Like previous years, ESC COVERS will again share a blog post from Morten Thomassen of OGAE NORWAY with his views on the positions reached by all 35 2026 entries. ESC Covers google translated it from Norwegian to English.
It’s pretty obvious that some countries want to win more than others and I think our French friends have sinister plans in that case and no one should take away from them the fact that they really try, it’s proven that the choice of artist they make every year, here it’s the artists who have the most in order, you could say.
Some were probably a little skeptical that 17-year-old Monroe would sing the opera song “Regarde!” which, directly translated, means something like “Look”, but what we got to see and hear was a young artist who really had control of her vocal cords in a way that many older singers would surely envy.
Monroe Vata Rigby, which is her full name, was born in the United States and it was the fact that she began singing in the local church choir that made her discover her interest in classical music and thus her musical career was sealed.
Like many other ESC artists, she first became known through a televised music competition, she won and got a record deal, and thus she was hot enough that French TV wanted her as their representative in ESC.
It seemed a bit daring for our French friends to send an opera-pop song when the last two ESC winning songs clearly had operatic elements in them, but perhaps they hoped that this would be a trend that was still going strong.
Not unexpectedly, the jury opened their arms to this and everything was in place for a high placement for Monroe, but with only 14 votes from those who had to vote via telephone and other technical means, it was “only” 11th place, a little lower than most had predicted, although the bookmakers had this in 10th place so almost an insider there given.
The performance itself on stage was of course flawless on the vocal front, but otherwise I think it was a bit unimaginative and boring, not much happens and I get vibes from the musical “Les Miserables”.
In addition, the song is quite empty and is more of a display of what is somewhat rudely called vocal masturbation. Yes, we see and not least hear that the artist is an outstanding singer. If only they had given her a better and more interesting song that could have given us as the audience a total experience.
It seemed as if the latter was the challenge French TV had, if they found an artist and song that were both top-notch, it could quickly become the case that NRK would have to have Adresse Paris for a year, it’s been many years since that particular program was last broadcast.
Featured image – ESC Covers