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About Monaco...
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2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: 10
Position in Semi Final: 20th
Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
2005 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2003)
Monaco's previous appearances: 21 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: 1959-1979
Best result: 1st (1971)
Welcome back Monaco! The principality sets a new record for the longest gap between entries (until now Malta's 16-year hiatus between 1975 and 1991, if I'm not mistaken), by showing up at Eurovision 25 years after their last attempt, in 1979. Ironically, the last Monegasque entry was called 'Notre vie, c'est la musique' (Our life, it's music) - given their subsequent absence from the premier European festival of song, perhaps a more appropriate title would have been 'Notre vie ne sera plus la musique jusqu'à 2004'. Anyway, during Monaco's previous run of 21 entries, the highlight was Sèverine's victory in 1971, with the beautiful 'Un banc, un arbre, une rue'. As a returning country, Monaco must first compete in the Semi Final in order to have a chance of winning again.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 9
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Monaco selected its song first, then held auditions to find a female singer capable of singing it - that's where Maryon comes in. When the song was revealed to be an environmental anthem entitled 'Notre planète', it brought back horrible memories of the UK's dabbling with green themes in the early 1990s. Not content with unleashing Emma's 'Give a little love back to the world' in 1990 (it finished 6th - amazingly), Britain followed it up with the even worse 'A message to your heart' in 1991. "Every day is a compromise for a grain of corn", trilled Samantha Janus, perhaps because the writers had used up all the corn in their lyrics. Samantha apparently regrets her Eurovision performance, a view shared by most of Europe. Coming back to Monaco, however, the first listen of this track was not promising. One fan suggested it sounded like it had been recorded behind Maryon's bathroom door; probably through a mouthful of bubbles for good measure. Rather unfairly, Monaco's dismal showing in the fan polls and rank outsider status with the bookies (50-1 to win) is probably based on this very poor quality recording. More recently, a much better quality version has surfaced, and the song sounds much improved. In fact, it's actually quite good. Contrary to expectations, it's not a ballad but an upbeat, dance number with a rousing chorus and bridge but a rather disappointing ending. Could this do the unthinkable and win?"
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 9th to 12th
My prediction for Final: Possible qualifier; 11th to 15th if it does
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"While the song is unlikely to win the contest, its chances of reaching the Final are surely much better than its bookies' odds and fan ratings would suggest. We don't know much about Maryon, other than that she isn't an established performer - however, if she can produce a strong live vocal on the night, 'Notre planète' could easily end up in the Final. France's failure to screen the Semi Final (and thus participate in the televote) is a blow to Monaco, as France would quite likely have given its 12 points to the only other French language song in the contest. If Monaco does make it to the final, it faces an uphill struggle to secure victory, given that no French language song has won the contest since Celine Dion in 1988. However, a top ten placing in the Final is not beyond the realms of possibility, though a position in the mid teens is probably more likely."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
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What actually happened
Given that her song was about caring for the Earth, it was very environmentally unfriendly for Maryon to arrive on stage in this year's only mains powered outfit. Evidently someone in Monaco thought it was a good idea to dress Maryon as a Christmas tree, as you do. As for Maryon's dancers, they appeared to be mains powered too, given their fixed grins and high energy dance moves - not that they contributed anything positive to the performance, of course. Vocally, Maryon was not very strong, and although the song was quite pleasant, it hardly left a lasting impression.
Maryon's chances had not been rated very highly prior to the Contest, so her 20th place - gaining just 10 points - was little of a surprise. Once again, my prediction gave the song more credit than it deserved, suggesting it would finish 8th to 12th. So, not even close that time, just wrong.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Monaco to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | - |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | - |
| | 11/05/04 | 125-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 100-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 100-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 66-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 66-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 50-1 |
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The bookies gave Monaco odds of 125-1 - sure enough, despite Maryon's twinkling Christmas tree outfit, the song failed to sparkle.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.tmc.tv/
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (13)
From Ahmet, TURKEY
Added 2:20:41 2004-5-13
Maryon has a wonderful song. She was beautiful. She was dressed very well. Wonderful performance. Best wishes with your career, from TURKEY!
From Scott-Anthony Earp, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 15:28:13 2004-5-8
I just love the entry from Monaco.I have no doubts Maryon will reach final.She is an accomplished performer.GO MONACO
From Timothy, BELGIUM
Added 14:42:42 2004-5-5
well Manu, it gets mine ; )
i know, not the best song, but glad there´s another country available, which sings french.
From Manu, BELGIUM
Added 18:42:20 2004-5-3
Do you remember Nathalie Sorce or Kathy Leander? This song is probably as bad as "Envie de vivre" or "Mpn coeur l'aime".
With such pathetic lyrics, I guess Monaco will not get a single point from French-speaking countries. If I was her, I'd be ashamed : a 6 year old kid could write such lyrics!!!
This is exactly the kind of amateurish performers who should never be allowed to take part to an international competition. The only votes she might get are "pity" votes.
From Martin de Roo, NETHERLANDS
Added 17:10:6 2004-4-29
"Notre planéte" is really a great song. A pity is that Maryon has troubles to hit the high notes and that's why the song sometimes sounds a little amateuristic. I predict 10-12th place for Monaco, I hope of course it will qualify for the final.
From puppi, ISRAEL
Added 19:8:23 2004-4-27
Wonderful eurovision classic!!!
From sarah_buxton_87@hotmail.com, SWEDEN
Added 25/04/2004 18:22
I really like this contribution. The song is just awsome...
From Marion, GERMANY
Added 24/04/2004 16:15
The Comeback of the Year!
Monacos Chanson grows the more you listen to it! Pretty nice Voice although lyrics are a bit 70's ecological style.
Recordc is badly produced and her Performance looks weak. Hope she will get to the Final. Can't help it, i like it very much. Wouldn't it be super if Luxembourg and Italy would also come back the folowing years?
From Marion, GERMANY
Added 24/04/2004 16:14
This grows the more you listen to it! Pretty nice Voice although lyrics are a bit 70's ecological style.
Recordc is badly produced and her Performance looks weak. Hope she will get to the Final. Can't help it, i like it very much. Wouldn't it be super if Luxembourg and Italy would also come back the folowing years?
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 23/04/2004 16:11
Viva Monaco! So nice, they are back and hopefully will reach the Final. I love french language and it would be a big enrichment to have them back with us again. VOTE! : )
From T.G.Beck, ICELAND
Added 07/04/2004 13:25
flat postmodern disco. i don't speak much french, but the lyrics sound to me to be in the general 'one heart' style. bland and lifeless.
From Sérgio Rego, PORTUGAL
Added 06/04/2004 17:12
Welcome back, Monaco! My opinion about this song is not very good but the truth is that I only the first version, which was terrible. I might change my mind after I listen to the studio version. This song will definitely not qualify.
From Steinar, NORWAY
Added 05/04/2004 20:58
good to have them back, actually they are among the better central European countries when it comes to offer good entries. Nice disco song, changing with an unusual structure. Nice "pricky" sound. Voice mixed far behind. Really nice, but for some reason I doubt about her live sinsing...
I wonder if they will have another go if they fail, so justfor the sake of this nice and surprising return, it would be good to see them in the final. I'm not sure though....
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