From the bad buzz of a show canceled at the last moment in mid-April, to the bookmakers who place her in the top 5, La Zarra, a Quebecer who will represent France at Eurovision on Saturday in Liverpool, does not go unnoticed.
Leaving no one indifferent is already a bonus compared to the French candidates of 2022, Alvan & Ahez, given 19th by the bookmakers and who finished 24th and penultimate. A big underperformance when Barbara Pravi finished 2nd in 2021.
This year, the vote of a jury and the public, in use in recent years in France, has been put on hold for the designation of the candidate from France. The artist, who does not say her age, was chosen after a crush meeting with Alexandra Redde-Amiel, head of the French delegation, also director of entertainment and games for France Télévisions.
Concerns and bad buzz
But the road to Liverpool, the venue for the ceremony, was strewn with pitfalls. When, in mid-February, the song of La Zarra Obviously is unveiled under embargo to the French press, some journalists point out a lack of liaison, “de moi z’à vous”. Which will be erased in post-production two days later for the revelation of the title to the general public in the 8:00 p.m. newspaper of France 2.
Then, in mid-April, the singer canceled at the last moment her performance at a pre-Eurovision demo show in Amsterdam, raising fears that some would give up her participation. She will invoke on her social networks personal problems, without revealing them: “I would have liked so much to be with you all, but sometimes life decides otherwise. So I’m going to need a few days to deal with these difficult times“. But previous messages on her networks, where she criticized the cleanliness of her hotel, caused a bad buzz based on “diva”.
“Extravagant”
A label that the Quebecer has erased since her arrival in Liverpool for the final preparations. We see her on the networks repeating all smiles in the street a choreography with the contender of Israel Noa Kirel or posing in a glamorous way with the candidate of Italy Marco Mengoni. Glamor will be the subject of the scenography proposed on Saturday, with a sparkling dress and a raised podium in reference to the Eiffel Tower.
Alexandra Redde-Amiel pointed out in mid-January that “La Zarra is full of characters: it is mysterious, iconic, extravagant, discreet, embodies French chic, is charismatic. Everything is in place for a very beautiful future winner“. Not for the bookmakers, who place Sweden, the big favorite, ahead of Finland and Ukraine (victorious last year) in the top three, ahead of France, 4th.
The song’s title, Obviouslysounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy wish for France, which has not won Eurovision since Marie Myriam in 1977.”It’s very funny, when I was little, my mother used to sing to me The Bird and the Child”, confided the singer.
Against a background of electro-disco, La Zarra, in reference to The kidthe nickname of Edith Piaf, sings a melancholy already irrigating the hit you will go awaywho revealed it in 2021.”As you know, I am from Quebec, and my family is of Moroccan origin. When Eurovision came to me, I had this feeling, this need to talk about self-love, universal love. This song came pretty easy, in three nights“, she slipped in front of a few French journalists and Eurofans in mid-February.
As a reminder, in 2001, France was represented at Eurovision by the Canadian Natasha St-Pier who finished in 4th place in the competition.