Blog Post #2 (Moldova's participation from 2015-2017)
Moldova
Eurovision Representations
The Eurovision singing competition that
many European countries participate in hopes of winning the competition.
Overall, the competition is a way for many different European countries to come
together and share their experiences through music. Especially the smaller nations
who do not have a big presence in Europe. Moldova’s participation from 2015
through 2017, had different artistic styles from each other as the artist had
different personalities.
For
instance, in the 2015 performance, Moldovan representative, Eduard Romanyuta,
sang “I Want Your Love” in the semi-finals, which had mixed reactions from this
performance, “This is a fun, sexy presentation that, due to these very facts,
will delight some and alienate others” (Vatmanidis 2015). As the backing
dancers wore police uniforms that were sexualized, with a lone female dancer
that seemed to be Eduard’s love interest from the way she interacted with him.
The lyrics talk about how he wants to be with this girl that wants things to go
fast, he still wants things to go slower but he sees the good connection that
he has with her. “Hey girl / Remind me
why we ain’t together / We got that magnetic connection / Moving so fast let’s
take it slow / Ain’t gonna let you let me go…/” (“I want your love”, 2015). The
sexualized police uniforms did not really make sense if you only watched the
live performance because the only real way you are going to understand the whole
story is if you watch the promo as that will give you the reason why he chose
theme of the performance. As seen in their final standing of the competition where
they came in 11th of the 16 nations in the first semi-finals
(European Broadcasting Union 2017), enforcing the idea that the performance did
not have a well-received performance.
Even
though the 2016 Moldovan representation did not pass the first semi-finals either,
having more visual metaphors that helped the storytelling of the singer. Lidia
Isac who sang, “Falling stars” (2016 Moldova), had a more gracious performance
compared to the 2015 performance. As her performance was about a missed romantic relationship where
there was a connection but something hindered it from actually occurring, “The
sky is tumbling, it’s coming down coming down / the wildest fire / is burning
out, out / And when our fall torn us to pieces / All of our love turned into
dust / We’re the brightest falling stars the brightest falling stars / The thought of us all disappeared / Still I
believe, I’m holding on” (“Falling stars” 2016 Moldova). As she was singing the
song the background had a lot of flashing lights that were blue, and the LED
background had white streaks flashing like it were falling stars (Lidia Isac, 2016). She had only had one dancer who was in an
astronaut costume that created a feeling of disconnect as she did not know who
it was until she took the helmet off the person. Lidia was also in an all blue
dress with parts that reflected the light to seem like a falling star in the
sky. The 2016 performance had more passion than the 2015 performance which was
for the viewers rather than Lidia who had a more soulful performance compared
to the three performances that I watched. Overall the 2016 Moldovan performance
had more meaningful symbolism throughout the performance and the lyrics having
a deeper meaning of love and regret of losing a good relationship.
In
2017 Moldova returned to a more upbeat pop song with Sunstroke Project who
sang, “Hey Mamma.” The performers this was the second time in the grand finally
as the performed for Moldova in 2010 with Olia Tira singing, “Run away.” The
Sunstroke Project’s performance was very upbeat and energetic s that gave off
more positive vibe compared to 2016’s Moldovan performance. Singing about a guy
trying to convince the mother that it is ok for her daughter to go with him as
he is an “uptight” guy, who would keep her daughter till sunrise. “And I say...
/ Mama, mama, don`t be so down / I am not that unfounded boy / Mama, mama don`t
be so down / All it keeps going round and round / Mama, mama, don`t be so mad /
If you knew me, you`d be surprised / Mama, mama, don`t be so mad / She`ll be
back home till sunrise” (2017, Moldova). Visually, they were able to show the progression
of the lyrics as the guys were in suits with bow ties, and the backing singers
wore a black and white dress with a black hat. As the performance progressed
the backing singers pulled a string changing into a white wedding dress and the
black hat to a white veil and the microphone to a bouquet. Representing how the
guy wants to marry the girl as he believes she is the one. Also, the pulling
the string to change the dress was not an original idea rather they took it
from the British representatives, Buck Fizz, from 1981, and made it more modern
and interesting as you would not have seen the wedding dress to be part of the
black and white dress the backing singers had on.
Overall,
from the three performances that I watched Moldova’s performances they were
able to present a range of pop music (90’s vibe, Mainstream, EDM). The
different styles they used allowed Moldova to have some diversity in the
Eurovision contest. Even though, it was all pop music the way the lyrics were
written were different as “Hey Mama” and “I Want Your Love” were more upbeat,
while “Falling Stars” was more soulful and mellow compared to those two
songs. Furthermore, there was no real
ethnic diversity as many of the singers were ethnic Moldovans except for the
2015 performance where Eduard was Ukrainian. In an article talking about how
many Western European nations see Central and Eastern European nations as
“Ethnic” meaning that if a minority group performs many westerners would be
surprised (Katrin Seig, 2012, P.247). Creating a situation where to gain more
votes from western European nations would send more ethnic Moldovans to the
contest rather than a minority group representative.
In
conclusion, Moldova’s performances through 2015 through 2017 had styles that
were unique from each other that helped or hindered their performances. Even
with the lack of diversity throughout the three performances they still brought
different aspects of the pop genre to the competition.
References
Bucks fizz. (1981). Making up your mind (United
Kingdom). Eurovision Song Contest
1981 Dublin.
European Broadcasting Union. (2017). Eduard Romanyuta - Eurovision Song Contest Vienna 2015.
Retrieved February 17, 2018, from https://eurovision.tv/participant/eduard-romanyuta/info
Isac L. (2016). Falling stars (Moldova). Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm [DVD].
Barrn, NL:
Universal Music Group
Sieg, K. (2012). Cosmopolitan empire. European Journal of Cultural Studies:
Central and Eastern
Europeans
at the Eurovision song Contest, 16(2), 244-263.
doi:10.1177/1367549412450639
Sunstroke project. (2017). Hey mamma (Moldova). Eurovision Song Contest
2017 Kiev,UKR [DVD].
Barrn, NL: Universal music group
Vatmanidis, T. (2015, May 11).
Eurovision 2015: rehearsals of Moldova, Armenia, Belgium and The
Netherlands.
Retrieved February 20, 2018, from
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