Béatrice Poulot

Béatrice Poulot is a French singer born in 1968 in Saint-Denis, on the island of Réunion. She moved with her family to the Paris area at a young age. Growing up, she proudly kept her island heritage alive. Béatrice represents the culture of Réunion in her music, bringing the warmth and vibrant spirit of her native island to her performances. This rich background influenced her artistic style and passion for world music from the very beginning.

Musical Career Beginnings

In the early 1990s, Béatrice Poulot worked hard to build a music career. Her talent and dedication led to professional recognition over several years. As her reputation grew, she began performing alongside many well-known artists in different genres. For example, she sang as a backing vocalist and dancer with renowned international musicians like Angélique Kidjo, Natacha Atlas, Julie Pietri, and the famous Zouk band Kassav’. These experiences honed her skills on stage.

Béatrice’s early career saw her joining various musical projects. In 1994, she had her first big break in Martinique by joining the group C’Kans. The following year, in 1995, she participated in an acid jazz project called Dis Bonjour à la Dame. In 1996, Béatrice toured internationally as part of the lineup of Kassav’, bringing her voice to audiences around the world. In 1997, she became one of three singers in a girl band called Soul Serenade, which led her to appear on prestigious European television shows. By 1998, she even joined world-music star Angélique Kidjo as a chorist and dancer for a special musical tour. These early endeavors established Béatrice as a versatile performer with roots in world music and zouk genres.

Eurovision Song Contest 1999

Béatrice Poulot is best known internationally for her role in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999. In early 1999, she was selected to partner with Bosnian singer-songwriter Dino Merlin in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Eurovision entry. She in fact replaced French-Tunisian singer Amina Annabi as Dino’s duet partner in the Bosnian national selection that year. Together, they performed the song “Putnici”, a bilingual pop song with lyrics in Bosnian and French. The duo Dino & Béatrice initially finished second in Bosnia’s national final, but the original winning song was disqualified by the organizers due to plagiarism. As a result, Dino Merlin and Béatrice Poulot went on to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at Eurovision 1999 in Jerusalem.

Their performance of “Putnici” was energetic and multicultural, reflecting Béatrice’s French-Reunionese background alongside Dino’s Bosnian style. It earned 7th place out of 23 countries in the Eurovision final, with a total of 86 points. This achievement marked Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best result in the contest up to that time. Béatrice’s appearance on the Eurovision stage made a strong impression, and she was credited simply by her first name Béatrice during the show. The song “Putnici” became memorable for its East-meets-West flavor and remains a fan favorite from the 1999 contest.

Later Career and Present Day

After her Eurovision success, Béatrice Poulot continued to pursue her music career actively. In 2000, she released a solo album titled “Aimer C’est…”, showcasing her musical roots in zouk and worldbeat rhythms. The album included songs in French and Creole, such as “Aimer C’est Donner” and “N’arrête Pas,” and was produced by the Caribbean music label BS Productions. This release allowed Béatrice to share the soulful warmth of her island-influenced pop style with a wider audience. Moreover, she kept collaborating with other artists in the Francophone music scene. For instance, she was featured on compilations like Zouk Love and worked with artists like Francis Maïv on zouk tracks.

In the following years, Béatrice maintained a steady presence in music. She frequently performed live with her band in concerts, festivals, and events, often mixing French variety, Afro-pop, and island music in her repertoire. She also released new music occasionally. In 2017, Béatrice put out a single called “Not My Life Without You (G besoin de twa),” blending English and Creole lyrics. Her voice continued to charm fans of world music and nostalgic Eurovision followers alike. In recent years, she participated in tribute projects. For example, she contributed to Les Kopines – L’album hommage à Gilles Floro in 2025, lending her vocals to songs like “Kalin’” and “Absence” on this French Caribbean homage album.

Throughout her career, Béatrice Poulot has focused on music and performance. While she did not pursue an acting or modeling career in any notable way, she often combined singing with dance in her stage acts, which highlighted her versatility as an entertainer. Today, Béatrice lives in the Paris region and remains active in music. She continues to celebrate her Réunionese roots through her art, performing live with a multicultural flair.