27 November 2023

Zoe Clauzure is the latest hero for France when she won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest of 2023 to make it three wins in four years for France. Held in Nice, France, due to Lissandro’s win last year, Zoe won the hearts of Europe with a sparkling performance of her uptempo and infectious song, Coeur. There’s definitely something about mixing the French language with these fun, dance type of songs that make them all that more infectious. There’s an immediate, distinctive rhythm for one, and then typically an extra infectious and memorable element to ensure you are really hooked. In Coeur, it was that “ai ai ai ai”, and the artists are often bubbly and charismatic as well. It all makes for a compelling and winning package.

In second place was Spain, with Sandra Valero performing Loviu. Yan Girls with Do It My Way finished third for Armenia, while the United Kingdom’s Stand Uniqu3 with Back To Life and Ukraine’s Anastasia Dymyd with Kvitka made it a top five of uptempo dance or fun songs. While the voting was close between France and Spain (228 points to 201), France won both the jury vote and the online vote, albeit it was just 6 points the difference in the online vote (92 to 86). Poland’s Maja Krzyzewska with I Just Need A Friend was the highest placed ballad, in sixth place.

Results

01 France – Zoe Clauzure – Coeur (228)
02 Spain – Sandra Valero – Loviu (201)
03 Armenia – Yan Girls – Do It My Way (180)
04 United Kingdom – Stand Uniqu3 – Back To Life (160)
05 Ukraine – Anastasia Dymyd – Kvitka (128)
06 Poland – Maja Krzyzewska – I Just Need A Friend (124)
07 Netherlands – Sep & Jasmijn – Holding On To You (122)
08 Albania – Viola Gjyzeli – Bota Ime (115)
09 Germany – FIA – Ohne Worte (107)
10 Malta – Yulan – Stronger (94)
11 Italy – Melissa & Ranya – Un Mondo Giusto (81)
12 North Macedonia – Tamara Grujeska – Kazi Mi, Kazi Mi Koj (76)
13 Portugal – Julia Machado – Where I Belong (75)
14 Georgia – Anastasia & Ranina – Over The Sky (74)
15 Estonia – Arhanna – Hoiame Kokku (49)
16 Ireland – Jessica McKean – Aisling (42)

Review

01 Spain – Sandra Valero – Loviu (201 pts, 2nd)

A little unfortunate to be first up because this seemed a little flat. Upon reflection, especially after seeing all performances and the recap, all the uptempo songs lacked some energy, so Spain actually compared very well. A fun, colourful way to start the show, and Sandra presented it very well. 8/10

02 Malta – Yulan – Stronger (94 pts, 10th)

Great voice. The song, written by a bunch of Swedes, was unsurprisingly quite formulaic. Never a fan of a giant projection on the background screen of the artist performing, either. The bulk of the score is primarily attributed to the vocals. 7/10

03 Ukraine – Anastasia Dymyd – Kvitka (128 pts, 5th)

Fun, great graphics, and the voice surprisingly good. Still got a touch repetitive. 7/10

04 Ireland – Jessica McKean – Aisling (42 points, 16th)

Standard Gaelic ballad and fairly listless overall despite some decent vocals. Not sure the point of adding Sophie Lennon, Ireland’s representative last year, towards the end of the song. Essentially it was saying rescue me, and it didn’t even work. 5/10

05 United Kingdom – Stand Uniqu3 – Back To Life (160 pts, 4th)

Brilliant staging with it looking like the girls performing on top of tall buildings. Vocally a little flat in places. Otherwise, a solid effort. 7/10

06 North Macedonia – Tamara Grujeska – Kazi Mi, Kazi Mi Koj (76 pts, 12th)

Needed to provide some super vocals to lift this regulation Balkan ballad, and Tamara did that. Colourful and impressive staging too. Deserved at least a top 10 finish, not 12th. 7/10

07 Estonia – Arhanna – Hoiame Kokku (49 pts, 14th)

Following from North Macedonia probably did not make an immediately great comparison. Estonia was another ballad and there was an immediate darker stage contrast compared to the previous colourful one. Probably being a smaller, less fashionable country also contributed to the lowly 15th place. It simply wasn’t deserved as Estonia provided a far more unique and interesting song, complete with excellent vocals and superior stage graphics and lighting. 8/10

08 Armenia – Yan Girls – Do It My Way (180 pts, 3rd)

The girls didn’t quite resonate for me as they did in the preview video. Still enjoyable, especially the dancing, and third place is a worthy result. 7/10

09 Poland – Maja Krzyzewska – I Just Need A Friend (124 pts, 6th)

Deserved to be the highest placed ballad. A beautiful entry, and well sung and choreographed. 8/10

10 Georgia – Anastasia & Ranina – Over The Sky (74 pts, 14th)

Innovative and unique among the entries, especially with the staging and the unusual mix of one girl (Anastasia) and two boys (Ranina) comprising the vocal group. Nice vocals and harmonies augmented the package. Deserved better than 14th place. 7/10

11 Portugal – Julia Machado – Where I Belong (75 pts, 13th)

Too bland and generic, even if presented well. 5/10

12 France – Zoe Clauzure – Coeur (228 pts, 1st)

While it was a little flat like all the uptempo entries, there’s no denying the quality and appeal of it. The curtain of lights surrounding the piano and performers was an innovative addition, and Zoe herself was a classy and engaging performer. Well deserved winner. 9/10

13 Albania – Viola Gjyzeli – Bota Ime (115 pts, 8th)

Great voice and a stronger sound compared to France, along with the appealing song, no doubt helped it achieve a solid 8th place. 7/10

14 Italy – Melissa & Ranya – Un Mondo Giusto (81 pts, 11th)

Not a great year for Italy, and that reflected in the 11th place, which was a few spots too high anyway. Very generic and bland, and not even the usual enrichment that the Italian language gives to a song could lift it. 4/10

15 Germany – Fia – Ohne Worte (107 pts, 9th)

Very cute and colourful, and quite infectious. It’s one where the chorus is often stuck in my head. Who knew sign language would make great choreography as well? Actually, I did. Often I’ve thought I’m watching someone dancing weirdly at a press event. The package definitely helped elevate a somewhat repetitive song, as indicated finishing fourth in the online vote. 6/10

16 Netherlands – Sep & Jasmijn – Holding On To You (122 pts, 7th)

After being one of the fan favourites heading into the contest, Netherlands would be disappointed with 7th place. In truth, it was an uptempo song that didn’t really stand out from the rest, and that feeling is always exacerbated when performing last. Viewers often already have their favourites set and will write off the final entry or so unless it really grabs their attention. The pair did nothing wrong, and it was a sound presentation, both vocally and in the staging. 7/10

My Top 16

01 France (9)
02 Poland (8)
03 Estonia (8)
04 Spain (8)
05 North Macedonia (7)
06 Armenia (7)
07 Georgia (7)
08 United Kingdom (7)
09 Albania (7)
10 Netherlands (7)
11 Ukraine (7)
12 Malta (7)
13 Germany (6)
14 Ireland (5)
15 Portugal (5)
16 Italy (4)

My online votes went to France, Estonia and United Kingdom.

It must be said that it was a very good Junior Eurovision, and it breaks my heart to rate several songs so lowly. Better to note the scores, with Malta still scoring 7 in 12th place. Even Germany, they were very close to scoring 7. So it’s just three songs at 5 or worse.

These are the changes in rank from my preview:

01 France (-)
02 Poland (-)
03 Estonia (+2)
04 Spain (+2)
05 North Macedonia (+9)
06 Armenia (-3)
07 Georgia (+6)
08 United Kingdom (-4)
09 Albania (+2)
10 Netherlands (-3)
11 Ukraine (+4)
12 Malta (-4)
13 Germany (-4)
14 Ireland (-2)
15 Portugal (+1)
16 Italy (-6)

With an average score of 6.8, that confirms another excellent Junior Eurovision Song Contest. They typically rate well due to the smaller number of entries, which translates more to an event of quality over quantity. Last year scored 6.9 while the record 7.3 was for 2020 when the field was even smaller due to COVID-19.

The question now is can France continue with their remarkable results and win three in a row? That would truly be stunning. Au revoir.

Nice 2023: Junior Eurovision Preview – My Top 16

Watch the full live show here