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France : Sofia Mestari’s third album released
In spite of her 23rd place in Stockholm, back in 2000 with the song On aura le ciel, Moroccan born Sofia Mestari managed to lead a discreet but promising career. Some months after Eurovision, her first album was released. Strangely, On aura le ciel’s b-side - Ce que tu m’as fait (What you did to me) - was commercialized as a-side of the follow-up CD single and gained a lot of airplay and more sales than the contest’s entry.
In 2003, a second album was released, En plein coeur de la nuit, with the song Derrière les voiles as a teaser. This one was composed and written by J. Kapler, who was behind Natasha St-Pier's Eurovision entry Je n’ai que mon âme. Once again, the CD didn’t sell that much but Sofia managed to get involved in some collective projects (such as one having singers perform the song of his/her childhood – CD Ma chanson d’enfance) and she was regularly invited on TV shows.
The new album is published on Universal “ULM”, the same label she has been working with since 2000. A good number of musicians and artists provide songs, including Assia, in a duet entitled De l’autre côté de la mer. Four of these songs are on line, on Sofia’s myspace here.
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On aura le ciel... at the night I did not like the song too much. It was somewhat easy to overlook. But afterwards I recognized that it was and still is the only song from 2000 that is still running on my burned cds.... and it's not on the Eurovision CDs it's on my generell French compilation CDs. Only few Eurovision songs make that step for me.
The Song "Ce que tu m'a fait" is sooo beautiful. The lyrics are splendind and the melody. Her best song for me. The second album was quiete successfull in France, already mentioned here the single "Ne pars pas".
So she has managed a decent carreer in France. Not many French acts did make it. Natasha of course is huuuuge.
Cheers
Euro Sheep
Yes, I think I know what you mean. There is always a way to tell a French entry apart from the rest, they have something special about them!! 
I liked "On Aura La Ciel" and it's nice to see that Sofia hasn't completely disappeared or gone back to hairdressing like Virginie Pouchain...
@ Jonny K
Do you think the French entries are getting "frencher"? I loved "L'Amour À La Française" as well as "Divine" this year, and I just feel that they are (how could I put it) quintessentially or maybe stereotypically French in one way or another...at any length, they are still good entries that maybe deserved higher placings...
@kokorutmelle:
really????? who cares anyway, i just think this was one of the best french entries ever and a much nicer song than the winner of 1985, although i found the bobbysocks entertaining, fresh and pleasantly light
@ Vincent.
Roger BENS never was considered anything in France, even during the 1985 contest. His song never was played on any radio and his single (with aterrible old-fashioned cover !) was a complete flop. He totally disappeared immediately after...
Stockholm calling
Yes, Les Fatals Picards deserved top 10 definitely 
@Mina:
i know what you mean...i think he puts some overeacting expressions on her face while performing..i think these expressions spoiled the song a bit..i just found out, that he was considered kind of very handsome-hardbreaker type in France and the ESC bak then, but it disappeared prety soon..I remember the gorgeous presenter of ESC 1985 introducing him in a very "special" way, and it was the only entry, where we could see her sitting on stage and moving a bit to the song(in shade)..even back then, a small kid, i realised she fancies him..well at least this was her favourite song of the night..ESC 1985..the best 4 me
Yeah, I just saw the video again. He was handsome and he knew it...not my type though.
Vincent,
You're right. That was a great song, too. But there was something about him that I didn't like, not sure what.
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=u6V0Gu2xQHY -------------->for me the best french song ever together with Amina's song in 1991, which deserved the victory back then
Dominique, remember also her 2003 song, "Ne pars pas" which had a lot of airplay, especially on NRJ. The videoclip was often shown as well. I think we can call it a hit! 
Oh yes, that brings back nice memories. France did so well end of the 90's and beginning of the 2000's. I like almost every song France sent for the last 15 years, favorite defenitely Natasha St. Pier. But I even liked "Ou aller"..., also this years "Divine" was excellent.
My favourite French song is Monts et merveilles (2003).. but to be honest, On aura le ciel (2000), Il faut du temps (02), Je n'ai que mon âme (2001) and Chacun pense à soi (2005) were great too... France really had great songs in those days... I think the contest has lost something without them.
On aura le ciel really was such a great song. A shame it was so underrated - a mystery to me...
Jonny:
For me it's the other way round. "L'amour à la francaise" is my favourite French entry closely followed by "Je n'ai que mon âme"
It's a shame that Les Fatals Picards didn't fare better last year. They were top 2 imo. Natasha St-Pier gave a stunning performance.
Vincent:
lol. Yes, the presenter in the shade is our Lill Lindfors, a lovely lady. She sat next to the stage all through the contest. Btw, I really miss the live orchestra.
Hey, that are really good news...
I liked Sofia Mestari quite much and On Aura Le Ciel was a beautiful song - probably it didn't fit that much with Eurovision...
France is absolutely one of my favourite countries in Eurovision... the best entry in my humble opinion was Diwanit Bugale from Dan Ar Braz et L'Héritage des Celtes...
Here in Rusia we so much love French songs!
So romantic so french
Wish to hear a great French song at Eurovision!!!
i really miss Luxembourg from the Eurovision. My best french entry ever was "femme dans ses reves", Roger Bens, ESC 1985...
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=u6V0Gu2xQHY passionate and good..i like also that during the performance we see the great hostess of the show in the shade watching the netry and moving to the tune..i think she fancied the singer
I loved En Plein Coeur De La Nuit and i hope i love this album just as much
Good Luck Sofia
I agree with Mina, "Je n'ai que mon ame" is my favourite ever French entry, closely followed by "l'amour a la francaise"
What I really miss at Eurovision is a a great french Song!!!!
I didn't like On aura le ciel but I loved Natasha St-Pier's song!
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