As I explained in my post about the first semi-final there is no central
theme to this years Eurovision Song Contest and in the interests of
giving a fair chance to all nations throughout the week long competition
I am limited in what I can say. I can though say what I like about the
five nations that were knocked out tonight;
Georgia: In 2008 Georgia declared war on Russia in the hope that
the inevitable Russian counter-attack would cause the European Union
(EU) and NATO to immediately leap to Georgia's aid defeating Russia
militarily. Funnily enough this didn't happen and since then Georgia has
been isolated by both the EU and NATO although the US have recently
taken to trotting out then Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilli in
response to the situation in Ukraine as if Saakashvilli is some sort of
expert on Russian/EU relations.
Featuring lyrics like; "Show us the stairway to come back to Earth – sky
diver’s space jump! Lead those three minutes longin’ for love"
Georgia's entry "Three Minutes to Earth" by "The Shin and Mariko" was
all about Georgia pleading to be allowed back from the political
wilderness while showcasing Georgian folk music. Perhaps in an effort to
highlight the effect this isolation is having on them that is all there
was to Georgia's entry. Although there isn't a central theme to this
years contest there are a number of trends that are shared between
different nations to differing extents. Georgia's entry completely
ignored all of these and - it must be said - wasn't particularly good
meaning that it simply didn't deserve a place in the final.
Lithuania: Their entry "Attention" by "Vilija Matačiūnaitė" is
all about her getting chatted up by a guy in a bar. She performs on
stage with a male dancer whom she constantly seems to be battling for
dominance. As Lithuania's entry touches on the issue of gender equality
that is expanded on by other nations into the trend of sexual violence
against women and sex trafficking in particular.
The main thrust of Lithuania's entry though was Rihanna specifically the
opening two acts ("Phresh off the Runway" and "Man Down") of the
Diamonds World Tour. As a result Matačiūnaitė took to the stage in black
outfit featuring a hooped short skirt which was intended to create
speculation that she might end up flashing her, erm, 'Birthday Cake.'
The song even featured the lyric; "I’m not gonna ask you buy me
diamonds" and was originally written in the light reggae-style of "Man
Down" and "You da One." As such this was yet another nation pointing out
to the US that it wasn't in any way troubled by the Rihanna operation
because they can in fact do that sort of thing for themselves. However
on this occasion there was no expression of support for Germany.
Rihanna has of course been something of a micro-trend within this years
competition but one that seemed to limited only to the Baltic nations.
Joining Latvia and Estonia from the first semi-final the elimination of
Lithuania means that none of these nations made it through to the final.
Sadly for Rihanna the message from Eurovision appears to be that they
consider her to be a spent force and yesterday's news. Any nation that
failed to work that one out for themselves appears to have been rejected
as not being up to the standard of the final.
22:00 on 8/5/14 (UK date). I'll add more tomorrow.
Edited at around 13:35 on 9/5/14 (UK date) to add;
Israel: Every year Israel provide me with an opportunity to
explain that although there is a lot of overlap these days the entire
Eurovision project of which the Song Contest is simply a part has
nothing to do with the European Union (EU). Instead it is part of the
European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which is much older and much broader
including nations as far afield as Morocco, Libya and Jordan. In recent
years there has even been serious talk of allowing Australia to join
because the song contest is very popular over there despite the fact
they have to get up at around 06:00 to watch it live. This year
Australia were even granted a sort of official observer status being
allowed perform a segment during the voting in this second semi-final.
As I think I've mentioned more then once Israel are currently very angry
at the US. Primarily this is because of the ever worsening situation in
Syria with which Israel is technically still at war. However unusually
in a world where everything is expressed through metaphor or euphemism
Israel is also actually furious with the US over the way they are
treating Rihanna. Israel's entry expressed that anger through the very
dark song "Same Heart." This was performed by Mei Feingold who like the
US pop-star "P!nk" has the sort of athletic presence that has you
questioning whether she is gay or straight. With lyrics such as; "I'm,
skinning you out, No longer a part. We don't beat from the same heart."
Israel was making it quite clear that as a predominately Jewish republic
it has nothing in common with Europe's predominately Protestant
Monarchies that seem to have no problem with the situation in Syria or
the US' treatment of Rihanna.
As always Israel's entry suffered in the voting due to a boycott
campaign that is officially in protest against Israel's treatment of the
Palestinians. However in this context it does also provide an
opportunity for discussion about the rising levels of anti-Semitism in
Europe.
Ireland: Their song "Heartbeat" was performed by "Cann-Linn" with
Kasey Smith on vocals. Amid the backstage publicity efforts much was
made of the fact that Smith had spent a year in Nashville, Tennessee, US
honing her craft. Now this could have simply been an effort to
highlight that there is actually a huge Country & Western/Rockabilly
music scene in Ireland. However it seemed more like an effort to push
famous Nashville resident Miley Cyrus onto the Eurovision agenda as she
began the European portion of her tour in London, UK. This Irish
obsession with the US continued with the dark haired Smith at times
seeming to resemble Kim Kardashian with her stage costume invoking
thoughts of Katy Perry who was performing in Belfast, UK during this
second semi-final.
With lyrics all about rising up and trying again and keeping your head
above the water Ireland's entry was very much about the nations
political future as it exits from its Eurozone bailout and re-emerges
rehabilitated into normal society. The lyrics about breaking the border
and the wall being paper thin were intended to promote fears that
re-energised Ireland's Catholics might try to resume their war of
independence from Britain by re-claiming Northern Ireland. However
people with a deeper knowledge of Ireland know that due to centuries of
British colonisation Ireland actually has quite a substantial Protestant
population. Normally this isn't much of an issue within Irish politics
but on this occasion it certainly appears as though those Protestants
were put in charge of the Eurovision entry.
This elimination represents only the third time that the most successful
nation in the contest's history has failed to qualify for the final
since the qualification system was introduced in 2004. It is also one of
the first occasions in which Ireland has abandoned its famous policy of
neutrality in favour of a partisan political position.
Malta: OK technically it was the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR)
of Macedonia who were eliminated. However I think they were robbed as
they seemed to be on course for a strong middle of the table finish in
the final. So instead I'm going to talk about Malta.
Coming on the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War
(WW1) Malta's entry "Coming Home" was officially dedicated to memories
of the soldiers who fought in that war - many of whom have still not
come home. However in the back stage publicity effort much has been made
of the fact that the song's writer and lead singer of the band
"Firelight" grew up in Malta before travelling to the UK for work before
returning to Malta. As such the song also seemed to be about migration
within the EU. Performed very much in the style of the British band
"Mumford & Sons" it seemed specifically to be about Britain's
attitude towards migration within the EU while perhaps suggesting that
Britain would be happier going back to the old Empire dominated Europe
of the pre-WW1 era.
Although this is a valid topic for conversation it isn't one that seems
to have been picked up by any other competitor at this years contest. As
such Malta either seems to be completely oblivious to everything that
is going on around it or is bravely ploughing its own furrow depending
on how you choose to look at it. Most importantly though it seems as
though rather then speaking with its own voice about issues that are
important to it Malta has simply been handed a script to read out and
that script doesn't seem to be particularly accurate. To my mind that
doesn't make them finalist material.
(Originally Posted) 14:40 on 9/5/14 (UK date).
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