France3 has rejected Jonatan Cerrada's original entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, Laissez moi le temps in favour of a new song, titled A chaque pas. The new song is a ballad with rock elements.

Cerrada performed the uptempo song, Laissez moi le temps, for the first time last week during a concert at l'Olympia in Paris. After several discussions, it has apparently been decided not to use the song in Istanbul, and instead France3 has decided to go with an alternative offered at the same time as Laissez moi le temps.

A chaque pas, which means Every step, is currently being rearranged and the reason for this change has not been stated. The new song will also be part of a 'Eurovision Special' to be recorded on Monday evening and broadcast at the end of March.

Cerrada is the first male artist to front the French entry in a long time, after a wave of female singers with big ballads. Cerrada won the television talent show Idols last year and is the second Walloon Belgian to represent France after Nathalie Pâque took part in Lausanne in 1989.

“The channel wanted an up-tempo entry”, the head of the French delegation Bruno Berberes declared. “The song already chosen didn�t seem to be as strong as those you can hear on the radio, those people like and go for. That�s why we finally chose a ballad� which is a well-known French speciality!� he added, with a smile. A clip of the song is available probably later this week on the official website Eurovision France.