Proper Eurovision Bonkers. Virtual Eurovision 2020: Latvia.
Samanta Tina is wearing what looks like a Chinese New Year parade costume minus the dragon head.
Behind her stand three backing singers wearing swimming costumes and welders’ visors. Their feet have been glued to the floor. Half way through this eccentric number they produce perfume vials and spray something purple at us.
There are also some rather mechanically inserted “jarring moments” – some 90s techno light-flashing segments where everyone goes into jerky spasms and the de rigeur rap bits. This notions are so “look at us we’re NOT Eurovision” that they have become thoroughly Eurovision.
The lyrics are unexceptional. Perhaps in Latvian they might have been interesting.
I’m still breathing
I’m still breathing
Listening to my heart
Ready for the start
I will keep on going
I will keep on running
Running till I reach the end
Strong enough to take it
I am gonna make it
Destiny is in my hands
I can’t help thinking of “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John at various points.
Judged as a performance rather than as a song, this would have done rather well in a conventional contest. Perhaps it would have scored rather higher with the phone in popular voters than with the jurors. They are an austere lot the jurors, for the most part.
This would have done well with the drunk voters. Never forget the drunk voters. Not everyone is watching Eurovision intently with a notebook. Many people (in normal happy years) are in pubs or in large house parties. Folks are talking and quaffing and gaffawing and Eurovision is on in the background. It takes something quite striking to focus these people’s attention. “I’m Still Breathing” will focus attention.
Whatever versions of virtual Eurovision proliferate in the coming weeks, the sociable drunk voters are gone. There are no pubs. There are no house parties. Eurovision 2020 will be fought between entries that have been coolly and calmly assessed by dedicated individuals sitting at computer terminals.
The ambiance of liveness is gone.
I have some thoughts about other Eurovision entries:
Like
Italy:
Israel:
https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/yellow-not-mellow-virtual-eurovision-2020-israel/
Ireland:
Greece:
Georgia:
France:
Finland:
Estonia:
Denmark:
https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/say-maybe-virtual-eurovision-2020-denmark/
Czech Republic:
Cyprus:
Croatia:
Bulgaria:
Belgium
Belarus:
https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/the-third-man-virtual-eurovision-2020-belarus/
Azerbaijan:
Austria:
Australia:
Armenia:
https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/there-will-be-bling-armenias-2020-eurovision-entry/
Albania:
Iceland:
conradbrunstrom 