Slimane reveals what he refused for his Eurovision performance

He represents France at Eurovision: Slimane will be on Saturday May 11, 2024 on the Malmö stage. The singer is in Sweden – host country after Loreen’s victory last year – for the European singing competition. He will perform his song My love, a romantic ballad that could make him stand out from the crowd. To date, it is systematically announced in the top 10 and sometimes even the top 5 of bookmakers.

Slimane and “My love“: details of his service

When Slimane was chosen to wear the colors of France – he had already been approached in the past and it was in the studio, some time later, when he was recording My love that he decided to present it at Eurovision – several questions arose. Starting with the choice of a ballad in a competition renowned for its danceable and dynamic rhythms; even if the 2nd place of Barbara Pravi with So proved that there is room for everyone.

“I’m a bit of an alien, even to the other candidates. My love is the only real ballad in the entire show. By making this choice, which suits me 1000%, I am ultimately very different. I sing in French, my native language, too. The scenography that we will propose will be immersive”, delivered Slimane in an interview in 7 Days TV to discuss his performance on stage.

Slimane, who will perform in front of more than 160 million viewers – a figure largely reached last year – has not given in and will therefore sing his entire song in French. It’s the opposite of Anggun (French candidate in 2012 with Echo (You and I) or Natasha St-Pier, French representative in 2001 with I only have my soulwhich then contained a passage in English during the final).

“People don’t need to understand every word. I had doubts, I even said to myself, sometimes: ‘Maybe we should put a chorus in English.’ But that wouldn’t have been me.” A song in French which, he hopes, will touch his audience: France. “Zack Reece, the artistic director of the performance, managed to sublimate everything that I am, so I sincerely hope that the French will see it. I want them to be proud”he confided.

Will the singer bring Eurovision back to France?

Eurovision, a crazy adventure for Slimane that he describes as real “whirlwind”. “Fortunately, I’m very well surrounded, but it’s a marathon, the Olympic Games for singers! he exclaimed again. It’s demanding.” Does he hope to win the trophy and bring the competition back to France? “I dream of victory, of course, but I remain fair to myself, he estimated. I won’t question everything if I’m ranked wrong.”

France’s last best ranking at Eurovision dates back to 2021, with Barbara Pravi’s performance with the title So – she took second place. As a reminder, our country’s last major victory dates back to 1977! We owe it to the singer Marie Myriam who was crowned with her hit The Bird and the Child. Will Slimane be the second Frenchman to be crowned? Answer on May 11!