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France aims for a summer hit with Jessy Matador

13 May 2010 at 03:01 CEST

For the third successive year, the artist to represent France was chosen internally. In the end French TV's possible choice came as a surprise as it had been rumoured for months that the country would be represented by Christophe Willem, however the broadcaster decided to put the nation's hopes on the performer Jessy Matador. 

For the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, Jessy Matador will participate with the summery song Alllez Olla Olé that was rumoured to be used by French Television to promote the Football World Cup which will take place just a few weeks later in South Africa. By now, they've said that it was indeed just a rumour and it's never been discussed by the appropriate instances. 

"On the other hand Alllez Olla Olé can become an European summer hit!" the French Head of Delegation, Bruno Berberes, said to Eurovision.tv. Currently they are in the middle of rehearsals and hope to bring an "African scent" to the stage in Oslo.

You can watch him perform his song in the brand new video below.

    

Who is he?

Jessy Matador  was born in the Congo and began his artistic career as a dancer in 2001. His artistic concept is a mixture of several styles, inspired by the famous African - Ivorian music ranging from hip-hop, Jamaican dancehall and zouk.

He made his debut in the group called Les Coeurs Brisés with which he has performed all around the world. In 2005, he created his own group La Selesao which consisted of five dancers with a special concept, titled Show Kanawa.  He started his singing career in 2008 and has scored a summer hit with the song Decale Gwada. Jessy is currently in the studio finishing his new album

He will perform eighteenth in the Final on 29th May in Oslo, Norway.