“Voilà” is a song by French singer Barbara Pravi. It was released for digital download and to streaming platforms in November 2020 and was co-composed by Barbara Pravi, Igit and Lili Poe. The single was certified Platinum (Global) in August 2021 and Gold (France) in April 2022.
The song represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, after it was chosen through “Eurovision France, c’est vous qui decidez!” She advanced from the first round. She went on to compete in the final, winning the jury and televote, amassing enough points to win the competition. As France is a member of the “Big Five”, the song automatically advanced to the final, which was held on 22 May 2021 at the Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands. In the final, the song placed second with 499 points, France’s best result in the contest since 1991.
The song tells a personal story of Pravi’s about self-acceptance. “This is me. Here I am. Accept me for what I am, voilà.” That’s the simple but powerful message found in Barbara Pravi‘s song. The “Voilà” lyrics are simple and direct, portraying a woman who has been hiding in the shadows, marinating in the insecurities and shame that come with living on mute. In her text we hear a woman ready to take ownership of herself and her dream to write music and to sing.
“I often think that ‘Voilà’ is the end and the beginning of something,” she said. “It’s the end of twenty five years of a battle with myself to feel happy, to feel proud, to understand that I am capable of doing things. It’s the beginning because now I am ready to say hello, that’s me, and I don’t mind if you like me…because that’s just what I am. That’s everything I am…..This is all I have, this is all I got, here I am, and voilà.”
