Sixteen countries participated on Thursday in the second semi-final of the 68th edition of Eurovision in Malmö (Sweden). Slimane, automatically qualified for France, performed “Mon amour”, alone and a cappella. “Let’s go get the trophy,” says Alexandra Redde-Amiel, head of the French delegation.
Published on 05/10/2024 12:10 Updated on 05/10/2024 12:31
Reading time: 8 min Slimane with the song “Mon Amour” during rehearsals for the second semi-final, at the Malmo Arena, in Malmö, Sweden, May 9, 2024. (JENS BUTTNER / DPA/picture-alliance/Newscom /MaxPPP)
Friday May 10, the head of delegation to Eurovision and director of entertainment and games at France Télévisions, Alexandra Redde-Amiel, is confident that she is entering the home stretch of the Eurovision contest. Before the final, broadcast on Saturday May 11 on France 2 at 9 p.m., Slimane, who represents France, delivered a performance without artifice during the semi-final of the competition.
Already qualified, the singer offered the spectators a refined, a cappella performance, alone with a microphone, which stood out from the other performances made by groups and dancers. A choice that Alexandra Redde-Amiel defends: “What is important is: who is Slimane? What does he want to show Europe?“. The fact that Slimane lays himself bare demonstrates for her the authenticity and the great generosity of the singer in what he has to offer, that is to say “his rainbow of emotions through this song”.
Eurovision, a corny competition?
France has not won the competition since Marie Myriam’s victory in 1977. For a period, we even found it a little or very old-fashioned. But things have changed for Alexandra Redde-Amiel: “Chis Europe makes more sense. With France Télévisions, we are growing this brand, we talk regarding it all year round, particularly through Junior Eurovision, which we have won three times!“Currently, Slimane remains an outsider among the bookmakers, still ranking fourth or fifth. The head of the delegation does not give up, however, and invites us to look at what happens on the big day. will pass by probably dreaming of a victory: “Let’s go get the trophy at Eurovision tomorrow and the day following tomorrow!”
Geopolitics very present
This competition should only be a celebration, but it is subject to international turmoil and rumors of war. Faced with the demonstrations once morest the Israeli artist, Eden Golan, who qualified on Thursday, the director of entertainment and games at France Télévisions recalls that “the Eurovision family is a big family“. But she recognizes that in a complicated geopolitical context, things can indeed be a little tough: “We try as much as possible to be kind“. Elle “at” so that music brings us together: “I hope from the bottom of my heart that ‘United by Music’, the slogan of Eurovision, will truly act on what needs to happen. May music ultimately bring this world together“concludes Alexandra Redde-Amiel.
