The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in France’s ‘Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez!’ 2021

Tonight France will decide its act for Rotterdam with the new national final Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez!. Twelve acts will compete, but who should win? The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has ranked their top five favourite songs. Read on to see which entries the jury liked!

Jordi

1. Barbara Pravi – “Voilà”

This song touches as it speaks. Pravi’s exquisiteness and expressiveness merge in its greatest way to deliver a song that succeeds in gripping one’s attention since its very first beat. With a delicate yet beautiful melody, “Voilà” unfolds poetically and uninhibitedly, growing as it flows until crying in an explosion of emotions and swells. Many ballads always feature on Eurovision, but the one Pravi delivers in this selection has its authenticity and most special elements of all: the artist personality and the country essence. With so much minimalism, as only she features her voice and character, I cannot wait to see how many more wonders Barbara Pravi could bring in Eurovision 2021.

2. Céphaz – “On a mangé le soleil”
3. LMK – “Magique”
4. Andriamad – “Alléluia”
5. Casanova – “Tutti”

Deban

1. Andriamad – “Alléluia”

Deeply divisive politics have negatively influenced how we think and feel especially in recent years. Despite the tough competition here, “Alléluia” narrowly stands out for unashamedly plugging positive messages of hope and unity. The confluence of sounds and the artists’ backgrounds sprinkle some extra magic on this track. I’d be happy for any of the top five to win the show, but Andriamad are probably most deserving.

2. Barbara Pravi – “Voilà”
3. Terence James – “Je t’emmènerai danser”
4. Céphaz – “On a mangé le soleil”
5. Amui – “Maeva”

Lauren

1. Andriamad – “Alléluia”

This is a decent national final! “Alléluia” stands out as quite comfortably the best one, but I’d be happy with as many as five or six of the songs taking it. “Alléluia” is catchy, vocally spot-on, and lyrically meaningful, but there’s one thing that it is over everything else – Eurovision. If I turn on my TV and find out Eurovision is on, this is exactly what I expect to see! (Of course, that would never happen because I know when Eurovision is on, but still.) I’ve truly been craving some quality upbeat pop from France in recent years.

2. Philippine – “Bah non”
3. Amui – “Maeva”
4. PONY X – “Amour fou”
5. Céphaz – “On a mangé le soleil”

Luis

1. Barbara Pravi – “Voilà”

Yes, it’s formulaic. Yes, it’s a jury pleaser with no risk whatsoever. But it’s totally effective. When an act masters the basics of a genre like Barbara does, the result is often irresistible. “Voilà” sways your ears in a sweet but portentous lullaby and then traps you inside the instrumental mayhem of the last minute. This song leaves a trace, and it should be more than enough for France to come back to the top ten.

2. Philippine – “Bah non”
3. PONY X – “Amour fou”
4. Andriamad – “Alléluia”
5. LMK – “Magique”

Oliver

1. Barbara Pravi – “Voilà”

Barbara Pravi signals a return to French excellence with this masterpiece track. “Voilá” is meticulously crafted, with all parts working together in harmony to immerse the listener. Pravi spins a chilling yet enchanting tale of desperation and melancholy. And although the instrumentation is simple, it is an extremely effective backdrop for Pravi’s magical vocal. Right through the final descent into madness during the coda, “Voilà” grips you so you can’t look away. It’s an obvious contender for the French ticket. The real question is, how will it hold up at Eurovision 2021? With the right staging, France could be on to a winner. Expect a top ten finish in Rotterdam.

2. Philippine – “Bah non”
3. Céphaz – “On a mangé le soleil”
4. Amui – “Maeva”
5. PONY X – “Amour fou”

Pablo

1. Terence James – “Je t’emmènerai danser”

France, what have you done?! Deciding has never been harder, and almost all of these entries would be an incredible addition to the 2021 lineup, félicitations. While I got a reason to think some are better than others in specific aspects, “Je t’emmènerai danser” is the song closest to what I would listen to normally. Every second is used to its maximum extent, and I’m left wanting more. Chorus may be one line, but the strong, distinct instrumentals keep it from plateauing. Winner or not, Terence has one of the strongest national final entries of the year.

2. Andriamad – “Alléluia”
3. PONY X – “Amour fou”
4. Philippine – “Bah non”
5. Casanova – “Tutti”

Renske

1. Barbara Pravi – “Voilà”

French chanson has a lot of stereotypes and it is very hard to add something special to a world-famous genre. Barbara Pravi manages to do add that something new to it as she delivers a message of becoming. “Voilà” manages to lift an old genre to a modern age without it sounding like a copy or a parody of what’s already out there. It’s like Jacques Brel was reborn in a young Parisian woman of part Serbian descent.

2. Philippine – “Bah non”
3. Céphaz – “On a mangé le soleil”
4. PONY X – “Amour fou”
5. Amui – “Maeva”

Robyn

1. PONY X – “Amour fou”

Look, I’m not sure if this is going to work live, but at least in the studio version, “Amour four” is dope. PONY X take full advantage of the new Eurovision rules and make use of samples to good effect. The song plays homage to the “pony” dance of the 1960s, creating a modern electro-soul song packed full of irresistibly catchy hooks. All that’s left is to see if France will be enamoured by this lovely horse.

2. Amui – “Maeva”
3. Philippine – “Bah non”
4. Terence James – “Je t’emmènerai danser”
5. Ali – “Paris me dit (Yalla ya helo!)”

What do you think? What is your favourite from the French national final? Who should represent France in Rotterdam? Have your say below!

Read more France Eurovision news here