Another May, another Eurovision.<\/p>\n
May is that special time of the year in Europe where countries go to battle for the best song. Each country chooses a singer to represent the them, and both an official jury and the European public decide on the winner via a point system. You can learn more about the voting process here<\/a>. The winning country gets to host the event the following year, but that’s not always the best financial decision for certain countries. Hosting an event of this size is costly, and some countries (France included) have pleaded poverty to avoid hosting. Success doesn’t come cheap, it would seem.<\/p>\n France won’t have to worry about dishing out money to host next year, though, as they only came in 12th for 2017, but their chosen artist certainly gave a valiant effort. This year, Lyon-born Alma performed a piece called “Requiem,” where she sings, according to Eurovision’s official site, of her “quest for never-ending love.” I feel you, girl.<\/p>\n So, who is Alma, and how was she chosen? Legally, her name is Alma Maquet, but on stage, she dropped her last name. Maybe she’s trying to be the next Beyonce or Adele<\/a>. Who knows? Either way, Alma has spent a lot of time abroad and has lived in Italy, Brazil and the United States. I’m a very big advocate of travel for personal growth, and according to world renowned opera singer Reri Grist, it gives performers an advantage. She says, “Go travel. See what life is like. Talk to people. Roll up your blanket and sleep out under a tree.” Looks like Alma understands this!<\/p>\n In September of last year, public channel France 2 started accepting online auditions of French-speaking singers aged 16 to 50 from any country. I have to admit, I’ve always found it odd that someone of a different nationality could represent another country in a competition like this, but I don’t get to make the rules. Three hundred applications were submitted, and Alma was chosen to represent France.<\/p>\n The song was written by the same person who wrote “J’ai cherch\u00e9<\/a>,” France’s 2016 Eurovision submission. In the end, “Requiem” received 135 votes (45 from the jury and 90 from the European voters). The winner was Portugal’s Salvador Sobral with “Amar Pelos Dois<\/a>.” This piece received 758 points with 382 from the jury and 376 from the home voters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n