He reigned supreme at France’s Destination Eurovision. Now, just over a month after he first performed the song, Bilal Hassani has released the official music video for “Roi”.
The clip landed on YouTube on Friday afternoon, and its view count is already in six figures. Posting on Instagram, the French Eurovision 2019 rep writes “I am extremely proud of it I sincerely hope you enjoy it”. His brief message is accompanied by a double heart emojii.
Scroll down to watch “Roi” music video
Set in a very grand theatre, the visual narrative begins with the teen YouTube sensation backstage in his dressing room. It offers us a rarely seen glimpse of the man beneath the wig.
Once he’s applied his makeup and popped on his trademark blonde bob, Bilal takes to the stage and belts out “Roi”. The childhood throwbacks from his final DE performance and lyrics video are dropped in favour of moody lighting and soft-focus camerawork. However, his black outfit replete with bejeweled shoulder pads remains.
Bilal Hassani “Roi” Official Music Video
Despite murmurs of a revamp, the song itself appears to be largely unchanged. What’s good enough for Paris is good enough for Tel Aviv. Our Bulgarian video editor Cinan gushed about the track in the Destination Eurovision Wiwi Jury.
“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.”
That message resonates even more in the weeks after Bilal’s victory. The 19-year-old was faced with a barrage of homophobic and racial abuse and forced to take legal action.
What do you think of the official “Roi” music video? Are you disappointed that there’s no revamp? Is the king your kween? Let us know in the comments.
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I was expecting more slayage.
The song is actually not bad. It has a good composition but it feels meh because of his performance. If he makes the performance less about him and more about the message he wants to give and fix those vocals, then it Works for me.
I KNEW IT! It was wig!!
They should have revamped it
They still can.
Would you like to tell us how you would like to re-vamp it?
When will you agree that Madame Monsieur are not talented? Both Mercy and Roi are weak, bad, and only appealing to basic emotions.
I don’t think so – “Mercy” has quite a subtle text, considering its message, it creates a unique atmosphere and appeals not only to the basic emotions. And Emilie’s voice is one of a kind. They released many other great songs, but sometimes they happen to produce some less impressive ones – like “Roi” for example. Let’s not judge them by only two songs.
Will flop hard in Tel-Aviv, and not because he looks exactly like my aunty Mildred, but because the song is average and his voice awful.
I don’t like his song but I wish him good luck. He won’t be a favourite, but won’t have the worst song either (it isn’t already). You people should point out the flaws in his song and performance in a constructive way, otherwise you’re all just a bunch of haters.
Indeed. I could point out the flaws in the song, but I won’t. This is because I actually LIKE the song. It is down to those who don’t like it to inform us of the song’s flaws. Challenge posted.
Why do some people here make a point that it’s “so good many gays and lesbians take part this year”? That seems so chhauvenist and narrow minded? I am not saying it is a BAD thing either – as long as their music is good. But is not that contest about MUSIC, not secuality?? Well, it should be so. Gays / lesbians should not have special rights!
We just grew tired over the sam Ie shti Icks over and over and over again. Its like 90% of the songs are just a variation of something of an entry that had been before for better or for worse. After diva, rise like a pheonix, molitva , made of stars, monsters, and like 30 different songs that convey the exact same message, do we really need yet another LGBT singer who sings about empowering the LGBT community? Especially when the song is bland and the singer is mediocre? Come on. It’s 2019 , we want something new and exciting!… Read more »
How many songs were about love/passion we had over the past 10 ESC? Just the winners: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018. Only 2015 & 2016 weren’t (but the televoting winners were!)
I don’t mind the theme, as far as the song is good. Different themes are always accepted.
If he wants to sing about gay pride, he should do it. Being an artist is a form of expressing what your’re feeling, anyway.
I didn’t say he couldn’t, I said we grew tired of it.
let artists sing about whatever they want, but when they reach the bottom of the table, they shouldn’t be surprised.
The fact that someone “can” do something doesn’t mean he should. you wanna represent your country with yet another “gay and proud” song? go ahead. don’t be surprised when people dont vote for you.
As you say: “Come on. It’s 2019 , we want something new and exciting!”
A challenge! 2019 is a bit busy for me, but let’s say for 2020 I will write something brand new. What would you NOT like it to be about? 😛
I would NOT want it to about a gay singer who sings about the legitimacy of being gay. It’s that simple. Not because I disagree with the message, just because weve had like 100 songs about the same God damn thing! Now, here’s another issue – we do gay singers always have to come with songs that ONLY talk about the fact that they’re gay ? Why can’t a gay man sing a love song, which is intended for a boy? Why can’t they sing a song about breaking up their significant other? Why those songs always have to be… Read more »
You see only what you want to see. Is Soldi about being gay? There have been numerous other examples to disprove your point. As Jo. pointed out earlier, it is far from the only recurring theme yet it seems to be the only one you have a problem with. Not to mention that songs like Rise Like A Phoenix can be given numerous meanings, the listener can easily project their own situation on it whether they’re gay or not. These songs do not exclude anybody, I really can not see what your problem is.
Okay, for the record, I have only ever written one song that even mentions the word “gay”. Anyhow… My first point is that songwriters can write about any life experience they want to. Love, heartbreak, sexuality… it’s all a part of life. So to be told “songwriters should not write about this” is, quite simply, stifling art and stifling creativity. My second point is, the more you tell songwriters “don’t write about this”, the more they actually WILL. Why? Because controversy resonates. It’s as simple as that. Perhaps your best course of action would be to stop putting LGBT-themed songs… Read more »
“and then they will eventually get replaced with something more interesting.”
or rather, presumably: and then they may eventually get replaced with something more interesting to you.
It can still be interesting to others, Idan, even if it is not interesting to you. Formula One racing can still be extremely popular and interesting, and full of talent, even if it is not interesting to you. Just like Eurovision will not be at all interesting to others. Live and let live.
“Can’t gays fall in love? Break up? Get married? Why do gay singers can only song about the fact that their gay and it’s fine?” Your ignorance and blinding homophobia is astonishing. Freddie Mercury? Elton John? George Michael? Frank Ocean? Sam Smith? Savage Garden (Darren Hayes)? Sia? Years and Years (Olly Alexander)? If you haven’t heard of these musicians, check out their work, it’s great, varied, and offers some of the most universally respected and beloved music produced in the English language for several decades. I’m educating you here so that hopefully next time you can have a more broadened… Read more »
Gay experience is not singular and narrow.
The various forms of privilege and access that a white, cis-gendered, gay male might have is very different to the lack of privilege and access that a gender non-confirming, queer POC may have.
😀
I don’t think Eurovision will become a “gay event” just because there’s a song about gay pride in it, otherwise it would already be a dating game show. I do agree that sometimes the LGBTQ focus is too big, but that is mainly because of the pop music culture, whose the most hardcore and loyal fans are gay men.
@Music – I agree. Some people here have very unrealistic views upon him and the song!
Bad song, awful lyrics, badly sung, by an unsympathic guy who won for all the wrong reasons. Cynical and calculating guy. Pathetic. Nuff said!
Unsympathic ???? Wtf, do you know him just a little ? It’s crazy how people judge so fast here. Bilal is a really sweet person, just watch his YouTube videos or idk, he is super humble and positive. You can obviously hate the song, but stop hating on someone you have seen in a 3min vid!
It’s defently an original song, but this song really reminds me “od yair alai” by Harel Skaat both by composition and message.
Except this song really doesn’t go anywhere and we’ve had like many , better, LGBT oriented ballads than this that didn’t win, I don’t see how this one excels the previous ones.
Plus, studio version always sounds pitch perfect..
The song can still be revamped for eurovision. They did it for Alma and released it on the last day of submission if I remember correctly.
My guess if that it was the record label that pushed for quick release of an official video, since his lyrics video is already above 10M views and he is having a lot of media attention in France at the moment (not always for the right reasons). Also he is releasing an album soon.
Sorry I don’t like this song , the official video video is also very Cheap. France will not have my vote anyway he will not win because all his fans base are from his youtube Channel so they can’t vote.
They won’t do well
The song is ok but the bridge is cringey.
I watched Bilal’s video about 4 hours ago. I felt a lot of emotions, and I needed time to sort them out. At first my memories went back to my first days in theatre. That moment when your make-up is done, you look in the mirror and you see that character you want to portray and perform. Then as Bilal stepped into the empty concert hall, my thoughts went back to the Bataclan. People were afraid after that attack, not just to perform on stage, but to attend in the audience. I can see and hear the message that Madame… Read more »
Good job google translate ! Lol
You lost me with that one. 😀
Totally agree with you.
The hate and scorn being poured on Bilal, here and elsewhere, is depressing. If people don’t like France’s entry this year, why do they enter every article, tweet, or YouTube video about Bilal, to repeat the same negativity we’ve already read? I don’t see any value in you constantly repeating your negativity when it’s so tired and not adding anything fresh, constructive or new to a conversation. Seeing LGBT people so cruelly judge other LGBT people is also quite ugly. It’s some twisted kind of LGBT liberation and privilege, when the same contributors can praise Mahmood for his representation and… Read more »
Oh c’mon my friend 70% of the “Hater” are only people who don’t like his song. And they have the right for, if in France he is a victim of homophobia, internationally nobody knows him, you can not prevent people from giving their opinion and especially they have no right to give negative opinions. In the end it will be harmful for him to overprotect him too much, it is his fane-base that increases the hatred against him.
Respectfully, in this particular case I disagree (with Strynkia). While the fans of Bilal that I have spoken to are passionate, they are not overly militaristic or pushing an agenda for the sake of doing so. They just like Bilal – that’s all. They are actual fans. There is nothing detrimental about that on its own. The facts about this case are becoming increasingly clear to me. There is absolutely nothing in the song itself that is explicitly LGBT – putting the singer “in a box” and wanting him to “be like you” is much more generalised than that. It… Read more »
David – people just have different opinions. Accept that, and deal with it. No need to make such an reaction!
Not anyone who dismisses Bilal is homophobic, but you certainly are.
Average, forgettable, kinda everyone’s type of singing in front of the mirror
And I forgot to mention a revamp (I really hope there’ll be one) because I wrote a comment but left the page (not of purpose, of course).
@Vanilla Bean
You don’t have to be “up” to be taken down.
You can be just getting by ok and taken down.
You can be struggling and taken down.
You can be down and taken down further.
In asking that question, it just seems like you’re letting your strong dislike for Bilal and this song affect your judgment, because otherwise you’d see these obvious answers to a fairly simple question. That’s a shame.
Frankly, you seem intelligent enough to know better.
When is it a good thing?
Nice vid, but in the category of theater/opera house-themed videos nothing beats Kaliopi’s “Dona”, and that wonderful green screen of hers.
donut donut donut donut donut donut glad I met
“Donut come for me”
https://youtu.be/32zQ3_V0xhg
Thanks. Now I want a doughnut.
Dough nut do it! 😛
Well, i think i like it, melodically it sounds nice and Bilal is a sweetheart., don’t get why some people hating on him as a person, it’s not ok, overall i don’t think it’s top 10 material, but its pretty cute, i just hope he will improve his vocal before May
I am mostly annoyed by the lyrics , for they sound too me, me,me, I am so perfect, I am king, it’s like selfempowering gone mad, and, combined with the quality of the song and of the voice, gone ridiculous. It’s just my opinion, no hate just no vote.
God it doesn’t mean « I am so perfect » at all, on the contrary it means finding your pride in the person you are, everyone being its own « king ». Go check the translation!
Then u should see the translation cuz its the total opposite
Yaa – I agree!
how is he “an awful person”???? how is he a “bad role model”??? im genuinely wondering! you dont even know him personally, he’s actually really sweet, always trying to be positive, and he cares more about eurovision than yall! he didnt use his sexuality to gain votes lmao, he literally never talked about it in destination eurovision, its not even the subject of his song!! if gay was enough to win, emmanuel moire would’ve won, his song and his staging are literally about him being gay (nothing bad with that btw)! if you dont like the song just say so,… Read more »
Sing out, Lola! 🙂
My god… it is so bad that it hurts. France is amazing and they have astonishing artists… But… This?????
Yep, it’s a like a bad joke!
I’m not a Bilal fanboy (I’m french) but I’m sure that he could reach the top 10 with a good staging. I’m also sure that he will improve a lot. I’m not worried at all, look at the first live performances from Amir + Alma.
> but I’m sure that he could reach the top 10
haha good joke bro
If only he had a better vocal…
If he only were an actual artist…
@Reump – LOL! Yes, spot on!
Netta’s new single has been taken down by youtube due to a copyright claim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV1sjm9Lz_Q
Tre Native make advertisements and music videos, so maybe the claim is to do with the video rather than the song?
Deja Vu
It’s online again 😀
The atmosphere in the theatre is elegant and fits the song. Good light working and camera angels! (And no, I am no French fanboy, y’all know I am German 😀 )
What is good about Eurovision is there are several gay artists representing their country. This year we already have France, Italy and the UK with gay male singers all different from the other.
Is there confirmation that Mahmood and Michael are LGBT+?
Yes but they don’t make a big deal of it, just like the Netherlands singer who is openly Bi
…and Portugal is on the way!
Why is that good? Why should gay / lesbians have special rights for the contest? Pathtic typical stupic gay chauiveniot comment!!
Happy 2000 and whatever! X
I love that he looks like a younger Blanche from Coronation Street
That’s hilarious. I didn’t see it until you said it but now I absolutely can.
I know exactly what you mean. It’s just funny to me that he’s making all of this about him being so “different”, even though I can barely imagine anyone being a more stereotypical gay Gen Z dude than him. And I’m one myself.
Please, get real. You may live in a world untouched by homophobia, but not everybody is that lucky. A bad role model? I despair.
Oh, to be as perfect as Mr. Vanilla Bean. The commenter above has described Bilal as “an awful person”, “a bad role model for gays”, “appalling”, yet it’s me you take issue with.
Thanks, I lose so much sleep wondering whether you like me or not.
Vanilla Bean, I am totally with you. This Jonas is pathetic!
Uwu – I agree!
probably to be taken down from the humanity level. It sounds like an anti-bullying song. No idea, anyway not my cup of coffee
I like him as an artist, I also like the quality of the video, if only the song and especially lyrics weren’t so incredibly basic.
Roi is not a bad song. I actually like it. Just gotta song it better and I’ll be 100% on board.
I thought he had already released a music video.
no it was just a lyric video
I’m really liking this song! No I’m not a Bilal fanboy (I wanted Comme Une Grande to win) but the song is great! Live vocals need work though!
The song is objectively alright, but like you said, the vocals need work or something I think.
Tbh its not so much Bilal that annoys me as it is the overhyped nature of his core youtube fanbase.
I wish he wore the white clothes instead. It looked good on him.
Beautiful work 😉 Go Bilal !!!