Last June she shared the music video for her song “Tu t’en iras,” winning over countless new fans and watching the view count rocket above 18 million. And now Canadian-born singer La Zarra is ready to make another mark — this time at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
On Thursday the team at France Télévisions announced that she’ll sing for the country in Liverpool. That means producers are putting their much-celebrated Eurovision selection on ice, at least for this cycle.
La Zarra understands the enormity of the opportunity before her.
“I am very proud to have the chance to perform my song in front of millions of viewers around the world,” she says. “I am a great admirer of the most beautiful French voices such as Edith Piaf, Barbara, Dalida but also Céline Dion and I am so excited to make all Europeans discover my song which I hope will become theirs. I am very honored to represent France at Eurovision, the most iconic song contest in the world.”
Her song will be revealed at a later date. As for now, you can enjoy her hit from last summer. The contemporary sound and mystifying vocals certainly bode well for France.
La Zarra is France’s Eurovision 2023 singer
This is how the French delegation describe their new star.
“Who is this enigmatic artist who seems to have come straight from another era? Voice, look, hips, energy, La Zarra asserts everything, without concessions. A dazzling freedom, proud, touching. She emerges from a great Hollywood classic with the stubborn independence of great voices without moorings. The classy and flashy style of Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe, with the sense of tragedy of Edith Piaf, the post-modern intoxication of Lady Gaga, the naked frankness of Barbara and the fragility of Dalida…”
“La Zarra always dares to go further. Sensual? Obviously, while playing on the enigmas of a mysterious heart. Modern? Vintage? All at once, but without copying any model, always eager for strength and elegance.”
“In her childhood in Canada, she obviously dreams of the France of fashion and songs, while discovering the oriental voices that one listens to in a family of Moroccan origin.”
“She writes very early, prelude to her songs of today, which speak about her – sharp confessions, categorical feelings, she sings with her warm and distinguished voice her desires, her hopes but also her sufferings and her disillusions with an unparalleled accuracy…”
Découvrez sans plus attendre les premiers mots de notre représentante @LaZarra_ ????
— Eurovision France ?? (@EurovisionF2) January 12, 2023
Rendez-vous le 13 mai prochain en direct depuis Liverpool sur @France2tv pour l'#Eurovision 2023 ??#Eurovision #ESC2023 ?? pic.twitter.com/GJbi1EyAdV
“La Zarra is self-taught and has built everything. The child spends hours in front of videos of Mylène Farmer and Céline Dion in concert, dreaming of the life of an artist… And, today, it is for France that her heart beats and that her art vibrates, where the free woman and the most imperious of romanticisms were invented. A sublime and unforeseen love story that she has been living since her arrival in the capital, a city of possibilities, like a dream too strong not to wake us up.”.
Alexandra Redde-Amiel, the Head of the French delegation, has fallen hard for La Zarra.
“From our first meeting, La Zarra won us over! What an honor to welcome this great artist in the Eurovision family!”
“Mysterious, inspiring, charismatic, La Zarra is a woman and a modern artist with a so chic French signature! A voice that transports us through time by making us travel to different eras … From Barbara through Brel or Dalida to Marylin Monroe, La Zarra is an iconic artist who will carry the colors of France in Liverpool in May 2023 during the largest song contest in the world.”
“La Zarra revealed by her song “Tu t’en iras” which met a large success with the French public, is preparing to conquer the heart of Europe. So after 2 victories at the Junior Eurovision, the last one a few weeks ago in Armenia thanks to Lissandro, we want more than ever to continue to make France proud! So why not dream again of Victory!”
What do you think of La Zarra? Do you like her back catalogue? Let us know down below!
I can’t believe that La Zarra is representing France this year! I discovered it last year and I can’t get enough of “Tu t’en iras” and I even went to see her past works and live performances. I’m not sure if it’ll be a ballad or a pop song, but her vocals (at least when standing) are OUTSTANDING.
Huuuuge expectations from her 🙂
Allez les bleus….
We have some hints, it will be in the La Zarra style, a mix of classical and modern like she used to do, she wrote and composed the song with the same team who is behind “Tu t’en iras” and behind her album.
The botox in her lips is a turn off, but she has nice voice
You know her personally to affirm that she did that? And what if these are her natural lips?
Some eurofans and the respect sometimes…
Botox and fillers are not the same.
“mystifying” doesn’t mean what you think it does, wiwi… 😀
Enlighten us
Too bad that “la zarra” in Italian literally means “the tacky one”. She doesn’t look tacky at all.
It’s not that serious and from what I know only few people from the north of Italy could get the reference and there’s nothing really bad.
Obsessed, I’ve been listening to TFTF and Je coule on repeat since this announcement. Moody French chanson meets RnB.
I looove Je coule so much! And Pas le coeur à la fête too!
Oh la la, could France aim for the top this year?
I have a great feeling, she is mesmerizing and a class of her own!
Paris 2024 – Pourquoi pas?
I’m really curious to hear the song now
2022 gave us Chanel, 2023 gave us ‘Zarra’, 2024 we’ll get Gucci xD
I listened to her songs but none of them stuck to me BUT she is a promising artist. She looks mesmerising and she is talented. She has already experience in the music industry and the fact that her label asked the FR team to represent the country means that they have a big song and a proposal for the whole stage direction. She has the potential to surprise us in liverpool.
Off topic! Noa Kirel released the song “Gone” to YouTube with a music video.
Nothing against this woman but i don’t get it.
FRANCE can’t find enough talent in their own country?? Come on…!
C’est vous qui décidez! (fr: It’s you who decides! ) …
Except if a Canadian musical industry pays a lot of €€€
Why not?
Remember Celine Dion!
She made Switzerland proud.
Pour rappel, Marie Myriam est née au congo Belge. Nathalie Pâque est Belge. Amina, 1ere exeaquo en 91, franco-tunisienne. Sofia Mestari, marocaine. Natasha St Pier, née au new brunswik. Jonathan Carrada, espagnol. Angunn, indonésienne ayant adopté la nationalité française. Amir, franco-israélien. La France a depuis l’origine du concours attiré de très beaux talents de toutes horizons, et on en a souvent été récompensé par de très belles places. Tant que le/la réprésentant(e) défend une bonne chanson avec tout son coeur, je n’y vois pas le problème. Certains de nos chanteurs français ont aussi représenté d’autres pays au concours, et il… Read more »
C’est bien, mais vous avez des chanteurs et chanteuses avec beaucoup de talent dans votre pays.
Pas besoin d’aller au Canada, á mon avis.
Amir il habite en France, c’est different.
Cette femme elle est au Canada tout le temps et du coup elle va a représenter la France…
C’est dommage pour les participants de C’est vous qui decidez!
La Zarra vit en France aussi.
Mais dans ce cas-là, on est contre la participation de Stefania qui a représenté la Grèce en 2021 parce qu’elle est Néerlandaise. Loreen parce qu’elle est marocaine. Céline Dion parce qu’elle est canadienne, pareil pour Natasha St-Pier. France Gall pour le Luxembourg. Roberto Bellarosa pour la Belgique. Enfin bref, je vais arrêter car la liste est longue. A chaque édition, il y a au moins 1 artiste qui n’est pas originaire du pays qu’il représente. Ce n’est pas une condition pour le concours.
C’est vous qui décidez! was a failure in 2019 and 2022. In 2021 it was obvious that Barbara was going to win but she was unknown and did not internally select her.
?
We love our French Canadians. No need for misplaced chauvinism…
After listening to “Tu t’en iras” and checking her personal style, color me very excited about this one!
You should listen “Fille de joie” too, it’s eargasmic 😉
Took your advice, listened to it and loved it. Very french as Barbara, but with a modern touch. Can’t wait for her song.
Exactly, it’s thanks to this song I discovered her and I felt in love instantly with her voice and her style, and everything, very glad you like it.
I think it’s something like that Europe waits from France, something classical french but very fresh and modern at the same time, something FRENSH, I’ve just created a word lol
It´s a great song !
I can’t agree more, I have this song under my radar since one year and I’m very happy that you like it.
she looks like she’s coming to serve!
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Lol the shade love it
Oooooh, I’m feeling it!
She looks and sound like RAYE and I would like to see her from the UK.
Nothing against this woman but i don’t get it.
FRANCE can’t find enough talent in their own country???
C’est vous qui decidez… Except if a Canadian musical industry pays a lot €€
as a french as much as i’m happy that she’ll represent us i’m still nervous, bc the last time they did something like that was with tom leeb and let’s be honest…it was a letdown, so really hoping that her song is worth it !
Well it’s not the same story at all here, firstly La Zarra is already an established artist, with already an artistic way, and with already an international professional team behind her, and already some hors, she has a pure artistic identity while Tom Leeb came almost naked if I can use this word to describe it as a kind of newcomer so he needed a team of songwritters and composers and while Alexandra was new in her hod job and didn’t know enough the esc world, she asks for help to the most successful country of the last years, and… Read more »
I meant “already some hits”
This girl has already made the charts in Canada, in Europe and in Africa, she made the charts in Israel too and “Tu t’en iras” is still currently 3rd on Itunes Cyprus for example, so it is litteraly another story with Miss La Zarra.
i really hope you’re right ! La Zarra really has a lot to offer to the Eurovision stage I just hope they know what they’re doing, fingers crossed !
While I still think Alvan and Ahez got robbed last year, La Zarra is an amazing choice to send to Liverpool!
What if she wrote the song herself? She also happens to be Canadian.
She’s not the first Canadian to represent France. I think the 2001 entrant was actually from Canada (her name escapes me at the moment).
Natasha St-Pier “Je n’ai que mon âme”
Thank you.
The song is written by the same team who wrote “Tu t’en iras”
Bonne chance!
I have a great feeling about this. I hadn’t heard of her, but she must have something so good in store that France decided not to hold a NF this year and announced this in January this time!
Kinda like how the Slovenian broadcaster just decided to select joker out directly instead of holding their national final for 2023.
Exactly! And I think Slovenia is coming to serve this year too! 😀
Let’s hope.
I love La Zarra! her mix of Piaf and PNL (A l’ammoniaque mon dieu) is one of my favorite songs. So excited to have her representing my country!
OMG La Zarra was already my choice last year, I’ve listened her amazing album during all the year non-stop on loop and I thought because of her big success already and not only in France that she would never go to Eurovision, BUT YES omg I’m so happy!!! First time I see somebody on my whishlist going in Eurovision, omg I’m in heaven right now, sorry for all my omg but I’m speechless and excited! I already said that last year but her songs, “Fille de joie”, “Je coule”, “Pas le cœur à la fête” could have done well in… Read more »
Waiting for the song now but with her magical voice whatever she would bring I will be pleased because I’m really a big fan since the first time I heard her and I love all her discography without exception, she already got me, I’m done 😉
2 or 3 weeks
Yes, one of the goal of this year’s candidacy is to increase the Eurovision brand among general public in the country. They probably which for the song to be push by French medias and radios and that all this enthusiasm will spread among public and fans ahead of the Grand Final.
I have a very good feeling about this.
Thank you for the support guys!
For those wondering, EF was stille supposed to happen in july or August, I can’t remember. But our HoD said that in between, she met La Zarra (they already asked her in 2021 and 2022 but she was top busy with her first album) but she perfetcly summed up the situation : “La Zarra agreed to pause the recording of her second album, and I agreed to pause CVQD for a year”. Seems like a good compromise, even if CVQD might not be back if La Zarra IS successful, obviously.
I am speechless! How wonderful! I love her and her songs. Be prepared, Europe: it’s going to be perfect!
Love the dramatic presentation of the artist. Very French
So she is basically every great French and Francophone singer combined with Lady Gaga:)
That is hilarious! You either go all in or you don’t..
I’m not familiar with the name, but she has great songs. A Barbara Pravi successor? Yes please. France goes big this year.
Tu t’en iras is a really nice track indeed and she definitely looks the part too, hoping the entry will live up to the promise.
Cool news for France. Looks like a good choice of artist and as long as they’re not buying a song from John Lundvik, they should be good!
Sidenote: Croatian songs released!
I forgot about Croatia releasing their songs today. Let’s get listening.
I was about 40 minutes late to the party. I’m only six songs in. ;;
If Mia from last year would had competing this year – she would’ve been still a winner 🙁
Personally, I enjoyed the French selection contest last year. I checked some of her songs. Nice voice, the look is just too artificial. But why comparing and bringing up French music names like Edith Piaf, Barbara? Or Dalida (who was Italian anyway!)?
Because La Zarra was inspired by them and no nothing artificial here it’s her style and Dalida was an italian-french artist born in Egypt so what’s the problem?
Dalida was, is and always will be an immense icon of the chanson française. Her origin is irrelevant.
Dalida was popular also in Italy. She was born by Italian parents, mother tongue Italian, attended Italian school and hold Italian citizenship all her life. Yes, she acquired also French citizenship in her ’30s and became an icon of French music, but she was indeed Italian!
She can be an icon both in France & Italy, can’t she?
It’s possible to be both French and Italian.
Every new artist is comparing with another one,even heren she/he sound like…..
And as Esc Addict says, it’s because she was inspired by them!
Dalida carreer was mostly in french and in France, and Barbara here refer to the one which died in 1997, famous for her very dark songs, like “l’aigle noir” about her rape by her father.
Barbara Parvi is irrevelent in french music industry.
WOW!!! France is back in the game!
I’m French, I love the way we take eurovision seriously since 2015-2016 (poor result inn2015 but we werent a joker). I love destination eurovision. I hated the 2020 communication, saying everywhere the Tom Leeb song was “a love AT first sight for everyone in the room ! A winner song, no doubt” blablabla. So i clearly have PTSD (even though i liked the folk version of “thé best in me”). I prefer being afraid of a Bad / weak song, eurovision wise, and be plesantly surprised in the future, rather than trusting FranceTV and be madly disapointed. I dont know… Read more »
Agree! Since they changed the delegation in 2016 we are giving something serious and strong every year and I’m proud of it! 2020 also gives me PTSD ?? But I do think it’s only the song that was very very bad! I did like the communication and the revelation with the Eiffel Tower cause you could see they clearly believe in the song and this is why I’m proud with this new delegation it’s that they do believe in what they are doing and in their artist! “Tu t’en iras” is a freaking bop but it’s made for the radios… Read more »
I want to be optimistic about France TV this year
I’m so proud for my country !
I hope it will be a song of the same style as “Tu t’en iras” (mixture of French variety with urban sounds) but I don’t want copyright of “Voilà” (song that I hate at the highest point.. I must not be the only one to hate it and yet I’m French xd) but we have to wait for his song in a few weeks!
But I don’t see her winning for all that because she has minimal experience of the stage and the big stages so I remain skeptical… Top 15 possible!!
Lol she has made live concerts and festivals all the year, come on guy don’t start. You don’t see her winning but you don’t know the song…..it says everything….
Ah good because you know her song?? so shut up
Then you will complain “it sucks etc” like for the national selections this year and then we saw Iceland qualify, Finland etc it makes me laugh
So shut up! Really! Lol! Saying the guy who predict a top 15 without having heard the song and doing conclusions based on nothing, hilarious. And sorry I never use the expression it sucks and I don’t get your point about the NFs, and it has nothing to do here, but keep laughing mr soothsayer if it pleases you.
Don’t pay attention to Roro31. He just wants attention !
France will probably host JESC 2023 later this year, guess this is a way for their broadcaster to save money for that instead of hosting C’est vous qui decidéz.
I didn’t think of that. But they had a national finals in 2021 The same year they hosted junior vision, but I could see that they didn’t expect to win again so soon so that might explain the change to internal selection. I keep thinking it was because of the poor result last year and wanting more control over the quality the act, but maybe hosting Junior Eurovision is reason For the change in approach.
I didn’t expect France to do another internal selection, But La Zarra must have something really strong if they directly chose her over doing another national final. I wonder if the poor result from last year had a hand in that.
It better be worth it, we don’t want another Tom Leeb situation.
Looks good for France this year. Bring it on!
Listening to La Zarra’s back catalog, and there’s a lot of promise. I hope she brings it strong and I hope she does well!
I feel really sad for Tom Leeb/Sandro/Aksel/Luca/ Ovidiu/Little Big/Val/Diodato to not have a chance to be in Eurovision since 2020 .. or 2016 with Ovidiu
Tom Leeb had the worst song in 2020……
That was Davidna Davidna – I loved revamp of His song actually – accustic version.
My point was everyone deserve to be at ESC 🙂 I am still pissed of but life is continuing 🙂
Aksel and Mamas have had their moment of closure, and Ulrikke and Damir are having theirs this year. One could also count Diodato’s interval act, Elisa reading the votes and Ben from Ben and Tan writing the 2022 DMGP 3rd place. The ones who haven’t: *VAL and Little Big will only be in the picture if Pooteen goes. *Sandro (now called Leo Dante), Tom and Ben probably don’t really want to do ESC for the time being. *Arilena (though she collaborated with Gjon), Alicia (though she was a JESC interval act) and of course my fave of 2020, Athena Manoukian… Read more »
Yeah i undestand, i am just sad for them.
Danish juries did not like Ben & Tan. Tan was Part of Danish jury in 2021 still
I am happy for Damir, Loulou and Ulrike but lets be honest they will not win this year.
Arilena was rly ungry on Albanian team for not selected her internally
Elisa will not come back for sure and Alicja is not fav of Polish broadcaster …
There is hope for Athena and maybe also for Val (there is still NS in San Marino and Moldova) 😀
Val could aim for another country if they want to return soon.
Athena is one which tears me apart. She’s very generous to her fans and repeatedly reposts from those who want her to do ESC again but she’s barely in Armenia so too many of the General public there may have forgotten her even though Chains On You is unforgettable – I also want a lot to be thrown at any future entry of hers so that it’s not rushed, and with her releasing a power ballad shortly, i’m unsure about this.
Tom Leeb really has no time now. He goes on shooting movies and series, and he is more successful as an actor than as a singer. For the others, to see if in the years to come they will have a chance.
On the other hand, I think we have a chance to see Carla Lazarri in the adult competition in two or three years.
Ahahahah I can’t — I can’t breath, both at the official statement and this post. The announcement is so pretentious and French. Like we’re talking about gods with enormous carreer with 200 million copies sold. I just hope the song won’t burst this bubble because it’s so funny (also, is this Miss France?)
You hope nothing you’re just a hater what else. Nothing pretentious here except you and your misplaced comment, chill!
I just hope the song is in French. I miss the beautiful French language in ESC.
It´s already confirmed. She will entirely sing in French.
That’s wonderful news!
seems like the song is very strong as they cancelled the annual national final. She seems to be talented so I have some hopes for a good entry from France!
Well, they cancelled Destination Eurovision for that cringe song
I’m sure she’s great but the press release is still hilariously overblown. She’s every great French female singer ever crossed with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe!
She is.
I don’t know what to think about this until I hear the song, but it annoys me how inconsistent France is in its way of choosing representative for Eurovision. Destination Eurovision was excellent national final and they got rid of it, then went internally and chose the most cringe song ever, and then they brought another national final that worked well and they ditched it too. Regardless the final result, we would have never had songs like Fulenn at ESC if national final didn’t exist as internal selection tends to be safe. That’s not how you win Eurovision.
You win Eurovision with the best song. No matter how you select it.
And La Zarra is a very promising fresh and talented artist who has all it takes.
France can do really well
Hypothetically yes, but in most cases you need some consistency over years.
Actually i don’t agree, the way we don’t do Eurovision is choosing a group that has never worked together before, met in a bar a couple weeks before de national final, that has no stage experience and the song being written by only 1 girl among the group = Fulenn
Their inexperience did show in the end unfortunately, but Fulenn in studio is one of your most memorable entries ever and you should actually be proud our people chose it.
A very interesting artist for the Hexagone… It seems that France takes ESC quite serious. La Zarra looks a little bit like Lady Gaga, but her style is very francophone in a contemporary way. Canadian born with roots in Morocco, well done !
Bonne chance, La France !
Seems good. It seems they can’t trust the public after not picking Nuit Pauline last year, so I can’t blame them.
LOL, you misspelled SOA.
Their live performance was bad. Get over it.
Let’s not think about the past. Let’s look forward to the future.
Fulenn was better
As seen in the final result…
But it’s not all about results. Regardless the result I’m very happy that France sent that entry last year. I think Alvan and Ahez were quite cute together and they gave their best given the time they were provided. And I love how they naturally met in some local bar and decided to make a song for Eurovision that won in the end.
I still love the song even though they finish second last.
I have a very good feeling about this year’s Eurovision! I feel like this is the year in which a lot of established artists want to commit to Eurovision. It’s like a lot of countries are going to send the best of the best!
La Zarra was among the most asked artists among french fans to represent us, she’s not (yet) very popular but I’m sure she’ll slay ! I don’t know her a lot but some songs I know from her are very french and modern. So happy, thanks queen Alexandra she didn’t fool us twice after Tom Leeb. ? I never thought I’d say this but just by the name, I think it’s a very good start for the win.
The song will (obviously) be in french and will be released in 2/3 weeks.
Felicitation !
She seems to have a great song for them to scrap a National final and automatically give her the job. She sounds like she has the voice and Frenchness of Barbara Pravi crossed with a more modern-radio friendly sound. Am I the only one a little creeped out by a head of delegation calling out her “hips”
They also said Tom Leeb had a winning song..
Whenever someone says we have a great song be very careful
This is kind of sad. I REALLY liked France’s national selection process. If they chose a bad song or she flops live, we know what happened here! Feels like a very last minute decision from the broadcaster!
Check your “reason”.
Finally an etablished who accepts to be involve in Eurovision in France. This is of course the legacy of our past representants who shake things up (Amir, Alma, MM, Bilal, Barbara and A&A) and now the story continues. I’m happy with this choice because she has à lot of attitude and an incredible, yet mysterious, musical universe. Her song won’t let people indifferent for sure. This is also a great tribute to the French musical spirit (really identified in her songs) and also to the French Eurofans because she was at the top of the wishlist for many (last year… Read more »