Parlez-vous français?
 "Parlez-vous français?" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1978 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) |
Mayte Mateos, María Mendiola |
| As | |
| Language | |
| Composer(s) |
Rolf Soja |
| Lyricist(s) |
Frank Dostal, Peter Zentner |
| Conductor |
Rolf Soja |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result |
7th |
| Final points |
73 |
| Appearance chronology | |
| ◄ "Frère Jacques" (1977) | |
| "J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux" (1979) ► | |
"Parlez-vous français?" (English translation: "Do you speak French?") was the Luxembourgish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in French by Spanish disco duo Baccara. The French-language version of "Parlez-vous français?" was included on Baccara's second studio album Light My Fire and an English version - with the same title - was also released as a single in certain markets.
The song was composed and produced by the same team who had written the duo's breakthrough single "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" and the follow-ups "Sorry, I'm a Lady" and "Darling", the Germans Rolf Soja and Frank Dostal, with Peter Zentner[1](also lyrics).
The song is an up-tempo disco duet, with the singers describing the importance of speaking French - described as "The language of love and summer". One of them at least has recently been on holiday and required a working knowledge of that language in order to have a holiday romance.
The song was performed seventeenth on the night (following Denmark's Mabel with "Boom Boom" and preceding Israel's Izhar Cohen and Alphabeta with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi"). At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 7th in a field of 20.
Despite its moderate success in the Contest "Parlez-vous français?" proved to be one of the year's best-selling entries, reaching #8 in Sweden, #18 in Austria, #21 in West Germany and #30 on the Dutch singles charts.[2][3] However, when the duo released their first 'greatest hits' album in late 1978, The Hits of Baccara, the song was surprisingly omitted. Despite this, "Parlez-vous français?" has become a favourite among Contest fans, most recently being performed as part of a medley by Dana International during the Congratulations special in late 2005.
It was succeeded as Luxembourgish representative at the 1979 Contest by Jeane Manson with "J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux". Composers Rolf Soja and Frank Dostal returned to the Contest in 1986 when they co-wrote Luxembourg's entry "L'amour de ma vie", performed by Canadian singer Sherisse Laurence.
Sources and external links
- Official Eurovision Song Contest site, history by year, 1978
- Detailed info & lyrics, The Diggiloo Thrush, "Parlez-vous français?"