COLETTE DÉREAL, TÉLÉ MONTE CARLO BEFORE SÉVERINE

Colette Deréal & Jean-Claude Pascal

Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, in Ligurian Principatu de Mùnegu, is a sovereign city-state, country, and microstate on the French Riviera in Western Europe.

The Grandma loves small countries because she was born in one of them and she considers that as small is your country better attention it has with its inhabitants. Tina Picotes, one of The Grandma's best friends, was born in Monaco and they share their experiences living in these rich microstates full of history and diversity. Today, they have been talking about the participation of Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest along its history. Tina has talked about two especial singers, Colette Deréal and Séverine. The first died on a day like today in 1988 and the second won this Contest representing Monaco for the first and only time.  

The Grandma considers that talking about them is a good way to pay homage and remember them.

More information: François Grimaldi captures the Rock of Monaco

Colette Deréal, born Colette Denise de Glarélial; 22 September 1927-12 April 1988) was a French actress and singer.

In 1961, Deréal represented Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, with the song Allons, allons les enfants. Deréal finished joint tenth place with the Finnish entry Valoa ikkunassa sung by Laila Kinnunen and the Dutch entry Wat een dag sung by Greetje Kauffeld, receiving six points.

Allons, allons les enfants was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in French by French singer Colette Deréal.

The song is a call from Deréal to the children of the world to get out of the towns and into the wider world to celebrate the joys of Spring. She sings that this is the only way for them to truly live.

The song was performed second on the night, following Spain's Conchita Bautista with Estando contigo and preceding Austria's Jimmy Makulis with Sehnsucht. At the close of voting, it had received 6 points, placing 10th in a field of 16.

It was succeeded as Monegasque representative at the 1962 Contest by François Deguelt with Dis rien.

More information: Eurovision

Allons les enfants, aujourd'hui la vie est belle
Il faut sur le champ qu'on répande la nouvelle
Une belle page blanche, toute blanche, s'ouvre maintenant
C'est le jour du printemps.

Let's go children, today life is beautiful
On the field they just have to spread the news
A beautiful white page, all white, is opened now
It's the day of spring.

Colette Deréal

Monaco has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 24 times since its debut in 1959.

The country's only win in the contest came in 1971 when Séverine performed Un banc, un arbre, une rue. In 1972, Monaco was expected to host the contest, but declined. Until now, Monaco is the only microstate which has won the contest.

Monaco finished last at its first contest in 1959 before achieving three top three results in the 1960s. Two of these were achieved by François Deguelt, who finished third in 1960 and second in 1962. Romuald also finished third in 1964.

Severine's victory in 1971 was the first of five top four results in eight years.

The others were achieved by Romauld, who returned to place fourth in 1974, Mary Christy who was third in 1976, Michèle Torr, fourth in 1977 and Caline & Olivier Toussaint who were fourth in 1978. After participating in 1979, Monaco was absent from the contest for 25 years.

Séverine won Eurovision in 1971

Monaco is the only country to have internally selected all of their participants. While some countries organise televised national finals, it is believed that TMC does not have enough money to organise national finals.

Monaco returned to the contest for three years from 2004 to 2006 but failed to qualify for the final on all three occasions.

The Monegasque broadcaster then withdrew from the contest, stating that regional voting patterns in the contest have effectively given Monaco no chance of qualifying for the final.

Monaco participated in the contest 21 times between its debut in 1959 and 1979. Afterwards the country withdrew from the contest for financial reasons. It only returned in 2004, 25 years after its last participation. It withdrew again in 2007, after failing to qualify for the final for three consecutive years.

Monaco won the contest in 1971, with the song Un banc, un arbre, une rue, performed by Séverine.

The Monegasque victory is rather particular in the history of Eurovision as neither the songwriter, the singer, nor director were from the country they represented, something which also was the case with four of Luxembourg’s five victories.

Séverine even declared to journalists that she had never set foot in Monaco, forgetting that the video-clip was filmed there. Séverine's producer was dishonest with her and stole her prize, thus she never got paid for her victory, even after suing him. Nevertheless, the singer is still a great fan of the contest.

More information: Wiwi Blogs

Monaco's next best placing is second place, which it has achieved once in 1962. It has placed third three times, in 1960, 1964 and 1976; and last twice, in 1959 and 1966.

Monaco is among the eight countries which finished last on their first participation, the others being Austria, Portugal, Malta, Turkey, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and San Marino.

Monaco never organised the contest. After winning in 1971, the country decided to organise the 1972 contest as an open-air show, setting the date in June rather than early spring. However, because of a lack of funds and material, Télé Monte Carlo sought help from the French public broadcaster, ORTF, which accepted to organise the contest.

Because TMC wanted the show to be held in Monaco while ORTF wanted it in France, negotiations never succeeded. Monaco left it up to the EBU. The EBU asked Spain and Germany, who respectively finished second and third at the 1971 contest, but the countries were not interested in organising the 1972 contest. It was eventually organised by the BBC in Edinburgh.

Séverine won Eurovision in 1971

Monaco was absent from the contest between 1980 and 2003, before returning for three years from 2004–2006, but Maryon (2004), Lise Darly (2005) and Séverine Ferrer (2006) all failed to progress from the semi-finals. TMC broadcast the 2007 contest, opening the way for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. However, TMC decided against it.

The EBU announced they would work harder to bring Monaco back into the Contest in 2010 alongside other lapsed participants.

TMC programs no longer revolve around the principality. As TF1 Group being the biggest competitor to the French public channels, it is very unlikely that TMC will again broadcast the contest. When TMC did so between 2004 and 2006, its audience was much smaller than the one of the French public channel. In those years, it was the government and the municipality of Monaco who chose the contestant and funded the delegation, while it is usually the responsibility of a broadcaster or a producer.

Due to the country's very small size, all Monaco's entrants came from outside the principality, although French-born Minouche Barelli, who represented the principality in 1967, shared her time between Paris and Monaco, acquired Monegasque citizenship in 2002, and died in the principality on 20 February 2004 at the age of 56.

More information: Victorovies

Séverine (born Josiane Grizeau; 10 October 1948, Paris) is a French singer.

Séverine won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 for Monaco, performing Un banc, un arbre, une rue with music by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and words by Yves Dessca. It was recorded in English as Chance In Time, in German as Mach die Augen zu (und wünsch dir einen Traum) and Italian as Il posto.

The original French version made #9 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1971, whereas the English version, released on CBS rather than Philips, did not chart. The song charted highly in most other European markets.

Séverine had further success in France and Germany, but never again on an international scale.

Séverine made two further attempts at winning the Eurovision Song Contest, participating in the German national finals of 1975 and 1982. Neither song won. She accompanied Monaco's delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece.

More information: Escextra

Un jour ou l'autre il faut partir
Pour se construire un avenir, un avenir
Et see'est l'inoubliable instant
Où l'on rend ses habits d'enfant, d'enfant.
 

One day or another we have to leave
To build a future, a future
And it's the unforgettable instant
When we return our child clothes, child clothes.
 

Séverine

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Charles Dickens writes in the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities as he paints a picture of life in England and France. The year is late 1775, and Jarvis Lorry travels from London to Paris on a secret mission for his employer, Tellson's Bank. Joining him on his journey is Lucie Manette, a 17-year-old woman who is stunned to learn that her father, Doctor Alexandre Manette, is alive and has recently been released after having been secretly imprisoned in Paris for 18 years...

The Grandma at Malta International Airport

The Grandma and her friends are returning to their homes. Joseph de Ca'th Lon is flying to Lon; Tina Picotes to Monte Carlo; Claire Fontaine to Québec and The Grandma to Barcelona. 

During the flight from Valletta to Barcelona, The Grandma has started to read Charles Dickens' A tale of two cities, a new book that she's going to share with her families. Before reading a book, you must know the author and his/her life. Every author puts a little of himself/herself in his/her books. Charles Dickens is one of the best writers of the history and all his works are considered masterpieces.

This new book talks about London and Paris during the French Revolution. Enjoy it with The Grandma, who is going to post one new chapter, in audio version, every day.

Download A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens (February 1812-9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the 20th century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are still widely read today.

Charles John Huffam Dickens

Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. 

Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed readings extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens's literary success began with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers. Within a few years he had become an international literary celebrity, famous for his humour, satire, and keen observation of character and society. His novels, most published in monthly or weekly instalments, pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. 

More information: Biography

Cliffhanger endings in his serial publications kept readers in suspense. The instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback. For example, when his wife's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher in David Copperfield seemed to reflect her disabilities, Dickens improved the character with positive features. 

His plots were carefully constructed, and he often wove elements from topical events into his narratives. Masses of the illiterate poor chipped in ha'pennies to have each new monthly episode read to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers.

A tale of to cities published on Harper's Weekly

Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre.  

Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens has been praised by fellow writers, from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell, G. K. Chesterton and Tom Wolfe, for his realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.

Authors frequently draw their portraits of characters from people they have known in real life. David Copperfield is regarded by many as a veiled autobiography of Dickens. 

The scenes of interminable court cases and legal arguments in Bleak House reflect Dickens's experiences as a law clerk and court reporter, and in particular his direct experience of the law's procedural delay during 1844 when he sued publishers in Chancery for breach of copyright. Dickens's father was sent to prison for debt, and this became a common theme in many of his books, with the detailed depiction of life in the Marshalsea prison in Little Dorrit resulting from Dickens's own experiences of the institution.  

Lucy Stroughill, a childhood sweetheart, may have affected several of Dickens's portraits of girls such as Little Em'ly in David Copperfield and Lucie Manette in A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens may have drawn on his childhood experiences, but he was also ashamed of them and would not reveal that this was where he gathered his realistic accounts of squalor. Very few knew the details of his early life until six years after his death, when John Forster published a biography on which Dickens had collaborated. 

More information: The Atlantic

Have a heart that never hardens, 

and a temper that never tires, 

and a touch that never hurts. 

Charles Dickens

TINA PICOTES: MONEGASQUE STYLE FOR TRAVELLING

Tina Picotes

Today is a great day for our unforgettable families. Another member is going to join us: Tina Picotes.

Tina Picotes was born in Maison Neuve a quartier of Monte Carlo, Monaco. She studied in the London School of Economics and Political Science and she works like a Monegasque Diplomatic. Because of this, she is always travelling around the world. She’s an expert in human and political relations and she’s an important figure for her country. She always travels accompanied by her bodyguards: Grimaldi & Ghibellines.

Tina is going to explain us her travels and we’re going to learn a lot about different countries, manners and languages.

The Grandma met Tina in Saint Tropez in the French Riviera. Both of them have a common friend: Joseph de Ca’th Lon. All of them are going to explain you lots of interesting stories about different themes.

TINA'S HOMETOWN: LE MAISON NEUVE IN MONTE CARLO

Tina with Grimaldi and Ghibellines in Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlu in Monegasque, officially refers to an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo or literally Mount Charles is situated on a prominent escarpment at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera. Near the western end of the quarter is the world-famous Place du Casino, the gambling centre which has made Monte Carlo. It is also the location of the Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris, and the Salle Garnier, the casino theatre which is the home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

More information: Visit Monaco

TINA'S ANCESTORS: THE HOUSE OF GRIMALDI

Tina, Grimaldi & Ghibellines leaving the Palais

The House of Grimaldi has ruled the tiny principality of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast for over 700 years. The first Lord of Monaco, a merchant-turned-pirate called Lanfranco Grimaldi, was Italian by birth and a member of the Genoan Guelphic family who invaded the area in 1297, following an economic dispute with rival clan, the Ghibellines.When Lanfranco died in 1309, he was succeeded by his first cousin, Rainier I, from whom all subsequent Monegasque monarchs are descended.

Rainier was also a seafaring man, but unlike those of his predecessor, the new leader's trading activities were legitimate, and eventually earned him the respect of the French monarch who appointed him Grand Admiral of France in 1304.

More information: Palais Princier de Monaco

Monaco became a principality when the then ruler Honor II assumed the title of prince in 1612. At that point the territory was still under the protection of Spain, with whom it had been linked since 1524, but the Treaty of Peronne in 1641 allied it instead with France. Subsequent Monegasque sovereigns upped their title count by marrying a string of French heiresses, which explains why; in addition to the title of Sovereign Prince of Monaco, the head of the principality can lay claim to 19 other titles.

Although the Grimaldi family was exiled from Monaco in 1793 following the French revolution - during which time the principality reverted to its ancient name of Fort d'Hercule - its members returned in 1815, following the Treaty of Paris, and have been its monarchs ever since.

 

Welcome Tina to our families!

 I must hurry back to my house and my flowers in Monaco - Lillie Langtry.

LURDES: MONACAN BEAUTY

Lurdes Addams plays in Monte Carlo Casino

Lurdes was born in Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco, one of the smallest countries in Europe very famous for its casinos, its car races and its tributes and taxes advantages.

She decided to travel around the world with the rest of the family to discover other sources of inspiration and other cultures. She was born in a small country and that’s the reason because of she has the necessity of visiting other places, although every time she does it, she misses much more her country and she need to return to her origins.

I work hard in social work, public relations, 

and raising the Grimaldi heirs.

Princess Grace