To be read as a direction continuation of Part 5; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/07/eurovision-2021-miley-me-part-5.html
Austria: This year they were represented by Vincent Bueno with the song; "Amen."
Vincent Bueno was born in Vienna, Austria. To parents of Filipino origin.
The biography submitted as part of the entry specifies that they are part of the Ilocano ethnolingustic group from the Ilocos Region in Luzon.
Vincent Bueno won the 2008 season of the Austrian TV show; "Musical Die Show." A musical theatre talent competition.
However he then decided to launch his career in The Philippines. Releasing four albums over an 11 year career.
So everything about Austria's entry this year screams; "THE PHILIPPINES!!!"
In September 2013 Rihanna played a concert in Manila, Philippines. It was one of the more challenging dates on her Diamonds World Tour (DWT).
In August 2013 I did the threat assessment for the Asia-Pacific leg of the DWT. Marking The Philippines as low-risk, almost a holiday.
Then, on September 9th (9/9/13). Ten days before Rihanna's concert.
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) overran Zamboanga City, the capital of the southern Zamboanga Region. Triggering two weeks and six days of fighting. Which raged throughout Rihanna's concert.
This rather dramatically changed the threat assessment.
Although Muslim the MNLF are nationalist rather an religious group. They want to establish their own nation rather than an Islamic Caliphate.
Unfortunately they are one of the more moderate groups active in the Philippines. Alongside Abu Sayyaf - a particularly vicious Al Qaeda affiliate.
There is also the Islamic State of Lanao, sometimes known as; "The Maute Group." Essentially a spiteful kidnap and ransom gang. Made up of members of the Moro Islamist Liberation Front (MILF). Islamist rivals to the MNLF.
The concern was that MNLF launching an operation would encourage their rivals - Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group - to also launch operations. To avoid being outshone.
Attacking an event as high profile as a Rihanna concert would be a good way to make a name for themselves.
The main concern was kidnap. That we would end up seeing Rihanna gang-raped and beheaded in videos on the Internet.
Then there was concern about simple assassination. Someone would either shoot or blow Rihanna up while travelling around in Manila.
The risk of something like a May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing attack on the concert itself. Was actually quite a way down the list of risks to be considered.
Miley Cyrus appeared at, and seemed to play a significant role in organising, the One Love Manchester concert. Held in response to the May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
As far as I can tell Miley Cyrus is also actually quite good friends with Ariana Grande.
So Miley Cyrus should have some awareness.
Of the difficulties involved in protecting a celebrity female popstar in these circumstances. The security infrastructure in the Philippines is nowhere near as robust as it is in the UK.
Prior to the start of the DWT. I insisted that Rihanna hire a former US Secret Service agent to coordinate security. Someone who is more familiar with the political and diplomatic aspects of the job.
Ahead of the Philippines concert we were seriously debating employing a paramilitary fire team. The sort of thing you see in action movies or TV shows like; "SEAL Team."
In the end Rihanna flew in on a private jet. Played the concert in the time it took to refuel the jet. Then flew straight out again.
Although I don't wish to diminish it. The Manchester Arena bombing wasn't even the worst thing to happen on May 22nd 2017 (22/5/17).
At almost exactly the same time. Abu Sayyaf and The Maute Group overran Marawi City in the Lanao del Sur Region of The Philippines.
The start of five months of intense urban warfare. Which ultimately left in excess of 1,000 people dead.
Amid a lot of chaos. This triggered a frantic effort to see if the two events were connected. A coordinated retaliation for Rihanna's DWT.
It turns out they weren't. The Battle of Marawi was, accidentally, initiated by Filipino security forces.
Who'd moved into arrest a Maute Group leader. Only had underestimated the strength of the two groups operating in the city.
Miley Cyrus' appearance at the One Love Manchester concert came at the end of a really long week for me.
Vincent Bueno launched his career in The Philippines on the popular variety show; "All Star Sunday Afternoon Party." Known by the acronym; "ASAP." In the same way no-one really ever refers to the; "British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)"
Rihanna's support act for the Asia-Pacific leg of the DWT was A$AP Rocky. The two are now said to be in a romantic relationship.
As mentioned. In June 2019 I was kicked off of Twitter. Prompting me to withhold my coverage of the 2019 Song Contest. As a metaphor for something else.
In July 2019 Song Contest nation Sweden had A$AP Rocky arrested. Putting him in prison for five weeks.
This opened up a diplomatic channel between Sweden and America. One which extended to the highest level. President Trump and the White House.
One that reminded America what happened the last time they tried pulling that sort of crap with me. The same thing that happens every time they try pulling that crap with me.
As they seem to have forgotten. Rihanna's 2013 DWT was a failure for America.
It also served as a genuinely friendly reminder to Rihanna.
Of the type of retaliation her behaviour during the DWT was supposed to provoke. A small taste of what was being held back by the protection I afforded her.
This was all being brought up now.
To make clear to Miley Cyrus. The type of risk she is exposing herself to. By trying to fight, rather than work with, me on this.
The people she believes will protect her. Do not have the ability to protect her. Her survival isn't even one of their strategic aspirations.
It was also intended to make clear to America.
That in trying to turn Miley Cyrus into the next Rihanna. They don't have any of the resources they had available to them during Rihanna's DWT.
Even with all those extra resources. I still handed their asses to them. In a sling.
So if they continue to attempt to destroy Miley Cyrus and her life. They are doing so simply for the sake of destroying Miley Cyrus and her life.
The video in support of the entry begins with Vincent Bueno seeming trapped. In an ever decreasing space between tombstone like concrete pillars, walls.
This could certainly be interpreted as a reference to the oppressive nature of the pandemic and it's Lockdowns.
However in recent Song Contest language. This has become a recognised way to show support for Armenia, over the Armenian Genocide issue.
Inspired by the imagery used in Armenia's own 2015 Song Contest entry; "Face the Shadow" by Genealogy.
It was also intended as reference to the way Miley Cyrus' life is going to shrink. If she continues to put her faith in all the wrong places. Choosing to fight rather than work with me.
As the song asks; "Is this what you wanted?" the space then expands.
First into a single room. Very much intended as a reference to A$AP Rocky's Swedish prison cell. Then into a studio before finally a rooftop and the whole wide world.
Although it has taken on religious connotations the song title; "Amen" just means; "I Concur."
So this was a small country, which hasn't had much going on this year. Just putting their hand up and saying;
"We agree."
"Miley Cyrus needs to start putting her faith in better people and places. If she wants to see her world blossom rather than shrink."
I was particularly impressed by the Crow which featured in the video.
It was certainly one of my prouder moments of the pandemic. Explaining a Cytokine Storm within the Immune System. Through the medium of the White Buffalo song; "Come Join The Murder."
Outrageous showboating. In the fields of Eurovision, Medicine and Greek History. All at the same time.
Australia: This year they were represented with the song; "Technicolour" by Montaigne (Jessica Cerro). Who is also of Filipino heritage.
This is the living embodiment of Miley Cyrus' hate-filled attacks on the gay community.
Even before Rihanna had her incident with Ganesha. The Hindu god a scribes, writers and intellectuals. I could see the damage that all this was going to do.
Miley Cyrus being the loose cannon of the four. The one that would do the most damage.
This put pressure on me to come up with an alternative path. One that would avoid all the hate and destruction. Leaving just the positive, supportive. Generally really chilled out aspects.
Having devised that alternative path. I then had to ride the time difference. To implement it just before the US/China "Alaska Summit" on March 19th (19/3/21). Where cybersecurity would be a big topic on the agenda.
I think you all have a good idea of exactly when I did this. Instagram crashed, globally a few minutes later. Rather proving my point about the potential for widespread disruption and destruction.
Presenting this alternative path to Miley Cyrus marked the start of a tense wait. To see whether she would work with me on it. Or choose the path of violent, hate-filled attacks.
In the very early hours of March 27th (27/3/21), Australia time. Miley Cyrus confirmed, for the third time, that she was committed to the path of hate-filled violence and destruction.
This cast a dark cloud over the Gay Pride event taking place at Sydney cricket ground that day. Forcing me to dig extra deep to lift the mood.
Montaigne performed at that Gay Pride event. Specifically recording the video which was submitted as part of their entry.
Everything about Montaigne's demeanour is very reminiscent of Ani DiFranco. To the point that I think we might have a little bit of a fangirl.
Ani DiFranco is an openly bisexual American singer/songwriter.
Unlike Ma Rainey. Unlike Bessie Smith. Unlike Billie Holiday. Ani DiFranco is very much alive and working today. In so much as anyone worked in 2020.
So if you have any questions about her bisexuality you can just ask her. Chances are she's already put a record out with the answer on it.
This should really drive home the point to America.
Putting about rumours that Miley Cyrus might be bisexual. Isn't going to shock the World from its axis.
So if they continue to try destroy Miley Cyrus and her life. They are doing it simply for the sake of destroying Miley Cyrus and her life.
The sort of thing that's going to damage reputations and invite retaliations.
During Rihanna's 2013 Diamonds World Tour (DWT). I got the Ani DiFranco song; "You Had Time" stuck in my head. It's a song about a couple having a fight as one of them returns from a concert tour.
This forced me to buy the "Out Of Range" album the song is from. Finally listening to it in full.
It quickly became clear that from Ani DiFranco's perspective. It must have looked like I and the other two thirds of The World Famous Thrupple were just acting out an album based on her own life experience.
Which may be why Ani DiFranco once summoned the Sam Hall third for an audience. Not to meet her obviously. To spy on her from the wings and stage.
I can't help but wonder if that's part of the story of how Johnny Cash came to write the song about her. Not that all celebrities know each other of course.
That was actually one of the stranger realisations I came to around the time of the 2021 Super Bowl. If Rihanna and Miley Cyrus were to become friends. It would probably be because I introduced them.
The fact that not all celebrities know each other is actually frustrating for me at the moment.
If Miley Cyrus is going to continue to fight against, rather than work with me. Then there is only so much that I can do to help her.
Rihanna of course is still alive, in full possession of her faculties. However she hasn't been able to tour in nearly eight years or release music for six.
Rihanna also chose to fight against, rather than work with me. Although not as aggressively as Miley Cyrus. However I was able to rely on allies within her life. Katy Perry and Shakira, for example.
I'm not seeing any people like that within Miley Cyrus' life. If she won't allow me to help her. Then someone else needs to do it.
Ani DiFranco seems perfectly qualified to make the required assessments. If not offer the appropriate assistance.
Jessica Cerro's stagename is a reference to Michel de Montaigne, the French Renaissance Philosopher and essayist. Who helped pioneer the Literary school.
Michel de Montaigne is the sort of person who would explain COVID-19 with long, rambling essays.
About his lesbian mothers and one of his maternal grandmother's dying wish not to be subjected to invasive ventilation.
Michel de Montaigne was also very interested in child developmental psychology and education. His influence can still be seen in "Subjective Learning" techniques.
Michel de Montaigne though was particularly interested in early years child development. The Kindergarten level Miley Cyrus and America seem to still be stuck at.
The title of the song is a reference to the "Technicolor" technique of film colouring. Used in many movies from the so-called; "golden age of Hollywood." Such as; "The Wizard of Oz."
However the song title is spelt subtly differently from the registered trademark. In reference to Australia's 2018 Song Contest entry; "Sound Of Silence" by Dami Im.
This used the term; "Face Time." Which caused some controversy, being accused of being a commercial endorsement of the Apple "FaceTime" product. Although, as this is the Song Contest, that's probably not what they were actually arguing about.
The agreement reached was that Dami Im did not breach the commercial endorsement rules. Due to the difference in spelling and "Face Time" being term in common usage before Apple appropriated it for their product.
Amid the pandemic and its Lockdowns. Aren't we all desperate for reality's physical Face Time. Rather than Apple's virtual FaceTime?
The title of Australia's song can also be a reference to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical; "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat."
Due to Israel's 2019 Song Contest team. The song; "Superstar" from the similarly Biblically inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber musical; "Jesus Christ: Superstar" seems to have become my theme music.
Particularly given the mountain/volcano that moved in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At precisely the moment the Grand Finale to the 2021 Song Contest began. With me playing my theme music.
Officially the song is inspired by Montaigne's time in Lockdown. She was supposed to compete at the 2020 Song Contest.
It is all about this hope for a glorious, technicolour future. Rather than the monochrome living death of Lockdown.
Its real meaning though seems to be the monochrome living death that Miley Cyrus is condemning herself to.
Putting her faith in all the wrong people. Fighting against, rather than working with, the people who want to help see her blossom.
The song makes frequent reference to meeting and hugging her mother being the thing Montaigne wants to do the most.
A swipe at Miley Cyrus, as a nearly thirty year old woman, and her childlike dependence on her mother/manager Tish Cyrus.
It's also a swipe at Britain. It's belief that if it could only get me to discuss COVID-19 with my mothers, part of large medical and legal families. I would solve the issue for them. Despite certain death being the only reward on offer.
In the performance video in support of the entry. Recorded live at Sydney Pride 2021. Montaigne is wearing a bondage-style white leather outfit.
This was in reference to Iceland's 2019 Song Contest entry; "Hatrio Mun Sigra (Hate Will Prevail)" by Hatari.
This used Bondage, Domination, Submission Masochism (BDSM) sex as a metaphor for the Israel/Palestine Conflict. With Israelis as the BD loving Kings and Palestinians as the SM loving Queens.
It also raised important questions. About why we accept the modesty standards of extreme interpretations of Islam as typical of the religion. While we see the equally extreme modesty standards of Judaism as abnormal and odd.
While referencing the Nazi Holocaust inspired band and song; "Musclebound" by Spandau Ballet.
Performed in Tel Aviv, Israel. To a crowd of Nazi Holocaust survivors.
Iceland also brought a whole new level to the Song Contest game.
Inventing a carbonated mineral water brand; "Soda Dream." Then promoting it at every opportunity. In complete defiance of the Song Contest's commercial endorsement rules.
This was done in reference to a 2014 US Super Bowl commercial made by Scarlett Johansson. For the, then, Israeli owned SodaStream company.
This provoked an argument so ferocious that it was banned. Officially on the grounds that it violated the Super Bowl's corporate sponsorship rules. Directly criticising the Super Bowl's main sponsor - Pepsi.
Pepsi then went and brought out SodaStream. Closing down its factories in the Israel Occupied West Bank.
It is already considered one of the all-time Eurovision classics.
Montaigne's costume was also a reference to Maisie Williams.
Who will be appearing nude in a British TV adaptation of the story of the Sex Pistols. Predecessors to Spandau Ballet. Having being popped atop a white horse in the final season of the TV show; "Game of Thrones."
Noticeably Montaigne had not shaved her armpits in the video. Something which was highlighted by the fact her armpits were really the only part of her body her outfit did show.
This refusal to shave armpit hair is a longstanding Feminist protest. Against oppressive standards of female beauty imposed by men.
However, through the pandemic. With its focus on broadly termed; "Self-care."
It seems that many women do not go through these beauty regimes because they are being imposed on them by men. They do it because it makes them feel better about themselves.
Not that Australia's entry tried to make any major point about any of these three issues. Merely putting them out there in case anyone else wanted to pick them up.
Montaigne's live performance was almost identical to the video performance. Except the armpits were covered and the white leather had been swapped to gothic black. An endorsement of TIX's Fallen Angels in Norway's entry.
Montaigne and her dancers also showed support for Azerbaijan's entry; "Mata Hari" by Efendi. Lining up to form a multi-armed female creature.
Intended to resemble Durga, the multi-armed demon slayer from Hinduism. Protector of Devi, the primordial energy, the mother goddess.
In reference to Rihanna's Ganesha incident. If you had to pick one specific moment. This would be the one where it became clear Miley Cyrus needed to get off the path of hate and destruction.
I also feel I should point out. Rihanna was using Ganesha in entirely the correct context. If, perhaps, not the most appropriate location.
Australia did not make it through to the Grand Final.
In part this was because of the attack Montaigne had experienced personally. At the hands of Miley Cyrus.
Encouraging us to reward her. Allowing her to sit back, relax and just enjoy the rest of the week.
It also seems to owe a lot to Australia's relationship with the Song Contest more generally.
The Song Contest is the gala event of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Established in the 1950's to promote advances amongst its members in all areas of broadcasting technology.
The first challenge the EBU set itself was to see if it could broadcast the same TV show live across all of Europe. The Song Contest was the TV show they chose.
By the 1970's the EBU had got quite good at that. So set themselves a new challenge. To see if they could also broadcast the Song Contest all the way to Australia.
It turned out they could and the Song Contest became really popular in Australia. Leading to some thirty years of Australia politely asking if they could compete.
In 2015 Australia were finally allowed to compete as special guests. Honouring the 60th anniversary of the Song Contest. After that no-one really had the heart to ask them to leave.
So they've competed ever since. Being really enthusiastic about it.
Such as insisting on paying to be full EBU members. When the EBU were happy to let them compete as just associate members.
Every year Australia has sent one of their top popstars to represent them.
Really an underground/indie artist Montaigne still won Best Female and Best Breakthrough at the 2016 Arias. Australia's top music awards.
This year Australia were unable to attend in person. Due to pandemic restrictions. Forcing them to participate by pre-recorded performance and videolink.
Providing a perfect opportunity to remind them;
They're no longer guests of the Song Contest. They are allowed to just phone-it-in every once in a while.
Rather than making everyone else look bad.
Continued in Part 7; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/07/eurovision-2021-miley-me-part-7.html
20:50 on 9/7/21 (UK date).
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