BLOGILKAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: AMANDINE BOURGEOIS

It's time for our Flying reporter Robert to chat with the first of the Big5 artists, France's Amandine Bourgeois who turns out to be very chatty, funny and lovely girl indeed! She tells how she ended up from Toulouse Irish pubs to Malmö via Royal Albert Hall, Le Zénith and Olympia, how she hopes to become a singer-songwriter, will she act like a teenage fan in front of Anouk and Bonnie Tyler? Who fell in love with her voice so much he invited her to Germany? How about a Punch in Comptoir Général? And most of all: Who would she like to see waving the French flag in Eurovision 2014?

Hello Amandine and thank you for your time. Let's talk first about your music career. Can you describe the type of music you are making?

I think it's blues, rock style. Like my entry L'Enfer et moi. My first album was more pop music. Pop folk actually! The second one was soul and rock, r'n'b, you know? The third album I am prepairing will be like my entry, blues and rock, because I think it fits me perfectly. Or maybe some rock folk, too. I like folk.

Do you have a band?

I am working now alone with my songs, at home you know. But I love working in a team so I will start looking for people who can help me to bring out what I have inside. I'd love to write my own songs, but I still need some help, some more confidence to do that. I'd love to have my own songs in my coming album, I have my phone full of them but I'm not sure if that will be ok for the record company... But I will fight for it!

You started your career with La Nouvelle Star, the French Pop Idol. What would you call your career highlight from that moment on?

I was a singer before that, too, singing in bars and Irish pubs in Touloise but one don't live from that, so Idol was good, it gave me a chance to do an album. The second album was an adventure as I did it in London, with Amy Winehouse's staff! It was like a dream, excellent, very famous musicians, great studio.... Johnny Halliday is a big star in France and he took me on tour with him last summer and with him I did Royal Albert Hall. I think that's the highlight so far. But I have done also Le Zenith and Olympia, a very legendary concert venue in Paris, with Thomas Dutronc. Those were amazing, too.

Amandine, why Eurovision now, in 2013?

My manager was talking to French TV behind my back. Then he came to me saying it's a good idea and I was like Oh, ok! But I wanted a song I love. With L'Enfer et moi it was love at first sight. It was written for me and fits my personality, and I said to my manager I will go but with this song. We sent it to the commission and majority of them voted for my song! yeah!

What do you expect from Eurovision? Have you heard the other songs, do you have a feeling about it?

I'm very proud and happy to represent France and I hope the French people will be proud of me. I have heard the other songs and... WOW! Bonnie Tyler! You know, I used to listen to her A LOT! I'm a big fan of Anouk. I haven't met them yet (as of Tuesday morning, Ed.note), with Anouk I will be so shy.... ha ha ha! OMG!

What are your plans for the future in the long run, after your third CD? Your dreams?

I have a dream, yes. I don't know if it's pretendous to say it but I'd love an international career, have concerts in New York, to live in New York! Sometimes come back to Paris to give a concert. And I'd love to sing in English, too!

Are the artists you'd like to work with, do duets, or....

Oh yeah, plenty! Patty Smith, I really like her. I love that woman! When I was a teenager I was a huge fan of Jamiroquai... I have already worked with Train and Scorpions. Klaus Meine actually saw me in Idols and invited me to his house in Germany and we recorded Still loving you together! He said he fell in love with my voice! He's married, with children and all so it was just for my voice, I swear! ha ha ha!

Some more personal questions. Where do you live in France now?

I have to be in Paris for my work, you know. It was good in south, the sun... I prefer that weather.
What is your favorite hang out in Paris?
A beautiful place called Comptoir Général, near Gare d'Est and Canal St.Martin! it's like being in Cuba, I love Punch cocktail btw, and Senegal or something. They also have often concert, African music and so on....

And what is your favorite hobby?

Being lazy! To do nothng! Ha ha ha! I have such a busy life that when I can I just want to lay in the sun in Toulouse in my parents' garden and do NOTHING! I love that!

Talking about your parents, are they coming to the final to support you?

Yes, and my sister. I love her. We are so different. She always says she couldn't do what I do, she's a medical secretary.

What is your favorite movie?

Pulp Fiction! (... and she goes singing the tune. Ed.Note)

And do you follow Eurovision?

I used to when I was a little girl, Joelle Ursull.... and now I'm here! I couldn't imagine that back then! ha ha! I really love White 'n black blues! Poupée de cire, poupée de son by France Gall... oh no, that was for Luxembourg! Marie Myrian and L'Oiseau et l'enfant (and you readers are missing another fantastic duet here by Robert and Amandine! Ed.note)

And any international favorites?

Money! money! money !(singing. Ed.note), no.... it was Waterloo, ha ha (again singing. Ed.note), ABBA!

Ok, last question: Who would you like to see for France in Eurovision 2014?

Errr, no no no.... the manager of Thomas Dutronc is sitting here next to me, no not him, no no no.... Ha ha ha! He's a good singer but I don't see him in Eurovision. Zaz maybe. She's very French. We compare her to Edith Piaf, she should go!
Ok, thank you Amandine! See you in the final on Saturday!

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