# Rising Star (French TV series)

Rising Star is a French singing reality competition television series, and the French edition of the international reality television franchise Rising Star. It is based on the Israeli singing reality competition series HaKokhav HaBa. The show's viewers become the instant ultimate juries with expert panelists given only a nominal percentage weight in voting. The French rights were bought by specialized music-oriented station M6.

## Season 1 (2014)

Season 1 was launched in 2014 with first season being between 25 September and 13 November 2014. The live broadcasts were held on "Plateau No. 5" of the Cité du Cinéma established by the film director and producer Luc Besson and located in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris.

### Hosts

The hosts for the series were Faustine Bollaert and Guillaume Pley. The series was won by Corentin Grevost.

### Panelists

The four-member panelists were:
* Cali - singer songwriter
* Cathy Guetta - the event organizer (ex-wife of David Guetta)
* David Hallyday - singer
* Morgan Serrano - director of French NRJ radio station

### Reception

Rising Star French edition realised relatively high viewership at launch with 3.76 million viewers, representing 16.9% of total French audience. But despite the novelty and immediate interactivity created for public voting, the show lost momentum with following episodes as audiences fell below the 2-million benchmark and with 6 November 2014 only 1.52 million viewers capturing just 6.7% of the market.
M6 announced that the French adaptation of Rising Star had failed to attain the figures M6 had anticipated, although its format was welcomed as "audacious" and "innovative". M6 followed that by its decision to cut short the planned series by two episodes, and airing the finals much earlier than anticipated, i.e. by 13 November 2014.

### The auditions

The candidates (or groups) perform live with the series' band behind a big semi-circular screen name "The digital wall" such that they are invisible to the viewing public and the panelists. In real time and throughout the performance, the public votes by a "yes" or "no" through the special app launched with the goal of reaching the 70% set barrier where "the wall" is raised with the candidate moving to the next round called "duel". If he/she fails to reach the 70%, the candidate is eliminated. In this stage 28 candidates were selected to pass to the next round

#### Auditions 1

The first show was broadcast on 25 September 2014 starting 20:55. 6 candidates qualified in day 1

##### Index

* ✔ : The panelist voted "yes" for the candidate.
* ✘ : The panelist voted "no" for the candidate.
| Candidat | Age | Song | Judges' choices | Judges' choices | Judges' choices | Judges' choices | Total percentage | Result |
| Candidat | Age | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total percentage | Result |
| Barbara Lune | 24 | Chandelier - Sia | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | 43% | Eliminated |
| Séverine Romanet | 39 | Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 89% | Qualified |
| Jackie Deschamps | 60 | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Eliminated |
| Léo Rispal | 13 | Comme toi - Jean-Jacques Goldman | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 90% | Qualified |
| Tarik | 22 | Hometown Glory - Adele | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 73% | Qualified |
| Émanuelle Robitaille | 28 | I Put a Spell on You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 89% | Qualified |
| Louis Deslys | 25 | Si seulement je pouvais lui manquer - Calogero | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | 54% | Eliminated |
| Maëva Bellocq | 18 | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Eliminated |
| Larry Lynch | 25 | Let Her Go - Passenger | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 94% | Qualified |
| The Rainbows | | Get Lucky - Daft Punk | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | 22% | Eliminated |
| Solène Le Vezo | 18 | Il me dit que je suis belle - Patricia Kaas | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 79% | Qualified |

#### Auditions 2

The second episode was broadcast 2 October 2014 at 20:55. Seven candidates qualified for next round.
| Candidate | Age | Song | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Total Percentage | Result |
| Candidate | Age | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total Percentage | Result |
| Ann-Shirley | 19 | Stay with Me - Sam Smith | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 75% | Qualified |
| Julien Loko | 30 | Demons - Imagine Dragons | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | 63% | Eliminated |
| Hoshi | 18 | Mistral gagnant - Renaud | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 67% | Eliminated |
| Frénésie | | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Eliminated |
| Tiwayo | 28 | Another Love - Tom Odell | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 84% | Qualified |
| Anne-Sophie Terschan | 18 | Respect - Aretha Franklin | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 77% | Qualified |
| Alexandra Miller | 24 | Halo - Beyoncé | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | 79% | Qualified |
| Baby's | 14 | Pour une folie - Baby's | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 76% | Qualified |
| Julien Mueller | 25 | All of Me - John Legend | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 68% | Eliminated |
| MTatiana | 25 | Jalouse - Mademoiselle K | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 82% | Qualified |
| Sarah Sofia | 21 | Dernière danse - Indila | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 22% | Eliminated |
| Ahmed Mouici & The Golden Moments | 51 | I've Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 74% | Qualified |

#### Auditions 3

The third day of auditions was broadcast on October 9, 2014, at 20:55. Seven candidates qualified for the next round.
| Candidate | Age | Song | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Total Percentage | Result |
| Candidate | Age | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total Percentage | Result |
| Mathieu Canaby | 16 | Isn't She Lovely? - Stevie Wonder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 82% | Qualified |
| Jordan Chevallier | 24 | La Foule - Édith Piaf | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | 76% | Qualified |
| Audrey Passani | 20 | Stay - Rihanna | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 87% | Qualified |
| Ludovic | 28 | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Eliminated |
| Monsieur Jau | 35 | Life on Mars? - David Bowie | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 57% | Eliminated |
| Corentin Grevost | 18 | Papaoutai - Stromae | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 91% | Qualified |
| Kenny Andra | 25 | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Did not qualify for the wall | Eliminated |
| Huu | 26 | Budapest – George Ezra | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 91% | Qualified |
| Melody | 26 | Donne-moi le temps - Jenifer | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 32% | Eliminated |
| Sheila Ray Charles | 52 | Georgia on My Mind - Ray Charles | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 87% | Qualified |
| Arno Santamaria | 35 | Ma mère - Arno Santamaria | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 87% | Qualified |
| Whities | | Grace Kelly - Mika | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | 39% | Eliminated |

#### Auditions 4

The fourth and final auditions round was broadcast on 16 October 2014 at 20:55. Nine candidates were chosen for next round. But one favourite candidate Gaël Lopez died almost immediately after the round and the number of qualified candidates reduced to 8.
| Candidate | Age | Song | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Judges's choices | Total Percentage | Result |
| Candidate | Age | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total Percentage | Result |
| Tanya Michelle | 41 | Addicted to You - Avicii | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 90% | Qualified |
| Alex Copler | 21 ans | Alter ego - Jean-Louis Aubert | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 72% | Qualified |
| The Turning | | What'd I Say - Ray Charles | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 69% | Eliminated |
| Inaya | 17 | Changer - Maître Gims | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 88% | Qualified |
| The Garbo | 36 | Porque te vas - Jeanette Dimech | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 72% | Qualified |
| Mélina Bourad | 14 | Fallin' – Alicia Keys | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | 78% | Qualified |
| William Matter | | Losing My Religion - R.E.M. | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 79% | Qualified |
| Milou Leiz | 30 | Que je t'aime - Johnny Hallyday | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 22% | Eliminated |
| Emma Beatson | 26 | Wasting My Young Years - London Grammar | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | 49% | Eliminated |
| Fabien Incardona | 29 | Prendre racine - Calogero | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 84% | Qualified |
| Gaël Lopes | 25 | Prayer in C - Lilly Wood & The Prick | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 91% | Qualified |
| Anouchka Strauss | 17 | Casta Diva, from Norma - Vincenzo Bellini | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 90% | Qualified |

#### Death of contestant Gaël Lopes

Gaël Lopes, a popular candidate from day 4 of the auditions broadcast on 16 October 2014 died on 18 October 2014, two days after the broadcast falling from the 4th floor of a building after a reported "delirium". Lopes had sung "Prayer in C" from Lilly Wood and The Prick, attaining 91% with the close of voting. He was just 25 and prior to Rising Star had also auditioned twice for Nouvelle Star in 2010 and 2012. A homage was broadcast in the next show on 23 October 2014 with participants singing "Prayer in C" again as a tribute.

### Duels

In the second stage of competition, the 28 candidates through in the auditions are coupled into 14 pairs by a lottery to confront each other. The first candidate performs with "the wall" lifted throughout the performance. His aim is to attain the highest percentage possible. The confronting candidate has to perform "behind the wall". To pass through to the next stage, the second contestant has to outdo the first performance in percentage points in order to "raise the wall". The candidate with the lower percentage is eliminated even if he/she has attained the 70% barrier. Just like in the auditions, the vote of each panelist counts for 7% of the vote. During each contestant's performance, random pictures of people voting in his favour will appear on screen.

#### Duels 1

The fifth episode of the series and the first of the two duels rounds was broadcast on 23 October 2014 at 20:55. At the end of the episode, all the candidates sang a tribute to parting contestant Gaël Lopes who had died a few days earlier, just 2 days after performing on the show.
| Duel | Candidate | Song | Judge's choice | Judge's choice | Judge's choice | Judge's choice | Total percentage | Result |
| Duel | Candidate | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total percentage | Result |
| 1 | Corentin Grevost | Éblouie par la nuit – Zaz | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 79% | Qualified |
| 1 | Ahmed Mouici | Black or White – Michael Jackson | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 54% | Eliminated |
| 2 | Audrey Passani | Habits (Stay High) – Tove Lo | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 80% | Qualified |
| 2 | MTatiana | Comme un boomerang – Serge Gainsbourg | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 74% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Larry Linch | The Sound of Silence – Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 83% | Qualified |
| 3 | Léo Rispal | Hurt – Christina Aguilera | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 78% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Anne-Sophie Terschan | All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 67% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Jordan Chevallier | Born This Way – Lady Gaga | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 78% | Qualified |
| 5 | Fabien Incardona | SOS d'un terrien en détresse - Daniel Balavoine | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 79 % | Eliminated |
| 5 | Mathieu Canaby | If I Ain't Got You – Alicia Keys | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 81% | Qualified |
| 6 | Séverine Romanet | Set Fire to the Rain – Adele | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 73% | Eliminated |
| 6 | Ann-Shirley | Amoureuse – Véronique Sanson | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 74% | Qualified |
| 7 | Anouchka | O Fortuna from Carmina Burana – Carl Orff | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 71% | Eliminated |
| 7 | Tanya Michelle | Titanium – Sia and David Guetta | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 88% | Qualified |

### Duels 2

The sixth episode, and the second of two duels was broadcast on 30 October 2014 at 20:55.
| Duel | Candidate | Song | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Total percentage | Result |
| Duel | Candidate | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total percentage | Result |
| 1 | Alexandra Miller | Diamonds – Rihanna | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | 44% | Eliminated |
| 1 | William Matter | En apesanteur – Calogero | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 82% | Qualified |
| 2 | Melina Bourad | Pas toi – Jean-Jacques Goldman | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 43% | Eliminated |
| 2 | Solène Le Vezo | Alors on danse – Stromae | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 64% | Qualified |
| 3 | Tiwayo | Stolen Dance – Milky Chance | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 74% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Tarik Debbiche | Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 81% | Qualified |
| 4 | Sheila Ray Charles | Rolling in the Deep – Adele | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 75% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Baby's | Happy – Pharrell Williams | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 76% | Qualified |
| 5 | The Garbo | Déshabillez-moi – Juliette Gréco | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | 27% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Arno Santamaria | Debout (Je me sens bien) – Arno Santamaria | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 87% | Qualified |
| 6 | Alex Copler | Un autre monde – Téléphone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 76% | Eliminated |
| 6 | Huu | Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 78% | Qualified |
| 7 | Inaya | People Help the People – Birdy | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 89% | Qualified |
| 7 | Émanuelle Robitaille | Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 86% | Eliminated |

### Duels of champions

In the duel of the champions stage, two candidates are confronted one to one. The names are decided randomly by a lottery. The weight for the panelists is reduced in this stage to 5% each.
The seventh episode was broadcast on 6 November 2014 at 20:55.
| Duel | Candidate | Song | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Total percentage | Result |
| Duel | Candidate | Song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | Total percentage | Result |
| 1 | Corentin Grevost | Au café des délices - Patrick Bruel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 80% | Qualified |
| 1 | William Matter | A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | 66% | Eliminated |
| 2 | Audrey Passani | Video Games - Lana Del Rey | | | | | 82% | Qualified |
| 2 | Solène Le Vezo | Et maintenant - Gilbert Bécaud | | | | | 54% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Ann-Shirley | Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys | | | | | 68% | Qualified |
| 3 | Tarik Debbiche | Chanter - Florent Pagny | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | 58% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Jordan Chevalier | ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears | | | | | 73% | Qualified |
| 4 | Baby's | I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts | | | | | 41% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Tanya Michelle Smith | Firework - Katy Perry | | | | | 52% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Arno Santamaria | Chez moi - Arno Santamaria | | | | | 76% | Qualified |
| 6 | Larry Linch | Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | 84% | Qualified |
| 6 | Huu | When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars | | | | | 40% | Eliminated |
| 7 | Mathieu Canaby | Imagine - John Lennon | | | | | 80% | Qualified |
| 7 | Inaya | Le droit à l'erreur - Amel Bent | | | | | 77% | Eliminated but saved by judges |

## Final

The final was broadcast on 13 November 2014 at 20:50. The final was originally planned for 27 November 2014, but M6 citing lesser than expected viewership, decided to shorten the series by two weeks and do the finals much earlier. Corentin Grevost won the title of French Rising Star.
| Candidates | First song | Second song | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Judges' choice | Percentage | Percentage | Average total | Ranking |
| Candidates | First song | Second song | David | Cathy | Morgan | Cali | First song | Second song | Average total | Ranking |
| Corentin Grevost | Toi et moi - Guillaume Grand | All of Me - John Legend | | | | | 80% | 68% | 14.8% | 1st |
| Arno Santamaria | Des vents contraires - Arno Santamaria | C'est quand le bonheur - Cali | | | | | 76% | 60% | 13.6% | 2nd |
| Larry Lynch | La Corrida - Francis Cabrel | Wake Me Up! - Avicii | | | | | 59% | 75% | 13.4% | 3rd |
| Inaya | Price Tag - Jessie J | La Bohème - Charles Aznavour | | | | | 68% | 54% | 12.2% | 4th |
| Ann-Shirley | I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor | J'envoie valser - Zazie | | | | | 70% | 45% | 11.5% | 5th |
| Mathieu Canaby | Quelques mots d'amour - Michel Berger | Counting Stars - OneRepublic | | | | | 67% | 43% | 11.0% | 6th |
| Audrey Passani | Crazy in Love - Beyoncé | Paris-Seychelles - Julien Doré | | | | | 63% | 43% | 10.6% | 7th |
| Jordan Chevalier | Feeling Good - Nina Simone | La Seine - Vanessa Paradis/M | | | | | 43% | 47% | 9.0% | 8th |