Our last written interview comes from France! Lisa Angell will perform the classic ballad “N’oubliez Pas” after having been internally selected.
Check what she has told us below:
ESC+Plus: Hello Lisa! First of all thank you so much for giving us this interview as French representative for Eurovision 2015 and congratulations on having been selected to wave your flag in Vienna!
How did you feel when the French broadcaster made you the proposal to represent your country in Vienna? Why did you accept it?
First, I thought it was a joke. And when my manager told me it was true, I felt like the lottery winner. And I whooped of delight. Can you imagine?
When you have been dreaming about this since you are 7, and that thirty years later you are announced that it’s truly you who will do it this year!
It’s a gift. I am a fulfilled woman and I enjoy it everyday.
E+: What does representing France at Eurovision mean for you?
Am I objective ? It’s a childhood dream. Lot of people say that it is lame, but I think this is trendy. And I’m happy that it remains on TV because it feels like a tradition. Why sweep-away all the achieved work ? What could we do better ? All these countries meeting. The whole Europe reunited… Winning is not the whole point.
It’s quite exciting as a human adventure. Opening doors, listening what other contestants do, what is their music, their influences. Each artist can give a message with his own music, whether we like it or not. It has to live forever, we shouldn’t take it down.
E+: Can you tell us about your song “N’oubliez pas” and the story behind the lyrics? How was the composition procedure?
The song has two parts: first it’s a young lady who arrives in her village, destroyed by the war. And the second part is a message of peace and hope. She promised herself to rebuild her village, way more beautiful than it was before. That’s why I liked it, because it’s about optimism. If we believe in it, we can do anything, and rebuild everything, when it is about personal things. And I think that people can identify themselves to it.
Since September 2014, I have been recording demos of my future album. He will normally be out on May, 11th with SMART/Sony Music, he’s only composed of exclusive songs this time.
A lot of songwriters send me songs, and I got one from Robert Goldman, “N’oubliez pas” (“Don’t forget”). It was in October. This sons rings a bell in my mind, because it completely echoes what I think and feel.
A few months before, I watched a documentary on World War 1, and I found that the lyrics of the songs were very accurate. So I decided to give it a try to record a demo. I arranged it with my team, I met Robert in the studio, and we instantly got along very well. He’s a great guy, I really like him. The song was recorded.
E+: Why did you decide to perform your song in French and not in English as the most part of the contestants? What do you think about the Eurovision rule which allows every country to sing in English?
It is a beautiful language, who often carries suffering people. Why singing in English ? We would be seen as opportunists. And it is difficult to sing a verse in English because there is no chorus in the song. “ N’oubliez pas ” is going crescendo, and you can’t switch languages in the middle.
There will be clues in the staging, so that everybody understands the message.
I received lots of messages through my Facebook page, from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Romania, and they got it, they understood the song.
I believe in an artist’s authenticity. I think that when you work hard on your songs, when you are into your lyrics, you can share emotions with your eyes, your body, so I think I will be understood.
In piano-bars, there were people from everywhere. I also sang French songs in China, everybody understood, not vocabulary-speaking but there is a vocal performance, an attitude, and when you perform, emotions can be seen. Feelings are out. When you don’t feel good, when you are bored, it’s visible, even if you don’t say a word.
E+: How are you going to prepare your Eurovision performance? Have you thought about the staging you would like to show us in Vienna?
I’m rehearsing a lot, and doing some yoga, in order to focus my energy and release it properly on D-day ! I’m sorry, I can’t tell anything about the performance right now ! it’ll be a surprise in Vienna.
E+: A few days ago, you released an official video. How was the shooting of the clip? Any funny anecdote you can share with us?
The shooting went very well ! We had some trouble with the lantern. We had to shoot the sequence 5 times, the flame got way bigger, so we had to go outside to turn it down !
E+: You performed your song live on television for the first time during “Le Grand Show”. How did you feel during the performance?
I felt all the pressure on my shoulder, but I also felt a great strength from the audience. I did a standing ovation, so I deeply felt that people believe to the song. It was a very good experience for a premiere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wwmElQ2UpY
E+: Tell us what can Eurovision contribute to your musical career? What are your expectations and main strengths?
From Eurovision, I expect to bring the victory back to France, or at least, to finnish in a good spot ! To be in the top 10 would be great. About my strengths, I think my authenticity and sincerity can touch the audience.
For my career as an artist, the Eurovision is a great opportunity to get my music and my art to all Europe.
E+: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What are your favourite songs in the history of the competition?
I do, I watch Eurovision every year with my family, with a pen and a paper, and we write our favorite songs!
I remember Anne-Marie David (1979). I know that Serge Lama has done it too. I can also remember Patrick Fiori, Céline Dion, and Anggun, few years ago. And last year I was truly happy that Conchita Wurst won because she’s gifted. But my favorite one is « Ne Partez pas sans moi » performed by Céline Dion.
E+: Have you listened to the other songs competing at Eurovision 2015? Do you have any favourite?
Yes, I listen to every song !
I really like the Australian song ! And I think Italy has an amazing song too. But I don’t want to forecast anything, I’m not good at it.
E+: Can you tell us about your musical career? What are the most important achievements you have reached until the date?
I’ve spent 20 years playing French songs in piano-bars. This is what I’ve always dreamt to do and I gave myself the opportunity to make it real. I first worked with orchestras, but I didn’t want to be always be on the road so this is why I ended up doing piano-bars, private events in Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Corsica and all the PACA sector. I’ve always lived in Côte d’Azur. There was a man who came to my show almost every night and who loved what I sang. He offered me to meet Didier Barbelivien. I said yes and decided to come to Paris to meet him. We produced one song which is called ”Des années après”. There was a decisive encounter in 2009. I was working at the Rhul Casino in Nice and at the end of a performance, the magician Dany Lary who was there, came to me. At that time, he was working on a ”magical” comedy. He wanted to mix magic, singing, dancing and comedy. And then he proposed me to be in his project which hadn’t born yet. He had everything in his head. I answered: « Why not ? » We met twice and I accepted. Dany made his magical comedy. He made all the magic tricks. With my composition team, we created songs related to the magic tricks, and we went on tour. Afterwards, he told me one night: « Lisa, have you ever been on TV? », I answered « No, I haven’t. » Then he told me « we’re going to be on the TV show « the biggest cabaret show in the world » and we’re going to make a magic trick on which you will be singing. » I said « ok ! » and I ended up on a TV set. During three years I was on TV four times. Following this, Patrick Sebastien suggested me to do « Les années Bonheur » in 2011. Something incredible happened: people stood up and cheered me during long minutes. He was thrilled by this standing ovation. He was thinking « This young woman isn’t even famous and yet people like her. » As result, he went to Universal with the TV show video and he managed to get me a contract for three albums with Polydor. Two months later I was in the studio to record my first album.
My best achievement was the concert I did in Moscow in a full stadium ! It was a private event, the organizer heard about me and invited me to the show. There was a lot of artists, I was very well welcomed. I sang « Quand on fait l’amour » and the audience responded very well !
E+: Besides Eurovision, what are your plans for this year?
I have just released my 3rd album self titled who’s out now!
E+: If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do?
If I was invisible for one day, I’ll find the button to get visible again, because I got nothing to hide =).
E+: Can you send a message for our readers?
I’d like to thank you all for your support. I hope you love « N’oubliez pas » and that you’ll love my Vienna performance even more ! Thanks for everything.
Lisa Angell will perform the song “N’Oubliez Pas”, composed by Michel Illouz, M. Albert and Laure Izon, at the Grand Final of Eurovision set on May 23.