Zara: "I didn’t expect so much love at Eurovision 2023"

How are your first days at Liverpool?

The atmosphere is electric! I did not expect so much love! I think this is important for artists because you really feel less lonely when you go on stage! We think that the public supports us and that this is not unhealthy. Audiences ask themselves, “Is he going to sing badly?” Will it fall? “They are there to support us and I find that very nice.

Does it feel good to feel all that love after the recent controversy and criticism around you?

I’m from Canada, we don’t have the same mentality. I was shocked to see that we could take scraps and talk to people who got fired and stuff to make a stupid newspaper. I find it a bit like that… And the reaction it created… People came out of their caves like cockroaches. There were racists… I got death messages, things like “We’re going to grab her ass and take her on stage, little Moroccan girl”. Yes, it was a little painful. But at the end of the day, I say to myself, “I’m going to sing on a beautiful stage and that’s it, bye. (editor’s note to the offenders)” !

Is necessity less tolerated when it comes to a woman rather than a man?

That’s it, there was more to this diva thing. They tried to paste this tag on me, I don’t even know what it means. It’s easy to transform a character in a very negative way while doing something beautiful. Instead of supporting the artist and his message, we will try to piss him off with something very disgusting. But it inspired me. My composers called me and said they were going to make a song for my second album. diva. And I hope it’s a hit! (laughs)

You dazzled the audience at the public rehearsals for Eurovision. How was this scenography born?

I had an image in mind. I saw a photo of a model who is slightly taller than usual on Instagram. It was arranged in such a way that I found it very interesting. There I called Alexandra Redde-Amiel (head of the French delegation, editor’s note) and explained the situation to her. I wanted it to look like a sculpture or painting when the light came on and we discovered the artist. Let yourself dream like a creature coming to tell you a story. We thought it might be possible and called the teams. That’s how it started. I watch a lot of movies when I write my songs and I love anything great. I really wanted to present a moment outside of time to fulfill the public’s dream. And I wanted it to shine!

Eurovision site about you “disco queen and the Eurovision blog “Mix of Edith Piaf and Lady Gaga”…

God, this is so beautiful! Or maybe a mix of Edith Piaf and Dalida because she was so disco! I love it, let’s go! Therefore, my second album will be disco (laughs)!

What do you think about the enthusiasm your performance generated?

Have some fun! I see that people have woken up a bit, they are very interested. It brings so much love and joy. Most importantly, as they say at Eurovision, “United by music” (“United by music”).

How did you feel when you took the stage in the first semi-final on Tuesday evening?

It was pretty stressful. I was backstage and had to wait six minutes. I was hearing the servers jokes when I really needed to focus without sound. I think I have a phobia of noise. As soon as I walked in and saw the faces of the audience, I felt safe. But I couldn’t get back in, look, my voice is shaking… Those are the corrections I hope to make before the Saturday finale. But Tuesday was really great. It was crazy to see the faces of the audience when the light was on them.

Is it stressful being three feet off the ground?

Yes ! After all, I would invite journalists to come and climb there! If there are people who gossip, let them come and try first! (laughs) Pretty impressive. It was easy on paper. After what you told me”go there”I said to myself: “Oh yes, it’s true I have to go upstairs now”. I forgot ! This is how I am in life. When I bought my first house, I realized later that there was no garage. Sometimes I lack a little (laughs)!

in the last issue Television 7 Days you state that you are on the front page (and still on newsstands) that you are scared “slipping, microphone not working, or your clothes ripped”. Do these concerns still persist?

After the first rehearsals there were indeed some problems with the dress. Magnets do not stick together. there was a kind of stick that had to stretch it to really create that sense of grandeur. But they found it very dangerous and risky. We only have forty-five seconds to get the build on stage when the other artist has finished. If she puts on the rings, hangs the dress, and everything falls out, it’s over. It pissed me off a little bit, sorry for that remark because we’ve been working for a long time. I’m quite a perfectionist and really wanted to make up my mind. With the cameras, we still manage to have certain angles that make the rendering look too big. But one more time, that’s it. All other countries have made more or less major adjustments. It’s part of the game, albeit scary. Especially for the microphone. I thought if my palms were sweaty and I hit the ground while I was going upstairs, it would be over! My hairdresser managed to attach a hairpin to the microphone. I can swipe my thumb and be safe!

pH