Luxembourg’s Eurovision Entry: Laura Thorn’s ‘La Poupée Monte Le Son’
In a surprise move, Luxembourg has made a comeback to the Eurovision Song Contest with a modern twist on a classic theme. This year’s entry, Laura Thorn’s ‘La Poupée Monte Le Son’ (‘The Doll Turns Up the Sound’), is a nod to one of Luxembourg’s own Eurovision legends, France Gall’s 1965 winning tune Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son. According to One Europe, the song represents the evolution of the poupée since France Gall’s victory.
The song’s theme is centred around a doll who has cut her strings and grabbed the mic, representing a feminist message. As One Europe reports, Laura Thorn described the character in her song as “une sorte de vengeresse” – an avenger who won’t stay quiet. The lyrics drive home a feminist theme, with Thorn’s character finding her own strength and no longer needing to rely on anyone else.
Laura Thorn, a 25-year-old music teacher by day and pop diva by night, was chosen to represent Luxembourg after winning the Luxembourg Song Contest (LSC) final on 25 January. As One Europe notes, Thorn’s journey to Eurovision began when she received a random text message from a stranger about an interesting opportunity. The songwriting duo, Julien Salvia and Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal, had already composed La Poupée Monte Le Son but needed a Luxembourgish singer to bring it to life.
Thorn’s performance in Basel has been generating buzz, with a life-sized dollhouse on the Eurovision stage and a dramatic costume change. As One Europe describes, Laura Thorn and her team have gone all-in on the doll theme, with Thorn starting out inside the dollhouse before breaking free and transforming from a wide-eyed marionette to a confident pop princess.
The reception to Thorn’s performance has been largely enthusiastic, with fans and critics alike charmed by her energy and charisma. At the massive Eurovision in Concert show in Amsterdam in April, Thorn performed live in front of 6,000 screaming fans – the largest audience of her career so far. One Europe reports that Thorn also received a special invitation from famed drag performer La Briochée to join her onstage at the historic Madame Arthur cabaret in La Pigalle.
Despite the positive reception, not everyone is predicting a Luxembourg victory. The betting odds currently reflect a tempered expectation, with bookmakers expecting Laura Thorn to qualify for the grand final but not necessarily win. However, as One Europe notes, Luxembourg is proud of Laura Thorn, and her hometown of Schifflange has gone full Eurovision-mad, hosting a four-day festival with public screenings, live entertainment, and arts-and-crafts puppetry workshops for kids.
In conclusion, Laura Thorn’s ‘La Poupée Monte Le Son’ is a modern take on a classic theme, representing a feminist message and a nod to Eurovision history. With her energetic performance and charming personality, Thorn has already won the hearts of many, and it remains to be seen if she’ll surprise Europe and waltz her way to the top. As One Europe reports, Thorn has the weight of those hopes on her shoulders – but she’s also got their love to carry her through.
