The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 40 competing songs in Eurovision 2022. Next we review France, who have chosen Alvan & Ahez with “Fulenn”.
Are we dancing along with the devil? Read on to find out!
Alvan & Ahez – “Fulenn” (France Eurovision 2022)
Review: Alvan & Ahez – “Fulenn”
Luis: Celtic heritage and revisiting folklore are very much on trend in 2022 apparently. France delivers a slickly produced ethno-techno track and is ready to avenge the result of their 1996 entry. That’s the only other time they entered a song in the Breton language, and it’s the one song in a minority language of France that didn’t do well. Alvan and Ahez are bound to do a great job in Turin: it is not only a great entry, but also the only song in this genre.
Score: 9
Renske: Besides the triviality that France will send a song in Breton, it’s hard to connect to “Fulenn”. Despite Go_A’s “SHUM” destroying the televote at last year’s contest, it’s difficult to see France do the same this year. Techno and folk do go together, as we saw with “SHUM”, but somehow, “Fulenn” remains slightly inaccessible. Nonetheless, it is still amazing that a more conservative French public chose this as their entry, especially because Alvan & Ahez sing in an endangered minority language which is not understood by most people in France.
Score: 6
Jonathan: France have really found their Eurovision mojo over the last two years. And it’s great they’ve been able to do so whilst selecting two very different types of entry. Folk and electronic music have often married well together (hey Go_A), so it’s exciting to see more countries take the opportunity to showcase their traditional heritage with a contemporary twist. “Fulenn” simmers in its verses and then the sparks catch ablaze with the post-chorus. The music here is rich with delights.
Score: 7.5
Deban: Techno-folk! This isn’t the easiest hybrid to enjoy. “Fulenn” is inspired by the legendary fairy tale of a woman that emancipated herself from societal norms by dancing around the forest bonfire. Perhaps in the 60s, this could’ve been topical. However in 2022, there are more important stories to tackle. Also, despite the welcome return of the Breton language, much of what is presented here lacks cohesion. However, Alvan remains the prominent silver lining (for me) — he’s breathtakingly beautiful.
Score: 5
Robyn: This is Breton but not as you’d expect it. Alvan and the vocal trio Ahez have taken the traditional language of the Brittany region and are serving it with attitude. “Fulenn” delivers dark, mysterious techno beats that perfectly match the drama of the lyrics. It’s utterly captivating, as they cast a spell with their Breton magic. And judging by the national final performance, Alvan & Ahez will be delivering something even bigger in Turin.
Score: 8.5
France Eurovision 2022 ranking
In the Eurovision 2022 Wiwi Jury, we have 18 jurors but only have room for five reviews. The remaining scores are below:
|
Angus: 8.5 Antranig: 8.5 Cinan: 8 Josh: 8 Lucy: 8 Natalie: 7 Oliver: 4.5 |
Pablo: 9.5 Ron: 7 Sebastian: 4 Suzanne: 3 Tom: 8.5 William: 8.5 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 3 and a high of 9.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 7.28/10
What do you think of France’s Eurovision 2022 entry? Share your own score and review for Alvan & Ahez’s “Fulenn” below!
Excellent, mystical and sensual song that is great to dance to, in my Top 3. I just wish their live vocals were better and more coordinated, but they are working on it a lot and I hope they will shine in top form in Turin.
I liked it more when it was first released. The song itself is good, but their last performances looked discordinated, out of tune and messy. They need to work really hard on the staging because they look very disconnected from each other, and I have the feelign this could be one of the fan flops this year. 7/10 out of then from me (because I like the song).
Frenchugueiras. Even the outfits were similar.
Everything is inspired in Tanxugueiras. Although many people don’t want to see around here.
Both song are litteraly from Celtic culture, Fulenn is a Breton legend talking about a woman dancing with the devil, sang with the traditional language of Brittany.
The outfit are traditional clothes of Brittany.
The song was written 1 year ago and submit before Tanxugueiras, how could they inspire from them since they didn’t appear anywhere yet ? How funny how people don’t even check and disrespect artists work.
Naurrr people on reddit were joking that ireland was your number 1 and i was like not with france there surely you are jesting…. the scream i scrumpt, yk maybe the people giving out press accreditations were right
10/10 This song to me is perfect. A lot of my favourite songs in ESC are blends of Folk and more modern genres. Fulenn’s lyrics are beautiful and I just love that we have Breton in the contest this year! France are coming top 5 with the Televote and for sure are a dark horse for the win! (So close to being my winner, they are my 2nd place)
Deban loved Poland last year but hated GO_A and here he is true to form disliking this. Debans taste is up the sht.
However, Alvan remains the prominent silver lining (for me) — he’s breathtakingly beautiful.
oh Debannnn this is not a beauty pageant!
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I think France will be in the top 10 of the public vote but they will get the Keiino treatment with juries.
The song is overly pretentious. The live performance is messy and distorted by the lead singer who has issues with the modulation of his voice while running around. 3/10 for me.
I agree, if this was in the semi final this would not qualify , its too messy.
This is one to really turn up the volume to, how many ESC entries can you actually say that about? My 2nd place/joint-winner of this year and my new joint-favorite French entry of all-time even, along with 92’s Monte la Rivie (I know, ranking stuff is not what I excel at). Obviously hoping for a Shum-style reaction and a corresponding result in Torino, they’ve already shown something they can build upon with that NF performance.
I wonder what would have happened if we had chosen Tanxugueiras. I certaintly prefer Chanel to avoid comparisons between the two. Anyway, it is nice to have some folklore mixed with electronic in Eurovision. Let’s see how the Eurovision public/jury reacts.
France stays in my 13th place.
13. France (7)
15. Armenia (7)
27. North Macedonia (6.25)
32. Romania (5)
34. Israel (4.5)
I think Fulenn has more potential than Terra which was extremely repetitive and shouty.
Yeah that was quite jarring. Are we to say that, if dancing is a metaphor in the song, woman’s rights have moved so far as to say they can do what they want. This is not my favourite song by a long shot, but that comment seemed far off the mark to me.
Massive improvement from 2021 in my book. Adore this.
France and Italy are amazing for the second year in a row and I won’t be surprised if both repeat their top 3 result. Glad the big 5 are really trying, for the most part.
They met with Tanxu in Madrid today. How cool is that ? 🙂
I like France this year ,a good top 15 maybe 12
Who would say France would go from the theatrical loneliness of “Voilà” to a celtic bonfire/rave with the devil? One of the coolest choices of the year, for sure. Though the performance still needs a lot more polishing, the staging on the French final shows they’re on the right path with all the fast camera cuts, zooms and the dark vibe. The whole thing is so energetic and wild, I believe the televote can get behind it. On the other hand, the vocals seem a little fragile and they’ll need improvement so the jury won’t harm it. 8.25/10
I think this entry is brave enough to break the power ballad/ Manneskin wannabe/ twee folky tune styles that are floating around this year. Recorded it sounds great, but live it sounded dubious. So it will all depend on the night I guess. Nevertheless- nice to have some diversity amongst the field.
I found Deban’s comment a little tone deaf, am I the only one? Talking about women’s stories saying there are more important to share just simply isn’t true. I interpreted the song as a woman taking charge of her own internal chaos because she didn’t want to be married away.
Of course it just seems Deban took the story at face value and didn’t interpret any modern application to Women’s Rights.
Agreed, quite a Eurocentric way to view it, and even if it is to be taken just at face value who says it HAS to tell “important stories” anyway? This is a weird standard to hold any music to. ?
Yeah that’s not one of Deban’s finest moments. I adore Deban though, so he is forgiven here.
Deban preferred to write positive comment only about Alvan’s looks…
I enjoy the studio cut of this song a lot, but the live performance is a mess to say the least. I choose to have faith in the French delegation and expect them to sort out their stuff before the final, and I definitely hope they will, because this – despite not being on par with Voilà – is still a magnificent effort and deserves to be treated as such. For now it’s a 7/10 for me.
Love the mix of modern and traditional. Freshening up my gwenn-ha-du (white and black) Breton flag as we speak! Go n-éirí libh from Ireland.
As a song it is one of my favourites. The language and style work brilliantly together, but as of now the live is a bit messy, however they still have a few weeks to improve. 8.5/10.
This is a huge gem. Alvan & Ahez are truly one of the best discoveries of the year. The mix of their sounds is what i want from many countries to try! Hopefully, France’s risk will pay off.
This can attract the public vote and i think it can get more jury support than Shum. Expecting a really good staging. Anything outside Top10 will be considered a robbery for me.
Rating: 9,5/10 (2nd)
Many people criticise how chaotic this song can be, especially during the original live version. However, with this song, chaos is very much a ladder.
3/10
This one is a bit of a mixed bag for me, as there are elements to it that I really like but also, parts that just don’t work. The language is a definite plus. I love hearing something I don’t usually hear and it’s not like it’s being used as a gimmick, either. Also, in the studio track, the vocal harmonies are a strong point and are mixed well. They do give the song that witch-coveny-mystic sound that is obviously what they’re going for on-stage with the visuals. However, in the live performances, the vocals have been a complete weakness… Read more »
Rating: 6.5/10.0
FRANCE – After they almost won with their masterful chanson, the French decided to go in a completely different direction, which was, in my opinion, the right choice! Fulenn (Spark) showcases another aspect of the French culture. Equally strong and authentic, even if less known to the wider audiences. Alvan and Ahez perform it in complete synchronization. Their full dedication to the chaotic energy of this song brings layers of something that is both eerie and relaxing. I find myself easily going down the spiral of this wonderful chant. The lyrics are bonkers, but fitting to this mystical tune. The… Read more »
Yay, I am so pleased Colin, we have a song where we can both share in the enjoyment! Vive La France!
Bevet Breizh!
This is one of the few songs this year where we have some difference in opinion about. Strangely, I don’t actually disagree with anything you’ve written in your review, even if I’m feeling different about the song as a whole.
The criticisms I had of the song in my review, I don’t think are talked about in yours so it might just be that we’re not touching on the same things yet. XD
There is a matter of a live performance I haven’t touched, because I find the performances – diverse, to put it that way. I loved the NF performance, so I see what they are capable of. The Israeli one, on the other hand, was a bit tougher on the ears, but I see that many had technical issues. Then there’s a matter of composition itself, which is chaotic by nature, so I guess it allows more maneuvers before becoming off to listen to. So far, I am going with the idea that their better offerings are what they’ll do at… Read more »
This song is not to my taste. Best of luck to the group.
I hope you feel comfortable to share what isn’t working for you in the entries that you haven’t ranked highly this year, Purple! I know criticisms aren’t always reacted to in a mature manner in this comment section but I’d expect yours to be constructive and considerately written. I’d look forward to reading them if you’re willing to share. :3
In case you are unaware, there are legal matters that restrict what I can write in terms of criticism. That’s why my full musical reviews on Wiwi stopped many years ago. But also, I do genuinely wish all ESC participants the best, and I hope they all have a good time. I’m not here to bring them down.
Great that France is taking a risk and sending something so different from what they usually send! It’s not among my personal faves, and if we wanna compare (even tho they are very different songs) I much prefer SHUM. But I do think that they’ll end up in the top 10 if they give a little more of a cohesive performance. I enjoy the studio cut a lot, but live is still a bit messy for me, unfortunately. 8/10
I’m (happily) surprised how positive reactions are to Fulenn. It’s a huge gamble for France, but as a Briton I’m over the moon to see people like it and take an interest in our regional culture
the question here is why the rest of the France does not care about this song? It’s nowhere in the charts.
Gold star.
France saw Spain letting a good entry pass by and took the opportunity. I kind of like it, but I think it is not original.
Somehow, I doubt Tanxugueras’ failure to win Benidorm entered into the calculations of 10 jurists and 1.47 million viewers.
Not accepting that this is a copy of Tanxugueiras is like ignoring the elephant in the room.
Do you seriously believe that “Fulenn” was written after Tanxugeiras had released their song?
Three girls over a platform dressed in black and gold. A guy outside the platform playing an instrument. A dancer.
Song in a minoritary language of the country. Electro-folk style.
Do you seriously believe ALL THIS is just a coincidence?
This is how it was: Alvan and Ahez sat glued to the TV screen during the Spanish finals. When Tanxugeiras were robbed of victory, they decided to act quickly: Write a song in Breton in electro-folk style (a style which was of course completely new to them). They then went on to buying the French jury members and the French public, all this in the five weeks that passed between the Spanish and the French finals. Yes, conspiracy theories are lots of fun.
The performance is totally a copy and you have to be blind not to see. But the worst blind is the one who does not want to see.
The blindest person is the one who doesn’t want to see that Fulenn was written last summer (Just Google it and you’ll see!). Alvan and Ahez just explained that a few weeks ago when some bitter eurofans criticised them by saying they copied the wonderful Tanxugueiras. So sad they were compelled to justify themselves for such silly comments.
Just FYI, both Brittany and Galicia are Celtic nations, which means they have a lot in common including rhythms AND clothing! Black and gold embroidery are also typical of Britanny. I advise you to inform yourself before judging other artists and getting upset. Your frustration and disappointment of not seeing Tanxugueiras win don’t allow you to be so judgemental. Both bands have amazing songs and are similar and different at the same time.
Being 3 girls is also a tradition in Celtic nations? Having a platform is also a tradition in Celtic nations? Deciding to do it IN THE VERY SAME YEAR, and not two years earlier or four years later is, apparently, just a coincidence. So many coincidences! Franchugueiras.
They litteraly submitted their song before Tanxugueiras’, someone must be blind to think Alvan & Ahez copy them while they were not even registered to participate ?.
The 3 girl of Ahez sing together since 2018 and they joined Alvan in early 2021 to write Fulenn, long before anyone evere heard of Tanxugeiras for Eurovision.
Some people are just salty that Tanxugueiras didn’t win Spanish votes.
Terra is hardly a good entry, it was a gem for Galicians but not for Europeans. It was a big mess in the live shows of Benidorm, shouty, out of the place and repetitive. The half naked glittery guys looked campy as hell and Europeans would have seen it as a weird circus act. Tanxu should try with a better song next time.
My number 1 this year but I understand why some people don’t like it
11. France: I am always a fan of modern-ethnic entries done right! And this song is no exception. The mix of ethnic and electronic music is extraordinary and the Breton language sounds really interesting to me as a fan of languages. The problem here is the live performance: it can make or break this entry. I have seen people complaining about both the NF performance and their performances in the pre-parties. And I am on the same page as them. There are a lot of times when something feels off in their performances vocally. The staging also seems like it’s… Read more »
I’m quite interested to see how this goes live in Turin. The French national final was pretty brutal in terms of everyone’s live vocals, so one can only suspect that the rules governing the live performance of these vocals was quite strict. Also, the pre-parties aren’t famous for strong audio delivery, either.
The new rules for pre-recorded backing vocals at ESC could definitely help an entry like Fulenn out. It might actually be their best live performance yet.
Yes the pre-recorded backing vocals can really add to the performance the vocal depth that the studio version possesses. If that’s the case then I will be more than happy to see France earning a high result. The song is really amazing imo.
One of my 3 10s this year
2. France – Alvan and Ahez – Fulenn – 9.5/10 – oh yes France, this is right up my street. Perhaps the best club beat in this year’s contest and an intriguing theme, with a bit of regional cultural flair for extra measure. The interplay between Alvan and Ahez is well-judged and the visual presentation is as wild as it should be. The song has an appropriate mix of quiet spots, builds and explosions. It is a great party song that is incredibly danceable, a perfect song for us to get lost in the forest.
I am really happy that we have one song in common in our top 5. Great review. 🙂
I definitely agree that the visuals are a real strong point to this song and it looks great on the stage. I think there are other issues that need worked on but yeah, this has a real chance of filling a specific niche in this year’s selection and could be in-line for some big televote support.
6) France – I love love LOVE this! Last year’s entry took a hell of a while for me to properly appreciate, but this time I loved it from the first time I heard it. It’s also really great to hear something in Breton and I’m really excited for France this year. 8.5/10
I think this will have Norway 2019 destiny
Please don´t compare this with the trash act KEIINO…
I agree – it will do great with public vote but poorly with juries
i think this will be a massive televoting success
It can go both ways really. The fact that we had another modern- ethnic approach to a song last year (with Shum) and we also have this year’s Ukrainian entry (although I prefer Fulenn to it) might mean that the public won’t be voting for this kind of song again. If we also count the fact that their live performance is far from perfect (unlike Ukraine last year) it might be difficult for them to eventually finish high. But the song is really good imo so if they fix the vocals and polish the staging a bit, I will be… Read more »
10/10 I love everything about this entry! The energy, the beat, the originality, the story, the beautiful Breton language! Sure, a song this different will never be everybody’s cup of tea. But exactly because it is the only entry in its genre, I am still optimistic that it will do very well.
11.France – Well this is ethnic and a rave. Really different and could work really well. And Breton. It’s very out there. Far from comforting pop zones.
Live, it doesn’t always sound that good, so they still have a lot of work to do in that area. The low scores of some of the wiwiblogg jury are just ridiculous because in the end Fulenn is actually a good song.
Who doesn’t love a good witches’ rave in the woods? Love the journey this takes us on.
4.5/10
“Perhaps in the 60s, this could’ve been topical. However in 2022, there are more important stories to tackle.” Deban… That’s funny, cuz you gave France 5 points, while “running in circles, having conversation, testing Andrea’s limits” received 7,5 points lmao
Nothing against him, but I just found it funny and hypocritical 😀 Cuz I really like Fulenn’s lyrics.
Anyways, France is in my top 3 this year. I absolutely love that song, but their live performances were quite disappointing. Hopefully, they will know how to properly perform their song until May…
I don’t even know what Deban meant by this. I’m not sure what things are like in Brittany, but it’s not as if things are perfect for women around the world. Breaking away from societal norms could mean a lot of things. Something big like giving women control of their own bodies, or something small like not wearing a white dress on your wedding day.
This is also based on a folk tale which is hardly from the 1960s! Deban previously referred to Breton as a ‘french dialect’ when it is not in the same linguistic family as French – I think the artists deserve more respect than this, accepting that the song is not for everyone.
can Deban not have his own opinions. i also prefer North Macedonia to France. france entry this year is fun but a mess
I love the fact they’re singing in Breton and the studio track is epic, however the live performances they’ve had are worrying, and I fear for France because of them!
France can definitely be a dark horse and end up higher than expected. It is a very original song, which promotes minority languages and less conventional music styles, and as different as it is from other entries it has a great potential to stand out.
France 9/12 – a big surprise ! Great sound but I have doubts about the staging…