On the sixth day of rehearsals for Eurovision 2022, we not only experienced second rehearsals from acts in both the first and second semi-finals, but also the first rehearsals of the Big Five countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The first of these to rehearse today was France, who are represented by Alvan & Ahez
Alvan & Ahez’s first rehearsal
The first of the Big Five acts to take to the Eurovision 2022 stage at the Pala Alpitour in Turin was France’s Alvan & Ahez. They will sing the song “Fulenn” at Eurovision 2022 after they were selected to represent France through C’est Vouz Qui Décidez in March.
Following Alvan & Ahez’s first rehearsal, a clip of their rehearsal was posted on TikTok. The clip showed them before and after they took to the Eurovision stage for the first time. The clip also gave us some insight into how well their rehearsal went.
What did we learn about Alvan & Ahez’s staging?
Photo credit: EBU/Andres Putting
France has brought a taste of Breton tradition to the Pala Alpitour arena with gold-embroidered black costumes and the same mixture of folklore with a modern twist that captivated viewers of Eurovision France: C’est Vous Qui Décidez earlier this year. The official live feed reports that greenery adorns a podium on the stage, while two fire pits on either side shoot flame jets into the air each time the bass drops. We’re also told that the bass is this year’s heaviest, and that it vibrates through the floor of the PalaOlimpico! Alvan has added a cheeky wink to the end of the performance too.
What did we think of France’s first rehearsal?
Rosie has given her initial thoughts and opinions on Alvan & Ahez’s staging. You can see what she thought on our TikTok page here:
About Alvan & Ahez
Alvan and Ahez are this year’s French representatives at Eurovision after winning ‘Eurovision France: C’est Vous Qui Décidez!’ in March with their song “Fulenn”. The act is a collaboration between two Breton musical acts – electronic artist Alvan and vocal group Ahez (Marine Lavigne, Sterenn Diridollou and Sterenn Le Guillou). Alvan comes from the Rennes electro-rock scene and is a musical experimentalist. Ahez are regulars on the Fest-Noz (traditional Breton festival) circuit and have been immersed in Breton culture since childhood. They are proud to represent the living legacies of their heritage, mythology and history.
“Fulenn” is the second song in the Breton language to compete at Eurovision. France previously sent Breton song “Diwanit bugale” in 1996. Alvan and Ahez recently spoke to That Eurovision Site’s Rosie in London.
France’s Eurovision Journey
France is a powerhouse in Eurovision, debuting at the first contest in 1956. Its first entries finished in second place, but no scores were ever published. Since then, France has gone on to win the contest five times. The most recent win came in 1977, with Marie Myriam’s “L’oiseau et l’enfant,” which scored 136 points.
Recent years have seen France slump in the results, but a change in direction in 2016 boosted the nation’s performance. Amir finished in sixth position for France that year with “J’ai cherché,” and France placed 12th, 13th and 16th in the following years respectively. In 2021, Barbara Pravi was able to wow audiences across Europe and Australia with her song “Voilà.” At the close of voting, France finished in second place, earning a mammoth 499 points.
What are your opinions on Alvan & Ahez’s first rehearsal? Are you excited to see what they bring for their second? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
News Source: EBU
Photo Source: Cyril Moreau/Bestimage
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