La Zarra will represent France at Eurovision 2023

• The Canadian singer La Zarra, revealed in 2021 by her hit

  Tu t'en iras

  , was chosen by France Télévisions to represent France at Eurovision 2023. The competition will take place in Liverpool (England) and the final will be held on 13 may.

• “Europe loves France for its eras, the great singers who have passed through the decades.

  French chic, the French icon, is also popular, continues the head of delegation.

  La Zarra is the epitome of that, with a voice and a hell of a personality.

  She can be in turn Brel, Barbara and Dalida, ”says Alexandra Redde-Amiel, director of games and entertainment for the public service and head of delegation at Eurovision.

• The song with which she will be competing has not yet been revealed.

  According to Alexandra Redde-Amiel, expect a “mysterious, surprising, different” piece, “a timeless mix of several repertoires” including “ABBA-style sounds”, entirely sung in French.

La Zarra, the Quebec singer revealed two years ago by the hit

, will represent France at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool (United Kingdom).

The information was formalized this Thursday by France Télévisions, but discussions between the artist and the public service had been going on for several months.

“To give me her agreement, she sent me an SMS saying: “Ok, we will go there together and win this victory.

She has this state of mind to commit herself by being determined to go all the way, ”says

Alexandra Redde-Amiel, patron saint of entertainment at France Télés and head of the tricolor delegation to Eurovision.

When we interviewed La Zarra at the end of 2021, on the occasion of the release of her first album,

, we asked her what she thought of the musical competition.

Unlike many sisters, she had not pouted talking about risky bet for a career.

She replied: “I never thought of participating in a competition, but it would make me happy to defend France, I would go with the crocs.

»

Walk in the footsteps of Celine Dion and Natasha St-Pier

A little over a year later, she would not change a word: “I still have the same motivation.

As a Canadian, Eurovision is a dream.

There was Celine Dion [who won for Switzerland in 1988] and Natasha St-Pier [4th for France in 2001], it's a pride to walk in their footsteps, "says the author, composer and performer. originally from Longueuil, near Montreal.

La Zarra says she is honored to defend the chances of France, where she pursues her career and where she now lives.

She is not afraid of the sad spirits who would consider that a Canadian is not legitimate to represent France.

“Quebec and France are very, very close cousins.

We have a great sympathy for each other, ”she recalls.

"I had wanted to work with La Zarra for two years but, at the time, for her, it was not the time," says Alexandra Redde-Amiel.

The singer was then in full promotion of her disc and did not imagine investing herself for several months in the preparation of the competition.

“I am aware of the involvement that this requires, confirms the artist.

I waited to be ready, I think today I have the qualities and experience necessary to participate.

“She concedes having sought advice from those around her before committing definitively: “I needed to be reassured, to be told that I was capable of it.

There is always a doubt as an artist.

This is normal, otherwise it would be presumptuous.

»

“A timeless mix of several repertoires”

The song she will compete with in Liverpool will be revealed soon.

Even his title is kept secret.

According to the head of delegation, we can expect a "mysterious, astonishing, different" piece, "a timeless mix of several repertoires" including "ABBA-style sounds", with "personality" and entirely sung in French.

La Zarra adds that his song will be "in line with the mix of genres" of his first album.

“She can speak to several people in different ways, it will be up to everyone to take ownership of her,” she warns.

Alexandra Redde-Amiel strongly believes in her potential.

So much so that she agreed that the third season of

, yet announced at the back-to-school conference, would not take place this year.

“The exchanges with La Zarra were fatal in the decision.

She has all the qualities I was looking for: she is a complete artist, with charisma, voice and song.

She has a way of writing that touches me, the words are sometimes very strong, murderous, transgressive.

La Zarra has put the writing of her album on hold and I have put the national selection on hold, ”says the head of entertainment to justify this choice of the internal selection.

Alexandra Redde-Amiel says she has no strategy per se.

“I try not to ask myself too many questions and to follow my instincts, my heart and my desires”, she sweeps.

But she has a stated goal: "to do the double" by winning Eurovision in May after Lissandro's victory at Eurovision junior in December.

To achieve this, we must therefore at least ask ourselves which proposal would have the potential to win the widest support and the votes of the public and the juries on the evening of the final, May 13th.

“She can be in turn Brel, Barbara and Dalida”

“Europe loves France for its eras, the great singers who have passed through the decades.

French chic, the French icon, is also popular, continues the head of delegation.

La Zarra is the epitome of that, with a voice and a hell of a personality.

She can be in turn Brel, Barbara and Dalida.

»

When she speaks of France's international influence, or rather of the tricolor imagery fantasized outside our borders, we obviously think of Barbara Pravi's participation in 2021. With a title and an elegant scenography that summoned and updated the aura de Piaf, the author, composer and interpreter of

had finished in second place - the best ranking of France in the competition for thirty years. 

“Whether it works or it doesn't [the Bretons Alvan and Ahez finished penultimate last year], we tell France and this editorial line is important for us.

When we analyze the Eurovision cultural market, the trend is to go back to basics, to tell who we are, ”said the director of games and entertainment at France Télés.

Choosing La Zarra, which enjoys a certain notoriety with the general public, is not insignificant either.

In addition to her hit

- whose clip has exceeded 18 million views on YouTube - she co-wrote the duo

, one of the strongest titles of the singer's latest album.

Shazam revealed in a press release in early January that La Zarra was one of the artists whose number of streams on Apple Music grew the most worldwide between December 1, 2021 and November 30, 2022: + 308% compared to previous twelve months.

This makes it possible to hope to attract wider media attention, to expect good rotations of the song on the radio and to engage in the competition with an identified figure of viewers well before the week of the final.

“I have an American approach, I want it to be huge”

This also contributes to maintaining the flame around Eurovision, whose image has continued to be gilded in recent years.

The competition has become fashionable again, has gained respectability and is gradually getting rid of the prejudices with which it has long been decked out (starting with the trials of old-fashionedness).

“The more good results we achieve, the more interesting the Eurovision brand will be, insists Alexandra Redde-Amiel.

For the career of an artist too, it's extraordinary.

Besides, for me, La Zarra is a star.

Whatever her ranking at Eurovision, she will be a great tomorrow because she has this winning spirit.

»

These words give “confidence” and “energy” to the Canadian who also hopes that her participation will open the doors to the international market.

But, for the time being, she intends to concentrate on Eurovision: “We want to offer a beautiful picture to defend France.

I have a very American approach, I want it to be huge, I want to put on a show.

She guarantees to be a perfectionist.

We only ask to see and hear that.

Culture

La Zarra, the singer from Quebec who wants to bring down France in glamor

Culture

John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, could represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023

• Culture

• Eurovision 2023

• Music

• French song

• France Televisions

• France 2