For many of the smaller nations located in Europe, the
stage of the Eurovision Song Contest is a way to showcase their country’s
culture or traditional music genre to the entire continent. These performances,
especially in terms for the lesser-known countries, are sometimes the only way
to present not only the country, but also the country’s diversity.
Although at first glance Georgia’s 2010 Eurovision Song Contest
entry, Sofia Nizharadze’s “Shine” may have seemed a bit stereotypical-pop-song-esque,
but looking deeper into the performance details sheds a new light on the song. The
Grand Final performance started off with six people on stage: Sofia Nizharadze
(2010, Georgia) along with two background vocalists and three backup dancers. Although
choreographed and placed meticulously together, when carefully examining the repetition
in colors of the performers’ outfits and background lighting, there seemed to
be a theme of coloration. The colors of all the performers’ garments were red
and white, matching with the long silks hanging in the background. These silks
changed from colors red and white throughout the performance, while hanging in cross-like
and parallel shapes behind the performers. The colors red and white appear on
the national flag of Georgia, therefore projecting the nation’s presence in the
song. With the lyrics, “You can’t go back to before/But tomorrow will bring
even more” (European Broadcasting Union, 2010) stating the importance of
looking forward to the future instead of focusing on the past. This lyric is followed
by, “Shine, shine like the stars in the sky” (European Broadcasting Union,
2010) offering the viewer the idea of comfort in being your truest self. Georgia
is telling Europe that they will always be their truest self no matter what
barriers they might have. Throughout the performance the repetition of a cross
can also be seen. Firstly, as a diamond necklace on the Georgian-born singer, Sofia
Nizharadze (2010), then the shape of the silks in the background, and finally, in
the ending formation of all the performers. Nizharadze (2010, Georgia), along
with her background dancers, is seen quickly creating the shape of a cross in
the front of the stage at the very end of the performance. The silks in the
back of the main stage create a total of four crosses, adding Nizharadze’s
(2010, Georgia) cross in the equation, there would be a total of five crosses
on the stage. This directly correlates to the five crosses known on the Georgian
national flag (Administration of the President of Georgia, 2015). The camera’s
wide angle at the end of the performance is also an added feature into seeing all
the crosses on stage at once. Again, these crosses further emphasize the
importance of the country of Georgia in the song. The song closes not only with
the performers in the shape of a cross, but with added fire special effects coming
directly out of the stage to emphasize this dramatic ending.
The 2011 Eurovision entry is definitely a change of tone as
the nationally-known band Eldrine’s “One Day More” song takes place. This fusion
of punk, metal, rap, and a bit of screamo, is a completely different style of
music, showcasing the diversity of genre Georgia places into its’ submissions. Each
member of the Georgian band (2011) is wearing a black garment of clothing, each
with a different neon statement color sewn onto the black outfit. The grunge
look is perfected with a projection of bricks shown in the background. The
continuous change in camera angles, always showing a different depiction of the
performers could be looked at as an insight into the lyrics being sung. Although
showing no diversity in the English language being sung, the refrain is sung
as, “I wanna give it on fire/Uncover vicious desire/Abandon painful denial/Find
every reason to stay” (European Broadcasting Union, 2011) showcasing the optimistic
outlook the singer has. Although the genre and sound of punk and metal can be misjudged
at times for being negative and aggressive, this song shows itself to be about
a positive perspective on life and finding every reason to live. The chorus following
with, “Another forbidden sensation/Another emotional flare/Down with the fake
hesitation/Gee, yeah, - I am ready to pay/Pay for the hopeless despair/Gonna
live one more day of my fate” (European Broadcasting Union, 2011) as Eldrine (Georgia,
2011) speaks about changing their pessimistic outlook for a positive one. They are
now pushing away the negative connotations and instead finding every reason, no
matter good or bad, to live out their life. The repetition in the colors of red
and white are still apparent throughout this punk performance, as the quickly
strobing lights on the main stage are colored red and white. This feature is subconsciously
giving the audience a connection between the country Georgia and the colors red
and white, whether they know it or not.
Finally, the 2012 Georgian performance, Andri Jokhadze’s “I’m
a Joker”, is the most diverse out of the three performances discussed. This Georgian-loved
pop singer is known for his vocal range of more than four octaves, which can be
seen in the line, “I wanna fly…” (European Broadcasting Union, 2012). I believe
this multi-layered song is about turning from good to evil. This performance
first starts out with a single spotlight on Andri Jokhadze (Georgia, 2012)
dressed in a hooded, dark red robe with a white rope tied across his waist. The
song starts out slow with an opera style sung in Georgian, translated into
English as, “Expectation will be over/I regret my every day spent without you/I
miss your voice/and there is always something left to say” (European
Broadcasting Union, 2012). I think this slower paced part of the song represents
the purity and holiness that Jokhadze (Georgia, 2012) before turning to the evil
side. The fact that these lyrics were sung in Georgian further proves the more traditional
style this verse is trying to demonstrate. After this slow, modest start, the
song transitions with four women background singers all dressed in black
leotards chanting, “Do what you wanna” (European Broadcasting Union, 2012)
repeatedly. I interpreted this as the evil spirits tempting Jokhadze (Georgia,
2012) to come to the “evil” side. This chant ends with a pop-influenced sound
adding to the lyrics, “I'm a joker/I'm a rocker/Hold me baby, love me baby,
forever, ever, ever/I'm a shocker/I'm a poker/Got no fear, got no tear baby/Never
and never” (European Broadcasting Union, 2012) The mood immediately changes to
an upbeat pop sound as he dances around with the four background dancers. After
a few more verses, a dancer with a long, bright, red ponytail wearing a black unitard
appears and starts dancing around Jokhadze (Georgia, 2012). Dancing
uncontrollably, the dancer can be interpreted as a symbol of the darkness
inside him. When you think of fire in a religious aspect, many think of Hell
and the Devil, and the fire special effects on the main stage add that emotion
to the performance. Although this artist doesn’t show diversity in his origin,
Andri Jokhadze (Georgia, 2012) was the first man to represent Georgia in the
Eurovision Song Contest (European Broadcasting Union, 2012).
Georgian is not the most well-known country in Europe, therefore
the Eurovision Song Contest is a way for the nation to make itself and its’
diversity acknowledged by the rest of the continent. Although they have
diversity in their music genres, their choice for performers is never diverse. All
three performers listed have all been born and raised in Georgia. This lack in
diversity can come off as unwelcoming to different cultures and people. The repetition
of the red and white coloration can also come off too strong, therefore unreceptive
to anyone who isn’t from Georgia. Although I understand pride in your country, if
Georgia keeps displaying it at this large rate, the lack of diversity will
continue to rise causing an unwelcoming presence within the country.
Word Count: 1306
Works Cited:
Administration of the
President of Georgia (2015). State symbols. Official
Website of the President of
Georgia. Retrieved from https://www.president.gov.ge/ka-GE/saqartvelo/sakhelmcifo-simboloebi.aspx
Eldrine. (2011). One Day More
(Georgia). Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Düsseldorf. Retrieved from
European Broadcasting Union.
(2010). Sofia Nizharadze: Shine. The Official Website of the Eurovision
Song Contest. Retrieved
from
European Broadcasting Union.
(2011). Eldrine: One Day More. The Official Website of the Eurovision
Song Contest. Retrieved
from
European Broadcasting Union.
(2012). Andri Jokhadze: I’m a Joker. The
Official Website of the Eurovision
Song Contest. Retrieved from
Jokhadze, A. (2012). I’m a
Joker (Georgia). Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Baku. Retrieved from
Nizharadze, S. (2010). Shine
(Georgia). Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Oslo. Retrieved from
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