France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

Eurovision 2007 : et si on gagnait ? was the national final organised by France Télévisions in collaboration with the five broadcaster channels: France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and overseas territories broadcaster RFO to select France's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. The competition took place on 6 March 2007 at the La Plaine St-Denis studios in Paris, hosted by Julien Lepers and Tex. The show was broadcast on France 3 as well as online via the broadcaster channel's official website france3.fr.[3] The national final was watched by 2.02 million viewers in France with a market share of 8.7%.[4]

France Télévisions received 1,500 submissions after the broadcaster requested proposals from successful French acts over the last five years.[5] The television channels of the French broadcaster France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and RFO reviewed the received submissions and each selected two entries to compete in the national final based on individual criteria: variety for France 2, newcomers for France 3, rap and rock music for France 4, pop music for France 5 and world music for RFO. One of the competing artists from the RFO selection, Valérie Louri, was selected via the musical programme 9 Semaines et 1 Jour.[6] The competing artists and songs were announced on 2 February 2007.[7] On 7 February 2007, the artists presented their entries to the public during an introductory event held at the Le Réservoir in Paris.[8]

The final took place on 6 March 2007. Ten entries competed and the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the top two entries as determined by the combination of public televoting (50%) and a jury panel headed by songwriter Jean-Paul Cara (50%) advanced to the second round, the superfinal. In the superfinal, the winner, "L'amour à la française" performed by les Fatals Picards, was determined by the public and jury vote.[9][10] The winning song was performed using Franglais, a mixture of French and English, and according to the songwriters meant to combine French romance and punk for beginners.[11]

In addition to the performances of the competing entries, French Eurovision Song Contest 1977 winner Marie Myriam performed her winning song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" as the interval act of the show.[12]

Les Fatals Picards during a rehearsal before the final

Les Fatals Picards took part in technical rehearsals on 7 and 8 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 11 and 12 May. During the running order draw for the semi-final and final on 12 March 2007, France was placed to perform in position 13 in the final, following the entry from Sweden and before the entry from Latvia.

The French performance featured the members of les Fatals Picards on stage in a band set-up dressed in retro black and pink outfits, including the addition of the white wings of Cupid on the band drummer Jean-Marc Sauvagnargues's back and a faux object on the shoulder of lead singer Ivan Callot. During the performance, the members of les Fatals Picards performed frantic actions, including running about the stage. The stage colours were predominately pink and the LED screens displayed a collage of candy pink and white roses with graphics of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame fading in and out over the roses.[14][15] France placed twenty-second in the final, scoring 19 points.[16]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to France and awarded by France in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Turkey in the semi-final and final of the contest.