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Maman by Louane
After so many years seemingly in the Eurovision wilderness France has been knocking at the door of a win a couple of times recently. Meanwhile over in the Junior version they’ve won three times since 2020 and hosted twice. You’d be hard pressed to find a fan who’d deny them a 6th win, which would be a first since 1977.
This recent success has been down to some consistent factors: great performers and simple, classy songs. Though I’m not so personally drawn to Barbara Pravi’s Voila, Simane remains mon plus grand amour of last year. This year, Louane ticks very similar boxes. She’s 2025’s biggest artist, with 5 hit albums behind her and some international following. The first time I was aware of her was her song On Était Beau which featured in the series Heartstopper and stood out so much on the soundtrack I had to pause to look it up.
Her entry evokes memories of her late mother, who died a decade ago, with Louane reflecting on how much her own life is changed, in ways her mother would be proud of, and it’s now she who is known as mother by her own daughter. Sentimental stuff to tug at the heartstrings.
The French certainly believe in this song, offering it an enormous platform for its first public hearing. Louane was suspended above the Stade de France on a tiny platform, at times shooting out fireworks, in a packed stadium as the home nation stood in the lead during the final of the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. It’s an audience many times the size of that which will be live in the arena in Basel, where you have to think Louane will be on a more secure footing than dangling from a plinth in the middle.
Maman’s third place in the betting odds feels entirely justified, although I’d happily swap some of the song’s obvious competence for something a little less ‘safe’; it’s just a little too traditional for me to truly love it. In Basel I’d hope for the exact opposite of the scale of the song’s debut; an intimately shot close take would feel more fitting for Eurovision.
If there’s one thing I’d change, it’s the final lyric, a simple Maman voiced by Louane’s daughter. It so unexpected and the sudden childish squeak so incongruent with the rest of the track. I’m not holding my breath for this though, it would be hard to remove your own child’s contribution to one of the biggest moments of your career, but kept in I find it incredibly jarring, almost to the point I dismiss everything that’s come before it. You’d hope such a thing wouldn’t cost her a potential victory, but it really does sound odd.
My marks: 7 points
Photo: Damien Krisl/EBU
France want to win. There is no doubt the EBU would love to see France winning.
This a classic French song, one that can bring Eurovision back to France soil after 48 years and while this is a good song, performed by a singer who can actually sing, it’s a bit bombastic and sound less personal than the intention of the song.
A bit toning down the whole thing, would suit the song better and has better chances to reach the audience.
My points: 10 points