If you can’t bring the Eiffel Tower to Liverpool, then La Zarra is your next best bet. During her first rehearsal at Eurovision 2023, the “Évidemment” singer seemed to stand as tall as the famous monument and she shined just as bright amid a dazzling light display. The bookies were paying attention. They’ve now got France’s Eurovision singer as the third-favourite to win it all next weekend (behind only Loreen from Sweden and Käärijä from Finland).
Eurovision 2023 odds: France third favourite to win after first rehearsal
View this post on Instagram
Canadian-born La Zarra has seen her odds slashed dramatically 12/1. That’s catapulted her past Ukraine, Spain and Norway, who have been holding steady.
In recent weeks there have been a lot of unanswered questions about the rising star, following her last-minute exit from both Eurovision in Concert and the London Eurovision Party. But she erased concerns with her Thursday rehearsal, which saw her rising toward the rafters on a plinth. She stands in place throughout, and the fabric of her dress just keeps unfurling, giving the effect of a monument smack in the middle of the M&S Bank Arena. When it comes off, revealing still more lights, she takes on the air of a U.F.O — and one flying to the top of the oddstable.
Sweden’s Loreen remains the heavy favourite with her odds at 1/1. Curiously, she’s in the red — suggesting bookies are widening her odds. But Käärijä, who sits in second at 12/5, is in blue — suggesting that his chances to win are increasing.
Were you impressed with La Zarra? Do you think she can upend the favourites and walk away with the trophy? Let us know down below…
For me, the winner should be fresh and bring something new, out of the box to the competition. It’s Spain , Finland and France. Any of these would make a fabulous winner!
The competition between strong female artists this year is interesting!
I’d prefer a remarkable song win this contest – France is good, very good indeed, but formulaic just as Sweden. I’d love to see Spain taking it this year.
Please try to understand that in France betting on Eurovision or anything else other than sports is actually against the law. I see too many comments stating that the reason she rose up in placement was because of the French betting on her. It’s not only ridiculous it’s impossible.
Bejba has a plan to troll all the bookies favorites.
I am not shocked. The playbook from Barbara Pravi (2nd in 2021) is working well for France. La Zarra is my #6 this year, even (if barely) ahead of Loreen.
Getting drunk and commenting on Eurovision related websites and forums is a really good substitute for drugs.
this may be an unpopular opinion but i so much prefer la zarra to barbara pravi, la zarra is french excellence without even being truly french. a world class entry made even better by great staging.
she joins finland, spain, and sweden as the four countries i can realistically see taking it home this year
but my gut says sweden wont win. finland, spain, and france all bring something unique and whose victory would contribute more to the spirit of eurovision than crowning the fan favorite previous winner who has a predictable pop number, something we get from sweden regularly
You won’t get an argument from me. She is using the same playbook; stand and deliver, and deliver extraordinarily.
I haven’t seen any rehearsal footage; but based on what they sent to the EBU (songs and videos), I got SPA, FIN, POR, ITA and AUT as my top 5. FRA and SWE are next.
Without even being truly French???? O my god.
she is french-canadian, i didn’t mean anything offensive. she’s doing it better than anyone from france proper can
France proper? And i thought i was drunk …
who tied your undies into a knot? must there be a problem with everything?
Australian band deliver excellent English without even being British.
Eurofans are weird .. you have seen just 4 pics and 30 seconds what is so amazing about a woman standing on top of a pillar for 3 minutes?Dont get me Wrong she and her song are amazing but I think you need to be patient and wait until you have more reasons to wet your pants.
Downvote me bitches for telling the truth.
For my un-fans, open your mouths i have a present 4 u.
I know I’m going to be hated here but too bad. As a Frenchman, I think his performance is arrogant, pretentious and the lyrics of “la grande france” are a bit too much, I think! The high long dress makes me think of someone who looks down on people and therefore wants to dominate, I can’t really stand that because everyone has their own strengths. I was expecting something simpler and more intimate like Barbara Pravi (but there with a disco beat). You shouldn’t necessarily trust bookmakers, people who like etc because I remember that last year, the French were… Read more »
I think something simpler and more intimate worked well with Barbara Pravi, but I’m not sure it would fit with a disco middle/up tempo like Évidemment. France tried something simpler (almost boring) with Mercy, and we know the result, so as a french fan too, I’m more confident with this more ostntatious staging for this specific song.
And as a Frenchwoman, I absolutely disagree. A long dress is absolutely not a symbol of domination, because otherwise what should we say about Jamala’s dress in 2016 for a song where she denounced what the Tatars suffered? The tower it’s not a symbol of domination too. It’s trying to reach the sky, offering your voice. “On a beau être sur le toit du monde, on ne peut toucher le ciel du doigt. » It’s a classic for vocal singers on tour, so check out Sarah Brightman’s videos in Las Vegas in 2004. It is also a classic to wear the… Read more »
Sarah Brightman at Las Vegas in 2004
Sarah Brightman Who Wants To Live Forever (Subtitulos en Español) – YouTube
Juliette Armanet at “Les victoires de la musique 2023”
Juliette Armanet – Flamme (Live Victoires 2023) – YouTube
Are you going to repeat the same thing everywhere? You’re simply ridiculous.
Looks like this boring German guy performing on a rock.
I’m french but I don’t like AT all the song. But good Luck !
I prefer Spain, Finland, Austria, Sweden & Israël !
I will be very disappointed if France is above these countries in the final…
Heal your issue man
Sería muy feliz si ganase Finlandia, Francia o España… Cualquiera de los tres
She has remained one of my favourites this year since the song was released. But I guess it makes sense, as I’m on the fence about so-called quality music. I can appreciate Finnish and Austrian creativity, but I’ll always root for France, Lithuania, Spain, Italy, and Estonia, just slightly more for ballad power. Sweden, Austria, and the UK would have received my points in 2012, but my taste drifted from that music years ago. Wishing for the 2023 winner to be a slow song. The last time we got a somewhat ballad was from the Netherlands in 2019, but the… Read more »
A ballad will win soon but I think 2023 isn’t really the year for that. Very few ballads in the field and only Italy has sneaked among the top 10.
BTW she jumps in the odds only because a lot of French people bet on her..
It is the same case with Sweden and Finland as well.
blah blah blah, you’re just mad it isn’t noa kirel. and if it was her at #3 in the odds, you wouldn’t be saying it was because of israelis betting on her now would you?
I’m not mad, no one has heard Noa sing Unicorn live yet, so obviously she doesn’t rise in the odds. We will wait for the full rehearsal next Monday and then the journalists will also be exposed to the performance and if it is good they will rate it high and then gamblers will feel confident to bet on Israel.
The journalists decide now?
In France we are NOT, I repeat NOT, allowed to bet on events other than sports games. SO YOU ARE DEAD WRONG.
I have a problem with this song. The beginning is amazing and then suddenly there is the “disco” part.. I don’t like it, I prefer the acoustic version. She’s really beautiful, but I didn’t like the dress, it really doesn’t flatter her, it’s a shame they don’t recreate the staging of the official music video. In the case of this song, less is more.
I would be really happy if she performed with the acoustic version and got rid of this horrible staging and this horrible dress.
Lol, well your Noa performs in underwear it’s not better.
I totally agree with you that the disco part puts me off. She is great and sweet and gorgeous, the intro of the song is captivating BUT when it turns to disco, I want to skip it.
The song is more successful pre contest than Voilà for this reason, the beat.
It’s a shame Noa doesn’t crawl on the ceiling like in her MV.
TROP STILTED OVER THE TOP…
The song sucks!
Not much as you.
Thanks for that. A song and a person is really not the same thing. Really lame comment.
With the Loreen stans and the Blanca stans we are served!
I am a Blanca “Stan” what do you mean by being served?
Milla is a bit jealous… aren’t you Milla?
Of what? I don’t like the song, How does that make me jealous? The performance is nothing new either.
Like for Loreen then, bye.
Who?
La Zarra receiving the love and consideration she deserved since long time and people who just can’t accept that trying to discredit her are just ridiculous.
Specially from you. I think that you LOVE and admire her for all of US. She IS good and you are deranged.
Coming from a spanish eurofan alcoholic it’s laughable.
Let’s go we were in peace before La Zarra proved she was a potential winner, now France is becoming a thread, like Sweden, so forcefully they try to discredit these countries and these singers by using ridiculous, vicious and fakes arguments….classical but it won’t work so use your energy for something else, Blanca needs you more.
Juries will not rate well watching La Zarra singing so *over the top* on a faking Liverty statue along with a the French flag to tip all away… TOO MUCH STILTON IN ONE GO evidenmenT!!!
I have feeling that this can go really high, maybe even win, dark horse
I have to be honest: La Zarra has a really good voice, but this diva attitude is not really helping to connect with the audience!
Exactly, I think Israel will win this year like they did in 1998!
And 1978
Cherry picking comments to call a fandom toxic as if the Eurovision fandom in general, from every country, didn’t have bad apples. You love to see these “opinions” lol
I think France came as the third favorite to win a couple of times recently, even before the rehearsal…so the title of this article is a bit misleading
3rd in
Betting odds
Lagrimitas del Nilooooo
we talk about the Spanish eurofans who attack all the favorites loreen finland la zarra. they are saying anything about france to try to favor blanca. I don’t like their behavior at all, knowing who hasn’t seen anything about the performance
Like I answered to someone earlier today:
1) Those kind of person are everywhere, in France too. I’ve seen enough of them.
2) Just don’t pay attention. If you do you give them credit and they will continue.
I am a Spanish Eurofan and i only think about Käärjä. They may be obnoxious but not a majority.
Just rename the contest to the staging contest. Has the song changed ?
It got a revamp so yes it did actually
Yes actually, please open up your ears 😉
Don’t care about Sweden (my favourite so far) and Finland (have never been taken with neither song, Kärjja nor staging) – France is the real deal! Fabulous! Good luck, la France!
France really loves france, the flag and the eiffel tower XD
it’s giving ‘i love belarus’
La France, La Zarra, La France, La Zarra, À CHANTER LA GRANDE FRANCE
Dear Fatima, hope to see you holding that trophy. Nothing would make me happier ESC-wise, apart from also seeing my two other favs (Craoatia and Moldoba) in the grand final.
It looks good sure, but it’s not groundbreaking is it? We’ve seen similar staging ideas in the past (Elina Nechayeva for instance) and it didn’t help them much.
I’m still convinced Loreen and Kaarija will be top2.
But France should be able to get a top5 finnish 🙂
I am with you.
Lol this solidarity….
It’s so easy…..Elina wasn’t at 5 meters, so who else then, give examples please ?
It didn’t help them much? Why? Who?
Australia: Gravity. Didn’t help them much either
Gravity Top 10 when she was so underestimated before the rehearsals ? It didn’t help ?
I’m honestly surprised that people like France staging so much – for me she’s just standing there. Though camera angles might elevate it quite a bit, we haven’t seen any.
Where?
Sweden 1st, Finland 2nd.
Nothing past that matters too much really.
That would have been an iconic top 2 for Baku 2012, but for 2023 I’m not actually supporting either…
I meant odds wise not competition wise BTW.
It is totally logical. Well done to her. I can’t wait to have more pictures and videos. It promises great spectacle.
Her name is not la zara but fatima fahdi,
Its just a stage name. We didnt see any real camera shots yet so how it became 3rd i have no idea
What does her name have to do with anything??
I just know her as fatima not as la zara…dont know when she started using this name. What there is not to like in that?
I dont have anything against muslims, calling her fatima is not an insult, its her real name
The name she uses is La Zarra. I find it odd you bothered to mention it’s not her real name. Why shouldn’t we call her La Zarra if that’s the name she goes by in her career and in ESC specifically?
Also we can tell the stage is great even without the camera angles.
It was a way to “out” her as Muslim. Sad.
As you said, her stage name is La Zarra. That’s the one she uses, and the one she wants people to use. Just like Loreen. Or Cher or Madonna, for that matters.
We don’t care if her full name is Fatima Fahdi, you do. And you’re only pointing it out because you’re trying to bank on people’s racism, making YOU a racist.
Oh, and she was already up there before her rehearsal. She just went from 4th to 3rd because her staging seems promising and exciting. If you can’t understand that, then you’re racist AND dumb.
Real name : Fatima-Zahra Hafdi.
Whats the point ?
Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Doja Cat, Nicky Minaj, Tina Turner, France Gall, Lio, Maurane, Axelle Red, Selah Sue, Hoshi, Lorie, Sheila, Shy’m, Zaz, Zazie, Cyndi Lauper, Fergie, Pink, Ruelle, Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Enya, Louane, Tina Arena, Jain, Jennifer Rush, Katie Melua, Nena, Bonnie Tyler, Christine and the Queens, Birdy,
will that be enough, or do you want other singers with pseudonyms to enrich your personal culture?
I know their real names
Although this song is not my cup of tea I prefer it to many others that are now in the top 10 bets. Actually it would be really nice if France won. They didn’t for so many years.
After last year, France really deserves to be in top 5. 2 years in the row, they bring great songs to the Final.
3 years in a row! Don’t forget Voila 🙂
But yeah Alvan and Ahez didn’t deserve their bottom placement …
“Deserves” based on last year? Where’s the logic? A song deserves its result based on its own merit (not on last year). And I love La Zarra and France! Would love to see her lift the trophy!
And, as usual, some toxic fans from a quite certain country are having tantrums over this (why the hell? just support your representative!) on social media. When will they learn, me pregunto…
Anyway, I’ve always thought this song was solid and the singer incredibly charismatic therefore it doesn’t surprise me, au contraire as they say! The “complete package” is there to be considered a contender for the win… in my humble opinion, *obviously*.
If there is something that can annoy our amigos from the South more than having their entry overtaken by others that is being overtaken by their life-long rivals of France. Vive La Zarra!
I agree fans should stop but believe me French people sometimes aren’t better. I’m a native french speaker so I also actively read on some french blogs. A lot of people are really nice of course but there are also these other people that you can easily compare to those you mentioned. That’s why sometimes I’d prefer seeing small countries win (people are mire humble).
Anyway, there are and will always be some (insert a bad word). We just should stop giving them credit.
Belgians too then no ?
I mean ok I agree on everything but it’s a bit easy to say that at the same time.