It’s a tiny South Pacific island on the other side of the world from Europe. But one musician from Tahiti has his sights set on Eurovision. Singer Ken Carlter has confirmed his intention to enter France’s newly announced national final with a song sung in both French and Tahitian.

Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, a French overseas collectivity. Tahitians are French citizens, and while the rules for the new French national final have not yet been released, if there is French citizenship requirement, a Tahitian artist would definitely tick that box.

Ken announced his national final plans on social media, intending to bring Polynesian style to France. In French he wrote, “I will present a song in French and Tahitian in the line of [recent single] “Ia Ora Na” to make everyone dance and send positive vibes.”

Je vous annonce ma candidature pour représenter la France ?? au concours Eurovision 2021 ?Je présenterai une chanson…

Posted by Ken Carlter on Monday, June 22, 2020

Who is Ken Carlter?

Ken Carlter is a young Tahitian singer who is starting to make a name for himself in France. After attending school in Tahiti, he left for the bright lights of Paris. There he made a name for himself with his own music style, a blend of modern pop and Tahitian sounds.

Ken is signed to Sony Music and released his first album Tahitian Boy in 2014. More recently, he released the single “Ia Ora Na” (“Hello”), which brings a very danceable, summery South Seas sound. The song’s music video has clocked up almost one million views — a remarkable effort for an artist from an island group with a population of only 275,000.

And this song could provide clues as to what sort of song he’ll be submitting to the French broadcaster. He says it will be in the same style as “Ia Ora Na”.

Recently, Ken has performed at Heiva i Paris — the Tahitian dance festival held in Paris. Last year “Ia Ora Na” was featured in a performance at the Miss France beauty pageant.

Tahiti at the Eurovision Song Contest

In 2021, it will be 40 years since the last Tahitian singer represented France at Eurovision. In 1971, Jean Gabilou represented France with “Humanahum”. The French-language song placed third in the grand final, only 11 points behind overall winners Bucks Fizz.

Ken celebrated this, noting that “It would be a beautiful symbol that a Polynesian represents the country again.”

Tahitian music was also represented at Eurovision in 2006. Monaco was represented by the French singer Séverine Ferrer who performed Polynesian-inspired “La coco-dance”. The song included both French and Tahitian lyrics and served the feeling of being entertained at a Polynesian resort hotel.

“La coco-dance” placed 21st in the single semi-final and failed to qualify for the grand final. It was also to be Monaco’s last Eurovision entry to date.

Ken Carlter has his plans to participate in the French national final and represent France at Eurovision 2021. But first, he will need to be selected to be among the participants and, of course, win the national final. The French broadcaster will release more details about their new national final later this month.

What do you think? Would you like to hear Ken Carlter bring Tahitian vibes to the new French national final? What sort of act should France send to Rotterdam this time? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more France Eurovision news here

17 Comments
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CyxCy
CyxCy
3 years ago

I can’t say enough my admiration for Jean Gabilou. His participation was a real obstacle course. Imagine that this man learned that his wife had just died in Tahiti, while he was in the middle of rehearsals for the competition. The guy clings, he still sings the evening of the final, except that in the meantime he had also caught the flu. He struggles throughout the song, he finishes third on the board (which is a very good score for France), but it’s not enough. In France the competition was very little watched (it was the presidential elections). Poor Jean… Read more »

Christian
Christian
3 years ago

I am not sure but what about that French guy from 1992? Didn’t he come from a French island too?

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
3 years ago
Reply to  Christian

Kali (Jean-Marc Monnerville) was born in Martinique, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean.

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago

Hmm, let’s about him. I’ve never heard any of his songs. Also, I wish Aya Nakamura, Deborah Lemoine, Seemone, Slimane, and Amina will sign up in the new French National Selection.

FanESC
FanESC
3 years ago

As a french, I never heard of him until yesterday when I discover that he intended to make the NF. I remembered the performance with his song in Miss France when I saw him in your article though. I like the mood of “Ia ora na” but I hope it’ll be better than that and less cliché (especially the lyrics and chorus), but why not ? I think it could really appel the télévote (less the juries). But I do hope we’ll get songs with regional touches since we got among our best results with these songs (1981, 1990-1993) so… Read more »

Crystal
3 years ago

There is a slight error in this post. It mentions that Jean Gabilou took part in the 1971 Contest, won by Bucks Fizz, when it should have read the 1981 Contest.

Milan
Milan
3 years ago

I’m all for musicians from French overseas territories representing France (we had real masterpieces in the past coming from them), but in this case all I hear is just 4 chords repeated ad nauseam. I hope that French songs for 2021 will be more imaginative than that.

Last edited 3 years ago by Milan
Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago

Allez Ola Olé-lite.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago

Not a fan of his music…

Fionn
Fionn
3 years ago

Yo has anyone else noticed that there are a lot more ads on wiwibloggs lately….

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Fionn

Yeah, I keep pop-up ads

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago
Reply to  Fionn

I didn’t know that Wiwibloggs have pop up ads.

Ermin
Ermin
3 years ago

Would be too good to be true, but French delegation want the same song like Tom Loeb,s

Off topic Roxen was beaten by her boyfriend. It,s a scandal here.

Hi :)
Hi :)
3 years ago
Reply to  Ermin

ROXEN WAS WHAT? is she ok?

Last edited 3 years ago by Hi :)
Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Ermin

“French delegation want the same song like Tom Leeb’s” Why inventing things like that??!! What’s the aim? If they do a national final it’s not to have the same song of this year, it’s more than logical…….
Sad for Roxen…..

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Ermin

At least she spoke about it, which is important! Wish her well-being and to get rid of that relationship.

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago
Reply to  Ermin

OMG, Roxen was beaten by her boyfriend? WHAT?! I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend, I thought she’s single.