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‘It broke my ears’ – French culture minister’s verdict on country’s Eurovision song

France has selected the song with which it hopes to end its 42-year losing streak at Eurovision, but it seems that the country's culture minister is less than impressed.

Published: 19 February 2020 09:25 CET

'It broke my ears' - French culture minister's verdict on country's Eurovision song

Culture minister Franck Riester is not a fan of this year's Eurovision entry. Photo: AFP

Franck Riester said that the song ” broke my ears a little” when he heard it on the radio.

But it's not the artistic quality that he objects to but the fact that half of the song – and its title – are in English.

Singer Tom Leeb – son of French comedian Michel Leeb – unveiled his Eurovision song The Best in Me on Sunday.

Découvrez le titre de @TomLeebOfficial pour l'#Eurovision : “The best in me” pic.twitter.com/JwzohferaU

— France 2 (@France2tv) February 16, 2020

The song has alternating couplets of French and English, a decision that has not pleased everyone in France.

Riester made his comments in the French parliament in response to a question from a fellow MP.

He said: “It's true that the chorus is in English, it broke my ears a little this morning on the radio.

“It is an independent choice by France Télévisions.

“But I conveyed the message of my astonishment at a song whose chorus is written in English.

“Everyone must set an example to ensure that France is carried with pride everywhere, all the time.”

This is far from the first controversy over English lyrics in a French Eurovision entry, with four out of the previous six entries having English lines or choruses in an attempt to curry favour with international voters.

Tom and his song – which was written by Swedish singer John Lundvik in English and then partially translated into French – will be attempting to break France's dismal record in the song contest.

The country has not won since 1977 – a losing streak even longer than the UK's – and recent entries have slumped towards the bottom of the charts.

But whatever language it's in, this year's entry surely cannot be worse than France's 2014 effort – an extremely ill-advised venture into comedy rap.

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