Earlier today, Tom Leeb’s Eurovision 2020 entry “The Best in Me” leaked ahead of its official release after it was made available on Apple Music in some countries. But, now the French singer has had the opportunity to officially reveal the song to the world.
The song presentation took place at the Eiffel Tower this evening.
Tom Leeb reveals “The Best in Me”
Standing part way up the Eiffel Tower, Leeb performed “The Best in Me” for the first time. The nighttime setting and lights from the tower helped create an atmosphere around the song reveal.
You can watch the performance below:
Eurovision : Tom Leeb "The best in me"
Découvrez le titre de Tom Leeb pour l'#Eurovision : "The best in me"
Posted by France 2 on Sunday, February 16, 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.
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 “The Best in Me”? How do you think Tom Leeb will do at Eurovision 2020? Let us know in the comments below!
Sweden destroyed yet another entry
Thank you ! Your first sentence is just the kind of humour I love.
The eiffel tower is the biggest Christmas tree you can imagine 😉
France represented by a French song: meh, this country is old fashioned and arrogant about their language. They should sing in English to be understood and connect people.
France represented by a French-English song: oh my, they have such a beautiful language, it should have been in French. France sold its soul…
No matter what, France will be always wrong in Eurovision.
Oh no! It sounds like it could be a reject off an early westlife album. Can someone let France know it’s 2020 and not 1999/2000.
He’s very handsome though isn’t he x
I did love the launch though. Tom singing from the eifel tower, with the video circulating around the eurovision fandom. That was really well thought out.
I can tell that the effect of Duncan Lawrence’s Arcade had some influence to this song entry being selected. I still hope the staging will be good. I want another Amir-like success from France.
Sad but true:
– “The Best in Me” by Tom Leeb representing Sweden: 2nd from the jury, 7th for the public: general result: 4th
comment: wooow what a beautiful sensitive song, great voice, great staging, great running order, he deserves!
– The Best in Me” by Tom Leeb representing France: 19th from the jury, 24th from the public: general result: 23th
comment: boring song, good voice but bad staging, always the same song, meh…
ah ah ah… I kind of agree there 🙂
Totally true ! the guy and the song do not deserve such a huge number of negative and bad reactions
ok. this song reminds me a lot of David Axlerod’ “Horizon” from Vidbir2020, and its the worst song among six finalist there that has zero chances to win Vidbir this year…. oh my
When you have such stunning shots of the Eiffel Tower you know it has to mask a bland product.
I actually like it…
Please don’t crusify me :’D
What a disgrace for France! First, how do they insist to sing in English when they praise themselves on being defenders of their language worldwide? So sad… Secondy, with their musical tradition did they really had to go for something foreign? Thirdly, if they want to buy out then go for the best… But no, they had to go to the leftovers of the Swedish, as if that would bring them something good (Remember UK last year?) . Granted, they might get the top marks of the jury but that’s not enough. Maybe they would be better off buying from… Read more »
Beautiful Song. I don’t get so much hate if it was a song from Sweden so many will say top 10 material
This is no Top 10 material, it doesn’t matter where it comes from.
I can’t even be upset by it anymore since it’s been a couple of hours and I’ve completely forgotten how it goes. That almost never happens with even boring Eurovision songs (I could still tell you how Bigger Than Us goes). I should also point out that Melfest sloppy seconds aren’t even necessarily bad all the time! Denmark found great success with two, In a Moment Like This and Higher Ground – both of which found more success than the actual Melfest winner that year! (In a Moment Like This qualified over This is My Life and finished in the… Read more »
And G:son is more diverse than this lets on, too! He had a hand in both of the big rock entries in 2016 (Georgia and Cyprus) and neither of those are what you’d call standard Eurovision songs.
Geesus! What a dreary song! French have so many talented artists, yet they employ the most boring Swedish composers to write the most boring song for them. After last years great performance this is a huge disappointment. France will likely end at the bottom of the right side of the scoring board.
I listened to this yesterday, I felt super disappointed. I though I was maybe too harsh (or too captivated by the amazing Eiffel Tower rather than the song) and gave it another try today…
It feels even worse. I just loved DE. I love French music industry (so vast, so diverse, so creative) and they end up with this…
I don’t even find Tom Leeb attractive… So there’s definitely nothing positive here. Désolé !
You will see that the singer for Germany will be Daniel Schumacher, and I will not be surprised to hear G:sons name.
Very bland and unoriginal. I’m getting “Bigger Than Us” and “Perfect Life” vibes from this; I don’t think it’s going to do that well.
So this will be #2 in the running order if France gets first half, no? Or are The Big 5 immune from that spot? :)))
Oops, I completely forgot about that. :)) Last year, I felt Germany deserved the #2 spot but they went #4 instead.
France was # 2 in 2015.
Since the song was made in Sweden, if Björkman will determine the running order in Rotterdam (as he did in most of the recent contests), France is likely to get a decent position in the lineup.
I think Thomas G:son has the talent for making Eurovision sound cheaper. Just check the Lithuanian NF with “Unbreakable”. Sacrebleu! France has tons of interesting artists where to choose from, and Rotterdam would have been a great showcase for us to meet them.
extremely disappointed
I mean…now that I’ve finally heard it all the way through, since someone finally convinced France to leave the damn song up long enough for someone to listen to it, I stand by saying it isn’t that bad. Thing is, it isn’t that good either. It’s just kinda OK. The fact that I’m thinking “it’s like Bigger Than Us with less of an impact” makes me really worried for France, except I can see good staging elevate this one and I like the strings. But overall, it’s unfortunately probably their worst entry in a while, one that falls into the… Read more »
The performance was absolutely gorgeous. But the song though.. is just so dated and unoriginal. Did g:son really help with this? And practically, John Lundvik is your last-place guy. For a left-side of the scoreboard result, France NEEDS amazing staging and good live vocals.
I’m sure ESC-viewers won’t be as biased as ESC-fans: “Let’s not vote for this song because they engaged Swedish composers”. They will not care who is the composer, Thomas G:son or a French one.
you are? or not you are?
i am sorry 0 points.
Move in on to Estonia….
Such a boring song… france such an underwhelming anf forgettable song
As a French guy Bilal’s song wasn’t of exceptionnal quality but at least it had personality. This just sounds so bland and unoriginal.
340 comments yet, that’s a record for a so called “bad and generic” song, isn’t it?
Nahh. If it goes over 600+ that’s when it gets epic. Probably one of the UK entries did it, or Australia’s “We Got Love”? Or Spain’s “Do it for your lover”? Someone will probably check now, LOL.
Yeah, Ester winning got people talking. Funny enough Romania was my favorite last year.
Excellent research work. 🙂
People, including me, have high hopes for France based on their track record in recent years. So, of course, people will check it out and express their/our disappointments. 🙂
I hate this entry, couldn’t be more shallow?!
Like, we need to go to Eurovision, what to offer:
-Beautiful guy magazine covers type. He will present it at Eiffel tower, because it’s French entry.
– But what about the song, we need a song?
– Song? I listened Bryan Adams ballads sometimes when I was on vacation, those were good times ehhh..
– Who will write the song?
– idk who writes songs for Eurovision?
– I heard about some guy g:son, he wrote winner song for Sweden.
– Excellent, call him!
BYE
Is John lundvik on a mission to destroy big 5 with his cliche melfest reject songs? Shall we expect Germany in 2021 to be the next victim?
maybe
I thought just that! John, just leave everyone alone and have only the mamas represent Sweden.
As a French ESC fan, I am disappointed. Last year, I was not a fan of Bilal’s song at first but, to his credit, that was something you could rally for easily and he made me rooting for the song at the very end. I’m not sure national finals always select the best songs, but if the internal process is as delusional as they seem to have been for this one, it does raise questions. You can almost picture them thinking they broke the ESC code with the Swedish formula, missing the point that Sweden’s good results are essentially backed… Read more »
I for once actually enjoy this song. It may not be what people wanted from France, but it’s not as awful as people will have it be. I agree though that they should’ve kept it solely in French. I think songs like these are what make ESC what it is. A pompous ballad with cheesy lyrics that is not fitted for radio play, but will surely have a great over-the-top performance which will make it glorius enough for Eurovision. It’s not a banger – it’s not something people will remember in the coming years, however it will fit perfectly inbetween… Read more »
You looks so pretty
He’s got more “you ares” than Michael Rice has “biggers”. We already know that juries will vote for something with more lyrical content. Another swing to Italy.
Horrific!
terrific
Let’s not forget, G:son is just as good as the co-compesers and producers he collaborates with to give the songs a somewhat contemporary sound. Peter Boström contributed one half to Euphoria and he might be behind polishing the Tom Leeb’s track.
I was never a fan of changing languages in a song. It just breaks up the flow…. I remember when Nina Zilli didn’t keep her song in Italian 🙁 Same here: Keep it in french!!!!!!
Give us back “Destination Eurovision “ !
Yes! I feel like the internal selection always just never works. National selections get the public involved and there is a higher chance of a better result.
Where do I sign?!
The song is not horrible, but just dated. France has to really do a great staging for it to have a reasonable ranking.
By the way, when I said in a previous post, that we can only be deceived with so much hype from the French delegation, I received a lot of down votes! But now those same people are the first to hate on the song!
For those criticising the “You are, you are, you are” lyrics, I just thought I would recall that “We are, we are, we are; We Are Made of Stars…” (Israel 2016).
See, it worked once. 🙂
“We are, we are, we are” was only used ONCE in the entire song to build up to the final chorus. Here it’s just thrown out every 2 seconds.
Yes, but there was also “We are the winners of Eurovision – we are, we are; we are, we are!” ^^. And that worked quite well… of course not for actually winning Eurovision itself, but for 6th place all day!
Oh yes! We are, indeed. 😀
Well remembered!
I’m going to get down-voted for not agreeing with the masses here, but I don’t care because I just have to say that that performance was freaking stunning. I love everything about this: the song, his voice, the scenery (including of his anatomy lol). France has not given us a love ballad in a while, so this is very welcome. They’ve had many fan-favorites in recent years, which then failed to crack the top 10. I think that this song is going to have the opposite fate: cremated by the Eurofans, and then shockingly slays in May. The juries will… Read more »
Thank you for being so positive. I guess I am now what you’d call an “older televoter”. The performance was indeed very special, as is the singer. However, the song does sound to me quite out-of-date, and not typically “French” or unique either – that second point is the main issue. I would have difficulty voting for it when there are already much more interesting songs out there.
And as for handsome men… Estonia’s Jaagup Tuisk will hopefully blow them all out the water if he wins his selection. 😀
He looks great in pics , jaagup
During his performance he didn’t look that awe inspiring
You are absolutely deluded if you think any of that is true. Why would juries love this? Just because it’s a ballad? It has no soul or originality to it, even Tom struggles to connect with it. No amount of charisma will save this entry and the juries will kill it. And older televoters? Just because it’s slow you think old people will automatically like it? Again, you know nothing about the contest if you believe that. And you didn’t even give a reason for why younger voters would vote for him. Because he’s good looking? Good looks can’t save… Read more »
Is it? LOL! Joke apart: it is too late now. Maybe France will change the song or something but France knows they’re not going to win with this entry. Not a chance to be in the top 5 of the leaderboard. Last place on the night for sure.
Well done France for playing the political card so effectively. They wanted to cushion the post-Brexit hard feelings and have snatched last place from the UK. ‘EU R the best’!
France is better off sending Coupure Électrique by Britney Spears to the Eurovision (except of course they’d have to change the singer to someone who is actually from France) – unfortunately that song was released in 2016 so it’s way disqualified. Had that song been saved to become France’s future entry for the Eurovision, I bet France would have already won last decade or on this one. That song pretty much has everything that people look for in a Eurovision entry – the use of native language and an indie-like genre (yeah, that’s exactly why people don’t know that the… Read more »
Singing on top of the Eiffel Tower, wahoo! However this is a banal song, meaning it is an average song. There’s no panache, no va va voom, nothing that says “winner”. I don’t think my country wants to win it this May.
4/10 rating but still the number one so far, all the other 9 are even more c**** and 0 to 3 value rate.
Time for Russia to enter the game to level the things up.
The fandom are per usual in need of some laxatives.
Hahahahahah i died
I can’t tell if it’s Photoshopped or not
I think it’s not, it’s his real hair.
The only experience the audience will “live” is the toilet break this crap provides. Well done France on bottom place ?
4 people to write the lyrics of that!
Really? My 10 yo nephew could do better job
Kids in kindergarden would wrote better song or lyrics
He’s a good looking guy but good looks can only take you so far if your song isn’t that good, look at Lithuania 2019.
Lol lithuania 2019 wasn’t even attractive
Lithuania still qualified in televoting with almost 80 points in that tough Semifinal tho
awesome
j’adore european musique