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Eurovision final 2019: Who is France's entry Bilal Hassani and what is his song about?

The 19-year-old singer will sing his song 'Roi' on Saturday

Clémence Michallon

New York

Saturday 18 May 2019 16:00 BST

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Bilal Hassani on French TV show 'On n'est pas couché'

Bilal Hassani will represent France during the Eurovision Song Contest, and the 19-year-old singer, YouTuber and queer icon is one of the most high-profile performers put forward by the country in years.

This is owed mainly to his strong artistic identity, one million-strong YouTube following, and the messages of self-love and acceptance he promotes through his songs and videos.

Born on 9 September, 1999, Hassani first stepped into the limelight as a teenager in 2015, when he participated in The Voice Kids – France’s junior equivalent of the talent show. He earned his spot on the programme by singing “Rise Like a Phoenix” by (who else?) 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst.

Top 10 Eurovision winners

Show all 10

1/10Top 10 Eurovision winners

Top 10 Eurovision winners

10. “Molitva” – Marija Šerifović (Serbia, 2007)

Let’s get down to business. Making their debut at Eurovision, Serbia later romped home as champions with this high-drama ballad. In an era when extravagance had well and truly taken hold, the staging was notably bare. The orchestra, the belting, the key changes, and the five backing singers dressed as a cross between beauty queens and security guards all make this feel like the climax of a modern opera.

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Top 10 Eurovision winners

9. “Hard Rock Hallelujah” – Lordi (Finland, 2006)

Has Eurovision ever seen anything like it, before or since? Finland’s first win after 45 years of participating came at the hands of a heavy metal band dressed in monster costumes – but this ranking is not based on novelty alone. Behind the growled vocals and pyrotechnics, “Hard Rock Hallelujah” is a pretty great song – even for those who ordinarily can’t stand this kind of thing. The backing vocals on the chorus are a particular high. It also provided a welcome departure from the high-octane pop-fest that many believe Eurovision to be.

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Top 10 Eurovision winners

8. “Hold Me Now” – Johnny Logan (Ireland, 1987)

The jewel in the crown of Ireland’s seven wins is this corker from Logan, who returned looking every inch the matinee idol in his pristine white suit. It’s the kind of big power ballad that fist-clenching was made for, and his big build on “I will always love you” should win another prize for the most ambitious key change.

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Top 10 Eurovision winners

7. “Fångad av en stormvind” – Carola (Sweden, 1991)

One of Sweden’s most popular entries, Carola is winning from the moment she bounds on stage and lets out that first “Woah-oh-oh!”. Her voice is flawless, the key changes are great, and who doesn’t appreciate a wind machine? Another slice of Scandi pop perfection.

AFP/Getty

Top 10 Eurovision winners

6. “Making Your Mind Up” – Bucks Fizz (United Kingdom, 1981)

A high energy pop song with colourful young performers and fun choreography – “Making Your Mind Up” is the stuff that Eurovision is made of. The famous moment when the boys ripped off the girls’ skirts only to reveal shorter skirts beneath them is one of the competition’s most famous moments. A number one hit record across Europe that year, the song remains as infectious today as ever.

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Top 10 Eurovision winners

5. “Ne partez pas sans moi” – Céline Dion (Switzerland, 1988)

Celine Dion was just 20 years old when she came to international attention with this performance. The song itself is excellent – a French chanson worthy of Edith Piaf, with a slightly twee drum machine stepping up the beat for a bop of a chorus. This all took place before Celine was transformed into an ageless power ballad queen (see the pageant-esque hair and outfit), but it’s thrilling to hear how her vocals were sheer perfection even then. Oh, and the arm choreography was well on its way too.

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Top 10 Eurovision winners

4. “Love Shine a Light” – Katrina and the Waves (United Kingdom, 1997)

The beautiful fusion of hammond organ, tambourines, hand clapping and the quasi-spiritual lyrics themselves make this feel like a glorious hymn – and Katrina really takes it to church. One of the highest scorers in modern times, this was the last time the UK won the competition, and it came the day after Labour’s landslide 1997 election victory. What a time to be alive.

PA

Top 10 Eurovision winners

3. “Rise Like a Phoenix” – Conchita Wurst (Austria, 2014)

Conchita’s performance had everything you could want in a Eurovision performance. Elegant and fierce all at once, “Rise Like a Phoenix” could match the finest Bond theme, and is easily one of the most timeless of all the winners. The big band adds to the glamour of it all, and brings the goosebumps on that dramatic orchestral rise towards the final chorus. It was a powerful moment for LGBT+ visibility, too; the song’s theme of triumph over adversity secured it as an anthem for life’s survivors.

AFP/Getty

Top 10 Eurovision winners

2. “Euphoria” – Loreen (Sweden, 2012)

It’s hard to pick any other recent winner that comes as close to contemporary chart toppers as “Euphoria” – a dance hit that many contemporary pop stars would kill for. Written by Sweden’s Thomas G:son – who has produced more than 90 songs for Eurovision competitors across multiple countries – “Euphoria” is built on clever pop formulas. The chorus itself is anthemic perfection, but when Loreen tacks on: “We’re going up, up, up...” it strikes gold. The Kate Bush-esque performance was an added bonus.

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Top 10 Eurovision winners

1. “Waterloo” – ABBA (Sweden, 1974)

ABBA burst onto the stage at the 1974 competition, kickstarting Sweden’s international reputation as masters of pop. Early adopters of the kind of kitsch which would come to typify the show, ABBA used their platform to offer a taste of the cultural phenomenon they would go on to become. From the opening piano build to the switch between a minor bridge and major chorus, to the catchy hooks littered throughout, “Waterloo” is a masterclass in how to write a hit, and the song rightly went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time. ABBA continue to influence Eurovision contestants to this day, and while you may have another favourite, “Waterloo” is a song on which most people can agree is a solid gold classic. We promise to love you forever more.

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Hassani later gained fame on YouTube, where his videos have now earned almost 100m views. His channel, which remains active to this day, is comprised of music videos as well as more traditional YouTube offerings, such as vlogs, storytime videos related to his personal life, and other updates.

The singer secured his spot as France’s Eurovision contestant by taking part in the TV programme Destination Eurovision in January 2019, during which he competed during three live shows in front of a jury. Hassani was selected for his song “Roi”, which he will sing in Tel Aviv during Saturday’s final. The tune was co-written with French duo Madame Monsieur, France’s Eurovision contestants in 2018.

Hassani, who is openly gay, has received “thousands” of hateful messages since emerging as a potential contestant for this year’s Eurovision, as his lawyer told the French magazine Nouvel Obs in January. That month, the singer filed a complaint with French authorities alleging ”insults, incitation to hate and violence, and homophobic threats”.

Back in 2018, too, Hassani was exposed to homophobic hate, especially after he began wearing wigs in his YouTube videos.

Bilal Hassani rehearses ahead of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv on 13 May, 2019. (JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) ((JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images))

“The hate went like this,” he told the French magazine Marie-Claire shortly after qualifying for the Destination Eurovision final, miming exponential growth.

“It was a crazy increase, very fast. And luckily, I was prepared for it, having experienced it for a year on a small scale. I just adapted my reflexes to a larger scale.”

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Hassani’s Eurovision song, “Roi”, celebrates self-acceptance and the freedom to express one’s identity.

“I am me and I know I will always be / I am free yes I make up my life / And don’t ask me who I am / I am / I’ve loved myself since I was a child,” Hassani sings in the tune, which alternates between English and his native French.

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France came in 13th position last year with Madame Monsieur’s tune “Mercy”. The country currently isn’t one of the top favourites as far as Eurovision odds are concerned, but whether Hassani’s performance will convince other countries to award him enough points to win remains to be seen.

The Eurovision final is happening on Saturday, 18 May in Tel Aviv. It will air on BBC One at 8pm in the UK, and can be watched on YouTube from 3pm EST / 12pm PST.