Fatima-Zahra Hafdi (born 25 August 1987),[1] known professionally as La Zarra (French pronunciation: [la zaʁa]), is a Canadian singer and songwriter based in France.[2] She represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool with the song "Évidemment", finishing in 16th place.[3][4]

La Zarra
La Zarra in 2023
La Zarra in 2023
Background information
Birth nameFatima-Zahra Hafdi
Born (1987-08-25) 25 August 1987 (age 37)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2016–present
Labels
Websitewww.la-zarra.com

Biography

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Hafdi was born in Montreal, Canada, to parents from Morocco. During her childhood, she lived between Montreal and Longueuil, where her family finally settled.[2] She rose to prominence in 2016, when she released her debut single "Printemps blanc", in collaboration with French rapper Niro.[5]

In 2021, her fame increased with the single "Tu t'en iras", which was regularly broadcast on radio and television. The single was certified platinum by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). In the same year, La Zarra was nominated for the NRJ Music Awards, the leading French music awards, as Francophone revelation of the year, boosted in part by the success of her debut album Traîtrise.[6]

On 12 January 2023, she was chosen by France Télévisions to represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, becoming the second Canadian singer to represent the country after Natasha St-Pier in 2001.[3][7] She placed sixteenth out of twenty-six countries in the Grand Final, with 104 points.

In 2024, she performed Diane Tell's "Si j'étais un homme" at the ceremony inducting Tell into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.[8]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums with album details
Title EP details Peak chart positions
FRA
[9]
Traîtrise 82

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[10]
FIN
[11]
IRE
[12]
LTU
[13]
SWE
[14]
UK
[15]
"À l'ammoniaque/Mon dieu" 2020 Non-album singles
"Printemps blanc" 2021
"Tirer un trait"
"Tu t'en iras" 75 Traîtrise
"TFTF"
"Santa Baby" Non-album singles
"Sans moi" 2022
"Évidemment" 2023 82 23 95
[17]
7 84 94
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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List of singles as featured artist, with album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
FRA
[18]
BEL
(Wa)
Tip

[19]
"Printemps blanc"
(Niro featuring La Zarra)
2016 109 30 Les autres
"Les amants de la colline"
(Slimane featuring La Zarra)
2022 Chroniques d'un Cupidon
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 23rd NRJ Music Awards Francophone Female Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [20]
2022 44th Félix Awards Revelation of the Year Nominated [21]
33rd SOCAN Awards Revelation of the Year Won [22]
2023 34th SOCAN Awards International Song Award Won [23]
3rd Eurovision Awards Style Icon Won [24]

References

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  1. ^ Bureau, Eric; Daragon, Benoît; Poussel, Marie (22 April 2023). "" Entre Booba et Marilyn Monroe " : qui est vraiment La Zarra, la candidate de la France à l'Eurovision ?" ["Between Booba and Marilyn Monroe": who is really La Zarra, France's contestant to Eurovision?]. leparisien.fr (in French). Le Parisien. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ a b "La Zarra – Toute sa biographie avec Chérie FM". Chérie FM.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "La Zarra will represent France at Eurovision 2023". eurovision.tv. 12 January 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. ^ La Zarra - Évidemment | France | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023, 19 February 2023, archived from the original on 14 March 2023, retrieved 21 February 2023
  5. ^ "La Zarra – Biographie : naissance, parcours, famille..." njr.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. ^ "" NRJ Music Awards 2021 – «Révélation Francophone de l'Année» – La Zarra présente son univers hors du commun "". njr.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  7. ^ Farren, Neil (12 January 2023). "France: La Zarra to Eurovision 2023". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ^ David Friend, "Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame: Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane inducted". Global News, September 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "La Zarra - Traîtrise - lescharts.com" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  10. ^ "lescharts.com – Discography La Zarra". lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  11. ^ "La Zarra – Évidemment" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Discography La Zarra". irish-charts.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  15. ^ "La Zarra | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Les certifications – SNEP". snepmusique.com (in French). Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  17. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  18. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in France:
  19. ^ "Niro feat. Ivy – Printemps blanc". Ultratop (in French). Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  20. ^ "" NRJ Music Awards 2021 – «Révélation Francophone de l'Année» – La Zarra présente son univers hors du commun "". njr.fr (in French). 8 November 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Les résultats du gala de l'ADISQ 2022". Le Canal Auditif (in French). Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Les créateurs et éditeurs de musique canadiens en route vers les 33e SOCAN Awards à Toronto". SOCAN (in French). 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Gagnants des prix 2023 • Gala SOCAN 2023". Gala SOCAN 2023 (in French). Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Awards: The Results!". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 26 December 2023. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Alvan & Ahez
with "Fulenn"
France in the Eurovision Song Contest
2023
Succeeded by