Last month, Tom Leeb was announced as France’s participant for Eurovision 2020. Now, the Parisian singer-songwriter’s song for Rotterdam has been made available on Apple Music in some countries ahead of the official release later today. We now know that Tom Leeb will perform “The Best in Me” at Eurovision 2020.
The song was composed by Thomas G:son and Peter Boström, who are perhaps best known for writing Loreen’s winning Eurovision song “Euphoria”. Meanwhile, the lyrics were written by Sweden’s Eurovision 2019 participant John Lundvik, France’s Eurovision 2016 act Amir, plus Tom Leeb and Léa Ivanne.
“The Best in Me” is a multi-lingual French-English power ballad. As with France’s previous internal selections in 2016 and 2017, the verses are in French while the chorus is in English. And as per any classic Eurovision power ballad, the song has a key change towards the end.
The official presentation of “The Best in Me” will take place at the Eiffel Tower this evening at the end of the TV show 20h30 le dimanche (20:30 on a Sunday).
The single is already available on Apple Music in some countries ahead of this official release.
France at Eurovision 2020
This year, French broadcaster France Télévisions radically changed its selection method by ditching national selection show Destination Eurovision in favour of a closed-door process. In this way for the first time, France 2 allowed both French and foreign songwriters to submit their songs.
As pointed out by the HoD, the song came first and not the singer.
After receiving more than one hundred songs written for France, the TV network convened several listening committees to pick the best entry.
Everyone agreed on the chosen song, with some describing it as love at first listen. Three of the main selection criteria were universality, emotion and capacity of the song to make the audience “live an experience”.
The listening committee included professionals from the music industry and France Télévision members. The delegation previously testified how magical the moment was when the artist and song first came together.
Who is Tom Leeb?
Tom Leeb is a singer-songwriter from Paris. He comes from a notable family of artists. His father is the well-known French comedian Michel Leeb and Tom’s sister Fanny is an established singer and star of The Voice 2013.
Tom is a man of many talents, having worked as is a singer, actor and also a comedian. He spent five years in New York, studying theatre, cinema, dance and singing.
He previously performed alongside his father in a theatrical adaption of Mrs Doubtfire. Tom has also made appearances on French television and has acted in films alongside established stars such as Jean Reno.
He also performs as a comedy duo with fellow funnyman Kevin Levy. As Kevin & Tom, the pair have a popular YouTube channel, including skits and songs. The videos are frequently very cheeky. One of his most recent is entitled, “How to hold an orgasm?”.
What do you make of Tom Leeb’s song? How do you think France will do at Eurovision 2020? Let us know in the comments below!
Of course you are entitled to your opinion and of course you can dislike the song or think the French delegation is arrogant. But please don’t over-generalize. I think it is unfair and over the top to say the French, meaning as I think, the whole country. So steady there. Dislike the song, but not the people.
Are they gonna regret get rid of their National final (one of the best) if this flop LOL
I hate to heap on this the mountain of negativity, but what the hell were they thinking?
Plus, I didn’t think you were allowed to show the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night on YouTube. I thought is was copyright infringement. (Just saying.)
What could they do? It’s too late to change the song, isn’t it? 🙁
It’s true. But is it too late for love? I wanna know.
France changed their first released song in 2006.
I cant believe France, a country with a beautiful music industry ( especially for ballads ) needed to buy T H I S from Sweden, thats a Melfest reject at best.
Tom is a singer songwriter , wonder why he didn’t write his own authentic song ??????
16th of February and so far no songs that have ‘the winner’ written all over it. Open playing field at this point.
Norway has winner vibes!
Sweden with Dotter could win it
So you tell me that many people listened to The best in me and said yes thats a good song to compete?
Its completely colourless and its going to be awkward-cringey live, Im sure. What a waste of a nice artist
Is this a joke ?
I have a strong feeling the song that will win is an internal pick, something just makes me feel that the internal entries are more solid this year rather than NF.
It wont be France for sure
and I don’t think it will be my country Germany.
(continue posting) 5. Why not ask Emmy Liyana if she has a good song …….like “OK ou KO” ?
(continue posting) 4. Why don’t they ask the songwriters of the songs from JESC ? “Jamais sans toi” performed by Angelina was very catchy and ended as runner up and even Carla with “Bim Bam Toi” had a catchy and outstanding song (ended 5th place) …….I don’t get it .
My thoughts on the french song : 1. Tom Leeb is a good singer 2. the song is sh*t (that is a fact) 3. Why for the hell did they drop the national selection “Destination Eurovision” that was good ……….to be continued.
Anywhere I can listen to the song without having Apple Music? I know it will be officially released in half an hour, but I’m curious (not in a good way, after reading a few comments here).
Thank you, Tibor! I was looking for it in Youtube but only could find reaction videos and updated personal rankings.
Please tell me you’re trolling me and this isn’t the actual song!
I see you two are sharing our general enthusiasm over this song. 🙂 ha ha ha
Unfortunately, Tibor wasn’t being mean to me, it’s the actual song!
ps: I’m glad to hear that “Attention” is fighting for the 2nd place in your ranking, Colin!
Just kidding, dear. 🙂 I knew it was the actual song, I was just trying to hope it wasn’t. Because… man, this is bad,
My thoughts on the french song …..see above because it is too long to post it in one comment.
Wow the bitterness amongst the fandom is as usually hilarious
This is bad. Bad in the terms of songwriting, it lacks flavor if it were a spice it would be flour. I have no idea why larhe countries with a notable music scene go out of their country for a bland swedish song thats been laying on the table for 2 years. France was going in the right direction, fresh young talent. Now they are just dithering away by selecting the blandest of Swedish crap. I can tell the frech songwriters being Amir and Tom, were only there to translate the songs verses. I am so dissapointed. #bringbackdestinationeurovision Hopefully Belgium… Read more »
Btw why does Azerbaijan use swedish written songs year after year placing well while big five countries UK and France turn on Swedes to end up last on the scoreboard? It is just strange to me that Azerbaijan’s songs would often challenge for the victory at Melfest if they were there but Bigger Than Us and this sound exactly like something Sweden would reject. I mean they are paying a large portion of EBU’s bills and get a place in the final in return but at the same time they are paying less than Azerbaijan for their actual song in… Read more »
The glory days of Azerbaijan are far gone. Except for last year, they haven’t cracked the top 10 since 2014 and even failed to qualify in 2018. Their method of using Melfest rejects as their entries doesn’t work. Also, it’s personal but even when they were doing well pre-2014, I never liked their entries. Soulless and no identity.
Every year they placed good they used Swedish songwriters.
Azerbaijan simply pays more an goes through a stronger vetting process. Think like how Switzerland chose Luca Hanni.
I am waiting for Poland song! !!!!
I feel like this is typical French knee jerk reaction to the original songs they sent not placing high as they hoped. They were on the right track, with fresh talent coming from all corners of Hexagon. And instead of reforming the process, voting procedure in particular, they fired all people with a vision, left the decision to a few select dinasours.. et viola. We have a disaster in our hands.
I am not sure what violas have got to do with anything. I think it would have been the same result if they came up with a violin?
I meant voila. Phone autocorrected it
When France buys a Swedish song, Eurovision has officially died
Stop moaning
stop being bitter bjorn
At least the song is better than ”Universo”….
No, “Universo” is so much better and especially in the musical style which was prefered by Blas himself.
Italy 9/10
Lithuania 8/10
Spain 7/10
Norway 7/10
Czech Republic 6/10
Latvia 5/10
Australia 3/10
Albania 2/10
France 1/10 – but only for his voice
Armenia 0/10
As soon as I read that France has opted for a song that had anything at all to do with Thomas G:son I knew it would be bottom 5 material.
That entry is tragique, which is French for “Tragic”.
You are not bitter at all
When will there be a rule that forbiddens foreign Songwriters already…
If it is a *song* contest after all that is as absurd as a national football team made of foreign players in Fifa world cup.
Seemone reviens !!
I can’t listen to it yet, but I’m not holding out much hope given the comments. Who in their right mind would pick a Jon Lundvik melfest reject track after that strategy worked so terribly for the UK just last year?
Just heard it… I wouldn’t be shocked if we hear the dreaded words during the public vote reveal, “I’m sorry France…”
Maybe it’s just me, but I find the whole of class 2020, revealed so far, rather unappealing and borderline mediocre. Even Sanremo, that usually excites and produces gems, failed to wet appetites. The Sanremo winner this year is fine, but nothing as special as what we enjoyed in the last three years. Melo is average, not sure whether top-5 is hiding there. Lithuania is a male WTF moment while Armenia is the female version of the same thing. Norway and Australia are shouty ladies with just ‘ok’ material. Czechia has a nice beat, but the song does not develop far.… Read more »
I hope you don’t go to Amsterdam as ESC is in Rotterdam!
Mark my words : the laughing stock of Europe, Moldova will be again in top 10, and rightfully so. Prison, Moldovita and My Wine can beat most of the songs chosen until now.
I’m from Italy and I think we have a good shot for a top3 placement this year, but I completely agree with you…
Melodifestivalen is like 3/4 years that is so underwhelming. Norway is fine, but all the rest is complete trash to me. I think the Eurovision 2020 winner has not yet been revealed so far.
So far I see 4 contenders for the Top 10: Czech Republic, Italy and Lithuania (very strong contenders) and Norway. The others are just…there.
Albania is just a shouty diva very boring
I fear that in english verison it will sound like forgettable…
Its in Rotterdam, btw
2019 wins so far.
We will hear Belgium soon…
Im pretty happy with the songs so far. Last year same time i liked only 1 or 2 songs out of 8.
Damn, you must be fun at parties, always complaining. I like most of the songs so far. Not that I crazy about them, but they are not trash either.
Correction blame France 2. Don’t blame a whole country, when most of us were just as blind-sided
Is it too late for them to change their minds and just ask Lizzo and Laurell Baker to write them a song instead?
Horrible. Sorry, la suede ähm…la france
It is so bad. As a French, I apologize for this entry. I absolutely LOVED every of our 4 last entries for various reasons : J’ai Cherché because of the song and Amir’s likability, Requiem because of the vibe and Alma’s loveliness, Mercy because of the powerful message and the emotions, Roi because of Bilal’s unique personality and a fantastic revamp and staging… But this ? Wtf ? Bye. Bring back destination eurovision.
I don’t understand it. this is as sh*tty as Australia and Norway but nobody seems to pick on them.
All of them (France, Norway, Australia) are bad, cliche, archaic and just boring.
You should get your ears checked.
Disappointed is far from translating how I feel after listening to the song. What were they thinking when they picked the song ? I was expecting the best.I’m now preparing for a poor result.One question remains. Why didn’t they choose French songwriters to pen the song.Did they need help from Sweden ?It looks as if the French delegation thought « Let’ s use a winning formula with some experienced Eurovision royalties.I can’t accept that,thinking of all the talented artists we have. Anyway… I’m sure Tom Leeb is a good singer, he will be commited to the song and je will deliver… Read more »
To be honest, this song /might/ win if it comes with a good staging (I’m thinking of pyrotechnics here, or maybe rose petals falling to the stage at the ending – whichever actually works) and talented backing singers (please, no UK 2010-esque backing singers).
Otherwise, I’d say it can only break into the bottom of the Top 10 at the most.
(On a side note, it would have been better if the entire song were in French or at the very least, the first chorus is in French while they just leave the last two choruses in English)
I am French and I deny Tom Leeb. This song has no soul. Bring us back Destination Eurovision ! Or can Barbara Tinoco represent our country ? Her song sounds more French.
Muito obrigado ! Barbara is my favourite in Portugal. I hope she wins.
If anyone from BBC/BMG is reading this: Dont you dare buy a melfest reject. Just dont.
I hope, for diversity sake, that UK might bring a female performer with something uptempo. Something like Legends or Sweet Lies, previous fan-favorites. I mean, if it’s a guy with a ballad and it’s good like Beautiful Lie or Looking Back, I’m all for it. However, regarding the choices other Big Five countries made, I think that UK would stand out so much with something like what I said.
i agree. Eurovision is so popular because of the diverse acts. If 41 countries have similar radio friendly pop-ballads viewership will decline sooner than we think. Everything is needed, from Toy to Arcade.
I’d really like to think the UK know better, seeing how badly they’ve done with Melfest rejects. Hope springs eternal. The bar couldn’t really be lower coming off a last place that under any other voting system wouldn’t have scored a single point.
Lol Colin, female performer with pop uptempo will really bring diversity in Eurovision ROFL. Hope they will choose something like Twenty One Pilots for example (when Czechia didnt make it with WAP) or something unique. Your idea is mediocre like all songs for 2020 so far.
Well, that’s an opinion, Heix. You are free to think so. I agree that some of the songs aren’t exquisite, but at least Italy and Norway deserve more credit than that.
Anyway, I didn’t say that a woman with any uptempo song would be re-inventing the wheel in ESC. I only think that if done right, it would stand out among the songs Italy, Spain and France brought. I’m not even saying the best (that could likely stay Italy), but I’m saying different in that group.
This is all kinds of wrong, honestly. A Melfest reject song (let’s not kid ourselves, Christer obviously had right of first refusal) by infamous songwriters, a decent singer mostly notorious for his resemblance to Henry Cavill, a key change (!!!) and the English – chorus, French – verses formula that practically never works (J’ai cherche pulled it off because the song was originally written like that). I had hoped France would know better, at this point. Edoardo would never.
Only song with a key change so far. Key changes do not a good song make. Maybe that used to be common at Eurovision, but very few songs did it last year, and only one (Too Late for Love) got a decent result.
Hatrid Mun Sigra (Hatari) also had a key change though 😀
Oh true
Key changes aren’t bad per se, I think this song is actually a little better for it (which goes to show how bland it is), but they’re very cliche and unoriginal. Practically a gimmick at Eurovision.
The only thing that makes this song sound French is its cheesiness.
The French would usually savour good cheese with a crusty baguette. But this, on the other hand, is just bland and tasteless. That is what happens when you try to make French cheese with Swedish milk. Welcome back in the bottom 5 France.
Trying to make French cheese with Swedish milk! Best comment of the day! LMAOOO
The new HOD is completely clueless. She said that mixing French and English gives the song a “wow effect” and said that people will like the song because it sounds like Bryan Adams. A mess.
oh so she is THAT clueless…..
can’t deny we all got “wowed” and forgot all the other entries for a sec, but not in a good way ^^
so she’s technically right 😀
Because when I think good music, I think Bryan Adams. Especially when I think of good French music.
Bryan Adams hahahaha
The woman knows that Bryan Adams was huge in the 90s, right?!
I even didnt understand what language he was singing with the first french lines. It had such a strong accent. Later I understood he was switching back and forward. No its a very uninspiring song, dated with very predictable elements. He is handsome and has a good voice, maybe that would save France from total Disaster in may!!?? Bonne Change
I just listened to it again. I can imagine Westlife sings it and that’s how dated it is.
I can’t stop thinking about the jewel you had last year in DE: Seemone. That was the right way, France…
I absolutely agree !
I remember how fake she was trying to cry.
The French press will have a field day with this. Bringing in Amir to translate verses in French does not make it French. I guess if we need to hear French music we have to wait until next Saturday for the Portuguese Semi 1.
France 2010, here we goooo…
Wait what? Are you telling me we aren’t travelling back in time to 2009? Isn’t this entry ESC 2009 winner? Omg for a brief second I thought we were back in the 2010s.
Yes, I just made a joke to ridiculize hot bad this song is.
France actually had a much better song in 2010. Very cheerful and cute.
Now theres a song that should’ve made the top ten
Omg! What have you done France? After 4 years bringing us great songs like Mercy, Requiem, etc., and now you choose this INTERNALLY? It’s a completely shame because this looked promising and it seemed that they were ready to snatch the trophy.
I don’t know why they keeping trusting in G:son and Boström ‘cause after Euphoria there’s nothing interesting coming from them. Something similar about Lundvik… just watch UK 2019.
The Best in Sweden apparently. I love love love Melfest. I even sat through Mahombi singing that insipid Winners instead of watching MGP or Iceland or Lithuania. But this is a crime against French music and French songwriters. How do you bypass the great talent there for something generic as this. Even if this is inoffensive, it is by no means something that one should pass over every French songwriter for. And I guarantee that this was not composed for the French national selection and instead it was a song Christer passed on. Just like Bigger Than Us. This song… Read more »
Well said!
Other countries also have shopped in the swedish music fabric for ESC the recent years. So why not France?? Tho i have a feel the axis is turning and the foccus will be on another kind of musicality!! Wishing Tom all the best on ESC 2020!!
I think if smaller countries’ public broadcasters (tax funded) that have no major record labels want to export Swedish music instead of tapping into their own national talent then go for it. But a country like France—with the money and the talent and the history and the diversity and the population—want to go buy foreign music to represent them (and in an internal selection at that?!?!) then it’s a big FU to France basically.
🙁 bring back Edoardo Grassi and Destination Eurovision!
As basim in 2014 said, another cliche love song
i cannot believe destination eurovision was scrapped for THIS.