Feature | France is well on its way to 'Destination Eurovision'.

Last night saw the broadcast of the second semi-final of France's newly revamped national selection 'Destination Eurovision', and what a spectacular show it was. Larger-than-life with an intimate setting, the show is really coming into its own, developing a unique vibe and energy. The format is 'settling', as are the judges and host as little quirks and idiosyncrasies develop. Oui, Destination Eurovision is already becoming a brand in its own right and a hallmark of the Eurovision calendar. And we haven't even gotten to the Final yet!

And what of the songs? Last night saw a much, much stronger field do battle for the four remaining slots in the Final, which saw surprises and unexpected triumphs. Perhaps the most shocking was the failure of June The Girl to qualify. Her ropey performance of the song Same and awkward charisma was her ultimate undoing. Fans are calling it the 'Margaret Krajowe Fiasco' of 2018. Still, expect Same to be a chart & Spotify hit in the weeks to come.

On the other end of the spectrum, the biggest surprise (and qualification) of the night was Igit and his unexpectedly charming performance of Lisboa Jérusalem. Decidedly French yet accessible, the song weaves an interesting story of a man who's travelled around Europe, name-checking all the beautiful cities he's seen but none compares to his lady love. Each city gets lit up on the screen behind him, lending to a clever and dramatic reveal at the end. Watch the performance to see what I mean:

The second surprise came in the form of 17 year old Max Cinnamon and his fresh-faced performance of self-penned song Ailleurs. What's remarkable is that this is Max's first ever public, televised performance. And of a song he wrote in his bedroom, submitted to the organisers on a whim. Indeed, the enthusiasm, confidence & authenticity just rolled off him in waves as he gave a spirited performance, channelling a very current Ed Sheeran vibe. It was enough to win over the juries and secure a spot in the final.

Which leads us to the two big favourites of the night who not only delivered, but swept the competition away. Madame Monsieur gave a beautiful, soul-stirring performance of Mercy that was, quite simply, stunning. With cleverly-written lyrics and ultra-cool styling, their qualification was assured the second the chorus hit, making them the favourite of the night.

Acclaimed songwriter Nassi completes the final four, with a well-staged rendition of Rêve De Gamin. Though the live vocals need a bit of work, the choreography and stage visuals more than made up for it in all its fun, neon playfulness. Hopefully Nassi can pull it all together in time for the Final:

The voting was quite tense at the beginning, though it was clear by the halfway point that both the international jury and French jury agreed on who deserved the last four spots in the final of the 'Destination Eurovision'.

We now have the final lineup. I would say its a head to head race between Lisandro Cruxi's Eva, Emmy Liyanna's OK Ou OK, Madame Monsieur's Mercy and Nassi's Rêve De Gamin. There are no clear frontrunners, making the race wide open and anyone's to take. Can the favourites maintain their momentum all the way to Lisbon? Can the outsiders tighten their performances to pull a surprise win?

We'll find out next Saturday!

Image Credit: Télé Star