Country France As Kali | Artist(s) Jean-Marc Monnerville | |
Languages Antillean Creole, French Composer(s) Jean-Marc Monnerville (Kali) Lyricist(s) Jean-Marc Monnerville (Kali) | ||
"Monté la riviè" (English translation: "Go Up The River") was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, performed in Antillean Creole and French (the first occasion on which the French entry was not sung almost entirely in French) by Martinique-born singer Kali.
The song was performed sixth on the night (following Greece's Cleopatra with "Olou Tou Kosmou I Elpida" and preceding Sweden's Christer Björkman with "I morgon är en annan dag"). At the close of voting, it had received 73 points, placing 8th in a field of 23.
The song deals with the suggestion that the listener "go up the river", which is ultimately shown to be a metaphor as the river is "the river of love, the river of life" and the listener is told that "One day you'll see the source of the river". Thus, the lyrics deal with the need to find peace and love in the modern world.
The music - also composed by the performer - is often described as being inspired by the sounds of Haiti, however it also makes a nod to the synthesiser sounds increasingly popular at the Contest at the time.
The song was also recorded entirely in Antillean Creole, the only time to date that this language has ever featured at the contest.
It was succeeded as French representative at the 1993 Contest by Patrick Fiori with "Mama Corsica".