The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in France’s Destination Eurovision 2019

Tonight the grand final of Destination Eurovision 2019 will take place and France will decide who will go on to be their representative in Tel Aviv. The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — have been listening to the the eight competing entries and have ranked our top five. Allons-y!

Note: Silvàn Areg’s song title was changed from “Le petit Nicolas” to “Allez leur dire”. His semi-final performance is no longer available on YouTube.

Antony

1. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”

This act is such an absolute pleasure to watch. In a homage to the late great singer, the vocals are on point with a catchy chorus and not to mention that the singers give a truly captivating performance. It would represent France quite well if it did make it to Eurovision — potentially drawing attention away from more melancholic and slow songs that are bound to be there. So, go on France — have some fun!

2. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
3. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
4. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”
5. Chimène Badi – “Là-haut”

William

1. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

Some have called her the Monoprix version of Adele. I do not accept this. In reality there is great power in Seemone’s fragility. Vulnerability pours from her — along with sincere emotion. She isn’t delivering a pop performance. She’s looking through the camera and attempting to reach her father. This moves from song to a meditation on forgiveness and love. Her unique timbre, in which her voice almost seems broken, fits the mood and gravity of the song so well. At Eurovision the heart beats the head — and our girl sings straight from the heart.

2. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”
3. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
4. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”
5. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

Barnabas

1. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”

It was a really tough decision to actually put someone first here, but in the end, Silván has it all for me. The charisma, the style, the flow, and the song is just so French that you could tell from the first minute where it is from. And there’s not too much more to say about it. It pulls me in and keeps me entertained until the end. Finally, while he’s not a favourite to win, who knows — can he be a dark horse and surprise everyone out of nowhere? I’d love see that!

2. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
3. Chimène Badi – “Là-haut”
4. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
5. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”

Bernardo

1. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

After I listened to Seemone’s song for the first time, my immediate thought was: are we, as Eurovision fans, so focused on finding  the perfect “Eurovision song” that we sometimes dismiss the quality of what is presented to us? Seemone embodies everything that could go unnoticed but does not. An effortless performer with an effortless message. Three minutes of non-Eurovision fabricated art. That’s what makes it special and for that it should win.

2. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
3. The Divas – “La Voix D’Aretha”
4. Chimene Badi – “La-haut”
5. Sylvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”

Antranig

1. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”

This is an extremely difficult set of songs to rank, both in terms of choosing a winner and choosing which three songs to leave out of the list altogether. Truth be told, all eight songs would make quality entries for France. Bilal’s song has all the makings of a pop anthem and shines brightest. Comparisons to Conchita are a bit premature but it is a strong entry. There is a lot of variety and quality in France and with this standard, Destination Eurovision is bound to produce a Eurovision winner before too long.

2. Chimène Badi – “Là-haut”
3. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
4. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
5. Doutson – “Sois un bon fils”

Izhar

1. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

This song was the last one I listened to on the list of Destination Eurovision. At that point, I was pretty sure that nothing could convince me to choose any song except for Bilal’s “Roi”. But then Seemone arrived. At once, I felt my heartbeats and there was nothing I could do except for listening to every word that she sang. I was captivated. Then I realised something — sometimes all it takes is a good singer who lets you feel your emotions. And this is exactly what happened to me when I listened to “Tous les deux”. Perhaps some people will argue that French ballads are less likely to succeed at Eurovision but I honestly believe that no one could stay indifferent to such a stunning artist. This can be a huge success in Tel Aviv. Bravo, Seemone!

2. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
3. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”
4. Doutson – “Sois un bon fils”
5. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

Kristin

1. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”

This is just so freakin’ enjoyable! A hardcore French chanson but with a modern twist, and I’m digging it from the bottom of my heart. The song formerly known as “Le petit Nicolas” might sound childish and ridiculous to some, but to me it sounds close to perfect. It has an upbeat sound, a melody that makes me want to dance along, memorable staging and Silván looks like he’s having the time of his life, which lifts this song up to an epic level. Also, I’d like to think he’s singing about the character from the brilliant children books which shaped my childhood and made me want to be a little rascal who went to a French boys school and get into all kinds of shenanigans.

2. Bilal Hassan – “Roi”
3. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”
4. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”
5. Doutson – “Soi un bon fils”

Florian

1. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

Seemone managed to pull me into her song on the very first listen. “Tous les deux” is a heartfelt ballad that shines through its honesty and simplicity. Her voice is different from what you usually hear around. With a set-up that transports the atmosphere of the song, this could end up as a frontrunner in Tel Aviv. The track combines the sound of vintage French chansons with contemporary music. The outcome is a song I am very happy to have discovered throughout the national selection.

2. Chimène Badi – “Lá-haut”
3. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
4. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
5. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”

Sebastian

1. Aysat – “Comme une grande” 

To be quite honest, all my favourite performers were left stranded in the semi-finals. But Aysat’s “Comme une grande” is a good representation of what I liked about the Gabriella’s, Mazy’s and Tracy Le Sa’s of this world — a high-energy, French chanteuse who knows how to get a crowd going. She’s in your face, she commands the stage like it’s nobody’s business and she has punchy choreography to match. Here’s hoping that the poor audio issues don’t persist to the grand final, so we can see what Aysat is truly made of.

2. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
3. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”
4. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
5. Chimène Badi – “Là-haut”

Cinan

1. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”

This song has the message we all need. “I am me and I know I will always be”. This line is so inspiring and we have to say this to ourselves. “Roi” wasn’t my favourite at first, but when you listen to it more and go deeper, it has so much power. I’m sure if it wins Destination Eurovision, the track is going to do very well in Tel Aviv.

2. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
3. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”
4. Chimene Badi – “La-haut”
5. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

Julian

1. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

To be honest, the song didn’t stand out in when first studio snippets of Destination Eurovision came out. It was a well-produced ballad but nothing more. Until her live performance, that is. I rarely felt so many emotions in one singer, in one voice, in one song. As I saw in Seemone’s eyes while she was singing, I completely lost myself in her emotions. At first, I wasn’t sure if such a song might get forgotten at Eurovision, but I’m confident it would NOT. With a staging like in the semi, “Tous les deux” definitely could be a dark horse.

2. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”
3. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
4. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”
5. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

Lukas

1. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”

The more I watch this performance, the more I like it and The Divaz are bringing the heat. From all the mediocre vocals in this year’s competition, these three ladies are a pleasure to watch and listen to. From the start, they hook the listener in and keep the song moving along the entire three minutes. The staging is simple yet it works, but the most important thing here is the Divaz themselves with their amazing attitude and presence. I don‘t know how well this could do in Eurovision but as for now it is my favourite entry in France. I am even surprised myself!

2. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
3. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
4. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
5. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”

Luis

1. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

Judging from the semi-final result, Destination Eurovision is a two-horse race and Aysat isn’t particularly leading after the televote placed her last. But hey, that’s exactly what “Comme une grande” is about: overcoming difficulties and slaying your way to success just like this reine does. This song’s mysterious and subtle beginning is only a warning of what’s to come: a bop of colossal dimensions sung by someone with a striking stage presence. Aysat ain’t comme une grande, she is a grande.

2. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
3. Chimène Badi – “Là-haut”
4. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
5. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”

Natalie

1. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

I really like this selection from France. The French have done really well lately, but they always have trouble making their songs memorable and accessible. Aysat beautifully mixes from sucré French goodness with a modern pop bang. She has an infectious charisma too that I very much doubt will be lost on the European audiences ready to dance. This will impress the Francophiles and the excited Eurofans alike.

2. Chimène Badi – “Là-haut”
3. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”
4. Doutson – “Sois un bon fils”
5. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

Oliver

1. Seemone – “Tous les deux”

Seemone’s “Tous les deux” might not be the type of song that I usually listen to, nor the type of song which comes to mind when one thinks of Eurovision. However, it was the only song which captivated my attention for the entire duration. It might not be explosive and loud but there is something enchanting about Seemone’s voice and the song as a whole. The slight vocal imperfections and creaks add to the emotion of the song, showing how deeply she connects with the song on a personal level. It’s a beautiful song which is true to herself and would definitely represent the French well in Israel.

2. The Divaz – “La voix d’Aretha”
3. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
4. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
5. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”

Robyn

1. Doutson – “Sois un bon fils”

Every now and then I check out what’s trending in the French pop charts and most of the time it’s music of this genre: post-Stromae rap. It blends that African guitar sound with modern rap, while Doutson can effortlessly slide into the sung chorus without need for a guest vocalist. The song takes a while to get going, but once it gets going, it’s a sophisticated and highly enjoyable slice of French pop.

2. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”
3. Emmanuel Moire – “La promesse”
4. Aysat – “Comme une grande”
5. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”

Pablo

1. Aysat – “Comme une grande”

It might be a done race, but whatever happens, I’ve still got to give it to the song that had me quite literally scream when I heard its snippet. Aysat has, to date, the only song that has been a perfect 10/10 in my books on this national final season. Modern, punchy, rhythmic and with a strong identity, it’s everything I asked for. Even if slim, I still hold a sliver of hope Aysat improves and turns it out on a sound issue-free final. This song would absolutely RATTLE Tel Aviv, what needs to work is everything else.

2. Silvàn Areg – “Allez leur dire”
3. Bilal Hassani – “Roi”
4. Seemone – “Tous les deux”
5. Doutson – “Sois un bon fils”

What do you think? Which is your favourite Destination Eurovision finalist? Who should represent France in Tel Aviv? Share your thoughts below!

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Photo: France 2