Tom Leeb was due to represent France at the 2020 Eurovision song contest in Rotterdam with his song “Mon alliée (The Best in Me)”.
The original version was revealed during an epic performance atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A revamped version of the song was released on the 3 April.
Scroll down for “Mon alliée (The Best in Me)” lyrics
France in Eurovision 2020: Tom Leeb “Mon alliée (The Best in Me)”
For 2020, the French broadcaster France Télévisions radically changed its Eurovision selection method. It ditched the two-year-old national selection show Destination Eurovision in favour of a closed-door process. And, for the first time, France 2 allowed both French and foreign songwriters to submit songs.
After receiving more than one hundred songs written, 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”.
Tom Leeb was selected with “The Best in Me”, a song composed by Thomas G:son and Peter Boström, a pair perhaps best known for writing Loreen’s Eurovision-winning “Euphoria”. Meanwhile, the lyrics were written by Sweden’s Eurovision 2019 participant John Lundvik, France’s Eurovision 2016 act Amir, Léa Ivanne and Tom himself.
After performing a stripped back acoustic version of the song on French radio station RTL, many hoped that Leeb might consider taking that version of the song to Eurovision instead. Not one to ignore his fans, the French crooner did indeed revamp the song.
“Mon Alliée (The Best In Me)”, which translates to “My Ally”, pairs things back and puts the focus on Tom’s voice as he’s accompanied by a guitar.
What do the “Mon Alliée (The Best In Me” lyrics mean?
In an interview with wiwibloggs, Tom Leeb explains the meaning behind the song:
“The Best In Me” is this one relationship that I’ve been through in my life. One really deep and really strong love. A once in a lifetime feeling as well, I think. And that person really was the best in me. And I think it’s important, I told the guy I wrote with, I was like it’s important for me to have words that I really can connect to. And so I told them the story and we exchanged on that and found this really meaningful love story that is the “Best In Me”.
Speaking on the Eurovision YouTube channel, Tom adds that the lyrics come directly from the gut, from the heart. It all stemmed from heartbreak. Tom used music as therapy and then turned that therapy into “Mon Allieé”.
And while Tom didn’t write the number by himself, the words still correspond to that past situation.
Despite originating from a love story that ended badly, the song remains a declaration of love.
“Mon Alliée (The Best In Me)” lyrics – Tom Leeb (France ESC 2020)
Written and composed by: Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, John Lundvik, Tom Leeb, Amir Haddad, Lea Ivanne
TextLa nuit comme un écho You, you are the best in me J’irai au bout des sens You, you are the best in me On est liés mon alliée You are the best in me |
English translationThe night is like an echo You, you are the best in me I will go to the end of the senses You, you are the best in me We are linked my ally You are the best in me |
How do you think Rotterdam would have reacted to Tom Leeb and “Mon Alliée (The Best In Me)’’? Let us know in the comment section down below!
Thanks to Tom and his sister Fanny, who, at the end of the French broadcast of “Shine a light”, sang in duet “Mon alliée”. It was a nice moment.
I just don’t understand how the French got it so wrong with their selection process this year. I don’t think Tom is the problem, it’s the song.
I’m french but lyrics are so bad. ? However he better be back next year with a better song. Allez, Alexandra, tu peux le faire !