Line-up check 2019: France
Line-up check 2019: France
France: Bilal Hassani – Roi
Shi: One of the biggest challenges in writing a review is when you get to an entry you feel there is some sort of consensus about that you can’t quite see or agree with, but that does make you question yourself.
“Roi” is one of those songs. I keep reading that it’s terrible, that the performance is bad and that it’s going to do nothing. But I don’t really feel that. I do get some of the criticism, though. Bilal isn’t one of this year’s strongest vocalists, but he’s far from being as bad as described, and it’s nothing a good backing vocal arrangement won’t fix. I can even get that people find the “take me as I am” message songs a bit tiring by this point, but I think his performance of it so far has pushed the message just enough without going overboard, and that he feels natural and relatable in his stage persona.
More importantly, though, I think “Roi” is a really good song. It’s a clever and catchy composition that also serves as an example of how to mash native language and English in an effective way that really helps drive the message of the song home.
Predicting this is also hard – see my first paragraph – but I feel it’s memorable enough for televoters and strong enough as a song to at least manage the left side of the board.
Prediction: | Personal: |
Felix: I’m still unsure where France is on this year’s Eurovision map. What’s more, I always thought Bilal was a “she”, which just shows my level of attachment to this year’s line-up. Anyway: I also find this better than its reputation suggests. For me, one of the better songs this year.
Martin: I trouve this très difficile to get un handle on. Bilal ne semble pas particularly sympa, même almost egotistical, et the mixture des langues is pretty weird en ce qui concerne how it changes après almost every mot. Not for me, comme Daniela Simons once a chanté.
video and title image source: eurovision.tv
Visit our Eurovision Chat!
0 Comments
Visit our Eurovision Chat!
Follow us:
RetroSongHunt 2004: Join us as we celebrate 20 years of #esc!
Our chat community celebrates its 20th anniversary on the first weekend of June – so what better way to celebrate than with a special chat event dedicated to national final songs from back when we began? Read all about it here!
Who will win the Eurovision Song Contest 2024? Our prediction for the final
Happy Eurovision – the big day has arrived! Tonight the grand final of ESC 2024 will be held in Malmö, Sweden. But who will hold the trophy at the end of the show? It’s time for our team’s predictions!
The View from Israel: Unforgettable
There’s one more night left for Eurovision 2024, and Shi is hoping we can all enjoy it a little.
Overthinking the 2024 grand final running order
As the dust settles on the second semi-final, Martin takes a look at what the producers have come up with for the ESC 2024 grand final running order and what – if anything – it might mean…
ESC 2024: The escgo! predictions for tonight’s semi-final 2
Let the team predictions continue! These are the songs that Felix, Shi and Martin think will qualify from tonight’s second semi-final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.
The View from Israel: We rum-de-dum-dum-da
The View is back for Eurovision 2024! Different location, same overthinking – and now it’s time for the second semi-final.
ESC 2024: The escgo! predictions for tonight’s semi-final 1
It wouldn’t be Eurovision without some predictions from our team! These are the songs that Felix, Shi and Martin think will qualify from tonight’s first semi-final.
The View from Israel: Whеn the stars align then I’ll be thеre
The View is back for Eurovision 2024! Different location, same overthinking – starting with the first semi-final!
Gåte from Norway are the winners of ChatVote 2024!
The 20th annual edition of ChatVote is over, and the best song in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest is the one from…
ChatVote 2024 is launched! Once again: One Night. One Winner.
It’s time for the 20th edition of our legendary annual event. For our chat regulars, the lines are now open for you to submit your votes!
RetroSongHunt 2004: Join us as we celebrate 20 years of #esc!
Our chat community celebrates its 20th anniversary on the first weekend of June – so what better way to celebrate than with a special chat event dedicated to national final songs from back when we began? Read all about it here!
Who will win the Eurovision Song Contest 2024? Our prediction for the final
Happy Eurovision – the big day has arrived! Tonight the grand final of ESC 2024 will be held in Malmö, Sweden. But who will hold the trophy at the end of the show? It’s time for our team’s predictions!
The View from Israel: Unforgettable
There’s one more night left for Eurovision 2024, and Shi is hoping we can all enjoy it a little.
Overthinking the 2024 grand final running order
As the dust settles on the second semi-final, Martin takes a look at what the producers have come up with for the ESC 2024 grand final running order and what – if anything – it might mean…
escgo! on Twitter
0 Comments