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France Télévisions explains its choice
"We believe in his talent"
Journalist Sébastien Catroux writes on what French eurofans already expressed in Télé Loisirs, but he also asked questions to France Télévisions' entertainement manager.
"Nicolas Pernikoff chose the French candidate", the headline says. Here are his answers.
France Soir: How did you choose Jessy Matador?
Nicolas Pernikoff: He's got a real talent, his forthcoming album is good. It will be published right before the contest, with France Télévisions' support. We were in advanced negociations with Christophe Willem, but it didn't come to an agreement.
France Soir: Do you understand reluctances of some French Eurofans?
Nicolas Pernikoff: They haven't heard the song yet, so they can't really judge. Moreover, it is wrong to think Eurovision can't reach good viewing figures with unknown artists. When Virginie Pouchain took part, in 2006, figures were excellent. I have also heard that Jessy Matador is of Congolese origins. So what ?
France Soir: According to you, what are his chances to win the contest?
Nicolas Pernikoff: We will compete with something "festive", lively, in the same vein than Magic System group. We will try everything, even if we have to take into account the complex geopolitical dimension of the contest, when it comes to vote, with neighbouring countries supporting each others. Last year, Patricia Kaas already paid the price for this.
Related polls
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- Malta: Vote for your favourite act in the final of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2012
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I hope France to do well. When the previous year, a country finishes in top10... it uses to repeat the next year... so, I think this year France will be top.
I understand angerness of eurofans. France, Spain, UK or Germany will never win. Being Big4 is more a disadvantage than anything... because if we sent the best song of all, we would be 7th till 25th. You never know... but we know we'll never win.
May be Zidan on the stage ????
Obviously we should wait for the song before judging (maybe we'll discover it's produced by David Guetta!), but this comforts my idea: ESC will never rise up until "strong countries" won't use their best forces for it. What can "algo pequenitos" give to actual music panorama? Why we can never expect a worldwide hit coming from ESC?
Milan S.
Geting 10-12 points from Armenia, Greece, Cyprus it will min that song won't be the last!!! at least 30-36 points!!! lol)))
the french withdrew in 82 calling the contest " a monument to drivel", now they enter ole ole ole
the words POT , KETTLE ,BLACK come to mind
I have also heard that Jessy Matador is of Congolese origins. So what ?
Yes, "so what" indeed, when no-one had even brought the matter up. Call me a cynic, but it seems to me like Mr. Pernikoff is trying to pull the race card here.
What's all this fuss about nothing and who cares, it's not the end of the world, isn't it? 
I'm french and I know how we react, we're never happy, always against everything, but it's fun to see other people reacting the same way.
Last year, people claimed that Patricia was a wrong choice, because she was famous. "Eurovision is for newcomers", was the slogan.
Now, there's a newcomer (though his videos have been watched by over 13 millions) and people say it has to be a famous artist.
Some years ago, people claimed that the french entries need more promotion, but now when there's promotion it's not good.
The song is still not online, but people spit their anger and opinions about it.
The result: no matter what you do or who France will send to ESC, it's not enough. Then we have the haters here every year. For them it's not about the song or the artist (Jessy is already a big sh.t in everyone's eyes, even if his innocent), it's about their personal opinions and feelings about France.
Other countries can send singers to ESC that we never heard of before, songs that or really dull etc.
For France again, it has to be something so special that it doesn't even exists, the entry is in our imagination.
I mean, who cares? I feel really sorry for some people. Don't you have better things to do?
We will try everything, even if we have to take into account the complex geopolitical dimension of the contest, when it comes to vote, with neighbouring countries supporting each others. Last year, Patricia Kaas already paid the price for this.
Is this guy crazy???Patricia didn't pay any price. Her song was dated and it was in French! why French people have illusions?? What geopolitical reasons he calls for? Countries like Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Israel, Bosnia&Herzegovina voted for France and they are not neighbours. Norway won because they had the best entry and they didn't need the Scandinavian votes. is this guy sober??? WHERE IS BRUNO???
Nicolas Pernikoff: We will try everything, even if we have to take into account the complex geopolitical dimension of the contest, when it comes to vote, with neighbouring countries supporting each others. Last year, Patricia Kaas already paid the price for this.
blablabla, if Patricia came 8, is because the song wasnt too good for win eurovision (patricia is great but the song is good but little boring)
Last year Patricia Kaas reached one of the best results for France, if not the best one, in years. How can he state that she has "paid the price" for neighbour voting"? This is just wanting to deny reality. I don't know about figures back in 2006, but I know that the french song was one of the least succesful, and not only in that year's ESC. Mr. Pernikoff, as we say in Italy, is "climbing mirrors", which means desperately trying anything just to defend his choice.
Of course we haven't heard the song yet, but I don't think it can be that different from his usual style - And his usual style sounds terrible to me. Sorry.
@stine: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ... 
u know how to tickle my pickle my dear
@Tommy
I agree, the only way ESC could be more entertaining than football is if the lame ass performers were playing football instead of making our ears bleed
LOL football over a contest of downers anyday
Gross..
I hate these pointless interviews
France sent an idiot. I seriously hope the French come Dead last in 2010. Real Eurofans French, Spanish or English all have the right to be upset. This is a total scam to make money for a football event :/
My god 1st politics rears its ugly face in Eurovision and now Football is joining in. Whats next A song promoting ballet?
Why eurofans are so hysterical? Let's wait to listen to song and then we can give our opinion. In any case, we should be a bit more openminded. About the metion of Nicolas Pernikoff to Patricia Kaas position, I think it was not as bad at he says, to reach the position 8 with the fantastic song she perfomed in Moscow I think was a success.
hahaha i cant wait to hear it!
I love football and am waaaaaaaaaay more interested in it than esc 
Bringing something about the "beautiful game" into esc is ok in my books! allez alles
"We believe in his talent" - so we gave him the most preposterous song ever and we are sure that he can get away with it!
Thats all very good that he has "talent"
but how does FT explain the fact they are using the eurovision to promote their world cup song and are not caring about winning or putting a good campaign together as they did last year.
@ YEREVAN
And if he adds ELA, he'll get 12 from Greece and Cyprus as well
Thanks, Mina! Let's hope Millenium are able not to be lynched by TRM.
Shevek Your favourite in Moldova, "Padure, verde padure", has withdrawn
When I heard the news, Shevek was the 1st person I thought about. I'm sorry, Shevek 
Thanks very much, Laila. I am not going to say much about this NF, because I would probably be rude, very rude. For me, it's obvious who's going to win (Dyma or Mihaila). Why bother spending money on this make believe NF? Lost (almost) all interest in Moldova 2010.
Shevek
Your favourite in Moldova, "Padure, verde padure", has withdrawn.
5 Moldovan songs have withdrawn from the semis and been replaced by 5 new. And get this; They STILL didn't care to add Leylla or any of the other good ones. No, instead they added 5 of the least good songs of all, lol. I think Moldova's selection is definitely fixed somehow. Either that or they have the worst juries in all of Europe.
Withdrawn:
Alex White – Towards the sky
Ionel Istrati – Wait!
Olia Tira – Goodbye
Sun Stroke Project - Believe
Victoria Mahu – Padure, verde padure
New:
Constantinova & Fusu - The Robbery
Dana Marchitan - Day and night
JJ Jazz - So many questions
Veronica Lupu - Poza ta
Vitalie Toderascu - Ti-aduci aminte
The songs are now up on TRM's site instead of the others.
I still don't think I'm going to like it, I've listened to some of his stuff on youtube (well, as much as I could bear) and unless it is completely different, there is virtually no chance of me liking it.
Franc bring something original /for this year/!! I love France, I love football, I won't be asleep from slow music!!!
The only thing I'd ask is that France must change the title of the song !! YOU SHOULD ADD Armenian version of ALLEZ - QELE and you will get points not only from by Football fans, but also from Armenia!!!
I thinn this one is mush better "ALLEZ,QELE, OLE, OLA"!!!!!!!!
Mr. Pernikoff (what a funny surname) seems very hopeful. Release the song, please!
ESC Today, why hasn't there been a report on the Moldova semis yet? Some countries only need to sneeze to be featured here!
what the juries will like*
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