Barbara Pravi achieved France's best placement at the Eurovision Song Contest since 1991 when her performance of "Voilà" secured second place in 2021. This success in Rotterdam, which garnered 499 points, marked a pivotal moment in a career that spans professional singing, songwriting for international artists, and acting across film and television productions in France.
Early Career and Musical Evolution
Born in 1993 in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, Barbara Piévic began her music career in 2014 after collaborating with musician Jules Jaconelli. She adopted the stage name Barbara Pravi as a tribute to her Serbian grandfather, utilizing the Serbian word for authentic. Following her debut single "Pas grandir" in 2017 and a self-titled EP, she transitioned from pop to a traditional French chanson style in 2018. Her early professional work included appearing on the soundtrack for the French version of the film Heidi and performing in the musical show Un été 44.
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Beyond her own performances, Pravi has established a significant footprint as a songwriter. Her compositions have been recorded by artists including Yannick Noah, Julie Zenatti, Chimène Badi, Jaden Smith, Louane, and Florent Pagny. Her work for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest proved highly influential; she co-wrote "J’imagine" for Valentina and "Oh maman!" for Lissandro, both of which secured victories for France. Furthermore, her track "Bim Bam toi," written for Carla Lazzari, achieved historical recognition as France’s first TikTok golden disc.
Studio Albums and Artistic Ventures
Pravi released her debut studio album, On n'enferme pas les oiseaux, in August 2021, supported by an international tour. In 2023, she transitioned from Capitol Music France to Virgin Records France. Her creative output expanded beyond music into literature and film; she co-authored the book Lève-toi in 2023 and appeared in the Claude Lelouch film Finalement. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she was appointed Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2025, having previously been honored as the Female Revelation of the Year at the 2022 Victoires de la Musique.
Fast facts
- Born: 1993, 15th arrondissement of Paris
- Stage name origin: Serbian word for authentic
- Eurovision 2021 result: Second place
- Debut album: On n'enferme pas les oiseaux
- Writing credits include: Yannick Noah, Jaden Smith, Kylie Minogue
- 2022 Award: Victory of the female revelation
- 2025 Award: Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- Film appearance: Finalement by Claude Lelouch
Questions readers ask
What song did Barbara Pravi perform at Eurovision?
She represented France at the 2021 contest with her song "Voilà".
Has she written music for other performers?
Yes, she has composed songs for artists such as Yannick Noah, Julie Zenatti, and Kylie Minogue.
Achievements
- Genres: chanson and feminist music
