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About France...
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2005 Result
Points in Semi Final: N/A
Position in Semi Final: N/A
Points in Final: 11
Position in Final: 23rd
2006 Contest: Big 4 - Directly qualified to Final
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History (1956 to 2004)
France's previous appearances: 48 year(s) out of 49
Years participated: 1956-1981; 1983-
Best result: 1st (1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977)
France is one of Eurovision's most successful nations, winning on five occasions and appearing in all but one of the 49 contests to date. However, these statistics hide a stark contrast between the country's early form (with five victories in a 20 year period between 1958 and 1977) and its more recent performance. It is now nearly thirty years since France's last Eurovision victory; perhaps, more worryingly, Celine Dion in 1988 was the last time an artist representing any country won Eurovision with a song performed in French.
France ought to have won a deserved victory in 1991, when Amina performed the unusual and beautiful 'C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison'. Unfortunately, France and Sweden were tied not only on points, but on the number of 'douze points' that both countries had received; in the end, Sweden's Carola clinched victory due to her entry receiving the highest number of second-placed 'dix points'. Today, the system is slightly different in that ties are resolved by counting the number of countries awarding an entry any points at all - interestingly, this rule would have delivered victory to France and Amina, given that her song received votes from 18 of the 21 other countries, compared to 17 for Sweden. Hindsight, I would suggest, has favoured France's entry; while Amina's song remains fresh and interesting, Carola's 'Fangad av en stormvind' sounds very much of its time.
Frustratingly, France has never come close to another victory, though it maintained an impressive run of top ten finishes in the early 1990s, before slumping to an undeserved 18th place for Dan Ar Braz's beautiful and unusual Breton-language 'Diwanit Bugale' in 1996. Subsequently, the country had to rely on its 'Big 4' status to avoid relegation, with poor results in 1998 (24th), 1999 (19th) and 2000 (23rd). More recently, France had a brief spell of doing well with Celine Dion-esque power ballads, finishing 4th in 2001 and 5th in 2002, though one senses that the country's dogged insistence on performing in French - beautiful language though it is - may not have helped its Eurovision prospects. The last two years have seen further disappointing results, with the pleasant but lightweight 'Monts et merveilles' finishing in 18th place in 2003, and Jonatan Cerrada's 'A chaque pas' gaining a slightly better 15th in 2004. Fortunately, being in the 'Big 4' means that France joins the UK - another 2004 under-achiever - in qualifying for the Grand Final anyway.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: N/A
Position in Final draw: 24
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"France has pulled out all the stops for 2005, with possibly its strongest song since Amina's 'C'est le dernier...' in 1991. Written and performed by Israeli-born Ortal, 'Chacun pense à soi' is great, with a breathless vocal sweeping over an unusual spiky, juddering melody - Alizée meets t.A.T.u, or something like that. The French are renowned for their Eurovision ballads, but it's really refreshing to hear something so contemporary for once."
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: N/A
My prediction for Final: 20th to 22nd
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Reports from the rehearsals have been less than complimentary about the French performance, yet it’s a song that needs a good vocal and visual presentation to avoid looking and sounding a mess. Mark this as a fantastic record that may well work better on CD than as a live performance; equalling Jonatan's 15th place from 2004 may well be the best France can hope for, with the country once again having to rely on its Big 4 status for a place in the 2006 Final."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 39 ()
(Updated 22 May 2005; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, 27,998 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll (up from 5,000 in 2004!)
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What actually happened...
I said that the French entry needed "a good vocal and visual presentation to avoid looking and sounding a mess", so it's unfortunate that it didn't really have either. Ortal's vocal was rather shrill, while her scantily clad dancers added little of value to the proceedings. Despite the supposed advantage of performing last in the Final, the French could only muster a very disappointing 11 points, only avoiding the wooden spoon due to Germany scoring even less. I do still like the song, though.
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What the bookies thought...
 | France to win: | 21/05/05 (prior to Final) | 50-1 |
| | 19/05/05 (after Semi Final) | 25-1 |
| | 19/05/05 (prior to Semi Final) | 33-1 |
| | 16/05/05 | 33-1 |
| | 15/05/05 | 33-1 |
| | 08/05/05 | 33-1 |
| | 02/05/05 | 33-1 |
| | 24/04/05 | 25-1 |
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Odds of 50-1 gave Ortal little prospect of winning, and so it proved.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://programmes.france3.fr/evenements/7226506-fr.php
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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 (54)
From kiki, Greece
Added 22:17:26 2006-02-12
In Greece we love Ortal!France deserved to be in the top 5.In 2006 we the Greeks we are all welcome you to Athens!See you!
From Fred, Sweden
Added 13:40:26 2005-12-29
I'm sorry France, but it seems you guys will have to wait quite a long time, before a victory. The artist sings quite good and has a charming appearance. But the song was frankly speaking awful!!! But France is ofcourse capable of a victory, and I hope you guys will supply one soon!
From Orsat, CROATIA
Added 15:27:16 2005-12-6
You are beautiful!
Do you want.....with me?
Please,come in Croatia,in Ston
From Sanja, CROATIA
Added 14:10:12 2005-8-16
ortal is a beautiful girl and I really liked her song, but G7 countries can't win every time. you need to give a chance to other countries, like Bih, SCG,
I like greece, but France too.
I think the problem is in French people who just can't face
that on this world is somebody else but them and their G7 friends
From Kenneth, MALTA
Added 13:54:23 2005-7-11
The French song was'nt that bad, it was good but the performance was 0. France deserved to come at least in the 15th place as there were songs much dreadful than that of France. Bonchance pour l'anee prochaine, France!
From Maria Vella, MALTA
Added 17:1:49 2005-6-17
Great song.. Well Done!! It's true... everyone thinks of himself. You can just look at the comments on the Eurovision Song Contest and you'll see that it's true.
From Lachlan, AUSTRALIA
Added 2:48:5 2005-6-9
I'm not surprised this song didn't do that well. It was a wonderful deep song on top of interesting music, but the performance was all over the place with the bad backup dancers being the main problem.
From Andreas, CYPRUS
Added 22:58:32 2005-6-2
I LOVE YOUR SONG!!!
ORTAL YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD SINGER
The future is yours You have many things to give to Europe.Eurovision is just the begining no matter first or last place.We will wait for your future songs and sing with your great voice that you have.
Iam Greek Cypriot and many of the friends that are musicians wait to see you in the future
GOOD LUCK
From Atila, ALBANIA
Added 11:6:23 2005-5-30
Ortal, you were the best of all. I realy liked your song and it was even better that the song was in French. It was amazing .... the best of luck
From fahte, TURKEY
Added 1:53:7 2005-5-28
I liked the song and still do not understand why it got such a low point.
From european_serb, --
Added 21:48:1 2005-5-27
no..just not on English pls... French sounds much better, and after all, u represent ur country,which if France, not the UK, so pls, continue in French, sounds great! I should consider learning French... X
From Chaz, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 18:32:5 2005-5-27
Sorry, but there is only one word to describe this song .. PANTS
From Rafael, ISRAEL
Added 9:55:39 2005-5-27
Dear Ortal!
I am from Israel and I loved your song. I voted for you.
I really hope you will get this message.
I want to tell you that you did a very good performance.
I wish that you publish this song also in Hebrew. I believe it will be a great hit in Israel if it is in Hebrew. Also would be nice to have it in English, I'm sure it will run in top charts around the world.
We love you in Israel and hope to see you soon!
Good luck darling!
Rafi
From Ymer, BELGIUM
Added 0:49:38 2005-5-27
I'm so happy that this year France have sucha low score. I hope that this will be a good lesson for the next year competition. I know that in France are many talented new singers with a beautiful french song but the production of TV France 3 always false the results and send their favorite singers that have comercial contrats with their discographic productions. The song was horrible and deserves to go to the end of the list. Shame on you France 3
From Matthew, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 11:30:20 2005-5-25
Maybe you should start singing on English?
From rk, UNITED STATES
Added 18:37:12 2005-5-24
WTF?? THIS SONG WAS PERFECT!!!
Isnt it awkwards that the 4 countries who pay for all of the eurovision stuff got the last 4 places and they are Germany, Spain, France and the UK - and all four of them were good... much better than Greece...
Ortal you were awesome!! xoxo
From european_serb, --
Added 17:12:7 2005-5-23
i dont get why France got such a low place...u had an excellent song too, with a full meaning! Ortal was great!
From Sébastien, FRANCE
Added 13:35:37 2005-5-23
I was right to complain about my country's entry! Ortal's performance was dreadful and FRANCE deserved O point. I would have appreciated we get no point to make the French producers change their mind and promote good songs for the next years.
From Gcee, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 21:22:50 2005-5-22
Hey there, nice song.. voted for it. Unfortunately others didn't agree. It was a solid song unlike others which were just like performing acts.... I don't understand french but loved it and will buy it. It's the only song on the show which I would buy! So good on you.. well done
From amy, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 16:11:34 2005-5-22
Hats off to you, Ortal. A very good performance and no way did your country deserve such a low place in the score table.
From Vilma, LITHUANIA
Added 13:9:8 2005-5-21
cool song and very beautiful girl! good luck France !
From Julia, RUSSIA
Added 22:44:12 2005-5-20
Remembering Johnathan Cerrada performing last year, and being acquainted to the amazing and touching world of the French music, I was waiting for my heart and my mind to fall in love for the 529th time. Thanks Belgium: I reheard Nuno whom I admire since "Roméo et Juliette". As for the part of France, why haven't it chose somebody like Laurent Ban, or Julie Zenatti, or Daniel Lavoie, or... Of course, I haven't seen the contest and don't know why Ortal was chosen. But I find her terribly average, as well as the song. Sorry, but this year I won't give a vote for France, though its represantatives have always been my favourite :-)
From Ju, POLAND
Added 15:55:30 2005-5-20
in my opinion France was the best,the song,the singer, I still sing it in my mind:) GO FRANCE!!!!!
From Frani and cousin Snowy, MALTA
Added 17:26:30 2005-5-19
You have a very nice song!! You'll do well!! These are my results today:
1. Malta
2. Greece
3. France
4. UK
From sheryl, MALTA
Added 19:53:41 2005-5-18
France you have avery nice song .Hope you will place 3 rd.
Malta and greece first and second!!!!!!!!
good luck helena , chiara and Ortal !
Malta the best Izrael is the pest!!!
for the 1998 thing!
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France
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