Barbara Pravi says the “Voilà” lyrics are a call to accept her as she is

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 Eurovision 2021 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.

“Listen to me, Me, the wannabe singer,” she sings. “Talk about me to your loved ones, to your friends. Tell them about this girl with black eyes and her crazy dream. Me, what I want is to write stories that reach you. That’s all.”

Barbara Pravi: What do the “Voilà” lyrics mean?

Whether you speak French or not, the journey of a woman from insecurity to strength, from self-doubt to self-acceptance comes through clearly in the dramatic swells of “Voilà”. In an interview with me ahead of the final, Barbara connected this to her own story — that of a woman who has overcome her own demons and the ugliness of domestic violence.

“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.”

“My crazy dream is to spread messages and say things. I want my things to be heard by people. This is the only thing I have — I only have my voice, my soul, all my body and everything to sing. This is the message of ‘Voilà’. It says please hear me because I only have this. If you aren’t here to hear me, then I am nothing.”

It’s like coming out as a singer — something Barbara says she was fully able to do during the Eurovision submission process last September.

“Until September my music was confidential. I live in Paris, so I know that people in Paris know me. It’s only a small town. I want to make music for the world. I want all the world to hear my songs and it will be a dream. The difference is I don’t want my music to be confidential anymore. If it can be more gigantic I will be very proud and very happy.”

“Voilà” lyrics — Barbara Pravi (France ESC 2021 selection)

French text Écoutez moi Moi la chanteuse à demi Parlez de moi À vos amours, à vos amis Parler leur de cette fille aux yeux noirs et de son rêve fou Moi c’que j’veux c’est écrire des histoires qui arrivent jusqu’à vous C’est tout Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis Me voilà même si mise à nue j’ai peur, oui Me voilà dans le bruit et dans le silence Regardez moi, ou du moins ce qu’il en reste Regardez moi, avant que je me déteste Quoi vous dire, que les lèvres d’une autre ne vous diront pas C’est peu de chose mais moi tout ce que j’ai je le dépose là, voilà Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis Me voilà même si mise à nue c’est fini C’est ma gueule c’est mon cri, me voilà tant pis Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà juste ici Moi mon rêve mon envie, comme j’en crève comme j’en ris Me voilà dans le bruit et dans le silence Ne partez pas, j’vous en supplie restez longtemps Ça m’sauvera peut-être pas, non Mais faire sans vous j’sais pas comment Aimez moi comme on aime un ami qui s’en va pour toujours J’veux qu’on m’aime parce que moi je sais pas bien aimer mes contours Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis Me voilà même si mise à nue c’est fini Me voilà dans le bruit et dans la fureur aussi Regardez moi enfin et mes yeux et mes mains Tout c’que j’ai est ici, c’est ma gueule c’est mon cri Me voilà, me voilà, me voilà Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà Voilà

English translation Listen to me Me, the wannabe singer Talk about me To your loves, to your friends Tell them about this girl with black eyes and her crazy dream Me, what I want is to write stories that reach you That’s all Here, here, here, here I am, Here I am even if stripped naked I am afraid, yes Here I am in the noise and in the silence Look at me, or at least what’s left Look at me, before I hate myself What to tell you, that another’s lips won’t tell you It’s not much but all that I have I drop it there, that’s it Here, here, here, here is who I am, Here I am even if stripped bare it’s over It’s my mouth, it’s my cry, here I am too bad Here, here, here, here I am my dream, my desire, like I’m dying, like I laugh at it Here I am in the noise and in the silence Don’t go, I’m begging you stay a long time It may not save me, no But to do without you I don’t know how Love me as we love a friend who goes away forever I want us to love me because I don’t know how to like my outlines Here, there, here, here I am, Here I am even if exposed it is finished Here I am in the noise and in the fury too Look at me, finally, and my eyes and my hands All that I have is here, it’s my mouth, it’s my cry Here I am, here I am, here I am Here we are, here we are, here we are Here

Barbara Pravi : Voilà – gagnante Eurovision France

Barbara Pravi “Voilà” | Eurovision France 2021 | Interview in English

 

 

Barbara Pravi – La petite vidéo de Pas grandir