Saam – one of the 12 acts competing in Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez 2022 – has already had a thousand lives. From his complicated childhood, to his profession as a dental surgeon, to his singing talents, he has never stopped challenging himself. During an interview with wiwibloggs, Saam told us about his recipe for happiness.
The least we can say is that Saam’s life has not always been easy. Born into a modest family where he was raised by women, he quickly understood that you have to fight to get what you want. As a youngster, he struggled to express his emotions and described his smile as his best weapon against adversity. Music finally helped Saam put words to his feelings. While practicing the flute, his teacher discovered he had absolute pitch. He also took up the guitar.
A few years ago, his grandmother passed away. To honour her, Saam decided to write a song for her. This song allowed Saam to know a small success that he attributes to his good star: his grandmother.
Interview: Saam (Eurovision France 2022)
Since his youngest age, Saam has been surrounded by French songs, initiated by his mother. As a teenager, he was also interested in English pop rock, which still inspires him a lot today. Thanks to his brothers, he also learned to appreciate urban music:
“I have three main influences. As a kid I was rocked by French songs by my mother (Brel, Brassens, Aznavour among others). Then English-speaking pop rock as soon as I started playing guitar in high school. My brothers listened to a lot of urban music and I draw inspiration from them, especially in the rhythms on my productions. My songs are a mixture of these three influences and the common thread between them is emotion.”
By deciding to participate in Eurovision France 2022, Saam hopes to pass on a very specific message. For those fed up with the gloom brought by coronavirus, he wants to bring joy and spread a new virus – that of the smile:
“Today, if I am a candidate to represent France at Eurovision, it is undoubtedly to spread a very precise message. At the moment there is a lot of talk about a virus that is spreading (too) fast and is negative and dangerous. I would like to transmit a positive and equally contagious virus: the smile! I would like people to find a form of candour! And above all I would like to transmit this universal message, which goes beyond borders and language barriers!
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“Il est où” (Where is it) is about the fact that, as we grow up, we lose our innocence, our joyful and positive side in all situations. Saam hopes his song will allow us to wake up the child who sleeps somewhere in us:
“I must confess that I question myself while watching us live in a hurry. We were so crazy when we were kids, but nowadays we’re always in a hurry and we’ve lost our childlike spirit and our joy of living because of our ever more frantic pace of life!
“I have always kept a certain form of candour in me, looking at life with a child’s eye and always seeing the positive side of things, this is what has allowed me to overcome the difficult trials of my life. Today, if I chose this song it is to transmit a very particular message, a universal message. Each one of us has this little flame deep inside, we must rekindle it.”
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Particularly inspired by the simplicity and power of Barbara Pravi’s performance, Saam promises us an unforgettable experience for the final of Eurovision France 2022:
“Lately, the one who inspires me the most is Barbara Pravi. Her performance was so simple but so powerful! She was so close to winning last year! I’m going to offer you an unforgettable experience on 5 March, and for that I have some surprises in store…”
The singer wants the audience to perceive emotion through his songs. He insists, his compositions are always made with his heart:
“I would like the public to perceive emotion, it is the common thread of my songs. I am 100% self-taught when I compose a song. I always do it with my heart and the desire to tell a story, with a simple objective: to touch people.”
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To differentiate himself from the pack, Saam counts on the sincerity of his song, even if he concedes that the general level of Eurovision France 2022 is high and that finishing as a winner will require some effort. If he does win through, he intends to do his best to claim Eurovision glory in Turin:
“My song is powerful, communicative and where I hope to differentiate myself is on how to touch the audience right in the heart. But quite honestly the selection is of a very high level and all the songs deserve to go to Turin on 14 May. What I want most of all is for France to bring home the cup this year, no matter who the artist is. I will support the winner 100%!”
To conclude, Saam would like to send a message to all those who have fallen in love with his song:
“Keep smiling!”
Are you excited for Saam’s performance at Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez 2022? Can “Il est où” win the national final? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
Smile! Even though your heart is aching!Smile! Even though its breaking!
If he wins, he would be the second singing dentist to represent France after Amir. Aahh, sometimes my brain makes some weird connections.
Great performer, great song (Claudio Capeo style), could have been among my favs, the only problem I have it’s the end of the song, the same as Voilà’s end which is not a good thing only one year later. Sorry Sam I still like your song but you can’t go in eurovision with this song the year after Barbara, for me it would be a mistake.