France in the Eurovision Song Contest: Ten highlights

Saturday night sees France's Amandine Bourgeoise represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song L'enfer et moi. It's a strong bluesy rock number, and time will tell how it does at the event in Malmo.



Arguably France's landmark moment in Eurovision was France Gall's victory with Serge Gainsbourg's song Poupée de cire, poupée de son. It was, however, an entry for Luxembourg. A victory for the international spirit of co-operation and cross border artistic collaboration, but not a victory for France.



France's first Eurovision victory came in 1958, with the song Dors Mon Amour, performed by André Claveau. France has so far won the contest five times.



The last time France won Eurovision was in 1977, with the song L'oiseau et l'enfant by Marie Myriam



Recent years have not seen France dominate at Eurovision like they did in the early years of the competition. 2012's entry Anggun came 21st in the contest.



Recent years have seen some big names from French music compete for Eurovision, although with only limited success. One that did give a good account was Patricia Kaas, who performed in 2009 with the song Et s'il fallait le faire, which came eighth.



That level of success wasn't enjoyed by Sébastien Tellier the previous year who despite one of the most memorable entrances in recent years, came 18th with Divine.



France's entries have traditionally always been in French, one interesting exception was in 1996 with the song Diwanit Bugale, which was in Breton and performed by Dan Ar Braz and L'Héritage des Celtes, featuring vocals by Scotland's Karen Matheson



Another more recent entry that wasn't in French was the 2011 entry, with the number Sognu by Amaury Vassili, which was performed in Corsican.



It was the second time a song in Corsican was entered into Eurovision by France, following 1993's Mama Corsica by Patrick Fiori.



France automatically qualifies for the finals, as one of the five countries that contributes the most to the European Broadcasting Union. Maybe this gives them an unfair advantage, but over the years I reckon France has done better than the UK in the quality of their entries.

And there have been no 'Nul Points' incidents like the UK got in 2003, or last places like the UK graced in 2003, 2008 and 2010.

For all Eurovision is easy to criticise, it's worth remembering that for many in the UK, the event is the only time in the year that they get the chance to hear via prime-time television music from outside the anglophone sphere.

Eurovision is a strange parallel music world, where normal critical judgement can be suspended and the show can be enjoyed for the spectacle that it is.

Eurovision 2013: Amandine Bourgeois - L'enfer Et Moi

Rehearsals are underway in Malmö for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, with a strong entry from France from Amandine Bourgeois with the song L'enfer Et Moi

Amandine Bourgeoise won La Nouvelle Star, France's version of Pop Idol in 2008, and she released her debut album the following year, entitled 20m², a top five album in France.

Her second album Sans amour mon amour came out in 2012.

She also opened for Johnny Hallyday during his concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London last year, and has duetted with the Scorpions on a version of the song Still Loving You.

The song was written by Boris Bergman, the music composed by David Salkin.

For all its' faults, it's worth remembering that the Eurovision Song Contest is pretty much the only time that the mainstream media in the UK gives viewers the chance to experience music from outwith the anglophone sphere.

There are two preliminary rounds ahead of the final, the first on the 14th, the second on the 16th.

France are automatically in the finals on Saturday, when the viewers across the continent will get their say.

Eurovision: Amandine Bourgeois - L'enfer et moi

The video's been unveiled for France's entry for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song L'enfer et moi by  Amandine Bourgeois.

She was the winner of the sixth season of Nouvelle Star in 2008, and has released two albums since then, 2009's 20 m²,a top five album, and 2012's Sans amour mon amour.

In January she was named as the proformed of France's Eurovision entry for the competitionin Malmö in Sweden. Eighteen songs were shortlisted for France's entry this year, and a panel chose five finalists going into a second round which resulted in her performance of L'Enfer Et Moi being chosen by a majority decision. The song was written by Boris Bergman and David Salkin.

Bergman's a writer and lyricist who has been a song writer since the last 60s, working with artists including France Gall, Juliette Gréco and others, including noteably Alain Bashung in the 80s.

He was also behing the English language adaptations of the songs of Serge Gaisbourg that appeared on the 2006 album Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited. he recently collaborated with ex-Téléphone guitarist Louis Bertignac on his Grizzly album from 2011.

Last year France was represented at the Final in Baku in Azerbaijan by Anggun with the song Echo (You And I).

This year's Eurovision final is being held on May 18.