C'est la vie (Claude song)

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"C'est la vie"
Single by Claude
from the EP The Singles Collection
Language
  • French
  • English
English title"That's Life"
Released27 February 2025 (2025-02-27)
RecordedNovember 2024[1]
GenreDance-pop[2]
Length2:40
LabelCloud 9
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Arno Krabman
  • Joren van der Voort
Claude singles chronology
"Je t'aime"
(2024) 		"C'est la vie"
(2025)
Music video
"C'est la vie" on YouTube
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Languages
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Arno Krabman
  • Claude Kiambe
  • Joren van der Voort
  • Léon Paul Palmen
Finals performance
Semi-final result
3rd
Semi-final points
121
Final result
12th
Final points
175
Entry chronology
◄ "Europapa" (2024)

"C'est la vie" (French pronunciation: [s‿ɛ la vi]; transl. "That's life") is a song by Congolese-born Dutch singer-songwriter Claude. Described as a tribute to one's parents, the song was released on 27 February 2025 through Cloud 9. It was written by Claude, together with Arno Krabman, Joren van der Voort, and Léon Paul Palmen. The song represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. It reached number one on the Dutch Top 40.

Background and composition

[edit]

"C'est la vie" was written and composed by Claude, Arno Krabman, Joren van der Voort, and Léon Paul Palmen, with the latter two producing the song.[3][4][5] Claude described the song as a tribute to a parent, specifically his mother. He explained, "From my childhood through my youth, she taught me to find the positive in life’s experiences, even during setbacks." Reflecting on the song's message, he added, "Even when things seem dark, it’s important to focus on the brighter side. This is the message I aim to convey—life isn’t always easy; it has its ups, downs, and twists, but 'C’est la vie'!"[6]

Eurovision Song Contest 2025

[edit]
Main article: Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025

Internal selection

[edit]

The Netherlands' broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest, AVROTROS, announced its intention to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 on 23 October 2024, confirming an internal selection after the 2024 Dutch representative Joost Klein declined its offer to represent the Netherlands for a second consecutive time.[7]

On 19 December 2024, AVROTROS announced that it had selected Claude to represent the Netherlands at the 2025 contest.[8] The selection of Claude as the Dutch representative was carried out by a committee consisting of singers Jacqueline Govaert and Jaap Reesema, radio DJs Carolien Borgers [nl], Hila Noorzai [nl] and Sander Lantinga, and television host and author Cornald Maas, following a final audition round featuring a shortlist of six acts, including singers Judith van Hirtum and Paul Morris, that took place on 9 December 2024.[9][10][11]

At Eurovision

[edit]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 took place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 13 and 15 May and the final on 17 May 2025.[12] During the allocation draw held on 28 January 2025, the Netherlands was drawn to compete in the first semi-final, performing in the second half of the show.[13] Claude was later drawn to perform 13th, ahead of Albania's Shkodra Elektronike and before Croatia's Marko Bošnjak.[14]

For its Eurovision performance, the staging is being led by the creative director Pim Brassien and lighting designer Henk-Jan van Beek. Emma Evelein was also appointed as the choreographer.[15][16] The song qualified for the grand final.[17]

Claude performed a repeat of his performance in the grand final on 17 May, with the song performed 12th, after Latvia's Tautumeitas and before Finland's Erika Vikman.[18]

Track listing

[edit]

Digital download/streaming[19]

  1. "C'est la vie" – 2:40

7-inch vinyl[20]

  1. "C'est la vie" – 2:40
  2. "C'est la vie (Instrumental)" – 2:36

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards and nominations for "C'est la vie"
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2025 OUTmusic Award Eurovision Song of the Year Third place [21]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "C'est la vie"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 63
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 49
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 44
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[25] 13
Greece International (IFPI)[26] 14
Lithuania (AGATA)[27] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[30] 67
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 53
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 23
UK Indie Breakers (OCC)[33] 17
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[34] 52
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[35] 55

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "C'est la vie"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[36] Gold 46,500‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "C'est la vie"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Various 27 February 2025
Original Cloud 9
[19]
Italy 7 March 2025 Radio airplay Warner Music Italy [it]
[37]
Various 11 April 2025 7"
  • Original
  • instrumental
 Cloud 9
[20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "C'est La Vie van Claude officieel in première" [Claude's C'est La Vie officially premieres]. AVROTROS (in Dutch). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Songfestival-inzending Claude nu officieel gepresenteerd, ook videoclip bekend" [Eurovision Song Contest entry Claude now officially presented, video clip also known]. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Netherlands 2025: Listen to 'C'est La Vie' by Claude". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Ga mee achter de schermen: 'The Making of' C'est La Vie – het Songfestivalnummer van Claude!" [Go behind the scenes: 'The Making of' C'est La Vie - Claude's Eurovision song!]. AVROTROS (in Dutch). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Claude voor Nederland naar Songfestival 2025". Songfestival.be (in Dutch). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Bekijk de videoclip: 'C'est La Vie' – Claude's Songfestivalnummer voor 2025!" [Watch the video clip: 'C'est La Vie' – Claude's Eurovision song for 2025!]. AVROTROS (in Dutch). 27 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  7. ^ "AVROTROS neemt deel aan het Eurovisie Songfestival 2025" [AVROTROS to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025]. AVROTROS (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Claude vertegenwoordigt Nederland op het Eurovisie Songfestival 2025 in Bazel" [Claude will represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel]. AVROTROS (in Dutch). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Selectiecommissie vrijdag al van start" [Selection committee already started on Friday]. Songfestivalweblog (in Dutch). 19 July 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  10. ^ Granger, Anthony (25 October 2024). "Netherlands: Selection Committee Commences Evaluation of Eurovision 2025 Entries". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Selectiecommissie vrijdag al van start". songfestivalweblog.nl (in Dutch). 12 October 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Basel will host Eurovision Song Contest 2025". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Eurovision 2025: Semi-Final Draw Results". Eurovision.tv (Press release). European Broadcasting Union. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Eurovision semi-finals running order announced". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Choreograaf Claude licht tipje van de sluier op over songfestival-act" [Claude's choreographer reveals a little bit about Eurovision act]. RTL Nederland (in Dutch). 3 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  16. ^ Granger, Anthony (4 March 205). "Netherlands: First Hints of Claude's Eurovision Staging". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  17. ^ "Eurovision 2025: The First Semi-Final Qualifiers". Eurovision.TV. European Broadcasting Union. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  18. ^ van Dijk, Sem Anne (16 May 2025). "Eurovision 2025: Grand Final Running Order Revealed". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  19. ^ a b "C'est La Vie – Song by Claude". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Claude - C'est La Vie". Bol.com (in French). Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  21. ^ "KAJ wins OUTmusic Award 2025". OutTV. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Claude %5BNL%5D – C'est la vie" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Claude %5BNL%5D – C'est la vie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Claude: C'est la vie" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög: Streymi, spilun og sala viku 21. Birt 24. maí 2025 – Næst uppfært 31. maí 2025" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 21/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  27. ^ "2025 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 2025" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Claude %5BNL%5D – C'est la vie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  30. ^ "Singel 2025 uke 21". IFPI Norge. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 21, 2025". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Claude %5BNL%5D – C'est la vie". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Official Independent Singles Breakers Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Claude – C'est la vie" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 9 July 2025. Enter C'est la vie in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2025 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  37. ^ Tenaglia, Raffaella (6 March 2025). "C'est la vie – Claude". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved 16 March 2025.