So time to update you all on the past weekends BIG event, the first semifinal of Destination Eurovision. First of, last year was the first year in ages France had a national final and it was a puppy production with a firm goal to find the best song to send to Lisbon 2018. And now in 2019 they stepped up a bit from 2018 but still the production need some changes to force France to watch it.

First of all the show is slow. I notice from other TV shows here in France that most of them are a bit slow, its a lot of talking and so also in the French selection. I do not see the need for each artist to first sing a favorite song before they perform their entry and competing song. And the expert jury, no need for it. Speed up the production and people will find it more modern.

The songs then…

Naestro “Le braiser” Nothing wrong with the song, maybe a bit to much non Eurovision to be a good entry to send to Israel in May but I liked it. But they missed a chance to show the public Naestros amazing classical voice. Listen to “Bella Ciao” and you will hear a real hit. I placed him 3 at the end of the evening

Florina In the shadow” A favorite among the experts in the studio, Im sorry why? A OK pop song but without any personality or Oumpf. I placed her 8 at the end of the evening.

Chiméne Badi “Lá-haut” Obvious a artist known here in France, I have never hear of her before tonight and she sang her song in a box like Maltas Eurovision entry last year. The song, again, was OK but no drive. I placed her 5 at the end of the night.

Battista Acquaviva “Passio” The best song of the evening performed by a singer who most likely during weekdays work as a fire alarm somewhere. She can’t sing and even if I get the nude dancers and show it will never ever be something you want to hear again if not changing the singer. But, the French televoters loved it and OK I thought it was cause of the staging and the show but the song actually chart in France. The recording must be auto-tuned. And hopefully the recording sounds better. Love her name those placed her 9 and the end of the evening. All cause of the lack of voice.

Silván Areg “Le petit Nicholas” HERE France you have the perfect Eurovision entry. A catchy really good song, fun staging, good looking guy with a show and an idea behind his performance. This would work in Eurovision. My number 1 this evening

Bilal Hassani “Roi” The second surprise this evening. Obvious the people love this guy. And I have no idea why. First of all the song is so boring, the show is bad and if he at least could sing, but no. So why the hype? Who is this guy and why do France love him? Or is it so bad that for France Eurovision not a big deal so it is the gay public voting in the semifinals? A theory which dies when you also heard the experts loving him and the international jury loved him. What do I miss???? I placed him 7

Aysat “Comme un grande” OK first of all this is Eurovision, you need to write and record a real ending to the song and not tune it out, its sloppy and disrespectful. But over all a OK with a plus song. I do not mind she ended up in the final, I had her song 4 at the end.

Lautner “J’ai pas le tempe” A huge surprise again, but this time in the wrong way. A song that should have passed to the final but was voted out and that by the televoters. OK the production needed work it was to soft and needed some beat but the guys can sing and the song is catchy. My number 2

Mazy “oulala” A very uninteresting song not bad, competent production but not pop not schlager what is it. Placed her 6

When all the voting passed the final 4 going through to the final Aysat, Silván Are, Chiméne Badu and Bilal Hassani. And now to another thing I think France can change. Why, in the semifinal, present the votes? Now people know the televoters favorite or will something change until the final? But since Hassani won why would any of the others win in two weeks?

Very strange.

Björn