Credits
News
© een
Part one
Introducing the 2009 entries: France
Basic information
| Performer: | Patricia Kaas |
| Song: | Et s'il fallait le faire (And if it had to be done) |
| Language: | French |
| Music: | Fred Blondin, Anse Lazio |
| Lyrics: | Fred Blondin, Anse Lazio |
| Draw: | 3rd in the final |
The song
Et s'il fallait le faire is a classic ballad in French. Unusually for a modern Eurovision Song Contest entry, it is not divided into verses and a chorus. However, early winning songs like the Swiss entry in 1956 were structured like that. Through the lyrics, the singer tells her lover that she would do everything if it had to be done, so that she is still loved by him and the tone seems to be both passionate and desperate:
Je veux bien tout donner, si seulement tu y crois
Mon cœur veut bien saigner, si seulement tu le vois
Jusqu'à n'être plus rien que l'ombre de tes nuits
I really want to give everything if you just believe in it
My heart really wants to bleed if you just see it
Until it is nothing more but the shadow of your nights
The singer
Patricia Kaas is one of the most successful French singers ever. She was discoverd by actor Gérard Depardieu at the age of 19 and released a first single in 1985, but her first major success came in 1988 with the release of the album Mademoiselle chante…. She has sold more than 15 million records since.
All of her seven studio albums had managed to reach the top ten of the French album charts when she decided to take a major break from the music business in 2005. In 2009, she returned with the release of her eighth studio album Kabaret and the announcement that she will represent France in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.
Patricia Kaas is not only famous in France but has also enjoyed commercial success in Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and even New Zealand. Her style is often described as "chanson" but in fact, it mixes classic French elements with American pop and rock music.
National selection
For the second year in a row, the French entry was selected internally. No big announcement of the entry was made, rumours started to be spread out in the press and they just waited to be confirmed. Patricia Kass was often tipped to represent France but she never intended to take part until this year. The Eurovision version of the entry was presented on Belgian television.
France in the Eurovision Song Contest
France was one of the most successful countries in the early days of the Eurovision Song Contest. The country took home the trophy five times to date, namely in 1958 (Dors, mon amour by Andre Claveau), 1960 (Tom Pillibi by Jacqueline Boyer), 1962 (Un premier amour by Isabelle Aubret), 1969 (Un jour, un enfant by Frida Boccara) and 1977 (L'oiseau et l'enfant by Marie Myriam). Another series of successful results came in the early 1990s, when the country would finish in the top ten every year from 1989 to 1995. Since the introduction of televoting and the abolition of the language restriction, France has not been too successful, but manged to finish fourth and fifth in 2001 and 2002 respectively.
Nous souhaitons bonne chance et un bon résultat à la France et à Patricia Kaas!
Videos
The Eurovision version of Et s'il fallait le faire - Patricia Kaas live in Belgium:
The early album version of the French entry:
Mon mec à moi - Patricia Kaas' biggest hit (1988)
Quand j'ai peur de tout (1997), music composed by Diane Warren (lyricist UK 2009)
Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Portuguese entry.
Related polls
Go directly to the reactions
Reactions
When reacting to a news item, please stick to the topic. Inappropriate messages (swearing, racism, hate, etc.), messages in other languages than English and spam (which includes URL advertising) will be deleted and you risk your account being removed. Reacting on newsitems is only possible when logged in as a member. Still don't have member account?
Click here to react Click here to become a member (free!)
I like this song.
If we are discussing ESC's course in last decade and concluding there should be more artistic songs and quality singers instead of comedy tra-la-la acts, this would be considerable satisfaction.
This song reminds us ESC should be a song contest. Quality, known singress. French really showed they believe they have a power to change ESC's course and thank them for that this year.
Though song hasn't got a clear chorus or memorable dramatic part, it actually is dramatic throughout the whole duration.
Negative side is its drawing position. This could affect badly.
Anyway, whatever happens, this would be a great step forward.
Personally, reminds me of Italy 1992 which was a good song, recognised by the juries as well as the public. I believe "Et s'il fallait le faire" would have the similar outcome 
I can't believe we are talking about any other songs when Patricia Kaas has agreed to take part in the contest. Raised the bar to the universe for all the rest!!! It's like having to choose between Motzart and and the Spicy Girls! For those who don't know her... welll!!! Says a lot but she is still there to be adored. Go Patricia and France. Wonderfull, unique, brings tears to my eyes...
Way the go France, patricia est la meilleure voix gauloise. The best entry from France for many years. La France 12 points du portugal
As for Patricia's popularity, I must admit that I have never heard of the woman till now that she's reperesenting France. But that doesn't play a big role with me anyway. All I know is that, popular or not, I am in love with this song and will definitely vote for it when the time comes. That's all that matters, eh?
By the way, just for the sake of debate, how much does popularity really mean at the ESC? Just recall DJ Bobo and all that fiasco. If anyone was popular all over the Europe, it was him, and we all know how that ended. Plus, personally, when I see that some star has entered the ESC (not a national star, mind you, but a real star), it just tells me that his/her career is over and that he/she is back at square one - festivals. So, I don't think Patricia's fame will play a big role, it's her voice, performance, the quality of the song, etc. that will make an impact.
at first I didn`t like it but now I realise it`s a great song...
France will surely receive some points from Romania, considering that Patricia is well-known here...
I LOVED "Divine" with Sebastien Tellier last year. His song became a hit here in Sweden and sounded very modern and cool. I was hoping for some kind of progress for France after a couple of years with boring ballads. And instead you're sending your most boring ballad ever.
Keith, it's very interesting. Most artists you have listed were popular in Ukraine too, especially among young people. But Patricia was known much wider and even older generations used to love her songs.
By the way, A-ha was very famous at that time too!
@ Keith Timmons
Me as a Norwegian didn't also know much about Patricia Kaas before it was announced that she would represent France this year 
Well well..
but France Gall 
Tom Pilibi, a fantastic song
As far as Norway goes, the most important French (language) artists that appeared on charts or radio in the late 80s and early 90s were Vanessa Paradis, Desireless, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Roch Voisine, Mylene Farmer, Jordy, France Gall, Jean-Jaques Goldman, Mireille Mathieu, Guesch Patti, Debut De Soiree, Lapins-Chasseur, Jackie Quartz, and maybe Les Négresses Vertes - off the top of my head. Patricia Kaas wasn't really one of them, at least I don't know of any one big hit she had. I can even name Elsa's song although it wasn't a hit at all in Norway, but Patricia Kaas? No. What were her biggest hits? Perhaps I know the songs but not the singer?
@Alibi boy
I do not know about the rest of Europe, but in post-soviet countries: Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and so on, she was not much less popular than Michael Jackson or Madonna.
As Mina told, at least the juries as professianals should know her for sure.
everybody says how famous she is.. but how really famous in europe is she????
Vive la France!
Who do you think can win this year with only televoting?
Turkey, Greece, Bosnia or Norway.
I wish they posted the official video as well, it made me truly live this song.
@ Mina
Who do you think can win this year with only televoting?
MY FAVOIRITE SONG FOR THIS YEAR ... I AM SO HAPPY FOR FRANCE THIS YEAR... THE BEST SONG THEY SENT SINCE 1993 !!!
PATRICIA YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE !!!! GOOD LUCK FROM CYPRUS !!!!
PS: IF THIS SONG DO NOT REACH TOP 3 THEN FRANCE MUST NEVER TAKE PART IN THIS CONTEST !!!!
Oleg,
they will take the song into consideration, too, of course. And it also depends on what kind of musicians they are. They will certainly have a tendency to vote for music similar to their own..for example, a rock singer is more likely to vote higher for Switzerland than for Greece.
But professionalism and vocals should play a part...at least more than they do to the random voter who votes for the song he finds more memorable (either for the show or for a beat he likes or for a cute girl/boy and so on).
And yes, her name will count, too. Even if the public in some countries may have never heard of Patricia Kaas before, the musicians of the country surely will know who she is.
I am 100% sure that all juries will give her some points..if that will translate to actual points I don't know..that's where the televoting comes in.
"As for the juries, they may not all give her 12 points but I believe that all of of them will give her some points. If they are professional musicians, they have to...hers will be the most professional act of the night..I bet that she won't even miss one note...I also think juries will give high points to Chiara and Jade."
Are the juries going to evaluate only vocal? There are a lot of other things like mucic, show, arrangement, subjective impression finally. Knowing the results of the NFs, one can see that vocal is far not the most important creterium that the juries used.
Regarding Patricia, I am still sure that the name will work on the result much more than the performance. The same relates to Jade with an Aandrew Lloyd Webber song. I am also sure that people in France and UK realise that very good when they made their choices.
Besides, I do not think that the juries gonna totally avoid of block voting and other kind of politics.
Btw, who's "we"? Have You become Greek royalty, Queen Mina?
You silly Keith WE..you and I and other people who were talking about the importance of a good draw..none of us had said that bad songs become good and win eurovision if they have a good draw.
As for the juries, they may not all give her 12 points but I believe that all of of them will give her some points. If they are professional musicians, they have to...hers will be the most professional act of the night..I bet that she won't even miss one note...I also think juries will give high points to Chiara and Jade.
@Loize: Thanks for that! It put me more at ease. I really want France to do well this time.
Btw noone said that a bad song will become good if it's drawn last..we said that a good song will have more chances (statistically) to get a good placing if it's drawn last
That's right. Not even I said that. I still think Spain for instance has no chance this year, but their lucky starting position could help them into the Top 10. I'm merely asking why it is so and so far only London Calling has offered a credible explanation (which I would have liked to explore in greater detail).
Btw, who's "we"? Have You become Greek royalty, Queen Mina?
Patricia's famous in New Zeland!! Good for her!!
She's not that famous there. I have lived in New Zealand for years and I never, not even once, heard any mention of her name whatsoever. I think I would have noticed, as I was crazy about French music at the time. Somehow it becomes more appealing when it's less accessible...
juries could give her many points, but I wouldn't even be so sure about this.
Me neither. I have no idea how the juries will vote. Are they supposed to give points for musical quality and professionalism or are they awarding points according to their own educated tastes? Or something in between? If the first is true, young singers like Christina Metaxas won't stand a chance, which is sad since Eurovision has always been a springboard for young artists. But if they vote for the songs they like, there is no guarantee at all that they will like the French entry.
Oh! Patricia's famous in New Zeland!! Good for her!!
Whatever - Patricia Russia loves you!!!!
She's clearly a very talented performer, and the song evokes strong emotions, but I doubt whether this will make much impact on the night to win, although I'm sure it will score highly with the juries.
the music and song are beautiful and sexyyyy. Patricia is the greatest of ALL french singers ever. and this song is so her. My favourite this year. La France DOUZE POINTS!!! much better, by really far than those silly things of Greece, Spain or Turkey
quote:
2005 Chiara at nr°3 came 2nd.
(same year Romania with Let Me Try at nr°4 came 3rd)
oups i've forgotten these ones
Just wait and see then
What a awesome draw (sic).
It's now pretty sure it will score well with juries, but i doubt that televoting will ensure France a top 5 by performing in 3rd..., still chance for a top 10 though
Wonderful singer and lyrics. Actually, the last French winner was Corinne Hermes in 1983 representing Luxembourg.
At least a good entry from France since years...
Probably top10, though being 3rd is not really an advantage.
Good luck to you
The list of 150 reactions is divided into 6 pages. Choose a page:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
React yourself
This news article is older than one week. Reacting to articles is only possible in the first week after publication.
