Special - Bruno Berberes speaks to esctoday.com | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2010 Oslo, Norway 

The Head of the French Delegation spoke to esctoday.com's French editor, Yann Charpentier, a few days before the big day of the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki where Les Fatals Picards will be showing Europe L’amour à la française.

Have you recovered from the French final yet?

 Of course, our first impression stays the « enthusiasm »! Thanks to France television and especially Bastien Millot, Claude Lacaze and Marie-Claire Mezerette, French people discovered new talents. That represents 6 months of hard work with the most talented contemporary authors and composers in France. We are more and more optimistic to interest some famous artists into our selections. France made a new step with a more popular selection even if the final result is not the desired one.

Looking back, how successful was the French final this year and has it helped increase interest in Eurovision in France?

The satisfaction is great for us and for the public too even if the figures aren’t good enough. We noticed that with the number of votes for the selection this year. French people could vote themselves for their song and the success of Les Fatals Picards and Medi-T has shown that they really were the favourites of everybody, mine too. We noticed an interest for the French selections and for Eurovision in the French newspapers. The intellectual press has even shown a big interest! That’s the first time in France that we can see all these positive reactions. That’s, for example, the first time that a candidate for Eurovision Song Contest sings for the “Printemps de Bourges”, a festival of music where you can hear alternative, rock and pop music. Les Fatals Picards were the revelation of the manifestation this year.

.

How are preparations for “Les Fatals Picards” going and what can we expect from their stage performance in Helsinki?

They will be wearing clothes by a famous fashion designer. You will notice lot of surprises on stage… After the monsters of Lordi, you will simply watch the angels from France… Love and Cupidon will be the stars of L’amour à la française!

Will they be using a snow-dome?

No, the organisation does not allow us. We just have 30 seconds between the songs to empty all the snow out the stage. It’s finally not possible.

How do you think this year's competition is?

The level of the songs is really good. The semi-final gets some wonderful songs, but I am a bit worried of the geopolitical votes. I love Belgium for example…. It will be difficult to qualify with all the countries from east ahead of them.  And to be in the Top 10 on 28 countries in the semi final, for me that it’s more difficult than being in the top 5 in the final.

I am really happy to note that a lot of countries will sing in their own language (ouf!), like Germany and Slovenia. I am really honoured too to see that Cyprus, Romania and Israel will sing in French. But I am really disappointed to hear Belgium French speaking part in English, and to see, once again, that not one song will be sung in Greek (my favourite language… so beautiful and sexy!).

What will you think of an international exhibition where all the countries will present the same wine? Boring, isn’t it?

Some countries say that it’s better when all over Europe understands the lyrics …I’m not sure, sometimes it’s better not to understand!

After some contacts with the organisation, I am happy to realise that Finland is  doing a great job with a big sense of rigour. Maybe too much!

Which are your favourite entries this year?

As far I didn‘t see the rehearsals it’s difficult to predict but definitely, that’s Germany. In the polls, they are once again between the 7th and the 15th place. That may be good news for Germany because the polls are often wrong! They could be the surprise of the contest. Roger sings really well, he is charmer, I’m a big fan of this song… after the hard rock, why not jazz! This kind of song could help the contest. But I love the song too for a symbolic way :  “Frauen” the ladies, at the lead of the world… that’s a wink for France and Germany… with our elections and Ségolène Royal, and for Angela Merkel in Germany. And last but not least they sing in German! Then, my second favourite is Hungary, with a really strong voice. My outsiders are Romania, Belarus, Russia, Bulgaria, Belgium and Georgia. Every year, since the victory of Ruslana in 2004, my predictions are good… I’d just seen wrong in 2002, for my first year in the esc world and the victory of Latvia.

And for France we deserve a top 10.

What are your views on having 2 semi finals and would you prefer a draw to determine the way countries fit into each or a split according to timezone / east vs west?

Why not ?  A first one with all the countries who made Eurovision between 1956 and 1993. Then, a second one with all the others between 1994 and today, the last are mostly from east. That would be a good new balance.

Would French television broadcast the semi finals?

They will. Eurovision is changing in a good way. We just have to watch Eurovision like a TV show. That’s music and music has to stay a pleasure.

I just want to say once again that the Big 4 Party “Unplugged Number 4” (organised by the 4 big countries) will take place the 8th may in the “Euro Club”. You will be able to see some esc singers for an acoustic set.

Esctoday.com would like to thank Bruno Berberes for the interview and wish him and Les Fatals Picards good luck in Helsinki.

A very special thanks also to Yann Charpentier for submitting the interview