Eurovision 2005 - Number 42 - Aline Lahoud - "Quand tout s'enfuit"
This is a true one-off. Lebanon's only ever Eurovision song and it didn't even make it to the Eurovision stage. It was only two months away from participating when a fundamental contradiction between Lebanese law (which forbids acknowledgement of Israel) and the EBU's rules for Eurovision (which obliges broadcasters to show all competing entries including Israel) could not be resolved and Télé Liban were forced to pull out. Lebanon wants to take part - and one day I hope it will.
The unfortunate singer at the heart of this political situation was ألين لحود (Aline Lahoud). The broadcaster had selected her to be Lebanon's first ever Eurovision representative. She had won the international prize at Türkiye's Megahit-International Mediterranean singing competition, a contest between 15 Mediterranean countries, including Israel.
Perhaps most importantly, Aline is the daughter of سلوى القطريب (Salwa Al Katrib), beloved Lebanese singer and actress. Salwa was a woman who refused an offer to leave Lebanon for France to become a huge international singing star for the love of her home country, and who devoted the later part of her singing career to focusing on religious songs. Who better than the daughter of an icon devoted to her country to represent that country on such a huge international stage?
For Eurovision the song selected was Quand tout s'enfuit (When Everything Runs Away) which is a we'll-be-there-for-each-other-when-times-are-terrible love song. At it's heart, it's a grand French ballad albeit on with a few Arabic flourishes such as the plaintive violin part at the bridge. It this had made it to Eurovision in 2005, it would have stood out. The other two big ballads (including, ironically, Israel) finished second and fourth. I can't help feeling this would have done very well.
But it was not to be. Aline didn't let it put her off and since 2005 has combined a career singing and performing all around the world with starring in several (ten in fact) Arabic language soap operas. She has also presented on TV, mostly in Dubai. She did enter the French version of the The Voice in 2014 but unfortunately was eliminated at an early stage, despite being picked by the judges.
I hope that one day Lebanon returns. Eurovision is far richer when the range of music on display is wider and drawn from as many cultures as possible. Lebanese, and Arabic culture more generally, deserves to be included.
