANCE!!!