Those semi-finals are a brutal affair. The potential classic songs that fall by the wayside, meaning a possible winner has to watch from the sidelines. We can all name several.
For those places that can’t get out of the semi-finals, it’s understandable that they soon get put off. That partly happened in the case of Monaco, although the broadcaster TMC is no longer a totally independent state broadcaster. Anyhow, in Kyiv in 2005 the Principality sent today’s birthday girl, Niçoise songstress Lise Darly. She was always going to be up against it, competing with 24 other songs for a mere 10 spots in the Grand Final. Needless to say, she was one of the unlucky 14. But she didn’t finish last. And sang the second favourite song of the French televoters and Andorran jury. It must have been her cracking voice.
Lise is 40 today.
Bonne anniversaire, Lise!