Language. It can always provoke debate in Eurovision circles. Free language rule or no free language rule? Song in one language or a combination of several?
Of course, for most years before 2000 it wasn’t a problem. A country had to sing in one of its own official tongues. In the 1990s, our friends did some experimenting, and today’s birthday boy Kali (né Jean-Marc Monnerville) pushed the boundaries with his song. It was partly in French and partly in Antillean Creole. It paid off in that he managed a top 10 finish. And we were all dabbling in those pesky languages of the Caribbean. Or maybe that’s just me.
Kali is 59 today.
Bonne anniversaire/Bòn fèt de nesans, Kali!