As France endures bad placing after bad placing at Eurovision, French eurofans have been dreaming of household names to sweep in and save the day. Shy’m, Matt Pokora, Indila — these A-listers always come up in conversation. While Indila has already turned down the opportunity to represent the hexagon, fans keep hope alive for another big star…like Kendji Girac, the winner of the third season of The Voice: La plus belle voix.
Télé 7 jours, a French magazine, asked Kendji THE question everyone has been waiting for and his answer was incredibly vague. Here’s what he had to say:
Actually, I have never asked this to myself. And with my return which will be very busy, I admit that I wouldn’t know how to respond to such a request.
It’s a confusing response that can be interpreted in two ways: either Kendji will think about possible participation in the contest or he was politely saying no to any future invitation. We would put our money on the latter — and it’s an understandable response on Kendji’s part. He may not want to be in that very delicate position of representing a nation where the majority of the population dislikes the contest (including Mika, his coach on The Voice). In any case, we retain a glimmer (albeit a tiny one) of hope.
Who is Kendji Girac?
The 19-year old Catalan-French singer has had success at every turn. After winning The Voice in January 2014, he watched his debut album reach No. 1 in France and Belgium. He’s sold millions of records and sold out countless concert halls, and clocked up hundreds of millions of views on Youtube, partly by blending genres from dance to Latin-infused pop to contemporary flamenco. It’s fair to say that Kendji is perhaps the biggest star in France at the mo. No wonder so many eurofans want him on stage in Stockholm…
What do you think of Kenji’s answer? Do you think he could bring France back to the top of the scoreboard? Let us know in the comments section below!
I still think Willy William with his song ”Ego” would be perfect for Eurovision 2016.
Im an Asian but I know well some of his songs and I am really a french music lover. It would be great if he’ll represent but its too risky for his career knowing the standing of France in ESC. France got a lot of talented singers and musician such Indila, Kendji, Amine, Willy William, etc.. They may suck in ESC but the beauty of French music are incomparable. For safe play it would be better to choose someone not yet in limelight
why not Yelle
Moreover, Kendji is know in some countries outside of France (one of his songs was popular in Poland for example) so he would be able to get more votes 😉
Yes, yes yes please! With him, France will (at least) have a chance to win this contest.
I think the problem with France at Eurovision is that they send their biggest names to the contest. Sometimes with great songs but don’t do any other work to earn respectable places in the contest. Also, about the public interest in France, it’s not just a lack of interest. The public know little about it. In fact, in an interview conducted by “The Local FR”, a few people even said they’d never heard of Eurovision. @_@ @_@ Like I said before, I don’t think France will ever win Eurovision ever again. But I don’t want the country that once held… Read more »
He doesn’t turn town a possible offer, which is a good sign.
Kendij is the only chance for France in my opinion. His debut album is full of amazing songs. I can see Europeans voting for his French songs because they incorporate ethnic music which is familiar to my EU nations.
If the French broadcaster is smart enough to offer him whatever he wants in order to get him for Eurovision, that would be awesome. Andalouse became a hit not only in France but other countries too.
He will not go, and TBH I understand him… Eurovision’s outcome is totally unpredictable, and if I was a young artist, I wouldn’t want to put my career at stake with such a risk. Especially in a country like France where the contest is not popular, there’s really nothing in it for him.
Well yeah….In France EuroVision is NOT popular…The most of French do not give a damn or care enough about the Vision..
So this makes sense perfectly..
Thats why the tv rating are so low…And the french entries keep bombing when they are good enough songs to do well unfortunately..
His response sounds like a no to me but he would be great.
Considering the negative approach the French have on Eurovision, and considering that many televoters are never keen on whatever France sends to the contest … it would be very unwise for Kendji who is at the top of his game to go to Eurovision. He does not need that. Plus: his ethno-gypsy-flamenco-infused pop sound has delighted thousands of french listeners and it could be huge in Spain if he decided to rerecord his debut album entirely in Spanish for the Spanish market. But in other countries … I don’t think so.
Well the fact that they hired Mika as a coach(??) on the french Voice is ridiculous.. Yeah he is so skilled & ‘expert’ as musician…NOT…Like WTF were they thinking to choose him 4 the panel anyway when they were plenty others more capable to chose from.. Most people do not even who Mika is…He has just only done a couyple of hit songs many years ago & thats all…He is not important in the music industry…I had almost forgot his name & existence after so many years that have passed.. And no one really asked this singer to give it… Read more »
That guy is awesome! I am a big fan of him and his ethno pop style. And if he would participate at Eurovision, he would probably get my first vote ever.
Kendji would be a dream come true for France and for all Eurovision fans anywhere.
Would it be such a risky move for him? He is instantly likeable and an amazingly gifted singer as proven by his trajectory in The Voice. From the minute he set foot on that stage, there could be no other winner. Eurovision is a also a live singing show where the ability to relate to the audience is very important. So I don’t think it would be that much of a risk. The Eurovision audience will love him.
Yeah i agree with Freyah in the case of Kendji it’d be career suicide, please dont do it! Waaayyy too risky
His album is amazing and there are plenty of songs that would go atleast top 10, but I can’t see him agreeing to do the contest with the reputation that it has in France unfortunately 🙁
He’s saying no probably. I mean he’s great and you’ll probably get Mario commenting here later about how he’s hot, but it’d be career suicide. Even established artists (Angunn) can’t get support and I say that having liked You and I
I am Spanish, and I would love to see at the festival Kendji