The media attention to the unpreventable langauge debate for the French Eurovision Song Contest entry is still alive and kicking across international media. Quite a few media in France are still reporting on it and the French information agency AFP (Agence France Presse) has published two press releases.
The first one was dealing with statement of Alain Joyandet, French secretary of State, in charge of Co-operation and French-speaking Communities. The man, who is presently in Canada, declared that “When someone’s got the honor to represent his country, he has to do it in his native language”. When back in France, Mr Joyandet intends to meet both the artist and Patrick de Carolis, head of “France Télévisions”. The same releaseincludes a statement of Stéphane Elfassi, the man behind Tellier’s record company (RecordsMakers) : “This debate around the language doesn’t smell good !”.
In a second press release, the AFP deals with this year’s Printemps de Bourges (the largest music festival in France – which began last Tuesday) and points out that a big number of groups and artists who have emerged during the last two years on the French scene have chosen English to express themselves: The Do, Yael Naïm, AaRON, Cocoon and so on.
Even Camille, who was awarded the “Victoire” (French Grammy) for best stage revelation and best album back in 2006, decided to record songs in English. Her brand new album, “Music hole”, entered the French Top 200 at number 5 this week (whereas Tellier’s placesat 112 !). Once again, Mr Elfassi declares that French touch acts like Air, Daft Punk, Phoenix and Tahiti 80 have reached fame and recognition thanks to English.
Still, the journalist ends the release with another point of view : these groups are certainly famous all around the world, but not identified as French musicians by French people, and their music is not included in French-speaking quotas that radio stations have to respect in France.
The story was also a mainstay on BBC News in the United Kingdom with several music, eurovision Song Contest and French culture experts being invited into the studio to give their opinions. The overwhelming view was that the entry should go ahead as planned, and that the style of music being French should be celebrated, rather than the language of the song detracting from this.
