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Management confirms negotiations
France: Patricia Kaas is preparing for Eurovision
esctoday.com has received the following statement from Patricia Kaas' manager, Richard Walker:
"I’m sorry that a few remarks, privately made by some of my colleagues, could have been misquoted and partly published through the internet, out of their original context, leading to confusion about the situation. That’s why I would like to clarify this matter with the following declaration.
Yes, Patricia Kaas may participate at Eurovision 2009 under the French flag. Everyone (both Patricia and her team) consider this to be a great honour. The Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest musical event in Europe, with some 160 millions viewers, and the event therefore benefits a great prestige around the world.
It is also a very big challenge for Patricia Kaas, who is a well-known and appreciated artist, an ambassador of France and its culture around the world, for more than 20 years.
As the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Moscow, we also had a very warm invitation coming from the Russian organizers. Patricia wants to give them the honour to be part of the event.
We are presently in negociations with France Télévision, to consider how this project can become reality, considering the busy schedule of Patricia this year, due to her world-wide tour, which is currently a big success. Consequently, the final decision on her participation will be made in a few days, through an official press release signed by me. All other piece of news from someone else should be considered as null and void."
Stay tuned to esctoday.com for all information relating to France and the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
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@John
I know that rule has been in existence for a long time; I was just pleased to see it in the 2009 rules because I had read rumours that changes were going to be made this year and recorded backing vocals were going to be allowed
Hey, I think it's best to cool off until we know the answer 
At least I would be proud of our participant
Telliers performance last year was good, but you can just wonder what those camera men are doing. Filming feet and sometimes even the floor... just makes me wonder...
w g, I think ESC has used those rules for a long time, already. Which caused a problem for Tellier last year, why the backing voalists 
Wow, great news... hope she will do it.
Hurrah! This from the official 2009 rules on the official ESC website:
'Artists shall perform live on stage, accompanied by a recorded backing-track which contains no vocals of any kind or any vocal imitations. The Host Broadcaster shall verify respect for this rule.'
Fingers crossed. Too good to be true, but it should happen at least one time, a real star from France. [] SEND HER []
To be honest, don't care about the reste on this page, what counts is IF she's going or NOT
Some time ago we learnt from members on her that Greek and Swedish women are hairy. Can't we assume that French ladies are too
LMAO
Mina/ChrisP
Some time ago we learnt from members on her that Greek and Swedish women are hairy. Can't we assume that French ladies are too 
I agree with w g, the vocals should be live wherever possible, and policing it will be impossible. And unfortunately, as much as I would love for a return of live music (as well as vocals) unless we force people to use it, I don't think people will sadly. I do think bands should be allowed/expected to play their own instruments. The EBU's comments "it takes too long to get their instruments on stage" is a poor excuse I feel.
@ Mina
I kinda agree... Telliers vocals were fine, but I didn't like the arrangement of the song, it didn't seem to mesh together with the music to me. And yes, the golf cart, and ball thing and the beards made it into a bit (more?) of a circus. I assume it was an attempt to show Tellier as "offbeat and quirky". The bearded ladies did get me laughing though :-P
I don't know why some of you say that Divine's performance wasn't good..unless by performance you mean presentation ( bearded women, golf car, balloon) in which case I agree. Because vocally he was very good. As for the choreography that someone mentioned, I don't think that song needed choreography, I liked the arrangement on the stage (as long as the women didn't have beards and there wasn't a golf car although I could live with the car...but those women looked so weird 
).
Ben, I love most of your comments usually but this time I have to say I could not disagree with you more. I supported the free-language rule, the introduction of televoting and the use of instrumental backing tracks, but I really think it is crucial that all of the vocals be live. Otherwise, what is the point? You only have to look at shows like the X Factor to see how easy it is to enhance a weak live vocal with the use of heavy recorded backing vocals track (esp Eoghan Quigg!). And in the ESC context, check out the FYROM entry in JESC 2003. When you see performances like that, you might as well just play the videos or allow the whole thing to be mimed.
The one thing, practically the only thing, that sets the ESC apart from other, tackier, cheaper, more cynical shows is the fact that all of the vocals are completely live. Technology is advanced enough now that you can play with live vocals to give them a more electronic sound, eg Greece 05, Ukraine 07, Denmark 00 and Belgium 07, so even for that reason you don't need recorded vocals.
Also, part of the excitement of the fact that it is a live contest is that the quality of the vocal actually matters. Look at Andorra 08, Spain 03, Belarus 05. Great songs, but quite frankly with a live performance like that they deserved to fail. Where would the excitement and the surprise be if we new the live version was going to be exactly the same as the CD?
And finally (sorry this is a long one but I feel very strongly about it and I fear that the EBU may be about to make changes like this) I don't think the French entry last year was diminished at all by the live vocals. I think it was enhanced. I spent the weeks leading up to Belgrade wondering how on earth they were going to do it, and hey presto, they had five great backing singers who had rehearsed properly and knew how to harmonise.
Ani Lorak's backing singers danced all the way through and managed a good vocals. Israeli backing vocalists can sing and side-step at the same time. Swedesh schlager backing vocalists are legend. Do you really want to get rid of all that? We already have instrumentalists miming. Do you want backing vocalists miming, too (because that's what would happen)?
I know you say 'some' backing vocals, but how would this be assessed? And why allow backing vocals recorded when at the same time you're advocating the return of live music?
Talking of which, I have no real objection to the return of the orchestra but I really don't think any country should be forced to use it. And if they're not forced to, most of them won't: they don't want to take the risk. Even Chiara had a backing track in 1998. And when things like Greece 91 and Iceland 90 happen, you can see why.
End of rant. Peace.
I believe France could be one of the favourites for this ESC. Especcially with 50% votes of jury, she is very famous and well-known diva from France, so good luck France!
Ok, I don't mind the idea of obvious electronic vocals. As long as it is unmistakable that the vocals are electronic and not being performed by the artist. I wouldn't want any "normal" backing vocals on the backing track. I like the fact that Eurovision is one big concert where you can be sure the singers are performing live (and not miming like MTV performances, for example). The concern I have though is that there could be problems of inconsistency in the application of the rule, as it would be subjective. And I certainly don't want vocals on backing tracks "taking over" from the live on stage backing singers. I liked Divine, and the performance wasn't good...not sure why the choreography is to blame though, they knew the limitations imposed long before the contest, and could have adjusted the choreography appropriately if that posed a problem.
It's not that much of a headache. Songs are submitted to the EBU at the Heads of Delegation meeting formally, with instrumentals, karaoke versions, stems, lyrics in both English and another lanuage (if any.) Just discuss with each delegation and performer individually what is allowed to be included. It's only things like electronic noises which sound like vocals (Divine) or vocals that have been taken and used to make an electronic sound which can no longer be naturally sang. Music has evolved to the point where these things are common and the EBU should get with the times and allow for these things to become part of the backing track. To think that competition rules probably wrecked Sebastien's chances in the contest. His song would have been so much better with a choreography, as Bruno Berberes said it should have been performed, don't you think? Luckily they managed to deal with the problem and still make it entertaining on the night.
@ CHRISTIAN ROUILLE
You're right, it will take a good song, and a good performance...and a song and performance that appeals to the audience (does anyone know the average age of a televoter?).
About an orchestra, or as I prefer to call it, a live band...well, I've heard the EBU say everything from it's too expensive to it takes too long between songs. And with possibly up to 45 songs, I would hate to be the "house" drummer! I guess there's an opportunity for a country to bring their own musicians, but that could significantly lengthen the contest, with he time it takes to get someone set ready to play. I would love to see it, and bands SHOULD be able to play their own instruments.
@ Ben
This is the only thing I disagree with - Allowance of SOME vocal imitations/minor backing vocals so that more demanding songs are easier to perform.
For me...no no never! Besides, that will leave a big headache for someone to sort out how much is acceptable. If the song is so demanding vocally, too bad, or change that part.
@ Lordi Lovers/Haters
Well, Lordi won with the highest number of votes at the time, because it was a record number of participants, but I agree, they didn't just win because of their dress...might have helped, but so did the fireworks...and ALL particpants had (and still have) basically the right to wear whatever they like - so if you think a bit of dress ups will help your country win...go for it...then come last and give us a new excuse...
Patricia KAAS will be probably the french singer in Moscow. But it's not enough : A famous singer is not that good without a catchy song. Remember Gerard LENORMAN in 1988 : He sold a lot in the 70's but got a poor ranking in DUBLIN in spite of being sure of winning before the contest. But remember, Nathalie SANTAMARIA in 1995, unknown before and after the contest but netherthess in the top 5 with ...with Patricia KAAS's team of composer and lyricist help !!!!!!!!!!
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Ben
I think you're right! I didn't see it from a more modern orchestral perspective, but like on YCNY, it would work very well!
oh my remark sounds completely mean lol.. i have one of her live CDs, she's a great singer vocally and in lives so no worries. If this is true we are back to France as Natasha and Sandrine meant it.. the great voice, the simple and effective live, the grand song.. (not necessarly a ballad)..
now i just read the discussion below and discovered that as usual it has nothing to do with the actual topic lol.. let me add that Lordi won because of 98% of the stage performance, period. Almost NO esc watchers are rock fans let alone hard rock, and there are no doubts that they won because they were the "coolest".. you have 3 mns and you MUST be remembered. The costume thing works. It just does.
well that's good news.. she is friend with former President and current prime Minister Vladimir Putin and even sang for him in Russian.. so i guess they'd adore her being there..
Spain is sending crap songs since 2004. That's why we are last year by year. We should thank Andorra which gives us 12 points without diserving them. The same happens with France and Germany.
Hope this year things will change...
I hope,that really works for France and she will guarantee a good place in TOP-10 for her native country
Jérémie Ricaut
It's a matter of opinion of course. Personally, I think "Hard Rock Hallelujah" is one of the best winning songs ever in ESC
We can never know why exactly a song won but I tend to agree with Jonny. Despite the fact I disliked the Lordi, the song WAS catchy.
Anyway about the whole issue with Patricia, let's not forget that she herself didn't say anything, her manager did. And he could very well be exaggerating.
I don't know how famous she is today (I suspect not much among very young people) but I've known her name for years, she's an established artist, and I'm very happy she takes part in ESC.
But do I believe she's a real threat to the rest (like someone said)? No, because frankly I think her music isn't suitable for the average European who will sit and watch eurovision to kill some time...unless she competes with a very, very catchy song.
Oh, and before you say something about Athens 2010, it has nothing to do with it 
Here's a very good example of what I mean when I say bring back the orchestra. It shows that it can still work.
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=bXfFV6ahT3A
Jonny:
You'd be surprised how adaptable an orchestra is these days. An orchestra doesn't just mean violins and trumpets and harps and strings, however these instruments are the most common. An orchestra is essentially the same as a live band really. Keyboards, electric guitars, samplers and all other kinds of gizmos that artists construct their music with these days is not just built for studio recording. Sure the music would sound a little different when played live, but if you look at what we've been getting on Your Country Needs You, that's all done with a live band AS WELL AS dancers and whatever else you need to put on a show with. This is all I'm getting at. I'm not suggesting Eurovision go back to being some Victorian evening in a music hall, but you're less likely to get cheap "talent" competing at Eurovision if the music is played live.
To sum, I think that if Eurovision had the following:
Live music.
Allowance of SOME backing track to accompany an orchestra if it achieves a better effect or cannot be played live.
Allowance of SOME vocal imitations/minor backing vocals so that more demanding songs are easier to perform.
Up to 8 performers on stage.
It would be a MUCH better show.
Remember, it's all just pieces of a puzzle to put a show together. The casual viewer watching on the night isn't going to be aware of a performance being done with a backing track and a live orchestra, or if some vocal parts that you can't really do live properly such as Sebastien Tellier's Divine, or in Waldo's People's song are being included in a backing track while the main performers take care of the vocals they CAN deliver. D'you see what I mean? As fans, we kind of know too much! XD
Max
lol you dont have be sorry for disagreeing, I don't get annoyed when people disagree with me
But yes, I do genuinely think the reason why Lordi won was because their song is a great song Maybe winning would have been harder without the masks, but the masks always have been and always will be part of Lordi's image, its not like they were a novelty act anyway I think they may have been helped a little by the fact that 2006 wasn't the strongest of years though
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