"and her populist touch leads her to become known as the muse of R&P (rhythm and pop)."

Ortal, born in Israel of Berber and Andalusian origins, began singing when she was sixteen. In 2000 Ortal moves to Spain and joins the group ‘Gipsy Sound’ (Alabina), and spends much of the next two years touring Europe with them.
Her musical travels even lead her to meet Bruce Willis when she’s booked to be part of the entertainment at prestigious boxing matches at MGM’s hotel in Las Vegas.

In her musical travels she has met Bruce Willis, performed in a latino-rock project and performed at the MGM residential hotel in Las Vegas before prestigious boxing matches.

She is invited to sing at the French première of the James Bond movie ‘Demain Ne Meurt Jamais’ (‘Tomorrow Never Dies’) in Paris at the classy Pont-Neuf party. Meanwhile her first appearance on TV occurs in Monaco for Prince Albert’s birthday party.
And if that wasn’t enough, she even finds time to sing backing vocals on the albums of various French artists!
In 2002, she decides to settle down in Paris to write her own songs. While based in the capital city she performs with Parisian DJs, in famous bars and clubs like Les bains-Douches, the Barfly and the Milliardaire.
In 2004, she signs with Up Music. The song ‘Chacun Pense à Soi’ is her first single. She combines lively mixed rhythms and R&B sounds with lyrics that have a resonance in today’s society.
Ortal, still only 26, brings R&B to a mainstream audience, and her populist touch leads her to become known as the muse of R&P (rhythm and pop).

The Singer

Ortal was born in Israel of Berber and Andalusian origins, which makes for the wacky melange of typical French representatives. She's got a voice like a twelve year old, but dresses like a woman. Another female who's not afraid to show off her wonderbra, Ortal finishes off her fashion with boots over denim jeans, which considering she's French shows a sloppy failure of dress sense inspiration. Since being chosen, she has stated her desire to fight for her country. It's a good job she didn't say that during the final or she would surely have alienated and confused the majority of her compatriots.

The Past

Socialist France, and one of the Big Four, who more often than not go down the "chanteuse" route (and woe-betide any entrant differing from the norm). They had a lot of success in the early years when usually only 4 countries took part, and the Brits were represented by a young Paul Shane.
They had a rough time in the late 90's however, precipitated by a bad Fanny (oh, that old story), but have chanteused it back into the limelight since then, and are unfortunately well overdue another victory.

The Song
A lite bite of French chanteuserie from the catchily titled "Everybody thinks about themselves". It makes me think of an updated version of a Charles Aznavour effort. With the half-hearted bass beat, and badly scanned repetitive lyrics, it's got Gaul written all over it. Basically if they beefed it up and got someone else to sing, it could have done very well, but it's just too Eviany for me.

Gestures - 11The usual physical ambivalence of the French is on show here, with a minor scores on the doors.
"Wanna" Count - 0 6 "wants" (as translated from the French), but this doesn't count. Let's face it, France will never demean themselves so far as to include a "wanna" in their lyrics.

Overall
It's a twee little effort which is very difficult to dislike. Mid to low table as usual for the French, who always manage to get odd political points, but not much else. Although Ortal's only 26, it looks as if she's seen hard times at some point, and could be another entrant who is downing a Cognac at the last chance saloon.

In a Nutshell
"Everybody will think of something else to listen to"

"The Shrink Says"

"Crystallised Intelligence" refers to the term representing the amount of information you obtain and the verbal skills you develop over time. The French are particularly keen to ensure that others have a perception of keen crystallised intelligence in their nation, through an deep seated inferiority complex. Unfortunately this often manifests itself in pretentious, supercilious twaddle.

Ortal

Nancy "the woman scorned" Dell'Olio

Chacun pense à soi 

Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.

Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien. Regardons autour de nous
On vit dans un monde de fous
Chacun cherche sa gloire,
Chacun cherche l’espoir.
On oublie ce qui nous entoure
Ceux qui nous donnent de l’Amour
On chasse de notre mémoire
Ce qui nous empêche d’y croire.
On laisse au bord du chemin.

Les chagrins sans lendemain,
On poursuit chacun sa route.
On laisse au bord de la route
Chacun tous ses petits doutes,
On poursuit son chemin. 
Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.
Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.

Tenir au creux de ses mains
Les clefs de notre destin,
Mener à la victoire
Tous nos rêves d’un soir.
Et on court après le temps
On passe à côté des gens,
On court après l’argent,
On se cache, on se ment.
Même si la solitude
Est notre seule attitude,
On garde en chacun de nous
L’Amour de ceux qui nous aime,
Même si on a de la peine,
On se retrouvera.
Même si la réalité
N’est pas notre vérité,
On continue à y croire
A se battre pour notre histoire.
Même si le prix à payer
Est plus cher à chaque fois,
On continue à y croire
Des espoirs pour nos espoirs.

Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.    
Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.

Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.    
Chacun pense à soi
Comme si il n’y avait que ça,
Chacun mène à bien
Que ce qu’il veut bien.

 Everyone thinks about themselves
 
Everyone thinks about themselves
As if they were the only thing,
Everyone sees it through
Just what they really want to do
Everyone thinks about themselves
As if they were the only thing,
Everyone sees it through
Only what they really want to do

Let's look around us
We live in a crazy world
Everyone seeks some glory,
Everyone seeks some hope
We forget all the things around us
Those who give us love.
We dismiss from our memory
Everything that stops us believing.
We leave by the edge of the path
The short-lived sorrows.
Everyone, follow the road
and leave by its edge
every last doubt
And carry on walking.

Everyone thinks about themselves
As if they were the only thing,
Everyone sees it through
Just what they really want to do
Everyone thinks aboqt themselves
As if they were the only thing,
Everyone sees it through
Only what they really want to do

Holding in our hands
The keys of our destiny
Leading to victory
Our one night's dreams.
And we run after time,
We turn away from people,
We run after money,
We hide and lie to each other
Even though loneliness
Is our unique attitude,
We keep to ourselves
The love of those who love us,
Even though we feel upset,
We will meet up again.
Even if reality
Is not our truth,
We keep on believing,
And fight for our history.
Though the price to pay
Is more expensive each time,
We keep on believing
A few hopes for our new hopes.

Everyone thinks about themselves
As if they were the only thing,
Everyone sees it through
Just what they really want to do
Everyone thinks about themselves
As if they were the only thing,
Everyone sees it through
Only what they really want to do
Prediction Semi Final They're one of the Big 4. They don't have to sing today!
Final 6th