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France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959

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Eurovision Song Contest 1959
Participating broadcasterRadiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF)
Country France
National selection
Selection processArtist: Unknown
Song: Grand Prix de la Chanson
Selection date(s)28 January 1959
Selected artist(s)Jean Philippe
Selected song"Oui, oui, oui, oui"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result3rd, 15 points
France in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1958 1959 1960►

France was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Oui, oui, oui, oui", composed by Hubert Giraud, with lyrics by Pierre Cour, and performed by Jean Philippe. The French participating broadcaster, Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF), held a national final to select its entry. In addition, RTF was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, after winning the previous edition with the song "Dors, mon amour" by André Claveau.

Before Eurovision

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The 1959 contest marked France's fourth appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated yearly since the first contest in 1956.[1]

Grand Prix de la chanson

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Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF) used a format called Grand Prix de la chanson to determine its song.[2] Semi-final broadcasts were aired on radio France II daily (except Sundays) between 5 and 19 January 1959.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

The final was held on 28 January 1959 at 21:15 CET (20:15 UTC) and was broadcast on RTF as well as on France II and Radio Monte Carlo[a].[2][11] It took the form of a special issue of the monthly program Le magazine de la chanson, produced by Emmanuel Robert, Pierre Brive [fr] and André Salvet [fr], and directed by Marcel Cravenne [fr].[2] Jacqueline Joubert, who also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1959, presented the show.[2]

Eight songs took part in the final.[2] The winning song was determined by a jury of listeners and viewers in nine different French cities.[2]

The selected entrant Jean Philippe performed the French entry "Oui, oui, oui, oui" for television viewers one month later, during the following edition of Le magazine de la chanson, aired on 25 February at 21:20 CET.[12][13]

At Eurovision

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RTF hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, on 11 March 1958.[14] Jean Philippe sang first on the night of the contest, preceding Denmark. At the close of the voting he had received 15 points, placing third of 11 countries.

Voting

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Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel. Every jury member could give one point to their favourite song.

Known members of the French jury were: Jean-Edouard Bloch (jury president), swimmer Aldo Eminente and writer Jean-François Josselin.[15] The jury also included a former team leader at a water company, a singer, a jeweller, a painter, a dentist and an employee of the postal and telephone company PTT.[16]

Notes

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  1. ^ Delayed broadcast on 5 February at 22:06 CET.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Countries – France". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Télé-Choix: Finale du Grand Prix de la Chanson". Le Figaro (in French). 28 January 1959. p. 15. ISSN 0182-5852. OCLC 1367314267.
  3. ^ "La radiodiffusion". Le Monde (in French). 5 January 1959. p. 10. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ "Rappel des principales émissions de la soirée". Le Monde (in French). 6 January 1959. p. 8. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde (in French). 8 January 1959. p. 8. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde (in French). 10 January 1959. p. 11. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde (in French). 13 January 1959. p. 6. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde (in French). 15 January 1959. p. 8. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde (in French). 17 January 1959. p. 13. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  10. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde (in French). 20 January 1959. p. 8. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 10 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  11. ^ a b "Radiodiffusion". Le Monde (in French). 5 February 1959. p. 10. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606 – via ProQuest.
  12. ^ "Le magazine de la chanson : émission du 25 fevrier 1959". INAthèque (in French). Institut national de l'audiovisuel. CPF86610344. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Radiodiffusion et télévision". Le Monde. 26 February 1959. p. 13. ISSN 0395-2037. OCLC 224461606. Retrieved 6 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
  14. ^ European Broadcasting Union. "Cannes 1959". eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  15. ^ "4ème Grand prix Eurovision 1959 de la chanson européenne". INAthèque. Institut national de l'audiovisuel. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  16. ^ 4ème Grand prix Eurovision 1959 de la chanson européenne (Television production) (in French). Paris and Cannes: Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française. 11 March 1959. CPF86622515 – via Institut national de l'audiovisuel.
  17. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Cannes 1959". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.