The public will have a say in choosing the artist who will represent France at Eurovision 2021, in Rotterdam (Netherlands). Alexandra Redde-Amiel, head of the French delegation and director of entertainment for France Televisions, announces the establishment of a national selection ahead of the next edition.
“It will be a creation, produced in-house by France Télévisions Studios. We are working on the final concept. We already know that it will be an event evening, in a large performance hall, in the region, ”she said to 20 Minutes by phone on Saturday.
A jury
During this program broadcast on France 2, the candidates in the running will be decided by the votes of viewers. It will also count on the presence of a jury. "We do not yet know how we will build it, how many people it will be made up, or if it will be solely French or international," slips Alexandra Redde-Amiel, indicating that discussions are underway.
The call for candidates will be launched on June 29. The required criteria have not yet been communicated, but some of them, required by Eurovision regulations, will have to be met. For example, to be eligible, a song must not be longer than three minutes and cannot be or have been released before September 1, 2020.
"We want everyone to feel like a potential candidate," says the head of delegation, who aims to "revive the Eurovision brand [on the air]". “It's a powerful brand. It is the symbol of gathering, union, sharing and we need it during this period, ”she continues.
Tom Leeb's withdrawal
Eurovision 2020, which should have been held last May in Rotterdam, has been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "It was a frustration not to live this edition," says Alexandra Redde-Amiel.
France would have been represented in the final by Tom Leeb, with his song Mon Alliée . The singer, who had been chosen internally at France Televisions at the end of last year, revealed Friday that he would not participate in the competition next year. "The decision was taken by mutual agreement," says the head of delegation. Preparing for Eurovision 2021 would have taken up too much of his time for him, who is also a comedian and actor. "And to specify:" We are accompanying him, Tom Leeb is a France Télévisions artist. "
The dates for Eurovision 2021, which will take place at Ahoy Rotterdam, were officialized on Monday. The semi-finals will be held on May 18 and 20. France, as the main financial contributor, is, like Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, automatically qualified for the final on Saturday 22 May. It only remains to find the ideal artist to defend the tricolor chances. See you in early 2021, on France 2, for that.
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- France Televisions
- France 2
- Tom leeb
- Rotterdam
- Eurovision