Tellier single outrage

Sebastién’s Eurovision entry for France causes upset

16 April 08 - Sebastién Tellier’s single Divine, which is France's Eurovision entry, has sparked outrage in his native country.

The track is almost entirely sung in English and so one MP demanded an explanation from the Culture Minister about why it was chosen to represent the country.

Sebastién Tellier was selected by France 3, the state television channel, to perform his electro-pop track at the annual contest – which is happening in Belgrade on 24 May.

But the lyrics are mostly English, which is a first for a French entry in 52 years of the competition.

François-Michel Gonnot, an MP in President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, said: “Our fellow citizens don't understand why France is giving up defending its language in front of hundreds of millions of television viewers around the world."

"I don't think that singing in French is the best way to make oneself understood by the whole world"
Tellier's Producer

But Tellier's producer, Marc Teissier du Cros, said: "Sebastién Tellier sings in English, French and even in Italian according to his inspiration.

"This year, half the Eurovision candidates are singing in English and I don't think that singing in French is the best way to make oneself understood by the whole world."

Terry Wogan, the long-serving host of the show here in the UK, told 6 Music what he thinks of the story: “The French are very very proud of their language you see and it’s a bit of a body blow because it’s the thin end of the wedge here because the French insist that the Eurovision song contest is always conducted in three languages.

“But the French always insist that it be announced in French as well so they’re going to be very hurt about this.”

Not that he reckons that the language of the French entry will help their odds: “It’s not going to make the smallest difference to their efforts because as you know, anybody that sings in English is roundly hated by anybody who lives east of the Danube.

“So that’s it – I mean it’s diminishing their chances. I don’t know – are they mad?”


Kelly Stooke