A few weeks ago France Télévisions suggested that its selection method for Eurovision 2020 could go in any number of directions. The French broadcaster’s new Programmes Manager Alexandra Redde Amiel spoke about the potential of a brand new show, which would be bigger than the previous two editions of Destination Eurovision. Since then it’s been nothing but crickets (bar Gims’ brother saying he’d love to sing at ESC). It’s understandable: The broadcaster is pre-occupied with Junior Eurovision, which takes place later this month.
It’s curious there’s a total absence of a timetable that aligns with the show’s recent past. Over the past two years the French have held an open call for submissions from June to November, with the country’s Eurovision act decided by the end of January. This year France Télévisions didn’t stage an open call. That suggests rather strongly that the French broadcaster could internally select a range of artists for its show, or indeed a singular artist for a show that chooses the song.
It’s also no longer possible to watch the performances from Destination Eurovision 2018 and 2019 on the official YouTube channel of the show. Silvàn Areg, Seemone, Igit, Madame Monsieur — all their performances have been deleted. All that remains are a few videos of Bilal Hassani at Eurovision in Tel Aviv. It looks like the French broadcaster wants to clean up its online platforms in anticipation of its upcoming rebirth.
If France were to go internal, it would follow a trend laid down by a number of other countries of late. Switzerland had great luck with its internal selection in 2019 and has opted to try it again, while the UK has ditched is (notoriously lacklustre) national final You Decide. Reports coming out of Chisinau suggest Moldova will also go internal in 2020.
Perhaps France will choose its act or shortlist of acts from among its Destination Eurovision alums. Cyprus is an illustrative example. In 2015 it staged the national final the Eurovision Song Project. The show’s winner Giannis Karagiannis went on to compete at Eurovision 2015. The following year Cyprus scrapped the final, but continued to draw from the show’s talent pool. In 2016 it internally selected Minus One, who had placed third in the 2015 national final. And in 2017 it internally selected Hovig, who had placed fourth in the same national final.
If France follows that route, it certainly has plenty of hungry stars to draw from.
Surely last year’s jury winner — Seemone — would be a fan favourite to return. And so too would Emmy Liyana, who placed fourth in the first series of the show. Emmy is poised to release her new album later this month.
And we can’t forget Silvàn Areg. While he placed fifth overall in 2019 with his loveable song “Allez leur dire”, he was second with the jury. Besides ultimate winner Bilal Hassani, he’s among the acts who has managed to cultivate the most media attention and press coverage all these months later. The 40-year-old former sports teacher has just released a new single “On va RFR le monde” (We’ll redo the world) and his clip has hit over 300k views on Youtube. Just a day before writing this article I bumped into a poster of him at my uni. I’m taking it as a sign he will be on our radar in the months and years ahead.
How do you want France to decide? Are there any Destination Eurovision alums who deserve their moment in the ESC sun? Share you thoughts in the comment section !
YES, it’s confirmed. it will be an internal choice. Destination eurovision it’s over. : ((
I think that if they are the font of previous years, we will not see the return of former candidates. They will certainly bet on artists who are already known to the public (like Chimène Badi and Emmanuel Moire last year), and, if it is still the same producer, former winners or former contestants of The Voice France. Maëlle, who won two years ago, is very popular and could be a contestant. Otherwise here are some names of singers we hear a lot right now in France : Soprano, M. Pokora, Angèle, Dadju (the famous Gims brother), Les frangines, Clara… Read more »
The people vote what they like, not what will do well in Europe.
I think there will still be a DE but that the acts will be chosen internally. Maybe fewer acts but better quality. I hope so. In any case, France 2 is taking Eurovision very seriously since 2016 so we can hope for great things !
+ I’m pretty sure none of the previous contestants will come back, it’s not in French culture to have the same act competing twice for the same contest. I hope we will get confirmed singers like Indila, Yseult or Camelia Jordana, but time will tell !
Invite Indilla, or Patricia Kaas pls !!
Indila has said multiple times that she would never do Eurovision
Same said Bonnie Tyler and Kate Ryan …..
Patricia Kaas went intetnally and she slayeed!!!
Alma & Amir are like million times better than overpraised Madame Monsieur and weak vocalist Bilal (at least Conchita had a voice to support her message, if there was one). If there’s anything to go by, I’d have France selecting internally after all. What’s the point of having top notch performances from Emmy Liana, Lisandro or Igit (or even Nassi – he had the best song in the bunch but performance was lacking) and not selecting them. The next edition was much, much weaker anyway.
France had a couple of successful years when they internally selected Amir and then Alma. It always baffled me a bit why they changed it up and introduced Destination Eurovision.
Please ditch Destination Eurovision and don’t choose anyone who took part there.
Are Romania and Belarus also going internal? And what about Germany? Does anybody know?
Germany national selection….Belarus is thinking about internal selection but they are also thinking about new national selection or making better national selection! ….Cyprus and Greece also internal selection, Romania- i don’t know, i heard they are thinking about internal selection but i think they will go via national selection as always …
it’s because artists popularity wins, and people don’t vote for song quality
that should change, people should vote for the best song, no matter who the artist is
Please France, keep Destination Eurovision and send Bilal 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 because I don’t want you to win. Send all the Bilals you have out there.
I really hope DE comes back – it’s been the best national final (other than Melfest) for the last 2 years
Not surprising they’re planning to change their selection process after that horror they sent last year.
Those videos are not available since looong time (for many months, Madame Monsieur for more than one year), it has nothing to do with internal selection or Destination Eurovision, it’s probably somehow related with copyrights. I think, 2018’s videos are also not available to watch, they deleted them. So, thats it. I think there will be changes, but those videos have nothing to do with that.
My suggestion is a single night show with only the strongest acts. Ditch the covers and enhace the jury, which is so far quite poor. Or go internal then.
agree with you a lot
I’m not sure that would be the right decision… Look at Germany this year : in just one night, fan favorites lost just because their staging could have been better (Aly Ryan or Makeda)
For DE, sometimes the big difference between sf and final helped us a little bit more to imagine what it could look like for Eurovision (with Bilal for exemple)
It has been said in a French podcast last September by our HoD that Angélina will compete when she’ll be aged enough, I guess it’ll be the same for Carla. Support her if you want by the way next Sunday in Gliwice we usually aren’t strong with the televote. I think they will say what they want to do in December. I think the artists will be selected internally but we will have a national final because we don’t have a lot of shows like DE in Jan/Feb and they said they want to capitalize on the ESC brand. The… Read more »
angélina and carla are fantastic, both my favorites !
Absolutely, Steven said a few times that he really would like to see Angélina for France in 2 or 3 years. It’s probably the same for Carla.
As a french, I think they’ll do an internal selection but broadcast on TV. Like Destination Eurovision but without any submissions from artists, France 2 will decide and choose every artists on their own. Maybe we’ll have some big names. Anyway, I’m pretty confident for several things currently : – They’re very focused on the Junior Contest, France 2 really want to win and the staging will be amazing, full of surprises and effects. – We know absolutely nothing about DE2020 (if DE is back) so, just like last year, we’ll probably get some news on the second week after… Read more »
France can win this!! Let’s go France, your enteries have been very good in the last couple of years, time for a win!
The last couple of years? Please not another “message” song! We want some glorious french electropop. Something like L’Impératrice, Brigitte, Vendredi sur Mer, Fishbach or Alice et Moi.