France_ Valentina — “J’imagine” Junior Eurovision

Just a few weeks ago France won Junior Eurovision for the first time ever. And now the European Broadcasting Union and France Télévisions have confirmed that the nation will follow up its first JESC win by hosting Junior Eurovision 2021.

France’s Head of Delegation Alexandra Redde-Amiel is still full of beans — and ready to make even more magic.

“29 November 2020 will always be engraved in our memories thanks to Valentina’s magnificent victory at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest,” she said in the official press release. “This incredible adventure isn’t over! It truly is an achievement and an honour for the entire France Télévisions entertainment team to organize one of the biggest shows in the world in France. We can’t wait to welcome the EBU teams, all the participants and the European delegations next year and offer them a special show.”

She’s got support at the highest level of the French broadcaster.

Delphine Ernotte Cunci, president of France Télévisions and EBU President-elect said: “I am very happy that France Télévisions is organizing the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in France in 2021. Valentina represented our country brilliantly by winning the 2020 edition. Consequently, it was obvious to host the next event in France.”

“This is a strong new initiative for us, which underscores the importance France Télévisions attaches to Eurovision, the EBU and Europe. Let us all hope that Junior Eurovision 2021 can take place under normal conditions in France and it will be a time of great celebrations for many Europeans.”

The host city and venue for next year’s Contest will be decided at a later date.

There’s good reason for France to feel extra motivated. According to the EBU: “The winning country recorded its best audience ever. An average of 1.2 million viewers watched on France 2, up by 23% on 2019’s audience.”

Which city do you hope to see host JESC 2021? If not Paris, then where? Shout it out down below!

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beccaboo1212
3 years ago

That’s great! We just need the following countries to return:

• Albania
• Armenia (shout out to David Tserunyan and Maléna Fox)
• Australia
• Bulgaria
• Ireland
• Italy
• North Macedonia
• Portugal
• Wales

…and Poland will probably withdraw because of the bad result. 🙁

Denis
Denis
3 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

Lol, withdrawing because of one bad result after two consecutive wins. Dont think its likely..

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  Denis

TVP requested that Poland withdraw.

ESC fan
ESC fan
3 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

Wales said that they won’t return for 2021 due to corona

Mario
Mario
3 years ago

I really want a national final for france and spain next year!

Eurovision Junior France: c’est vous qui décidez 2021
EuroJunior 2021

Loin dici
Loin dici
3 years ago

In my opinion for the scale of the contest and the current ‘condition’ they’ll either choose a studio or a smaller venue. Probably a ‘smaller’ indoor arena like Arkea in Bordeaux or Zenith Paris could be their choice.

I'm not sure
I'm not sure
3 years ago

“host city decides later” could be translated to “France wants to pretend they won’t host it in Paris for a while”

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago

It will be funny to watch France TV searching for hosts that can speak english. There must be a few but French are known to speak english very poorly.
For the host city, let’s hope for a mediterranean one. Paris wouldn’t be a good choice imo.

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago

The thing is, young French people tend to speak English far better than their older compatriots, so if JESC continues having young hosts, it won’t matter.

But…Amir, Alma, Bilal and Tom all speak excellent English. It may be the perfect way to make it up to Tom to let him host JESC 2021.

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
3 years ago

Isn’t French one of the ‘official’ languages of Eurovision? I mean in the past if France hosted, the show was presented entirely in French with just a little English during the voting. Am I wrong? :p

Teddie
Teddie
3 years ago

Does it mean Valentina will have to sing her song live for once?? Hehe jk

Michu
Michu
3 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

Why is the truth being downvoted?

Toinousse
Toinousse
3 years ago
Reply to  Michu

because even if it’s true, it’s petty

Michu
Michu
3 years ago
Reply to  Toinousse

Using playback in freakin’ singing competition is “petty”? Wow!

Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago
Reply to  Michu

No, constantly bringing it up when she is a CHILD is petty. Imagine the stress and shame Valentina is feeling from people like you attacking her for using playback. It’s disgusting.

Michu
Michu
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

What’s even more disgusting is ignoring it or saying it’s petty. Tell that to the 9 kids who followed the rules and were stressed out about their vocal performance.

Grft
Grft
3 years ago
Reply to  Michu

Once again Valentina recorded her performance LIVE, she was SINGING on set and she was STRESSED AF. There are numerous videos on set that prove it. Then idk what happened and France TV or the EBU decided to put the audio track on the performance without even telling her. But please have some respect for this child, wtf??!

Michu
Michu
3 years ago
Reply to  Grft

That’s not true. These videos with her singing live are completely different, she’s much less expressive there. If you knew anything about performing arts, you’d know she lip syncs (and knows she does) in that video France sent as final.

Last edited 3 years ago by Michu
Grft
Grft
3 years ago
Reply to  Michu

Wtf, she’s as much expressive in the live versions than in her JESC performance. Are you sure everything is ok at home? Renting about a 10yo kid 2 weeks after the event is quite concerning… she’s as good live as in the studio version, the song would have won in any case and pretty much everybody agrees on that. So move on maybe?

Michu
Michu
3 years ago
Reply to  Grft

No, she wouldn’t have won without France’s strateging voting and if she sang live.

Laura
Laura
3 years ago
Reply to  Michu

She was literally 50pts ahead of the others… even if France had given 12 points to Kazakhstan or Spain the scoreboard would have looked the same… Come on

Michu
Michu
3 years ago
Reply to  Laura

This advantage only shows the unfair voting. There was no clear standout this year. French audience did the same thing as French jury – they didn’t vote for the best entries. The audience voted for France and some two other random entries. I’m Polish and I know Poland did the same in 2019.

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  Michu

Liar!

Denis
Denis
3 years ago

I don’t think Paris is the obvious choice. If it was it probably would have been announced already. I think France is looking beyond, and why not? Many great cities to pick from. Marseille, Strasbourg,Chamonix or why not Corsica. Hell, French Guyana would be fun..

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago
Reply to  Denis

If French Guinea gets to host, they’ll have to let Australia host if they win!

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Australia’s not allowed to host any Eurovision event.

Louka
Louka
3 years ago

I hope that in some way, they can also invite the 12 participants from this year in France so they can finally meet each other in real, maybe accompanying their 2021 delegation or as spokeperson. They could easily organize something apart the 2021 contest for those kids, like a cohesing meeting journey or something like that 🙂

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  Louka

And the following countries return:

• Albania
• Armenia
• Australia
• Bulgaria
• Ireland
• Italy
• North Macedonia
• Portugal

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago

A Jesc in Disneyland Paris would be awsome if all children from all the participating countries could travel to France.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

I can’t wait! France are gonna kill it! They’ve waited a long time for this and I’m sure it’ll be a great show. Maybe it’ll make some Francophone countries come back? Belgium and Switzerland are missed! Also, for a brief update: Diodato just confirmed he won’t be competing in Sanremo, sadly. So to also update the “returning 2020 artists” table: Definitely coming back: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, The Netherlands, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine In the running to come back: Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden Definitely not coming… Read more »

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I wouldn’t be so sure that Belgium will return. RTBF doesn’t care of JESC, only VRT could be interested and there are absolutely no link between them and France.
Tbh the chances for Belgium to come back are in the hands of The Netherlands and Germany.

beccaboo1212
3 years ago

RTBF has yet to show interest in Junior Eurovision again after that last participated in 2005.

ESC fan
ESC fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I feel like Belarus would come back because they have been there for every competition, and for some reason I have a gut feeling Albania might come back

acp
acp
3 years ago

I don’t think all these imaginative scenarios of every country that has participated in the past will return just because JESC is going to be celebrated in France. The only one’s I think they will be returning are the ones that withdraw beacuse of the pandemic

Leo
Leo
3 years ago
Reply to  acp

All of them withdrew due to the pandemic except Armenia (a nation with strong ties with France) due to the effects of the war in autumn

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

France and Armenia are made tight. They’re like the only country that reliably gives France televote points (except maybe Belgium, depending on the year). And, in turn, Armenia scores pretty well with France’s televote nine times out of ten (alongside Israel, Portugal, Romania, and – when they competed – Turkey).

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

I think s/he was talking about all the missing countries, not just this year – that’s 27 in total.

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  acp

Armenia’s coming back thanks to David Tserunyan.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHNO38ws-9O/

ESC fan
ESC fan
3 years ago
Reply to  acp

I also feel if Belgium came back, a lot of the entries would be in dutch/flemish because they don’t want to have ties with France and essentially look like France JR. Just a thought tho

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
3 years ago

Well it looks like Paris next year, with Marseille, Montpellier, Lyon and Bordeaux should also be considered.

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
3 years ago

My prediction:
The Junior Eurovision 2021 will be held in Paris
Countries: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Ireland, Cyprus (likely), Italy, Wales, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Wales will return in Junior Eurovision 2021
Debut: Iceland or Scotland

Last edited 3 years ago by Hyunwoo
Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Hyunwoo

Since when was Cyprus likely to come back – never. Honestly the only country changes will likely be the 8 withdrawals from 2020 returning

ESC fan
ESC fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Hyunwoo

Wales said they are skipping b/c covid again

Aris Odi
Aris Odi
3 years ago

Three golden rings he got on his hand
He likes to go to the south of France

Valentino
Valentino
3 years ago

I’m sure they will produce a very good show. Hopefully this will make eurovision in general more popular and make people have a more positive view of the contest.

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
3 years ago

Great news !! I hope for Paris, with more country’s !! I can ‘t wait for JESC 2021 !! I love it !!!

AdD
AdD
3 years ago

Of course it’ll be Paris. This is not a question. At all.

Nobody Important
Nobody Important
3 years ago

As expected. It’s been decades since France hosted any Eurovision themed event. They are not going to miss out on it. Now, where will it be? Paris is an obvious choice, but I kinda wish it’s not Paris. It’s nothing against Paris, it’s just that, Paris always takes spotlight in everything. I would love to see some other of their beautiful cities be in the center of attention. I would love to see Marseille, Nice, Lyon or even Strasbourg. I obviously don’t have a saying in this, so who cares. It’s probably going to be Paris anyway.

Leo
Leo
3 years ago

France has 17 arenas in the Zenith family, so I’m sure plenty of more obscure towns will be possible, like Gliwice was in Poland.

Linus
Linus
3 years ago

Maybe a Sweden return, who knows. Our stereotype is that french never want to talk english, so next year they can show us that we were wrong. Ps i dont need to be downvoted 25 times for this haha.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Linus

I think a Big 5 country hosting has probably made a couple countries’ ears prick up. We already know that Italy’s probably going to come back and it’s positive more of the other countries that withdrew this year will too.

Last edited 3 years ago by Joe
WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago
Reply to  Linus

It’s not a stereotype… but sure there some that can speak english very well and we will see those ones.

Ed ed
Ed ed
3 years ago

So glad. I always wanted to see France as a host! I am sure they will do a great job!
Are we now gonna see the Eiffel Tower everywhere?….logo, postcards, stage design….(just joking).
And let’s hope we will have a normal contest not another remote episode)

Last edited 3 years ago by Ed ed
Neil
Neil
3 years ago

Maybe a return for Belgium??? Probably not but its been a long time since a Junior Eurovision in West Europe, anything could happen

Neil
Neil
3 years ago
Reply to  Neil

Plus it has been my dream to travel to France and maybe I can attend my first Eurovision contest??

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  Neil

I don’t think so. It kinda depends on Flemish children network Ketnet and they haven’t really shown any interest after the good results of the Netherlands in the last few years.

Neil
Neil
3 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Do they have some rivalry over Netherlands? I’m so sorry but I didn’t know that. Belgium always served in Jesc in my opinion

ESC fan
ESC fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Neil

They said they don’t want to look like they have ties with France, so I feel that would be unlikely, however if they did i feel it would be a dutch/flemish entry because now would not be a good time to do a French entry if you didn’t want to look essentially like France Jr

Hrvatska
Hrvatska
3 years ago

nice gift for Christmas, hope it will get better in the new year, I’m also glad that France and the EBU got along quickly, those who quit should come back in 2021 and maybe some debut

Heyey
Heyey
3 years ago

Today is filled with France-related Eurovision news and I’m here for it!

Ixuxu
Ixuxu
3 years ago

December 9th: It´s all about France

Leo
Leo
3 years ago

I bet that, all being well, it would ensure the return of Armenia and Portugal (and possibly Israel) to this level, as they are nations France votes for heavily in the regular contest. I hope for the return of Ireland and Wales to it, and also wonder what would happen if someone like Iceland, Austria or Czech wins the real contest in the near future – would they join the kid’s one? And what would happen if a nation wins at both levels in the same year or season, eg the same nation wins both ESC 2021 and JESC 2021,… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Leo
Badwoolfgirl
Badwoolfgirl
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

I think the countries that didn’t participate this year may come back for JESC 2021 if things are better by next year.

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Armenia had to withdraw due to what was happening with Azerbaijan and Portugal probably withdrew due to Covid, even if JESC wasn’t going to be in France next year they would probably return anyway.

I don’t see Wales returning (did poorly both times and the devolved nations of the UK competing at JESC could lead to constitutional upheaval in the UK so it may be discontinued) but otherwise I think most of the 2019 countries will come back.

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

As someone from the UK, it really wouldn’t lead to constitutional upheaval. In football, all 4 nations compete separately and it hasn’t led to anything like that. No one in UK even knows JESC anyway

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago
Reply to  Cameron

True, but ESC and the Olympics are the only events where the UK competes as a whole country, and given the political elements of ESC, it has the potential to send messages.

The independence movement in Wales is negligible in terms of its political capital, but the SNP currently run Scotland and I can see Sturgeon using JESC as a form of cultural diplomacy…

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Yeah the SNP would do that. They are already saying they want Scotland in to show it as an independent nation. They are becoming the next Catalonia

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Usually, winners of an ESC will join the year’s edition of the JESC, either as a one off (Israel 2018) or to establish a longer connection in the contest (Portugal 2015). 2015 was the last time the ESC winner didn’t send a singer to JESC.

I’d imagine France is a nation that could host JESC in Autumn 2021 and ESC in Spring 2022 relatively easily, but if they are keen to win 2021 and host in Paris, they might opt to host JESC in another city like Lyon or Marseille.

ESC fan
ESC fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Not to burst your bubble, but Wales said they are skipping jesc 2021 due to covid

Rifki
Rifki
3 years ago

yes, and let’s hope the situation gets better and better next year, because I want it to be in a big arena, especially Bercy Arena, my favourite French venue so far.