We start with one of the most famous entrants in 2012 contest, Eurovision entrant from France, Anggun. She has been busy touring all around Europe with promotion of her song "Echo (You and I)".
- Hello, Anggun and first of all our congratulations for being selected French representative at Eurovision 2012! How do you feel now becoming Eurovision participant?
- I feel great. What an honor for me to have been selected. I keep getting messages from lots of fans across France and the rest of Europe who love the idea of seeing me performing at this year’s Eurovision song contest.
- Have you been following the contest in the past? What are your memories connected with it?
I arrived in Europe fifteen years ago and I travelled many countries across the continent. And the first time I’ve heard about Eurovision song contest I fell in love with it. To see so many nations and cultures in Europe being united to celebrate the passion for music is something absolutely phenomenal and unique in the world. Of course it’s a competition, but still, music is the thing that brings everyone together. I have memories of the fabulous performances of Sertab, Dana International, Patricia Kaas, Dima Bilan or… Lordi !
- How you learnt about Eurovision proposal, who informed you about that and what was your first though on it?
- I was coming back from a shooting in Singapore and I got a call from a representative of French television France 3 who asked me “we would love you to represent France in Baku this year”. I was totally astonished. I knew my name has been circulating over the last few years but no one ever contacted me. So this came as a big surprise. I took a deep breath and I replied “Yes of course!”.
- How can you describe your song “Echo (You and I)” in one phrase?
A song dealing with what’s truly important in life : you and I… The human feelings and emotions.
- Can you tell us the story of its creation? Was it written specially for Eurovision?
Yes. This is a song that was thought especially for the Eurovision song contest. I contacted 2 brilliant songwriters/producers (Jean-Pierre Pilot and William Rousseau) and we worked in the studio day and night on a song that we wanted to be uptempo, fresh, unique and different from what France has been proposing over the last few years. And we go the chance to have Veronica Ferraro, sound engineer of David Guetta on board.
- Why have you decided to sing in mix of French and English?
- The beauty, complexity and cultural heritage of French language are something important to all French people. That’s why the song representing France needs to be performed in French. Meanwhile, in order to make it more accessible to foreign audiences, I have decided to add some English words in order to understand the meaning of the song.
- Are you planning to record other versions of the track, other languages, remixes?
- A full-English version is on its way. And some duets with great music artists like Claudia Faniello in Malta Niels Brinck in Denmark or Viktor Varga in Hungary. I hope to do a duet with a Russian artist like I did a few years before with Max Lorens and producer Seryoga. That was a great artistic moment for me.
- Are you going to film a music video for your entry, can you tell us more about that?
The video has just been shot by trendy film director Roy Raz (who directed Mylene Farmer’s latest video) and I can tell you it is going to be fantastic. It was shot in Bucharest for 2 days and also in Paris with a special guest star appearance. More news to come shortly !
What is the aim you set for yourself at the Eurovision 2012?
To deliver the best vocal and stage performance. To deliver the best of me and offer to the audience an entertaining moment.
- What do you think can help you to stand out and succeed at the contest?
- I don’t think there is any recipe or secret trick to win the Eurovision. As everybody told me “You never know with Eurovision”! Again I want to deliver the best performance I can.
- Can you already reveal some details on your staging? Who will join you on stage, whether there will be backing vocalists or dancers?
- Still a secret but I can tell you something exclusively : yes there will be dancers !
- You have already started an extensive promotional tour. Do you think in general that pre-contest promotion is important for the contest success?
- I don’t think it is important or that it has influence in the final voting, but as my new album ‘Echoes’ has just been released, and that I was planning to promote it in numerous countries across Europe, I take this opportunity to perform ‘Echo (You and I)’ in every country that I’m invited to J
- What do you think is more important for Eurovision success: song, performer or the show?
- First the song. Second the stage performance and last the artist as the artist is only the messenger at Eurovision. What’s important is the song and how you perform it on the Grand Final.
- Eurovision is sometimes labeled as political contest. Do you think of it as political event?
- There may be some geopolitical aspects but I hope this is not influencing the final results. Again, what counts is the music and the rest should not interfere don’t you think?
- Are you following information on selections in other countries, will you listen to the participating songs in advance?
- Of course. Some songs revealed over the last few weeks are very good. The competition is going to be tough :)
- Let's speak briefly on your career. What do you consider as the main highlight of it?
- I don’t know if there is a highlight but when my album ‘Snow On The Sahara’ got to be released in 33 countries and sold over 1m copies worldwide including a Top 20 in the USA, that was fabulous. To have a single being Top 5 in Europe and #1 in numerous countries, it was unbelievable.
- How do you determine your music genre? What are the singers, having the biggest influence on you?
- I don’t like tags. I am very eclectic when it comes to music. I have been performing with so many different artists, from Pras of The Fugees to Julio Iglesias !
- Do you plan any new releases before Eurovision?
- My album ‘Echoes’ will be re-released in France with a few bonus tracks including ‘Echo (You and I) and the English version is going to be released in more than 15 countries worldwide before the summer.
- And our usual question - can you name us any singers you know coming from ex-USSR, Russia, Ukraine ?
- I love Dima Bilan. Great voice and charisma. And very handsome too J I heard he won 2 awards at this year’s ZD Awards right? Would love to do a duet with him!
- Finally, if you wish to leave any message to the visitors of our site you can do it now.
- Целую вас крепко. Спасибо моим русским поклонникам за их поддержку.
- Thank you for the interview, good luck with your preparations and see you in Baku!
BY : EUROVISION SOUTH AFRICA
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