2023-05-13 09:26:15
On the evening of Saturday May 13, the 26 finalists of theEurovision will throw all their forces to seduce jury and public in Liverpool which hosts the contest on behalf of theUkraine.
At the end of a show that promises to be bursting with rhinestones and after the breathless suspense of the famous tally of points, the successors of the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra, who triumphed last year with “Stefania”, a song mixing hip-hop and traditional music. But because of the Russian invasion, the 67th edition of the competition is held in the city of Beatles in the north of England.
“While the eyes of the world will be on Liverpool this weekend for Eurovision, our hearts will be with the people in Ukraine who are fighting for their sovereignty and survival,” UK Culture Minister Lucy Frazer said.
Strong tribute to Ukraine
Illustrating the difficulty of defining the contours of a displayed political neutrality while flying the colors of a country ravaged by war, the organizers of Eurovision sparked controversy by refusing to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyto send a message during the final.
The nature of the event “prohibits political or similar statements during the competition”, explained the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in a press release.
The EBU argued that even without a message from Volodymyr Zelensky, the competition provides a strong tribute to Ukraine during the final on Saturday evening, with the presence of eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including Kalush Orchestra.
Video clips broadcast during the evening will show different places in the country and the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag should float en masse in the room.
Like last year, Russia is excluded from the contest.
War themes
In several songs, the war appears in the background. “Heart of Steel” (“Cheart steel”), the song by Ukrainian electro duo Tvorchi, was inspired by the resistance during a month-long siege at the Azovstal factory, and “symbolizes strength and courage”, according to singer Jeffery Kenny. The selection of representatives of the country was carried out in a shelter in Kiev.
“We saw a lot of flags” Ukrainian, greeted Andriy Hutsuliak, from Tvorchi. “UK have done a great job of bringing Ukraine here,” he told a press conference on Friday, the day before the final.
For Switzerland, the young singer Remo Forrer launches a message of peace in a serious tone with “Watergun”.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, mustachioed extravagant Croatian band Let 3 hit the ground running with “Mama SC!” a corrosive title that attacks in a thinly veiled way Vladimir Poutine. A song that the group describes as “a weapon” against “human stupidity”, “against wars”. According to the bookmakers, despite the group’s esteemed success, its chances are slim.
Ukraine is given in the top 3, preceded by two Nordic countries.
A favorite, Sweden is represented by singer Loreen, already victorious in 2012, with “Tatoo”, a grandiloquent love song. If she wins, she will only be the second to have won Eurovision twice, after Irishman Johnny Logan.
As for Finland, it is represented by rapper Käärijä’s frenetic “Cha Cha Cha” and his fluorescent green puffy bolero.
Also given in the lead group, France, which has not won since 1977 with Marie Myriam, is represented by Quebec singer La Zarra and her electro-disco “Evidemment”.
With AFP
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