L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant
Encyclopedia
"L'oiseau et l'enfant" was the winning song in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977
performed in French
by the Portuguese
singer Marie Myriam
, who represented France
. The song was composed by Jean-Paul Cara and written by Joe Gracy.
The song was the eighteenth and final song performed on the night (following Belgium
’s Dream Express with "A Million in One, Two, Three
"). At the close of voting, it had received 136 points, coming first in a field of eighteen. Myriam recorded the song in five languages; French, English
(as "The Bird and the Child"), German
("Der Vogel und das Mädchen"), Spanish
("El zagal y el ave azul") and her mother tongue Portuguese
("A ave e a infância").
During Preview Week, Myriam's music video showed her performing the song in an open-air atmosphere, in a section of the Square René Viviani
in Paris
. This preview video is notable for the prominent presence of the gendarmes
having to restrain the crowd, some of whom having climbed the noted "oldest tree in Paris" to catch a glimpse of the singer. On the Contest night, she performed in a floor-length orange gown while her five backup singers were clad in black.
It was succeeded as French representative
at the 1978 Contest
by Joël Prévost
with "Il y aura toujours des violons
".
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition series, and was held on 7 May 1977 in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest was won by Marie Myriam who represented France, with her song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" . This was France's fifth victory, a record, which was equalled...
performed in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
singer Marie Myriam
Marie Myriam
Marie Myriam is a French singer of Portuguese origins...
, who represented France
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...
. The song was composed by Jean-Paul Cara and written by Joe Gracy.
The song was the eighteenth and final song performed on the night (following Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
’s Dream Express with "A Million in One, Two, Three
A Million In One, Two, Three
"A Million in One, Two, Three" was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in English by Dream Express, a band consisting of Luc Smets and the three sisters Maessen; Bianca, Patricia and Stella...
"). At the close of voting, it had received 136 points, coming first in a field of eighteen. Myriam recorded the song in five languages; French, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(as "The Bird and the Child"), German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
("Der Vogel und das Mädchen"), Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
("El zagal y el ave azul") and her mother tongue Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
("A ave e a infância").
During Preview Week, Myriam's music video showed her performing the song in an open-air atmosphere, in a section of the Square René Viviani
Square René Viviani
The Square René Viviani is a public square adjacent to the Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre in the fifth arrondissement of Paris.-Location:...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. This preview video is notable for the prominent presence of the gendarmes
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
having to restrain the crowd, some of whom having climbed the noted "oldest tree in Paris" to catch a glimpse of the singer. On the Contest night, she performed in a floor-length orange gown while her five backup singers were clad in black.
It was succeeded as French representative
France in the Eurovision Song Contest
France 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...
at the 1978 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
by Joël Prévost
Joël Prévost
Joël Prévost is a French singer, best known for his participation in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest....
with "Il y aura toujours des violons
Il Y Aura Toujours Des Violons
"Il y aura toujours des violons" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in French by Joël Prévost....
".