http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7350193.stm
Eurovision song sparks French row
The French song is one of 43 Eurovision entries this year
A French MP has said he is outraged that the song chosen to represent
the nation in the Eurovision song contest has English lyrics.
Jacques Merde, of the UMP party, has urged the company that runs most
of France's TV networks to reconsider.
Sebastien Tellier's entry, entitled Divine, combines both English and
French lyrics with electro music.
France's culture minister has defended the song, saying the country
should fully support his bid for victory.
A total of 43 countries are taking part in a contest that draws some
200 million viewers from Europe and beyond.
"Sebastien Tellier has great talent, he has a real international
dimension," Christine Albanel told Agence France Presse.
But she also admitted: "I do think it is a shame that it isn't a
French song."
Mr Merde told the BBC that allowing an English song to represent
France was a fiasco: "The French language is the tool of a huge
industry in terms of cultural influence and if we French give up our
language, what do you think the others will say?"
Mr Merde, himself a fluent English speaker, said it was not
appropriate that, in a European contest, France should "monkey
another's culture".
EUROVISION FACTS
One of the longest-established TV shows, first broadcast in 1956
Most winning songs are performed in English
Abba are the most successful winners
Norway has come last 10 times
Ireland has won seven times
"I think that even in a song, especially in this Euro contest, we have
to sing in French," he added.
According to the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation, which is hosting
this year's event, countries are completely free to choose the
language of their lyrics.
Last year's entry from Cyprus, an official added, was sung in French. |
