Our penultimate big 5 country is one facing a big choice this Sunday in their presidential election – it’s last year’s chart toppers, France. 5 times winners, last year France went in as one of the favourites, and while they didn’t quite hit the peak they did in this chart last year, they still finished a strong sixth in the actual final, their best result since 2002. Can Alma repeat that renewed success this year with France’s 60th appearance at the contest?

While this hasn’t had quite as much hype as the lovely Amir last year, the equally lovely Alma has consistently scored highly in fan polls and rankings. With good reason, this is an uptempo, upbeat, modern, catchy and very French song. Initial concerns over live vocals soon proved unfounded as she put in consistently strong and charming performances in all the preview events. Like Amir, she really connects with the Eurofans and looked to be having a great time. She did a great cover of France Gall’s 1965 winner “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” at the London Eurovision Preview Party.

How will this fare? I think there is a good chance of this being top 10, though we haven’t seen any rehearsals yet (though that is about to change). While there is a smattering of English in the refrain, I think it works – but majority of song is in French, the only one in the contest this year that is. I hope it does well!

Mum’s reaction: no comment

Official music video:

Live at London Eurovision Preview Party:

France at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 1956

Appearances (excluding this year): 59

Best result: Winner 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977

Last year’s result: 6th