| France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1956 | ||||
| Participating broadcaster | Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF) | |||
| Country | ||||
| Selection process | Artist: Unknown Song:Le palmarès de la chanson inédite | |||
| Competing entries | ||||
| First entry | ||||
| Song | "Le Temps perdu" | |||
| Artist | Mathé Altéry | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Second entry | ||||
| Song | "Il est là" | |||
| Artist | Dany Dauberson | |||
| Songwriter | Simone Vallauris | |||
| Placement | ||||
| Final result | N/A | |||
| Participation chronology | ||||
| ||||
France was represented at theEurovision Song Contest 1956 with two songs: "Le Temps perdu", composed by André Lodge, with lyrics by Rachèle Thoreau, and performed byMathé Altéry; and "Il est là", written by Simone Vallauris, and performed byDany Dauberson. The French participating broadcaster,Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF), selected its two entries through the radio programLe palmarès de la chanson inédite. "Le Temps perdu" was the first-ever entry from France performed in theEurovision Song Contest.
According to TV listings magazineTélévision Programme Magazine,Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF) used the radio programLe palmarès de la chanson inédite to choose its two entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 1956.[1] In March 1956, RTF asked interested songwriters to submit songs for the program if they wanted to be selected for Eurovision.[2]Le palmarès de la chanson inédite aired regularly on Saturday evenings onProgramme parisien in 1956 and 1957.[1][3][4] Its third season started on 7 April 1956, with finals held on 7 July 1956.[5][6] RTF stated that also winning songs of the previous seasons would compete to be selected as French entries.[2] The program was directed by Michel du Plessis and presented byMaurice Yvain andLouis Poterat, with an orchestra led byFranck Pourcel accompanying the artists.[4]
Of the two French songs chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, "Il est là" can be retrieved in radio listings as participating in the program, in this case for the program aired on 5 May 1956, and sung by Marina Audrey.[7]
| Date | Artists and songs | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 7 April 1956 |
| [4] |
| 14 April 1956 |
| [8] |
| 21 April 1956 |
| [9] |
| 28 April 1956 |
| [10] |
| 5 May 1956 |
| [7][11] |
| 12 May 1956 |
| [12] |
| 19 May 1956 |
| [13] |
"Le Temps perdu", written by André Lodge (music) andRachèle Thoreau [fr] (lyrics), and "Il est là", written by Simone Vallauris, were chosen as the French entries.[1] It's unknown howMathé Altéry andDany Dauberson were ultimately selected as the participants.
TheEurovision Song Contest 1956 took place at theTeatro Kursaal inLugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956. "Le Temps perdu", sung byMathé Altéry, was performed 5th at the contest and "Il est là", sung byDany Dauberson, was performed 12th.[14] Both of the French entries were conducted byFranck Pourcel.[15]
Each participating broadcaster appointed two jury members who voted by giving between one and ten points to each song, including those representing their own country.[16] One of the French jury members wasMaurice Yvain.[17]
The full results of the contest were not revealed and have not been retained by theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU).[18] Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was televised in France onRTF with commentary by Michelle Rebel, and also broadcast live on radioParis-Inter.[1][19]