Madame Monsieur recently described the report that baby Mercy — the inspiration for their Eurovision 2018 song — was alive and well as “the most beautiful news.”
And the story only grows more beautiful by the day, as Taiwo Yussif — Mercy’s mother — has listened to the song for the very first time.
Footage of the mother and daughter watching Madame Monsieur’s performance from Destination Eurovision was broadcast on France 2’s programme 20 Week-End on Sunday evening.
Taiwo, who currently lives with her daughter in a refugee camp in Sicily, near Catania, holds her 13-month old daughter close as a reporter plays her the performance on his phone. “It’s really nice,” she says, clearly overcome with emotion. Her 13-month old daughter — eyes wide open — watches along.
She hopes that revealing her identity will help her daughter have a better life. And it seems it will. Madame Monsieur have already announced that they will create a fund to help support the child, whose story has touched so many people and shined a light on the global refugee crisis.
In a video message Taiwo said: “I thank God and I thank all of the people who come visit me and helped me on board the boat, God Bless them and God bless Mercy.”
Two France Inter journalists, Eric Valmir and Alessandro Puglia, managed to locate the family last week.
It’s important to note that France Inter is not connected with the TV channel France 2, the French Eurovision delegation or Madame Monsieur. Clearly touched by the song “Mercy” and the story of the child, they conducted an independent investigation to locate her.
Le groupe @MadameMonsieur va créer une association pour venir en aide à la petite Mercy, sauvée par @SOSMedFrance. Via @nice_matin https://t.co/9rcwk33XTe #Mercy #Eurovision2018 (Photos France Tele et Nice-Matin) pic.twitter.com/278ehm12VK
— Grégory Leclerc (@GregLeclerc) April 22, 2018
Mercy is a testament to the resilience present in so many refugees who make the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean in search of a better life.
The image below, which shows her sporting a red jumper with a bear on the front, a pair of blue jeans and black sneakers, has captivated France and shown the world the face of just one child living in limbo. There are countless others whose stories we do not know. And, indeed, many who did not survive their trip across the sea.
Avec @apuglia nous avons retrouvé #Mercy née sur #Aquarius @SOSMedFrance l'an dernier et qui a inspiré la chanson de @MadameMonsieur qui representera la #France à @Eurovision. Reportage en Sicile dans le camp de réfugiés où elle vit avec sa mère. A venir sur @franceinter pic.twitter.com/3jyOnn7OCq
— Eric Valmir (@ericvalmir) April 20, 2018
As you’ll recall, Mercy’s mother was eight and a half months pregnant when she was saved by an SOS Mediterranée rescue boat as she attempted to reach Europe. She gave birth to her daughter on the ship and named her Mercy, nodding to the miracle that the child had survived. Madame Monsieur read her story and immediately began putting pen to paper, the result being their Eurovision 2018 song.
SOS Mediterranée is a group which works for the rescue of people in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. Their harrowing work comes to life in “Mercy”.
“I was born this morning, my name is Mercy / in the middle of the sea, between two countries, Mercy / it was a long way and mom took it / she had me in the skin, eight and a half months”.
The proverb says that small gifts keep the friendship … so do not wait to please those you love and give them tshirts
some superheroes don’t have capes they are called mom
https://www.moteefe.com/Mothers-day
Well this will shut Le Pen’s mouth for some time, if they win.
Good on them for actually finding the daughter mentioned in the song, as well as her mom (where’s her dad though). But, overall, I hope this won’t make this song into propaganda about the “refugee” crisis and Mercy (the child) won’t turn into a false symbol of the migrants like the little boy who washed up on the Greek shore in 2015. That was so convincing in shaping people’s opinions that Salvador was preaching it just a year ago. Even when the actual data shows that the majority of people are adult men, mostly between 20-40. But, who am I… Read more »
No, they don’t use the child to promote themselves. If you go on the OFFICIAL site of the French delegation (Eurovision France) or on that of France tv watch “Eurovision l’essentiel”, the program in which they make the point every week on the preparations for the contest, at no time you will see the face of Mercy, nor the videos of the reunion broadcast in the tv news. On April 19th, the only video published presents Madame Monsieur in the company of French commentators (Alma, Christophe Willem and Stéphane Bern, André Manoukian being absent), and in this video they simply… Read more »
I am having a weird flashback to Chris saying something during one of the juries about how he hoped this didn’t become an entry about “Finding Mercy” and “Having her on stage” and stuff…
Looks like that is what is going to happen.
Yes! That’s amazing foresight from Chris. Or perhaps he already knew the search was underway when the video went out.
No he didn’t because it was his top 3 video of national selection in France where he stated that fear.
Okay, France. Bring the child to the scene in Lisbon, and let the child cry while you singing and the trophy is yours. Voila! 😀
This is too much dont understand wiwi doing this.
Is not helping Frace at All.
How many refuges cros every day the Mediterranean sea?
This is not a thing to play with.
Besides I insist wiwi have yoy asked if they whant to be sowed here.
Have you donate any money to them in Exchange?
Sorry to say but really getting tired of that ‘what’s the story behind’ thing
A great cause doesn’t make a great song … perfect example
By the way, as someone else said before, Jean-Paul Gaultier is part of their team; seems a little contradictory if you wanna sell that story no?
This is Eurovision bubble. Is useless to try to be reasonable.
But how is this contradictory? there is no need to add drama, Salvador Sobral did not wear a t-shirt with “I’m sick” written on it and Jamala did not have a banner with it “I’m talking about deportees”. Whether you like it or not every year (or almost, with rare exceptions, like Dan Ar Braz & l’ héritage des celtes) dressmakers dress our French singers. I forgot who was the stylist of Alma last year but I remember very well that Amir was in Yves Saint Laurent or that Amandine Bourgeois was wearing a Balmain dress. it’s a television show… Read more »
Mmm if we don’t need to add drama, why do we have to read that the mother was close to tears hearing there is a song about her and her daughter ?
Anyway, this song maybe has a soul, mais elle est ennuyeuse à mourir (booooring). Not top 10 for sure
I wonder how many babies have died because those boats were full of MEN.
Your comment oozes the ignorance of an extremist SWJ.
Now I’ve really been accused of everything, from far right to far left.
The simple truth = children first.
Your comment is so out of place, it makes you look ridiculous arguing for the gender of the refugees as if it matters in the long run. Privileged people like you won’t see the real deal, they interpose any ridiculous excuse as you already did. This is what gender policies looks like, sorry but I cannot take you seriously on that note.
Boats full of men are not happening naturally or randomly. What were the chances…to be all men?
And yes, you save the younger generation first. Even rats do that when they smell poison.
OMG you really are triggered by some feminist nonsense. For once rescue teams are not making a distinction between man and woman, it just happens that the refugees demographics are larger for men. Second it isn’t a fact no one openly discriminates against woman for the sake of rescuing men. And third and most important your comment is so out of place. Please stop making excuse for such deplorable highlights, specially since this note is meant to expose a little girl and her mother. Ignorance of the triggered. And the last thing, you are comparing rats, as if a refugee… Read more »
Both mother and daughter have jewels. Never without bling bling.
I don’t care about your stefa, baby!
He’s a bucka-mhm-buckbuckbuck-mhm boy
It’s a really good point. People attacking France are probably in some way angry their country is not the favourite. You see this in football, in ice hockey, really in every competition. People are so nationalist! Good luck France (from a Canadian)
If France wins, world peace will be upon us. The next story.
I loved the French song, but this feels not good. What a pity. Please focus on the music.
This song makes me feel uncomfortable… I know other songs have been based on dramatic events, but here the person in question is alive, is a little child, still in a horrible situation…
It’s great MM created a fund to help her, but it’s a minimum after using Mercy’s destiny story to write their song! It probably was to avoid being too political, but they choose to focus on a “real” baby, not just being generic with refugees question.
I don’t know what exactly, but something bothers me…
Catastrophe! Refugees should never set foot in Europe. They must be shot or expelled!
Purple Mask, are you a fascist?
It’s just someone trying to bring down the website, impersonating everyone else here. I doubt the person means what they say to be honest.
The most horrible comment ever seen here. You are a monster, not a human. Maybe you should take a cyanid pill ad did your anchestors at the end of WW2?
From which country is Mercy?
Nigeria
Catastrophie! Les réfugiés ne devraient jamais mettre les pieds en Europe. Ils doivent être abattus ou expulsés!
comment dit-on shut le f#ck up
Good timing France. The PR machine is working working working. Well, every little effort is a step closer to top five I guess
So one child will get help for a better live. I would have hoped they created a movement for helping more children… But people feel good when they have one face and one name for their helping hand. I am always thinking of the ones that get no media attention…
I think that what they wanted with their song and message is to give a face to the whole crisis. It is impossible to give a face to all the children, men and women, but by making it so personal we can all imagine there are so many more ‘mercy’s’. I can understand that you feel for the other people that are not chosen to have a song about or stand in te spotlight, but in a way it is for all of them.
Yes I understand. And the artists are not really political people – they read a touching story and wrote the lyrics about it and put them together with music they had composed some weeks before.
They must have written the song more than one year ago because the child can already walk… or did I miss some information? I can only see the pictures.
I understand that these are… quite some news (?) for the French song.
Won’t you make an article, though, about the english version of “Oniro Mou”? I mean, come on!
Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, the wiwi team is biased towards some entries. Come on, I mean they cover every single move of artists like Madame Monsieur, Saara Aalto, Netta Brazilai etc. and show none interest to others…
I come to believe that that’s how it goes around here, but at least keep it decent, wiwi-team. I don’t really care about the drama behind each delegation but I understand that it’s a way to gather more followers so yeah, that’s cool and everything, but don’t forget about the songs, the core of your whole existence. Eurovision is nothing without the songs, after all.
Um, so I just scrolled through the homepage and there are stories mentioning: Israel, Finland, USA, France, Portugal, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Romania, Estonia, Germany, Russia, Norway. Yet you say they aren’t covering different countries? So clearly they are providing variety. Also, last time I checked this web site isn’t from the EBU or some tax funded body so they can write about whatever they want?
Hey Stacey 🙂
It is true that it isn’t a funded organisation and they sure can post about whatever they want, I’m just expressing an opinion. Maybe I’ve grown far from the lifestyle that’s been promoted over here, but as I’ve mentioned earlier I believe that the priorities should be different. Plain and simple. I should get informed by other sites, in that way everyone’s gonna be happy!
This article brought me to tears! I really commend Madame Monsieur for bringing such a tasteful and pure entry, with such a relevant theme. I remember in 2014, Graham Norton mentioned, after Conchita’s grand final performance, some thing along the lines of that being one of the moments when Eurovision was actually making a difference. Likewise, I feel, this will be one of those rare entries, which will have an impact beyond the contest. Bravo France!
That’s lovely to read. I am really happy this touched you.
Thank you, William. Your article was beautifully written, so well done. Wishing you and the Wiwi team a great time in Lisbon. All the best. 🙂
God, some people really have no heart. The story of Mercy and the cool, sparse sound of Madame Monsieur have made this a longtime favorite for me, and their commitment to telling her story on such a major stage is really beautiful. I hope this makes more people aware of the refugee crisis. It’s important.
The refugee crisis is an important issue. True! But there is another one needing to be discussed & adressed by those who can make things change. Namely: There are no borders anymore! The world has become a village! This village is getting smaller and smaller! We need WORLD GOVERNMENT! We need: LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ for everybody!
Oh, thats a great statement Henrikh! I support it. And I would even say we need to give it the following charta: All resources must be declared as the common heritage of all Earth’s inhabitants.
What a touching and beautiful story!
Will Mercy ever come to France? Probably not as they are closing the barders… One more country leaving Italy alone with this tragedies… thank you Europe
Of course she will! Brigitte Macron will give her some French language lessons.
France has Generation Identitaire taking care of that….
Congrats, France. See you next year in Paris.
Story aside, am I the only one who thinks this song is really, but really BORING?
I can’t see this getting into the top 10…
No, you aren’t alone, sometimes i feel alone too. Will never understand the hype for this one.
Thanks y’all, I was beginning to feel like i’m losing my mind, everyone flipping about this, but this song really goes nowhere. When they start going “marcy mercy, mercy ,mercy…” I really want to hear anything else.
not memorable, and quite annoying…
It’s pleasant but leaves me flat. The diehard Eurovision fans always rate France high and they never deliver. The oddsmakers always rate France significantly higher than their final position, too. I doubt it’ll make the top 10.
A great message, a touching story, but a boring Eurovision song.
They channel Mylene Farmer, but that one was always interesting, this one is just a childish attempt, repetitive and annoying, this is why they need drama, migrants not drowning, the child, the Jean Paul Gaultier attire, god have mercy, I do not.
With each day the French victory seems more likely.
It’s mawkish and sentimental humanitarianism, but that’s why it’s likely to win
Netta’s song is probably too weird and bizarre to win the Tele-vote IMO; furthermore she has ”peaked” too early IMO, like Italy last year …..
I expect France to take the same trajectory as Portugal last year when it slowly crept up and became the favourite the night before the final ..it’s momentum and buzz is building !
I’m sorry, what? Weird and bizzare are what televoter winners are made of. “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” and “Party For Everybody”, anyone? They didn’t win, but they both got 2nd with televoters. Last year, Romania’s yodeling got the televoters’ 5th place with 224 points, versus the juries’ 15th place at 58 points.In contrast, some chicken noises are mundane.
Italy’s problem last year was the mess of a staging and so-so vocals live. If Netta can put on a good stage show and sing well live, she’s top 3 for sure. I’m rooting for Jessica, though.
Netta is innovative, quirky and fun, she deserves to win or top 5, Jessica doesn’t bring anything, juries will be kind but be prepared for televoting!
I don’t know why I have a different avatar, it’s the same me , unapologetical and true to my opiniins
“It’s important to note that France Inter is not connected with the TV channel France 2, the French Eurovision delegation or Madame Monsieur. Clearly touched by the song “Mercy” and the story of the child, they conducted an independent investigation to locate her.”
It is also important to note that France2 played this video in their evening news broadcast. Also it beggars belief that they did not know the whereabouts of the child until one week before rehearsals since it was a french rescue organisation that picked her mother from the sea.
The point is that France Inter independently went out and found this child. France 2 has a responsibility as the state broadcaster to subsequently discuss it — it’s major news in France. You can be as cynical as you want — at the end of the day the public will decide whether they like the song or don’t like the song. The majority of people who read about Mercy the real child are in France and they can’t vote for themselves. 99% of Eurovision voters will never have seen the video or even know the news about the mother and daughter… Read more »
Jamaraqueer thank you.
I send my love to all the people who dedicate their lives to safe other lives. And also to those who make art to spread love and journalism to promote knowledge. Those are the ones that deserve my attention and my praise.
PREACH! Thank you! And this is the result of the song. It’s helping raise AWARENESS and that is so important.
Sabrina, you are one beautiful human being.
I’m a very flawed human being, Nick. But at least I try to be a good one, while some people seem to enjoy physical pleasure by being the opposite.
I actually think that this is not very good idea to promote this pure girl like this. I think for those things there must be some anotHer formats to help them and other refugees etc. Dont like if politics come to ESC.
Politics never were away from ESC. It’s hypocritical to pretend it’s solely a song contest.
As you said, there are many other kids and adults as well
What makes Mercy different?
And as much as it’s great to hear Mercy is safe, it doesn’t make the song better
Mercy (the song) is nice, not much more than that
Very good vocals but just a nice song after all
Anyway, I wish Madame Monsieur much luck and I wish Mercy to have a wonderful life
It will be the media that exploit the story more than the artist’s themselves, but it’s nice to see they’re setting up a fund for Mercy because they owe her a lot of gratitude, using her story.
Also it is the will of the mother while the song is about the child. Btw the song was released without permission.
Permission from who ? who do they need permission from ?
At the start I thought that maybe the French delegation had pure intentions. They wanted to spread an important message. However my suspicions are true. They are taking advantage of the little girls story. I, personally, believe that this is the true. It’s obvious. Everyday we learn something new about her which is very convenient for the French guys. Tomorrow a lot of money will be risen for her (which is good I don’t disagree) and the day after tomorrow she will be at Lisbon. I feel so sorry about it :(. (However I hope that I am wrong and… Read more »
They wont be in Lisbon that’s for sure ; they are detained in a refugee camp in Sicily until a country decides to take them
The story is actually so touching, especially in the current era when we are getting face to refugee crisis. Thanks Madame & Monsieur for this beautiful song, you have great hearts. Greetings from Istanbul. <3
People will respect this song regardless of whether they know the backstory or not. It has a touching musical quality. And that’s because it’s authentic and was written with love.
Same qualities as Salvador really. I don’t speak Portuguese but loved it and felt something.
Mais quelle finesse!
People are so mean. Stop the hate.
You shouldn’t have the right to say your opinion if that’s the way you will.
My opinion is not changing. Wrong material for this competition and a bad song.
yea they will bring her on stage on the night .. this is lame france to use a little girl to win eurovision
If you read the story you would see the France Inter journalists who discovered where she was are not related to the French delegation or Madame Monsieur.
They are not “using” a girl. They simply have a beautiful song about a beautiful girl and story. I hope they do win.
Off Topic ?
Here’s a top 15 update in the OGAE Poll 2018 so far:
1. Israel: 323 points
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2. France: 260 points
3. Finland: 165 points
4. Australia: 141 points
5. Czech Republic: 134 points
6. Bulgaria: 120
7. Greece: 102
7. Belgium: 102
9. Sweden: 80
10. Estonia: 72
11. Cyprus: 70
12. Denmark: 65
13. Austria: 57
14. Italy: 47
15. Belarus: 17
15. Germany: 17
OGAE polls are always wildly off on France. It’ll end up significantly lower. I’m not sure Finland will get that high either. The song is good, not great and the fact that she’s a lesbian will probably not go over well in some countries. With good staging, Australia might be a dark horse. It’s a huge grower so the juries will likely love it. I also think the OGAEs are rating Greece too high. It’s too iche to make it in Eurovision.
There is no exploitation going on within the French team, nor is there any canvassing for pity/sympathy votes! They were just inspired by Mercy’s story to write the song, that’s all
Exactly!! It even says above that the France Inter journalists aren’t related to France 2. People so often assume the worst 🙁
The video is a broadcast from the France2 evening news broadcast. What on earth are you talking about?
France 2 (owned by France Télévisions) and France Inter (owned by Radio France) are two separate entities. The only reason why France 2 aired the story is because it’s the French carrier for the final of Eurovision, and as I said the song itself is just inspired by Mercy’s story – it is a message of finding hope and humanity in dark times, and Madame Monsieur has been successful so far in carrying that message across Europe during the pre-parties judging from the huge positive responses they’ve been getting. In the end, it’s the juries and the viewing public that… Read more »
Cynics all over Europe will roll their eyes. Their bad attitude does not matter. Mercy’s mother points out attention could help change their lives for the better. This is what matters. Many more people have a sense of the refugee crisis in 2018 because of this song. Merci Mercy.
I did a school report on their music video 🙂
Watching the mother watch the video, I’m reminded how touching the song really is. This is the power of music. It can tell stories that reach people from countless backgrounds and cultures. Approval from Mercy’s mother is the greatest approval of them all.
If they are so sad about this little child that they wrote a song about ,why don’t they adopt?
(1) The child has a mother and does not need to be adopted (2) As is written above, they are setting up a fund to support her.
If people are sad about something, they have to do be the kindest people in the world? They wrote a song to make people be aware of the issue and I think they have done it really well. Stop being cynical if people are caring about something you don’t give a damn in the first place.
White Saviours alert…Cynicism reigns supreme at France2. I expect one news item on the little girl every day from now ’til the final. Seems they really want to win and the end simply justifies the means…
I mean… the French can’t vote for themselves. At most they’ll get a few sympathy votes from neighbours who speak French and subscribe to their channels.