Last night I was probably doing the same thing as 95% of the Maltese population and that was sitting comfy at home in front of the silver screen watching Eurovision. I'm a huge fan (Marcel's voice) and I'm always looking forward to it even though I know that the music isn't exquisite and tasteful. Still it's always great fun and nowadays when we have twitter and play with hashtags it feels like having half of the continent at home watching together with you. It's amazing though sometimes you find yourself being more interested in what the people tweet rather than the show itself. Anyway when I compare the present to for instance ESC 2005 in Kiev when I was sitting with my parents in our sitting room without all those digital and social gargets that we have today, the difference is really huge. Now it's all so interactive and makes you really glad that you can be a part of the biggest show of this kind in the world without even leaving your own square metres. Really amazing.
As for the contest itself I must admit it was really good. And I don't mean only the visual effects that amaze me every year. The music was also pretty good compared to all that trash we got used to throughout the last couple of years. And though my absolute number 1 wasn't maybe that ambitious and demanding (Greece Greece Greeeeeece Riseeeeee Up!), I already have a lot of other songs from the contest stuck on repeat because they are likely to become thoose thunes that we're gonna dance hot summer nights away to. I'm really happy for the Netherlands for sending something that doesn't sound like a typical ESC song but is really great and I'm glad that Europe knows what good music is and many countries gave it the maximal number of points. I also liked Italy's tune. As for me it was really catchy and I've altually known its lyrics before the final show. It was also nice to hear some Italian cause it was a little reminder that Eurovision isn't only about songs in English and when you get to hear so many foreign languages it only makes you realize how diverse Europe is. Too bad most artists go for singing in English but at least we understand the lyrics. Speaking of different languages I still don't understand why France got so little points. It was really unfair cause their song was fab. Btw I spent half of today listening to their whole album and it's really nice so you better give it a try and rethink your ESC votes.
And when it comes to rethinking I guess it's high time I touched on the subject of the new queen of Europe that is Conchita Wurst from Austria. The winner of yesterday's contest. I'm not gonna describe the whole story: who and how and who was Conchita before she had become Wurst and stuff. I guess it's all on the net and we should only be prepared for even more.
I remember when 2 years ago Austria sent 'Woki mit dem Popo' to Eurovision. I was kind of shocked cause I couldn't even listen to half of it because of the possible ear damage. It was really bad. And trashy. And I was ashamed that such a great fan of Austria like me will have to deal with all the negative comments concerning this 'masterpiece'. Back then Austria didn't make it to the final round and soon everyone forgot the song (everyone but me) and we started counting the days until the next ESC.
This year while reading some showbusiness gossips I came across an article about Conchita and found out that she's gonna be the Austrian act in Copenhagen this year. I thought it was a joke but decided to listen to the song. And actually I fell in love with it. Because the song is really good and Conchita's voice is strong and we can't say that the singer isn't talented. But you know I found the article in February so it took me only a few minutes to forget about it. I also stopped conting the days until the great feast in Copenhagen but then last week Hungarian TV gently reminded me that it's all on again and it's time to get ready. I did a quick research and found out that Conchita is representing Austria so it was all getting serious. I was afraid of the reaction and the fact that once again I have to be ashamed of Austria when it comes to music. I thought people would only see negatives and send hate towards Conchita. I was wrong. Austria won and LGBT communities are happy jumping up and down and shoutong 'We're unstoppable!'.
So what's the problem then? I should be over the moon as well because: Austria won and I call Austria my second home; I support LGBT movements and if there was a need I'd go and fight for their rights with them. Hand in hand. Austria is happy, people keep saying THANK YOU CONCHITA and I'm sitting here mixing my feelings with vodka. Why? I guess it's all because the visual aspect of the show and the fact that Conchita looks the way she looks. Note: I'm not hating on Conchita Wurst. Whoever he/she is, it's a human being that deserved respect. Being disrespectful towards people says more about us than that person. I don't know the artist in person so I can't really judge. I don't even have the right to do so for I'm only human just like everyone else here on the block. But in my opinion when you decide that you're a woman you look like a woman. And when you're a man you look like a man. It's sink or swim.
I remember that last year I had classes in Cultural Anthropology and we had some lectures devoted to Gender Studies, the case of third sex and changing your sex and stuff like that. I really liked the classes and all the films we were watching there. I know for some people it may sound shocking but I like such subjects and would love to meet people who belong to the third sex just to be able to talk to them. It would be a lifetime experience I guess. And though for some it may be impossible to look at them without the feeling of disguist, for me it's normal. It's real and in some countries it belongs to their cultural heritage. So why am I bringing all of these and why do I even have any problems with Conchita? Well, I'll be homest. I can't look at the artist. Though I find the voice absolutely amazing. But still I can't stop asking myself one question: what would happen if Conchita had no beard? Would anyone notice the song? And if so, would it win Eurovision? Would anyone remember the song after the show? Would my Facebook timeline be filled with memes, articles, jokes and stories? I don't think so.
Of course we can say that it's a real breakthrough and we're gonna remember last night till the end of our days. Maybe it'll also make people more aware of the fact that people that aren't like us deserve respect and have their rights as well. But as for me there's one thing that remains and that thing is distaste. And that's the only emotion I have for Conchita's performance.
My friend gave me some advice and told to close my eyes and open my ears and listen to the song. Guess that's what I'm gonna do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqOAft6Cdbs (and no, I'm not gonna add Conchita's song here. let's spare some time to admire Italy's performance and Emma's dress)
No comments:
Post a Comment