Saturday (14/5/22) saw the Grand Final of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest. Held in Turin, Italy.
The reason why it was held in Italy. Is that last year Italy won the 65th Eurovision Song Contest. With the song; "Zitti E Buoni" (Shut Up And Behave) by the band Maneskin.
Maneskin's victory was viewed unusual. As it is not considered to be your typical Eurovision song for a couple of reasons.
At its most basic the Song Contest is a song-writing competition. It is a celebration of the song-writers, the producers, the engineers.
All the people who are really the music industry. Even if you never get to see them on stage, in the spotlight.
It is the song-writer who must come from the nation being represented. They can chuck pretty much anything they want up on stage to sing it.
The Canadian singer Celine Dion famously helped launch her career by representing Switzerland at the 1988 Song Contest. The song; "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi" (Don't Leave Without Me) was written by Nella Martinetti from Ticino, Switzerland.
It wasn't until 2016, when Poland asked if they could be represented by an actual Wolf. That it was formally clarified. If the performer is from planet Earth, then they must be a member of the Human species.
What attracts many song-writers to Eurovision is the challenge it presents. From its simple roots it has grown into a forum for nations to discuss the big political and social issues of the day.
Making each song not so much a song. As a musical statement about the big political and social issues of the day. However due to the Song Contest's golden rule. Those statements cannot be overtly political.
Really anyone good enough to work in the music industry can write a simple heartbreak love song. Particularly if they're allowed to get away with ever so slightly re-working someone else's song. Just ask Ed Sheeran.
However it is much more of a fun challenge. To see if you can write a not overtly political song about the finer, technical points of something like EU Directive 2019/790 on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. The so-called; "Meme Law."
So Eurovision songs tend to be packed with coded little references to political and social issues. Maneskin's entry was unusual in that it didn't. It was just a song they'd written anyway that Italy decided to enter into the Song Contest.
"Maneskin" is a Danish word meaning; "Moonshine." It was suggested by the band's bass player Victoria De Angelis, who is a Danish/Italian dual national.
Which sort of touches on EU integration. Particularly its core pillar; The Free Movement of Human Capital/People.
But not really as Victoria De Angelis is Italian born to an Italian father and Danish mother. So even without the EU she'd be free to live and work in both.
The band was formed while all its members were students at Rome's John F. Kennedy High School. Named after US President John F. Kennedy.
Which sort of touches on how the US Democrat Party are the Party of Slavery.
How it really took the assassination of President Kennedy to allow the US Civil Rights movement of the 1960's and 1970's to happen. Something which was always a dispute between different factions within the Democrat Party.
It's claimed that the band had to rush to pick a name. In order to perform at the 2016; "Pulse" contest for new bands.
Which sort of touches on the June 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Florida, US. Apparently just a normal part of the Party of Slavery's electioneering.
However all of these little references are a bit tenuous by Song Contest standards. They also come from the artist's biography. Although these are submitted in support of the entry, technically it is only the song itself that is considered the entry.
The only issue raised by the song itself is that it is done in a very 1970's Glam Rock style. Particularly in the way it was performed at the Song Contest.
This was in reference to one very specific performance of 1970's Glam Rock anthem; "Children of the Revolution" by T-Rex. The performance of the song by Elton John and Pete Doherty at the 2005 Live 8 concert.
This took place to put pressure on the Group of 8 (G8) nations. To accept the demands of the Jubilee-2000 campaign.
Allowing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to introduce the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Initially cancelling some US$40bn of Neo-Colonial debt.
Pete Doherty's role in the concert was to serve as a metaphor for my, admittedly covert, role in that overtly political campaign. Essentially some singers did some songs, I did something else.
The faction within Britain who still believes in the likes of Elton John and Ed Sheeran. Have claimed ever since that my involvement and, therefore, the success of the campaign. Was the result of their magical superpowers. Their Jedi-like mind control tricks.
In the Opening Ceremony of the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. Japan certainly granted me ample opportunity to dispel that particular myth.
An opportunity I feel I'm about to be granted again.
Although he's clearly still too thick to realise it. Elton John's performance with Pete Doherty in my role was actually done in mockery of that claim and him, personally.
The song he was given to sing seeming to say;
"Surely no-one could be so stupid as to ever believe in me."
It is part of the enduring success of the Song Contest. That it is utterly impossible to definitely say which song is the best. Allowing for constant discussion.
However there was some feeling that France's entry "Viola" (Here) by Barbara Pravi would have been a more deserving winner. As it was perhaps the better Eurovision song.
It was much more intricate in its design. The song itself included many detailed references to complex political and social issues.
Not only that it covered almost all of the issues that everyone else was talking about. Showing France's ability to understand the world around it.
So I think many people wanted to see France win and Italy come second. Including Italy and Maneskin themselves.
This isn't because we dislike Maneskin. In fact it is quite the opposite.
As it's not really understood by people outside of the music industry. The Song Contest and the performers who participate in it can get sneered at.
ABBA obviously helped launch their careers by winning the 1974 Song Contest. However since then the people who've been able to repeat the feat have been few and far between.
At the 2021 Song Contest Israel were represented by Eden Alere.
Like all Israelis she had do a period of compulsory military service. However it appears as though she did most of that military service on the Israeli version of; "The X-Factor."
Perhaps a reference to how some already successful artists view having to appear at Eurovision. An unpleasant thing that they must do in service of their country.
Rock music fans, amongst whom Maneskin are trying to launch their career. Are the sort of people who are particularly likely to sneer at the Song Contest.
So we think it would be probably be better for Maneskin. If it appeared deep in their Wikipedia page that they once participated in the Song Contest.
Rather than having to carry the stigma of having to be introduced everywhere they go as;
"Eurovision Winners, Maneskin."
So rather than complaining that Maneskin won. I feel as though I should be apologising to them.
What appears to have elevated them above Barbara Pravi was me accidentally lending them some of the popularity of the success of the Jubilee-2000 campaign.
At Eurovision everyone's performance is always subject to review.
At around 17:15 on 16/5/22 (UK date) I'll have to pick this up tomorrow.
Edited at around 17:00 on 18/5/22 (UK date) to copy & paste;
Barbara Pravi performed in the style of Chanteur/Chanteuse. The fact
that French is gendered language touched on Transgender issues and the
current fad for ridiculous, self-selected gender pronouns.
The
Chanteur/Chanteuse is a rather uniquely French musical tradition. They
are sort of like buskers, singing songs in the hope of donations from
passers-by.
However they would also sell the sheet music of their songs. Allowing people to sing the songs themselves, at home.
During
the Pandemic Barbara Pravi's musical career was reduced to selling
songs for people to use on the Chinese Social Media App; "TikTok."
Within
the Chanteuse metaphor this made TikTok something of a; "Digital Silk
Road."
There was much discussion that year about the old Silk Road trade
route. Due to China's attempts to resurect it through its One Belt, One
Road (Belt and Road) Initiative.
From the way Barbara Pravi sung
about whether people were interested in her music or her beauty. I get
the impression that the line between Chanteuse and Prostitute was always
a fine one.
Touching on the sexualisation of women in the music and wider entertainment industry.
Really
the most famous Chanteuse is Edith Piaf. She certainly portrayed
herself as a prostitute in one of her more famous songs;
"L'Accordenoniste."
About her dependence on her song-writer, the
accordion player Michel Emer. Who, suddenly, became unavailable in 1940.
Edith
Piaf was certainly very dependent on Michel Emer after the Second World
War. It was him, as a Jew, speaking up for her which prevented her from
being executed for treason and Nazi collaboration.
Here in 2022 I
think everyone is sick of telling Miley Cyrus that story. Only to watch
her go off and enthusiastically collaborate with the Nazis. Again.
Part
of the reason why Edith Piaf is probably the most famous Chanteuse is
that her career spanned the 1920's and 1930's. This was when it first
became possible to record music.
Edith Piaf and other
Chanteur/Chanteurse's embraced this new technology. Starting to sell
records alongside sheet music. A technological advancement which
fundamentally changed the way that music is consumed.
So I can now
listen to Edith Piaf sing in my home, many years after her death. When,
before, in order to hear her sing I would have to find the Paris street
corner she was standing on.
Chanteuse are particularly famous for
Torch Songs. Sentimental ballads about lost or unrequited love. A
tradition which lives on in big divas like Celine Dion.
Torch
Songs have, traditionally, been very popular amongst the Eurovision
community. With even the bad ones still tending to do quite well.
In
contrast Maneskin's winning song was a Rock song. Not even a sort of
Eurovision impersonation of a Rock song. Just a song by a full on Rock
band.
Rock is a genre which, traditionally, isn't at all popular
amongst the Eurovision community. On the rare occasions it does feature it's
normally a way for a country to tell all the other countries that they
don't want to win.
So Maneskin's victory touches on something which has been long-running trend within the Song Contest.
In
many ways the Eurovision Song Contest is the top echelon of the global
gay community. It is certainly the most holy of the gay holidays.
Although
you probably wouldn't be able to tell from watching western TV shows
and movies. Obsessed as they are with; "Representation." Gay people only
make up about 1-3% of the population.
A few years ago there was a
mini-outrage. Over how homophobic is was that Apple's Tim Cook was the
only openly gay CEO amongst the top 100 companies listed on the London
Stock-Exchange.
I remember thinking. That based on sample size of just 100 then 1 is exactly the correct level of representation.
With
them representing such a tiny proportion of the population the gay
community is extremely small and tight-knit. The term; "Incestuous" has certainly
been known to be used.
Due to, particularly, homophobia. Being
accepted by the gay community is hugely important for any gay person.
With it replacing other support structures, such as family. Even those
provided by the state, in nations where homosexuality is still illegal.
In
order to be accepted by any community you have to adhere to its
unwritten rules and conventions of behaviour. Obviously the easiest of
these for a song contest to discuss is music.
Gay Music is almost
an entirely separate genre in its own right. Made up of the Torch Songs
of divas like Celine Dion. Alongside cheesy, vapid Pop and EDM. The line
between Pop and EDM having become increasingly blurred across wider
society.
Amongst the European nations which make up the bulk of
Song Contest participants. The struggle for equal rights for gay people
is over. They won. In no small part due to the work of the Song
Contest.
So there isn't really this distinction between the gay community and wider society anymore. There's just wider society.
It's
become something of a sign of this progress. That particularly gay men now feel
secure enough in wider society that they can break the rules of the gay
community. Saying;
"Actually I don't want to listen to Kylie Minogue. I want to listen to Guns N' Roses."
It turns out. Your sexuality only pre-determines who you want to have sex with.
Which brings me onto what I thought was one of the stand-out acts of the 2021 Song Contest.
Portugal (2021): "Love Is On My Side" by The Black Mamba.
I
think by now we're all pretty familiar with the #MeToo campaign. Which
has seen women share and protest their experiences of harassment and
sexual violence.
However unless you are a French speaking gay man.
Or someone who spends way too much time reading the news. You probably
won't be aware of the offshoot campaign #MeTooGay.
This is largely
gay men sharing and protesting their experiences of rape and sexual
violence at the hands of other gay men. Something which I have to say is
pretty endemic and tolerated within the, particularly gay male
community.
Much of the discussion of #MeTooGay is over the extra
pressure not to speak out. For fear of being seen to damage the cause of
gay-rights and being shunned by the gay-community. A gay community
which seems to refuse to police itself.
The lyrics and story of
The Black Mamba's song are really dark. Even darker than their name.
It's about a gay man being kidnapped, drugged and raped by another gay
man.
It seems inspired by the; "Dembe Zuma" character from the US
TV show; "The Blacklist." I can't remember the details of this fictional
character's backstory. I'm not even sure if it was ever fully fleshed
out.
However it involved him being a child solider in some West African nation. Then being captured and sold into prostitution.
At
the age of about 12 he was found, chained, in a brothel by the sexually
ambiguous main character; "Raymond Reddington." Who rescues him and
moulds him into his adult friend and confident.
The lead singer of
The Black Mamba is openly, and dare we say obviously, gay himself.
However the well established band do not play Gay Music. Instead
performing the sort of Soft Jazz Japan would really like.
So I
thought Portugal's 2021 entry was incredibly brave. Raising a vitally
important topic. In a way I was pleased to see it garner enough support
to go through to the Grand Final.
Although I did wonder whether it
was a topic best discussed in the week leading up to the Grand Final.
Amongst people who understand what the Song Contest is about.
I
was worried people, who are neither French speaking nor gay men.
Casually watching the Grand Final might get the wrong impression.
While
it is the top echelon of the global gay community and there is
considerable overlap. Far from everyone involved in the Song Contest is
gay. While there are a great many gay people who simply cannot stand the
Song Contest.
So the Song Contest isn't really dominated by Gay Music. As much as by Eurovision Music. Which is a highly technical genre unto itself.
Things got particularly bad in the mid-2000's. When the Song Contest was opened up to all the new Eastern European nations.
They
saw the Song Contest as a way to establish their identity and boost
their profile. Slovenia has spent its entire modern existence being
confused with Slovakia.
So they all did the song that they thought the Eurovision community would like. So they would be able to win the Song Contest.
The
result was really just the same song being performed 40 times in a row.
Which, in many ways, made it harder to tell the countries apart.
So recently there has been a few people sticking their hands and saying; "Can we just enjoy a good song for a minute?"
It's
role as the top echelon of the global gay community. Has led to the
Song Contest being seen as an exclusively gay event. Where only gay
issues are discussed.
A particular low point was Azerbaijan's 2013 entry. "Hold Me" by Farid Mammadov.
This
involved him singing while standing on a see-through plastic box.
Within that box was a man in an all black bodysuit shadowing his every
movement.
Azerbaijan is a former Soviet state. Some of that very
repressive security infrastructure still lingers. Particularly for
artists and other creative types who the Soviet system considered
particularly prone to being subversive.
So the man following the artist's every move. Was a gentle protest against Azerbaijan's security infrastructure.
Except
the gay community couldn't cope with that. As the Song Contest is an
exclusively gay event where only gay issues are discussed.
So they
decided that the man in the box was a metaphor for the singer's hidden
homosexuality. As, apparently, everything is always a metaphor for
everyone's hidden homosexuality(!).
The gay community kept arguing this point. Even with the people whose song it was.
This
sort of seemingly brainwashed obsession with sex. Probably isn't the
best image for the gay community to project to nations and societies
which are still deeply homophobic.
At around 17:20 on 18/5/22 (UK date) I'll see if I can pick this up after dinner.
Edited at around 19:45 on 18/5/22 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and copy & paste;
It's difficult to say what the Song Contest should be. It was originally intended as a one-off televised singing competition.
However
it does have a long history. Of being a forum for the European nations
to discuss the big political and social issues they consider important
to them at that time.
With it now being viewed by some as only a
gay event. Where only gay issues can be discussed. It has rather moved
away from that longstanding purpose.
To make matters worse the Song Contest doesn't really have a large gay fanbase. So much as a large gay male fanbase.
So
despite all its claims to be inclusive and supportive of diversity. The
Song Contest has been in danger of reaching a point that it is so
discriminatory it even excludes half of the gay community.
In
recent years there have been moves to encourage the Song Contest to
broaden its horizons. Performing songs which aren't typically Gay Music
has been an easy way for a song competition to do that.
This
spectacle of a continent of nearly 800 million people. Having its
diverse political and social priorities being reduced to serve the
interests of just 1% of its population.
That can be used to serve
as a metaphor for the growing global Wealth Inequality.
With the richest
1% of the population owning wealth equivalent to that owned by the
entire other 99% of the population. Then using that money to dictate the political and social agenda.
Although I will try and cover
it more fully later. I think that is one of the points Malta were trying
to make with their entry this year. "I Am What I Am" by Emma Muscat.
Emma
Muscat being one of Malta's richest people. Rather like Rihanna these
days fashion is her main job. Music is more of her hobby.
We're
all casually interested to know what Miley Cyrus' new career will be. Now
she's very clearly quit the music and entertainment industry.
Or
possibly Malta were trying to use the wealth inequality issue. As a way
to nudge the Song Contest into broadening its horizons. Emma Muscat is,
very obviously, not a gay man.
Given that this is the Song
Contest. I suspect it was probably a bit of both, at the same time.
The sort of thing which certainly isn't going to shock a Song Contest audience
from its axis.
To be continued in Part 2.
20:15 on 18/5/22 (UK date).
