Thursday 17 April 2008
By Gaëlle Le Roux / FRANCE 24Should recording artists sing in their native language? What do you think? Send us your reactions by clicking on the "reply" button at the bottom of the page.
The grumbling by French language defenders is getting loud. The origin of their outcry: the Eurovision song contest. “Divine,” the song by French musician Sébastien Tellier, chosen by France 3 TV to represent the French nation in the European song competition, is sung in English.
For National Assembly deputy François-Michel Gonnot of President Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP, this is unacceptable. He told AFP that we “can’t on one hand force French radio stations to employ quotas for French songs […] and then go to Eurovision with a French singer who has decided to sing in English.” He continued, “I’m asking the channel [France 3] to be a little consistent. The defense of the French language is part of the channel’s responsibility, and it’s decided to broadcast this English artist…”
Culture minister Christine Albanel said that “it’s a pity” that the artist chose the “language of Shakespeare” to represent France. Then the Minister of State for Cooperation and the Francophony, Alain Joyandet, “enjoins Sébastien Tellier and France 3, which selected him, to consider a way that they could honour the French language.”
Marc Tessier, the musician’s producer, responded on Europe 1 radio: “Sébastien Tellier has been singing for ten years in German, French, Italian, Spanish…it depends on what inspires him. He is like all musicians, free to choose what he wishes. When France 3 called us to broadcast the song, it happened to be that it was in English. Tellier tried to adapt it into French but it didn’t work.”
A question of inspiration
Musicians like the singer Camille as well as Mark Daumail, from the pop folk duo Cocoon echo these statements, saying that the choice of language depends on one’s roots and inspirations… Jean-Benoît Dunckel, one of the two members of the electro-pop group Air said to FRANCE 24 in January that “in French, we have all the weight of French literature and poetry, so the comparison is difficult. With English, we put more emphasis on the sound, contrary to French, where the lyrics are most important.”
“This debate smells a bit moldy,” says Stéphane Elfassi, director of RecordMakers, Tellier’s label, about these criticisms. “It’s a little outdated, in 2008, to make people believe that French culture has come down to one three-minute French song on Eurovision,” he says, adding, “Daft Punk, Air and Sébastien Tellier are developing a new culture seen overseas as being of the present and corresponding to the times. Sébastien is defending France’s colours and very proud to have been given this mission with the objective of doing better than in previous years.” And for a reason: no French artist has won the competition since 1977.
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FACE-OFF
"My culture is French and not English" Jacques Myard, an MP for the UMP party and Bruno Berberes, head of France's delegation, Eurovision 2008 are invited to Face off 18/04 12:00
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25/05/2008 17:48:55 Alert a moderator
c'est dommage
By bari -
There are more participants in the Eurovision contest than ever before. And the large majority of them now sing in English. The contest to me has become one big "American Idol" contest with no creativity whatsoever. Russia won this year with their pop song in English. This song was void of any meaning and flavor. Is this what the contest is now about. C'est dommage!!!
28/04/2008 11:57:33 Alert a moderator
Let Them Eat Cake
By Seth from Luxembourg -
The big issue is that Eurovision is a contest, and unfortunately singing Serbian, Norwegian, or even German or French puts one at a significant disadvantage. I was in Norway when "La Det Swinge" won which even in Norvegian is understandable to most people. It is a sad commentary that English seems to be the one dominant language for music and for Eurovision. Years ago Lux/Belgium/France/Swiss would support a French song but with so many countries now, the need to be acceptable (i.e. lowest common denominator) means we must put up with English for the most part in order to be "competitive". Cie la vie.
20/04/2008 06:20:40 Alert a moderator
Bravo!
By ArizumaBrett -
English is a bastard tongue, the attempt of the Anglo-Saxons to speak to their Norman masters. As an American I personally resent the predominance of British influence on my culture, especially the contemporary cozy relationship between reactionary Americans and their British counterparts. It was France after all that supported Franklin and my personal hero, Jefferson at the founding of our country. I think that in today's world we Usonians could stand moe French political influence, especially in our foreign policy and relationships with the middle East and Africa. Perhaps my view is influenced by experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal in the early 70's, but I prefer French politics, art and literature to the British anyday.
That said, I am merely amused by the idea of Tellier singing his Eurovision entry in English. I'm laughing out loud at the idea. We all need to loosen up a bit. Here in the southwestern United States I rejoice at the evolution of our "English" language ino Spanglish and look forward to a future world in which everyone's vocabulary increases exponentially to include vocabulary from multiple cultures, much like the Anglo-Saxons broadened their world view and language in order to speak to the Normans.
My daughter, who grew up in California, speaks fluent Spanish and Chinese as well as English. She's gone to school in Beijing and Shanghai and her current boyfriend is from Hongkong. In my household and circle of friends she grew up surrounded by Tibetans (I am a Buddhist) and Chinese and Arabs I speak a bizarre creole which mixes Wolof, French, Spanish, English, Arabic, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. I love collapsing boundries and borders and despise racial and linguistic "purity". Widen the gene pool, widen the linguistic pool... it's beautiful. MIxed blood people are the most beautiful. Mixed languages the most powerful.
I like the idea that a French President of Hungarian descent has an Italian wife that sings in French and English. When I think of the greatness of France, my view includes Hemingway, Napoleon, Picasso, and Senghor.
Be proud that Tellier is singing in English. It's a half French language anyway. It's a sign of self-assurance and security and confidence in his own French culture.
20/04/2008 04:01:01 Alert a moderator
French or English
By Anonyme -
Many thousands of ABBA fans around the world have learnt Swedish (and have learnt about Sweden) because of ABBA's Eurovision success. Perhaps this French artist singing in English is be a blessing in disguise for France and it's language.
18/04/2008 21:27:45 Alert a moderator
English or French?
By Martyn -
Each artist should be allowed to do their own thing and the French should not worry. Their language is beautiful and will not disappear just because of the Eurovision song contest.