France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Encyclopedia
France
’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
was selected in a national final consisting of talent search performers. It was held on 14 March and the public and a panel of experts, presided by Charles Aznavour
, combined to select the winner. Before that, there were seven regional auditions including some in France's overseas territories. Virginie Pouchain
was selected to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song Vous, c'est nous (You are us), but the song was later changed to Il était temps
(It was time), as Virginie complained to the songwriter, Corneille Nyungura
, that it did not suit her style. The song was composed by Corneille Nyungura & Virginie Pouchain.
Virginie Pouchain
is a 26 year-old hairdresser, who decided to take part in ‘Entrée des Artistes’, a musical show hosted by Pascal Sevran
. Virginie won that competition and along with three other participants, she entered Et si c'était vous?, the French broadcaster's national final for Eurovision, which was intended to have new talents emerge. Out of 21 participants, she was chosen to move on to the next round of the competition along with two others after she interpreted Céline Dion
's French hit, Pour que tu m'aimes encore. She won the final after gaining the jury's and televoters' support to gain selection for Athens.
Pouchain was accompanied on stage by Matheson Bayley
, the first ever British person to be involved in a French entry at Eurovision. As France is one of the top four donors to the European Broadcasting Union
, it gained automatic entry to the final. Pouchain's song finished 22nd out of 24 entries, with just 5 votes compared to the 292 polled by winners Lordi
of Finland
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Eurovision Song Contest 2006
The Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, Greece on 18 May and 20 May 2006 . The hosting national broadcaster of the contest was Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi . The Finnish band Lordi won the contest with the song "Hard Rock...
was selected in a national final consisting of talent search performers. It was held on 14 March and the public and a panel of experts, presided by Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
, combined to select the winner. Before that, there were seven regional auditions including some in France's overseas territories. Virginie Pouchain
Virginie Pouchain
Virginie Pouchain, born 1980 in Saint-Montan, Ardèche, is a singer and hairdresser from the département of Ardèche in southern France. On 14 March 2006 she was selected by the viewers of France 3 and a jury presided by Charles Aznavour to represent France in Eurovision Song Contest 2006. For the...
was selected to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song Vous, c'est nous (You are us), but the song was later changed to Il était temps
Il Était Temps
"Il était temps" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in French by Virginie Pouchain....
(It was time), as Virginie complained to the songwriter, Corneille Nyungura
Corneille (singer)
Cornelius Nyungura is a singer who performs under the name Corneille. He was born in Germany to Rwandan parents, though he currently holds a Canadian passport and sings in French and English...
, that it did not suit her style. The song was composed by Corneille Nyungura & Virginie Pouchain.
Virginie Pouchain
Virginie Pouchain
Virginie Pouchain, born 1980 in Saint-Montan, Ardèche, is a singer and hairdresser from the département of Ardèche in southern France. On 14 March 2006 she was selected by the viewers of France 3 and a jury presided by Charles Aznavour to represent France in Eurovision Song Contest 2006. For the...
is a 26 year-old hairdresser, who decided to take part in ‘Entrée des Artistes’, a musical show hosted by Pascal Sevran
Pascal Sevran
Pascal Sevran was a French TV presenter and author.-Biography:Son of a communist taxi driver, and a Spanish tailor, Pascal Sevran was born on 16 October 1945 in Paris. His real name was Jean-Claude Jouhaud. He worked as a song-writer, a singer, a TV presenter, and an author. He was openly gay...
. Virginie won that competition and along with three other participants, she entered Et si c'était vous?, the French broadcaster's national final for Eurovision, which was intended to have new talents emerge. Out of 21 participants, she was chosen to move on to the next round of the competition along with two others after she interpreted Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
's French hit, Pour que tu m'aimes encore. She won the final after gaining the jury's and televoters' support to gain selection for Athens.
Matheson Bayley
Matheson Bayley , is a British pianist, composer, orchestrator, singer and television host. He studied commercial composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London...
, the first ever British person to be involved in a French entry at Eurovision. As France is one of the top four donors to the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
, it gained automatic entry to the final. Pouchain's song finished 22nd out of 24 entries, with just 5 votes compared to the 292 polled by winners Lordi
Lordi
Lordi is a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1996 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume-designer, Mr. Lordi. The band is known for wearing monster masks and using pyrotechnics during concerts...
of Finland
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Finland first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, and has participated a total of 45 times. Finland won the contest for the first time in 2006 with Lordi's "Hard Rock Hallelujah"...
.
Result of National Final
| № | Performer | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginie Pouchain Virginie Pouchain Virginie Pouchain, born 1980 in Saint-Montan, Ardèche, is a singer and hairdresser from the département of Ardèche in southern France. On 14 March 2006 she was selected by the viewers of France 3 and a jury presided by Charles Aznavour to represent France in Eurovision Song Contest 2006. For the... |
42.5% | 1st |
| 2 | Fabien Incardone | 34.2% | 2nd |
| 3 | Julien Lamassone | 23.3% | 3rd |
External links
See also
- France in the Eurovision Song ContestFrance in the Eurovision Song ContestFrance is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest and has entered the competition fifty-four times since their debut at the very first contest in 1956. France is one of only seven countries to be present at the very first contest, and has only been absent from two...