J'ai cherché (Translation: "I have sought") was the French entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm performed by Amir Haddad. It is the second single from his first French-language album Au cœur de moi, and is one of the few entries from France in its contest history to be performed in both English and French
As a member of the Big Five, France was already qualified for the final and Amir previewed his song during the first semifinal along with the songs from Spain and host country Sweden.
In the final, it was performed 11th following Germany and preceding Poland. At the close of voting, it finished in 6th place with 257 points, breaking a 40-year scoring record for the country. Additionally, it was France's best finish since 2002, and its first top 10 since 2009.
Lyrics[]
J’ai cherché un sens à mon existence
J’y ai laissé mon innocence
J’ai fini le coeur sans défense
J’ai cherché...
L’amour et la reconnaissance
J’ai payé le prix du silence
Je me blesse et je recommence
Tu m’as
Comme donné l’envie d’être moi
Donné un sens à mes pourquoi
Tu as tué la peur qui dormait là
Qui dormait là dans mes bras
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
J’ai cherché un sens, un point de repère
Partagé en deux hémisphères
Comme une erreur de l’univers
J’ai jeté...
Tellement de bouteilles à la mer
J’ai bu tant de liqueurs amères
Que j’en ai les lèvres de pierre
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
Au gré de nos blessures
Et de nos désinvoltures
C’est quand on n’y croit plus du tout
Qu’on trouve un paradis perdu en nous
Oh you you you you
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
Like the melody of my song
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
Like the melody of my song
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for (You)
Giving you love with my song
Giving you love with my song
I have looked for a sense to my existence
It made me leave my innocence behind
I’ve finished with an unprotected heart
I have looked for…
Love and recognition
I have paid the price of silence
I am getting hurt but starting all over again
You gave me the will to be myself
Gave a meaning to my questions
You have killed the fear that was sleeping here
That was sleeping here, in my arms
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
I have looked for, a direction, a landmark
Split into two hemispheres
Like a mistake of the universe
I have thrown…
Too many bottles to the sea
Drank so much bitter liquor
It made my lips as cold as stone
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
Along our injuries and our flippancies
It’s when we completely lose our faith
That we find a lost paradise inside ourselves
Oh you, you, you, you…
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
Like the melody of my song
You
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for
You
Like the melody of my song
Like the melody of my song
You're the one that's making me strong
I'll be looking looking for (You)
Giving you love with my song
Giving you love with my song
Trivia[]
- Amir requested that he be able to release the song in France prior to the announcement of him being selected as France's representative. It received mostly positive feedback from the French public.
- He also released a full English version called "Looking For You" and a Spanish version called "Yo Busqué", the latter with help from Barei. Both tracks, along with an acoustic version, were included on a special edition version of Amir's album released on November 11, 2016.
- Between the Eurovision version and the original version, the video has logged over 50 million combined views, and is one of the most positively reviewed songs of any of the 2016 contestants.
- Since the contest, it has peaked at #2 on the French chart, peaked at #1 on the airplay chart and has also charted well in other countries in Europe, peaking at #1 in Lithuania and reaching the top 10 in Belgium. Outside of Europe it peaked at #1 on the Francophone radio airplay chart in Canada.
- It is one of the biggest-selling singles in France for 2016, going platinum on October 18 with over 20 million downloads/streams sold. On 15 August 2022, the song was certified Diamond by the SNEP .
- Additionally, it has been heard on French radio over 1.2 billion times, making it the most played French title on radio for 2016, and earning Amir a W9 Gold Award for this achievement.
- German broadcaster ZDF used the song during their coverage of Euro 2016 (Amir performed the song in the opening concert in Paris on the eve of the tournament).
- Prior to the Eurovision final, French commentator Stéphane Bern said on social media that he would jump naked into a Stockholm fountain if the song won.
- The song was featured in the 2016 season premiere of the game show Fort Boyard, in which Amir was a participant. It was used as his team's cheer throughout the episode.
Videos[]
Amir - J'ai cherché (France) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest-0
LIVE - Amir - J'ai Cherché (France) at the Grand Final of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest