Russia RUSSIA 2019 - Sergey Lazarev - Scream

[Lindon]

This one?

 

[simonPL]

Is there anyone like me who didn't like "You are the only one" and love this entry now?

Hello!

I never liked "You're The Only One" that much. It was okay for the beginning, but the performance was just meh, they tried too hard, it was too jumped-up for me... there was no place for being easy-going, everything was calculated, every simple move. I hope they are not going to do it again, with nice performance which will be not fake and empty like previous one, Russia can fight for the victory.

Music video for "Scream" is awesome.

I am suprised, because I am not a fan of Sergey and all this buzz around him just made me to be more sceptical about him, but I love the video. Song is good as well even if it has no climax.

 

[mauve]

Not me because I already loved You are the only one in 2016 and voted for it multiple times (he was my favourite).

What to expect from his staging? Hopefully not too many trees and full moon... but I really hope they keep the castle and the fable theme. I LOVE tales from Eastern European countries. As a child I owned a book called „tales from Eastern Europe“ and they were so dark and cruel and bloody and scared the shit out of me but damn I loved them!!! This is exactly what I‘m thinking of when I listen to Scream.
The visuals with the kids in the music vid reminds me of a song called „Es waren zwei Königskinder“, a very sad and cruel medieval German folk song which literally translates to „Once there were two children of the kings“... I‘m sure its title is different in other languages.

//edit because I looked it up: that song is based on a Greek mythology tale but I‘m sure there were similar in my book.

//edit 2: The song was obviously translated into many languages

You really have some great ideas concerning the staging. I could imagine that very well! And I agree - tales from Eastern European countries are fascinating! That would suit this song so well.

 

[mauve]

Hello!

I never liked "You're The Only One" that much. It was okay for the beginning, but the performance was just meh, they tried too hard, it was too jumped-up for me... there was no place for being easy-going, everything was calculated, every simple move. I hope they are not going to do it again, with nice performance which will be not fake and empty like previous one, Russia can fight for the victory.

Music video for "Scream" is awesome.

I am suprised, because I am not a fan of Sergey and all this buzz around him just made me to be more sceptical about him, but I love the video. Song is good as well even if it has no climax.

Just the same way I felt about "You're the only one". Apart from the fact that I didn't like the song, it was exactly what you said: it felt too calculated. I truly hope that Sergey won't mess up this beautiful song with his performance. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[A-lister]

So again they gonna sell him to the public as a straight man (referring to the video) just like in the performance 2016? Oh well ... keep up the illusion I guess ... with those hilariously unintentional lyrics though it makes it even funnier... I guess this is a problem when you have a team desperately wanting English but then don't even really comprehend the language themselves.

 

[midnightsun]

This one?

Exactly!

 

[midnightsun]

I‘m really excited how the live performance will turn out. A.) it‘s quite hard to sing (not sure whether he can keep the long notes or will struggle) B.) not easy to transfer the visuals of the music vid onto stage. It‘s better then to reduce the props to a rather minimalistic design instead of having a big mess like e.g. Romania with a really good song but messy staging.
It would be best of course, like I wrote before, he kept the storyline with the children and the castle and rather dark visuals. Maybe dark stage with some spots on him and the children (but since it‘s a late show children will be probably not allowed to appear on stage).

 

[Brandt]

So again they gonna sell him to the public as a straight man (referring to the video) just like in the performance 2016? Oh well ... keep up the illusion I guess ... with those hilariously unintentional lyrics though it makes it even funnier... I guess this is a problem when you have a team desperately wanting English but then don't even really comprehend the language themselves.

Do you have to always *somehow* relate the songs to heterosexuality? It is irritating to talk about each singer's sexuality and unreasonable to make yourself believe that each male singer is gay. :? He can be gay and want to promote himself as heterosexual. He might be heterosexual and want to look like a heterosexual. He can identify himself as chocolate on the strawberry and look like a heterosexual. Why should anyone care? This is a song contest if you haven't noticed.

 

[hijirio]

Just leave people alone. They can decide to look like whatever they want. Not everybody lives in a gay-paradise like Sweden. We can't expect everyone to come out of closet without considering the conditions they live within. We can't judge the east with the standpoint of the west. It's one-sided.

Whether Sergey's gay or not, what I care about is the song and I like the song as hell. Period.

 

[A-lister]

Do you have to always *somehow* relate the songs to heterosexuality? It is irritating to talk about each singer's sexuality and unreasonable to make yourself believe that each male singer is gay. :? He can be gay and want to promote himself as heterosexual. He might be heterosexual and want to look like a heterosexual. He can identify himself as chocolate on the strawberry and look like a heterosexual. Why should anyone care? This is a song contest if you haven't noticed.

No I don't always do that, and no this is not ONLY a SONG contest as you're very well aware of, it's euroVISION SONG Contest... the visuals and performance is important as we all can agree on... as much as I can agree that the focus should be on the songs, we can't hide from the fact that how those songs are being "sold" to the public is a huge aspect of this contest...

And no, I don't think a gay person should be have to be betrayed as a heterosexual, it's 2019 for christ sake and that's degrading (not that I expect non-gays to understand). It's ok if you play a character in a movie, but he is going out there as himself isn't he?

I don't care if he is gay, that's not really the point tbh... nor do I think he has to be portrayed as openly gay if that's what he is if he doesn't want to or feel comfortable with that... you clearly didn't get my point... I agree it's not a sexuality contest for sure, but then why this urge to portray him as hetero? Again, I don't expect straight people to truly comprehend the degrading aspect of it all.

 

[A-lister]

Just leave people alone. They can decide to look like whatever they want. Not everybody lives in a gay-paradise like Sweden. We can't expect everyone to come out of closet without considering the conditions they live within. We can't judge the east with the standpoint of the west. It's one-sided.

Whether Sergey's gay or not, what I care about is the song and I like the song as hell. Period.

So you think a gay person decides to act out a love affair with a woman on his own terms? Yeah right...

And no, Sweden is far from a gay paradise but I don't expect people who never lived there to understand that...

The rest I answered to my comment to [MENTION=14118]LesterMalvo[/MENTION] , I don't expect him to out himself, for what it's worth it could all be neutral without having to sell either image to the public... not just feeling it that the love affair with a woman has to be part of the image though if that's not his true self, to make whom happy?

 

[Brandt]

No I don't always do that, and no this is not ONLY a SONG contest as you're very well aware of, it's euroVISION SONG Contest... the visuals and performance is important as we all can agree on... as much as I can agree that the focus should be the songs we can't hide from the fact that how those songs are being "sold" to the public is a huge aspect of this contest...

And no, I don't think a gay person should be have to be betrayed as a heterosexual, it's 2019 for christ sake and that's degrading (not that I expect non-gays to understand). It's ok if you play a character in a movie, but he is going out there as himself isn't he?

I don't care if he is gay, that's not really the point tbh...

You keep saying this is 2019 but what is it exactly supposed to mean? Sorry to burst your happy little rainbow bubble but this is what 2000's look like for you.

I suppose Sergey should get on cameras and apologize for not living in Sweden? Be as much gay as you want but you have no sympathy to those who live in a homophobic society.

If you really like to put "this is 2019" card on the table, overthinking and cricitizing people's behaviour regarding their sexuality is something people would often do in the middle ages.

Just leave people alone. They can decide to look like whatever they want. Not everybody lives in a gay-paradise like Sweden. We can't expect everyone to come out of closet without considering the conditions they live within. We can't judge the east with the standpoint of the west. It's one-sided.

Whether Sergey's gay or not, what I care about is the song and I like the song as hell. Period.

LOL. Of all people, you say that. I just can't take this hypocrisy.

 

[hijirio]

So you think a gay person decides to act out a love affair with a woman on his own terms? Yeah right...

And no, Sweden is far from a gay paradise but I don't expect people who never lived there to understand that...

Assuming that he's gay, and that he has decided to show a female in his videoclip, why should it matter? Let's say he was forced to act out due to the circumstances in his country, so what? Do you think pushing him around the corner will help his situation? When he's already feeling pressured?

And for god's sake not everybody has to be gay. There is no certification that proves one's gay or not. He could be bisexual. It's not black or white.

If Sweden is not a gay paradise, nowhere on planet earth is. Just compare the number of openly gay celebrities in Sweden and Russia then you'll hopefully understand why Sergey might not really want to come into terms with his sexuality.

 

[A-lister]

You keep saying this is 2019 but what is it exactly supposed to mean? Sorry to burst your happy little rainbow bubble but this is what 2000's look like for you.

I suppose Sergey should get on cameras and apologize for not living in Sweden? Be as much gay as you want but you have no sympathy to those who live in a homophobic society.

If you really like to put "this is 2019" card on the table, overthinking and cricitizing people's behaviour regarding their sexuality is something people would often do in the middle ages.

Again, I don't think you got my point? I know that Russia is a conservative homophobic society and I understand it could harm his career outing himself and I never asked for a video with a love scene with a guy and rainbow flags, get a grip of yourself... I just say that yes, it is 2019, and yes we should move along and educate ourselves... with your logic we should just accept homophobia and never point out the issues right? Russia will never develop if all gays will be forced into the closet, act as if they're straight etc... small steps... small steps... again... I don't ask for, nor do I want some big gay parade thing... but what's the problem with neutrality? I mean even in so called "progressive west" we had many gay artists acting straight in music videos and lyrics, singing to females and about females... and yeah I get "why" because of their career and audience, but it's still degrading and it's nothing that should be applauded.

 

[Citelis]

I just want to mention that this map is not accurate anymore because it is since 2015 and some countries have improved since then!

 

[A-lister]

Assuming that he's gay, and that he has decided to show a female in his videoclip, why should it matter? Let's say he was forced to act out due to the circumstances in his country, so what? Do you think pushing him around the corner will help his situation? When he's already feeling pressured?

And for god's sake not everybody has to be gay. There is no certification that proves one's gay or not. He could be bisexual. It's not black or white.

If Sweden is not a gay paradise, nowhere on planet earth is. Just compare the number of openly gay celebrities in Sweden and Russia then you'll hopefully understand why Sergey might not really want to come into terms with his sexuality.

And again you didn't get my point... anyways I doubt he directed and came up with the story-line for the video or his 2016 performance for that matter...

Sweden is... let's say... complex... you have the media bubble and then you have reality on the streets and suburbs which is something else... I for one do not feel safe walking in various parts of Swedish cities but that's not the topic here...

 

[Brandt]

Assuming that he's gay, and that he has decided to show a female in his videoclip, why should it matter?

Maybe you would like to explain based on the post you like which claims 100% opposite of what you claim in this thread?

I am done for this day, tbh.

 

[A-lister]

Maybe you would like to explain?

I am done for this day, tbh.

Yup? I stand by that (although it's from a different thread, as far as Sergey goes I think it's kind of out there at least based on what Russian-language sources say)... and I see you're done so your arguments or whatever are also so yeah... let's just drop it , call it a day, call it a misunderstanding or simply different view-points as I see what I am saying is not really understood... all I'm saying is that I don't think in this day and age that a person should have to be portrayed as straight if they aren't, that's the point, not the sexuality itself (although yeah there's a connection obviously with that statement).

Maybe it's because I'm gay I'm curious about who is and isn't because it's good for the "cause" if more people dare to be open, especially in countries where there is a long way for at least some sort of acceptance. It often starts with being able to identify yourself with someone, it can be in sports, music whatever... especially for all those out there who don't have a voice and don't feel safe they can at least look up to someone, in particular I refer to younger gay people.

 

[Schlagerman1]

I don't understand why this discussion even pop up? I don't think that Sergey is gay. And even if he was, let him live his own life the way he wants. I think that most people would be happier if they were to come out, but that is not the case for everyone. Some might need more time, or maybe never comes out, just cause they want to live a private life that has nothing to do with their profession to do. There are even famous people in Sweden, that has never coming out, even if people suspects strongly that they lgbt, and that is their choice. Even if it has to do with society pressuring one to keep it a secret, or if it is his own choice, it is what it is.

Let's go back to the Russian entry, which I haven't commented on, cause I was unsure about it. It is very unexpected for him to sing this kind of musical ballad. It takes some time for me to get used to it, but at the end of the song, I even get som goosebumps from the melody, which is really well made. I wouldn't count Russia out from the win though, but I wonder if people, especially in the western countries, are ready for this song. All depends on the performance I guess, which my gut feeling says might be epic.

 

[Brandt]

Yup? I stand by that (although it's from a different thread, as far as Sergey go I think it's kind of out there at least based on what Russian-speaking sources say)... and I see you're done so your arguments or whatever are also o yeah... let's just drop it , call it a day, call it a misunderstanding or simply different view-points as I see what I am saying is not really understood...

I am sorry if what you try to say is not exactly what it appears to be. But as far as I can see you are uncomfortable with the possibility of a homosexual person hiding their sexual identity, but also ignoring the fact that there may be countless consenquences for their behaviour. I don't know about your personal life but you are probably accepted as a homosexual person amount your family and friends, that should be one of the main reasons you can't see things by the aspect of someone who lives in a homophobic society. Then again, if there are things you'd like to keep the argument, maybe better keep it on in the homosexuality thread in the politics section and not take this topic off hands at this point.