La Coco-Dance

Infobox ESC entry
song = flagicon|Monaco La Coco-Dance


caption =
year = 2006
country = Monaco
artist = Séverine Ferrer
as =
with =
language =
languages = French, Tahitian
composer = J. Woodfeel, Iren Bo
lyricist = J. Woodfeel, Iren Bo
conductor =
place =
points =
place_semi = 21st
points_semi = 14
lyrics = [http://www.diggiloo.net/?2006mc from Diggiloo Thrush]
clip =
prev = Tout De Moi
prev_link = Tout De Moi
next =
next_link =
next_year =

La Coco-Dance (English translation: "The Coco Dance") was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in French and Tahitian by Séverine Ferrer. This was the first - and to date, the only - occasion on which the Tahitian language was used at the Contest.

The song is inspired by island music - particularly that of the South Pacific. Ferrer, herself raised on Réunion island in the Indian Ocean, sings about the need to relax and let the world pass one by, as well as to "Let yourself go and come dancing". She then tells her listeners that when they feel "your luck below zero", they should join with her in the titular "coco dance", which is apparently related to the tamure of French Polynesia. The chorus itself is delivered in Tahitian, while the dance instructions are in French.

In keeping with the theme of the song, Ferrer (wearing a tight multicoloured dress) was joined onstage by five dancers (some of whom also doubled as backing singers) wearing grass skirts and performing a more energetic version of the dance she was instructing her listeners in. The Tahitian-language shouts of "Join us in our dance" were performed by the male members of this group.

At the close of the song, Ferrer was lifted onto the shoulders of her male dancers, delivering the spoken line "Coco-Dance" acapella.

The uncharacteristic style and performance (Monaco and France both being known for entering gentle ballads) was remarked upon by the BBC commentator immediately following the performance, who said "Who knew that Monaco could do "that"?"

As Monaco had not competed in the final at the 2005 Contest, the song was performed in the semi-final. Here, it was performed tenth (following Cyprus' Annette Artani with Why Angels Cry and preceding Macedonia's Elena Risteska with Ninanajna). At the close of voting, it had received 14 points, placing 21st in a field of 23 and thus requiring Monaco to qualify from the semi-final at their next Contest appearance.

In late 2006, however, it was announced that Monaco would not compete at the 2007 Contest, due to a perception that regional bloc voting prevented the country from qualifying for the final. [http://esctoday.com/news/read/7007?PHPSESSID=f47df4552974f47a6569f3ead798f1bf] Should Monaco re-enter the fold at a later date, the requirement to qualify from the semi-final will remain in place.

References

*citeweb|url=http://www.diggiloo.net/?2006mc|title=2006 Monaco|author=Diggiloo Thrush|accessdate=2006-11-26