Welcome to XTRA Decides! In this feature the team here at ESCXTRA rank the national final songs, giving our choice of the winner. We are ranking the songs using the Eurovision style 12-1 scoring system. Today we decide our winner of France’s selection ‘Eurovision France, c’est vous qui décidez!‘
After giving our scores, we have chosen Barbara Pravi with the song ‘Voilà’ to win the competition. Check out our scores and the thoughts of some of the team below.
Our Scores
| Song | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara Pravi – Voilà 12: Angelos, Costa, Bente, Tim, Justas, Sean, Vincent | 1 | 121 |
| Andriamad – Alléluia 12: Maria, Tom R | 2 | 101 |
| Casanova – Tutti 12: Dominik | 3 | 79 |
| Juliette Moraine – Pourvu Qu’on M’Aime 12: Tom O, Aline, Nick | 4 | 71 |
| Terence James – Je T’Emmènerai Danser 12: Sami | 4 | 71 |
| Philippine – Bah Non | 6 | 68 |
| Amui – Maeva | 7 | 64 |
| LMK – Magique 12: Lisa | 8 | 63 |
| Pony X – Amour Fou | 9 | 54 |
| Cephaz – On A Mangé Le Soleil | 10 | 51 |
| 21 Juin Le Duo – Peux-Tu Me Dire? | 11 | 36 |
| Ali – Paris Me Dit | 12 | 35 |
Reviews
Costa (12pts)
Voila is a stunning, captivating ballad. The way Barbara embodies the song’s tone in the preview video eases my nerves about its chances at the contest itself; from this video, I am also confident that it’s a song that works without an audience. Best of all it is a dynamic song that serves layers and builds to a high-impact climax. Obviously, this is a risky choice of entry due to France’s spotty result history with this genre, however, I believe Big 5 countries SHOULD take risks.
Bente (12pts)
It’s very simple: Voila is the best song in this national final. Is it the most French song to ever compete after Patricia Kaas? Probably, but that’s exactly what I love about it! It’s got the full package of vocals, music, and atmosphere to create an incredible entry. Certainly, there are other great songs as well. Bah Non has been stuck in my head since I heard it for the first time, and can we just talk about Maeva? I know it’s a specific taste, but god do I enjoy that one. It has the perfect summer vibes and it could give us something new on the Eurovision stage!
Nick (10pts)
When you think of French music, this really is the way to go, isn’t it? France know they can do francophone pop like no other and they’ve showcased it in other years. However, 2021 may just be the moment for a soothing three minutes taking us all back to Montmarte, back to Édith Piaf and back to the chansons of the glory days of French music. It is exactly what Barbara Pravi does. It’s a risk, it’s out there, but it will stand out in a very positive way. The song has a build up and an interesting character, yet at the same time feels very subtle and easy on the ears. Simplicity without being boring, complexity without being pretentious. Take a bow, Barbara Pravi.
Tom R (10pts)
I’m not usually a fan of songs like “Voilà” – take for example “Et s’il fallait le faire”. These type of songs don’t usually excite me, as they’re not a genre of choice for me. However, this is an exception. This song literally gives me chills. Barbara embodies every moment of the song – she puts clear passion in the song from start to finish. If the preview video is anything to go by, this performance will be a “moment” on stage during the show and I would be very surprised if it did not finish top 3.
Xtra Decides so far…
Do you agree with our decision? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for reactions and interviews.
