After winning Wer singt für Österreich? back in February, Austria’s Zoë quickly emerged as a fan favourite. She solidified this status on Saturday, when she delivered one of the stand out performances at Eurovision in Concert. Earlier in the day she spoke with wiwiblogger Denise about everything from her love of the French language to treadmills.
Zoë at Eurovision in Concert 2016 — Interview
A lot of Eurovision fans don’t speak French, so could you tell us what your song is about in English?
“Loin d’ici” is about a way to an imaginary paradise. What I think is important and what we want to do with the song is present a positive feeling and a positive vibe. You don’t have to understand the lyrics – just feel the music and you will enjoy it. There are a lot of English songs that I love and I don’t listen to the lyrics because I get lost in the feeling of the song and that’s what we want to do. Everyone has a right to their interpretation and I have my own too.
Do you think there will be an English version of “Loin d’ici”?
Maybe one day but I don’t want it to be forced. It has to come naturally and then it’ll be alright. Maybe it’ll happen but I can’t tell you for sure. Maybe some day.
Zoë “Loin d’ici” at Eurovision in Concert 2016
Would you ever consider singing for France, who seem to always sing in French at Eurovision?
I’m from Austria. Austria is my country and I’m proud to represent my country. I don’t want to say anything wrong right now but I love France and I don’t feel like a tourist when I go there and I feel very comfortable. Right now I’m representing Austria and I’m very happy that Austria are letting me sing in French. I’m happy and glad!
About your performance — the treadmill! You had to walk through the whole performance. How was that?
The treadmill is not a problem. It will be a part of the show but it will be much wider. It was very small and I couldn’t see anything because of the fog everywhere so I was pretty scared of falling. We have treadmill practice every day so now I feel a lot more comfortable. I can walk with my eyes closed. I’m not scared of the treadmill anymore.
Will you stick with the fairytale staging you had in your national final?
The staging will be less pink and less fairytale but still very dreamy with lots of bright colours!
@Chupacabra: After my first listen to all 43, and viewing of the videos available (national contest performances if no music video as of yet), Zoë sits at #6 on my list. I think she will do better than the bookies predict at this moment. For starters, how many points do you think she will get from France, Belgium and Switzerland?
it’s too sweet for me, i Always like sweet, but this is too sweet
how can someone be this sweet and positive all the time, i don’t like it sorry
first i liked it, but it’s too sweet and bland, i miss the higher notes in her song
3.5/10
Bonsoir Stockholm, This interview is a disaster. Why there should be an english version ? Who cares ? The song is good as it is. There are many languages in Europe, not everyone have to sing in english. So she decided to sing in french, then she could represent France ??? Even more stupid, only France, Belgium and Switzerland would be allowed to sing in french ?… Even more stupid. So why not asking all the artists singing in english if they dream to represent United Kingdom or Ireland ? This is total non-sense. Of course, in the history of… Read more »
@Robyn
Well, apparently that stood out to you guys too, because that was the lead in under the article on the main page. That’s the point I was making. The overall interview itself was great. She’s every bit as peppy as her song is, it seems.
@Pollaski: Very true. I’m sure many of the guys reading Wiwibloggs will find this insight on women both useful and helpful in their lives. 🙂
@Remy
You are absolutely totally 100% spot on correct dude. You do sound stupid.
Zoe’s one of the best looking girls in the entire contest this year.
In my lifes experience, its never a good idea to go “HEY, SHE’S NOT AFRAID OF THE TREADMILL ANYMORE!” when speaking about a woman. Its how various personal possessions end up burning in the street. So while yes, the context makes it slightly more forgiveable, its still a very bad lead in, guys.
This song has the best final note of the whole contest!
This is going to sound stupid, but if you see her music video with your eyes closed and imagine the kind of girl you’d expect singing this, you’ll pretty much see a sweet face…not her face…at all.
People may think this is foolish, but sometimes you can lose credibility in what you’re singing, with little details like this one.
Austria wili stay in semifinal.
Additionally, though, if Austria do get through to the GF with this French song, I think it will only help provide a further boon to France’s Amir, as audiences across Europe will have extra impetus to appreciate France’s rare combination of French and English lyrics this year.
‘Loin d’ici’ is very sweet, fun and upbeat, and Zoe performs the song live very well indeed! I hope the staging reinforces that in the Semi Final.
It’s no secret that 2016’s ESC Semi Final 1 is a Group of Death if ever there was one!
It’s a shame that only 10 of these songs can pass through to the Grand Final.
Will Austria get through? I really hope so — but I imagine it’ll be a fiercely-fought and very close battle for places.
If escapism in rude days is a common desire, Zoe will b the dark horse. She knows to deliver, no fake, transmits positive vibes, makes feel the pleasure of fine simplicity, allowing us 3 min in sugar coated wonderland. Glad she learned. If she hadn t switched from French 2 English last year, she d have slayed it last year. In my top 5. U can t imagine how much her song flashes in Clubs where u listen electronic and Hardcore sound.