Slimane will represent France at Eurovision 2024, the head of the French delegation to Eurovision announced on Wednesday. During an internal selection, the delegation set its sights on a recognized artist. From 2018 to 2022, the public elected the artist they wanted to send to the competition.
After two big disappointments at Eurovision with beginner or emerging artists, Alvan & Ahez in 2022 and La Zarra in 2023, France changes strategy for Eurovision 2024 by sending Slimane, an already established singer. For 10 years, the method of selecting the French candidate for Eurovision has continued to evolve: from the committee reserved for professionals, to the internal decision, including the public’s choice.
For Eurovision 2023 and 2024, two candidates selected internally
Slimane, winner of the fifth season of “The Voice” in 2016, the TF1 musical telecrochet, “has long since conquered the hearts of the French”, welcomes Alexandra Redde-Amiel. Head of the French delegation to Eurovision and director of entertainment and games at France Télévisions justifies this choice by evoking the “two million albums [vendus] to his credit”as well as its “five prizes at the NRJ Music Awards”.
By choosing a recognized artist, Alexandra Redde-Amiel wants to lead France to victory, after the disappointing 16th place of La Zarra and her title Obviously in 2023. The Quebec singer, unknown in France, had attracted the attention of the French delegation among multiple applications.
“The applications are launched at the end of the previous Eurovision”, explains Nathalie André, former director of games and entertainment at France 2 in charge of the selection. “Among the tons of proposals received, 90% of them go in the trash. Then our job is also to find the artist we want“, adds Nathalie André. The former head of the French delegation believes that this is what Alexandra Redde-Amiel, “did with Slimane. Since Amir in 2016, record companies have trusted Eurovision, thanks to all the audience it generates.”
There selection must be validated before August 28, the song must never have been broadcast on video on social networks, or on YouTube before this date. The Eurovision charter also requires a title of a maximum duration of three minutes, with lyrics that are neither vulgar nor political.
Candidates elected by the public, thanks to telecrochets from 2018 to 2022
In 2013, when France 3 was in charge, a selection committee open to music professionals was set up. When France 2 took over, the delegation preferred discretion, with an internal selection. “Music is a profession. I found it much more interesting that personalities from the profession chose, rather than the public”, explains Nathalie André.
During the 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 editions, the public was able to elect the artist they wanted to represent the tricolor flag at Eurovision, with two telecrochets. Thus, thanks to “Destination Eurovision”, the public sent Madame Monsieur in the competition in 2018, and Bilal Hassani in 2019. In 2021, during “Eurovision France, it’s you who decide”, the public chose Barbara Pravi, then the Breton group Alvan & Ahez, in 2022.
This method of selection had the advantage of “re-mobilize French viewers, French men and women around Eurovision”, believes Stéphane Chiffre, the president of Eurofans, the association of French Eurovision fans. Nevertheless,“it is not essential. Both formulas brought good results, and less good ones”according to the Eurovision fan. For example, Barbara Pravi finished second with a public selection in 2021, much better than Alvan’s 24th place & Ahez’s 24th in 2022, while Amir came 6th with an internal selection in 2016.
“Everything is possible, we must above all find the artist and the song which will push people to send an SMS to vote for France. With Slimane, a unifying artist, we are leaving with a big advantage”, concludes Stéphane Chiffre, delighted with this choice of the delegation for 2024.