Ukraine UKRAINE 2016 - Jamala - 1944

[Musicosity]

This is true. I also don't think casual viewers will care much (or even know) about political controversy

This is also true, but lets not forget about the media and the tv commenters. Jamalas song will by itself not make a huge impact on an unprepared first time viewer. As you say many will not even realize its content at first. But the commenters will highly influence them by what they tell them to expect (and ultimately what to think about it). Therefore the song becomes a political tool not only for Jamala and the Ukraine but for every other national broadcaster as well.

 

[WhoKnows]

How would we feel if we see a list of participants in next year's Eurovision?

If the songs are good, I say, bring it.

 

[Schlagerman1]

I don't know if someone has written this, but why should Russia not vote for this song? I am sure there are many people in Russia who understands that the time under Stalin was really too opressed and can feel the pain that the crimean tartars felt. There were many minorities in Russia that got the same treatment around the same time and I think that if some of them are watching, then Ukraine will be top 5 in the Russian voting for sure, maybe even higher. If the juries will vote for it, that we will see, but I have a hard time seeing the russians do the same as the Lithuanians did to Russia last year for example...

Yes, It is sad that media is taking this in the wrong way, especially both in the west and in Russia that is trying to point things at each other, when it got a much deeper meaning to it. But in the end, it is the song itself that wins, since it gets a lot of recognition, so people will vote for it if they like it nevertheless.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Having listened to this again, I don't believe it is appropriate for Eurovision. It's not even throwing out vague political hints, it's just blatant. And a song about mass murder 70 years ago is not right for ESC in any case, when the Contest was created it was for the specific purpose of forgetting the events of 70 years ago. In the 50s, you didn't have the UK singing about the Blitz and Germany singing about Dresden, despite the fact that these events were only a decade previous. So I think that the EBU should block this "1944" entry and give Ukraine the chance to send another, perhaps second place from the NF.

 

[Sammy]

I don't think the purpose of creating the contest was to forget something. To bring countries together? yes! To favor the mutual understanding? of course! To exchange visions and culture? sure! But to forget something? I never heard of that let alone, that this should have been the specific purpose.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

I don't think the purpose of creating the contest was to forget something. To bring countries together? yes! To favor the mutual understanding? of course! To exchange visions and culture? sure! But to forget something? I never heard of that let alone, that this should have been the specific purpose.

How can you bring countries together without letting go of the past? How can you bring countries together while singing about and refusing to move on from things that happened when most people who are alive now weren't even born? It's pathetic, and not in the spirit of Eurovision.

Not to mention it's breaking the simplest of Eurovision rules - that the Contest must not be political.

I give "1944" nul points now, and hope that Ukraine sees reason to change its entry voluntarily before the deadline!

 

[Sammy]

How can you bring countries together without letting go of the past? How can you bring countries together while singing about and refusing to move on from things that happened when most people who are alive now weren't even born? It's pathetic, and not in the spirit of Eurovision.

Not to mention it's breaking the simplest of Eurovision rules - that the Contest must not be political.

I give "1944" nul points now, and hope that Ukraine sees reason to change its entry voluntarily before the deadline!

Well, coming together and forgiving things is not the same thing than forgetting. I didn't object to your statement, that you find this inappropriate for the contest (though I'm personally not convinced).
I was just saying, that the contest was surely NOT created to forget things.

 

[ShoeFlo]

I think she should change the lyrics. In the current political situaton this message is just a pure provocation and it only adds flue to the fire. ESC already became too political (just remember the anti-russia atmosphere every year... how would you feel as a member of Russian delegation?) and I think thats a blatant developement. Actually MyHeartIsYours already expressed my opinion.. I think the ESC is supposed to be event of peaceful and joyful cultural and musical exchange in which people blind out any politics at least for 3 hours.

 

[WhoKnows]

Were you all as concerned about poor Russia when Conchita came and won? You know many found that act provocative, political, controversial, divisive, etc?

 

[RainyWoods]

I think she should change the lyrics. In the current political situaton this message is just a pure provocation and it only adds flue to the fire. ESC already became too political (just remember the anti-russia atmosphere every year... how would you feel as a member of Russian delegation?) and I think thats a blatant developement. Actually MyHeartIsYours already expressed my opinion.. I think the ESC is supposed to be event of peaceful and joyful cultural and musical exchange in which people blind out any politics at least for 3 hours.

To be honest, I find how blunt this song is refreshing. Yes, it will provoke but then so does Russia telling us all to "put down our guns", Armenia telling us not to "deny" the genocide etc. If Jamala wants to tell her family's story, something that happened 70 or so years ago, I think she should be allowed to do it. I'm sick of peace ballads. Here's something raw, soulful and unfiltered, and I love it. Armenia got away with their song last year (only having to change the title, although they still got to keep the two questioned words in their lyrics) so Ukraine shouldn't have to change anything about their entry. The song is provocative to those who want to take it as such. It's history she's singing about.

 

[tuorem]

People, where were you when my country sent a song about World Wars last year? Maybe the fact it was in French didn't disturb you but there was basically the same intention behind it.

There are already quite a lot of songs about love this year, so no one prevents you from turning a blind eye on Ukraine this year if their message bothers you so much. We've already had strong serious messages in the past: Armenian genocide, nuclear disasters, Israeli/Palestinian conflict, etc. and Eurovision is an appropriate place to address those topics imho. I don't mean Eurovision should be all about politics but stating it isn't would be a lie, and serious message have a place in this contest, alongside peace songs, unoffensive love songs, songs about partying, etc.

It depends on tastes though, if all you look for is songs that say nothing, then fair enough, I get your point. Personally, I don't mind songs with messages, it doesn't disturb me because that's the reality we're living in, even if it's sad. The power of music is endless and songs considered "political" are far more powerful than any other medium. We should never forget what happened in the past, even if not everyone's happy about that.

 

[Schlagerman1]

People, where were you when my country sent a song about World Wars last year? Maybe the fact it was in French didn't disturb you but there was basically the same intention behind it.

There are already quite a lot of songs about love this year, so no one prevents you from turning a blind eye on Ukraine this year if their message bothers you so much. We've already had strong serious messages in the past: Armenian genocide, nuclear disasters, Israeli/Palestinian conflict, etc. and Eurovision is an appropriate place to address those topics imho. I don't mean Eurovision should be all about politics but stating it isn't would be a lie, and serious message have a place in this contest, alongside peace songs, unoffensive love songs, songs about partying, etc.

It depends on tastes though, if all you look for is songs that say nothing, then fair enough, I get your point. Personally, I don't mind songs with messages, it doesn't disturb me because that's the reality we're living in, even if it's sad. The power of music is endless and songs considered "political" are far more powerful than any other medium. We should never forget what happened in the past, even if not everyone's happy about that.

Perfect post!
Also I would like to add that a good Eurovision has everything, it would be nothing without cheesy popsongs, ballads about love, crazy acts that makes you wanna laugh, be ashamed or both at the same time! But there is also a place for songs with deeper meanings, that brings something else and involves people to think an extra thought. That is the Eurovision Song Contest for me, a song contest for everyone!

 

[hufus]

When they arrived
Hidden behind their weapons
They were thousands
They laughed at our tears

They wished to destroy
Our beliefs and our souls
With words of hatred
That we did not know

I am here tonight
In the middle of these ruins
To talk to you about hope
And to sing life
And I swear
When the blood will dry
That I will rebuild my city
More beautiful than before

But don’t forget.

----------

How is 1944 different? If anything, it's less political.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

To be honest, I find how blunt this song is refreshing. Yes, it will provoke but then so does Russia telling us all to "put down our guns", Armenia telling us not to "deny" the genocide etc. If Jamala wants to tell her family's story, something that happened 70 or so years ago, I think she should be allowed to do it. I'm sick of peace ballads. Here's something raw, soulful and unfiltered, and I love it. Armenia got away with their song last year (only having to change the title, although they still got to keep the two questioned words in their lyrics) so Ukraine shouldn't have to change anything about their entry. The song is provocative to those who want to take it as such. It's history she's singing about.

When has Russia ever sent a Eurovision entry like that? In fact from what I remember, Russia is one of the few "new" Eurovision countries never to have sent a political entry! The Russians will push for this to be blocked just like they did with Georgia's stupid Put.in song, and I fully support them.

Leave politics and misery to the UN, not ESC, thanks.

 

[Sammy]

When has Russia ever sent a Eurovision entry like that? In fact from what I remember, Russia is one of the few "new" Eurovision countries never to have sent a political entry! The Russians will push for this to be blocked just like they did with Georgia's stupid Put.in song, and I fully support them.

Leave politics and misery to the UN, not ESC, thanks.

could you define what you would label as a "political entry" please?

 

[RainyWoods]

When has Russia ever sent a Eurovision entry like that? In fact from what I remember, Russia is one of the few "new" Eurovision countries never to have sent a political entry! The Russians will push for this to be blocked just like they did with Georgia's stupid Put.in song, and I fully support them.

Leave politics and misery to the UN, not ESC, thanks.

Where did I say Russia has sent a song like "1944"? Read what I wrote again. I said "1944" will surely provoke, but then so did Russia's bizarre peace ballad with lyrics about putting down guns. I wasn't talking about the songs theme but about music provoking. Russia managed to provoke last year as well, going the peace ballad route yet again, which upset and offended a lot of people.

Actually if you wanna ban "1944" then it's only fair we get rid of all peace songs as well. They can be just as political as anything else.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

could you define what you would label as a "political entry" please?

Anything containing political barbs against another country or group of people

Where did I say Russia has sent a song like "1944"? Read what I wrote again. I said "1944" will surely provoke, but then so did Russia's bizarre peace ballad with lyrics about putting down guns. I wasn't talking about the songs theme but about music provoking. Russia managed to provoke last year as well, going the peace ballad route yet again, which upset and offended a lot of people.

Actually if you wanna ban "1944" then it's only fair we get rid of all peace songs as well. They can be just as political as anything else.

You said they were equal with this anti-Russian song. Who did Russia target in that song? No one. They weren't bringing up past politics either, instead talking about hopes for the future.

 

[i anixi]

People, where were you when my country sent a song about World Wars last year? Maybe the fact it was in French didn't disturb you but there was basically the same intention behind it.

There are already quite a lot of songs about love this year, so no one prevents you from turning a blind eye on Ukraine this year if their message bothers you so much. We've already had strong serious messages in the past: Armenian genocide, nuclear disasters, Israeli/Palestinian conflict, etc. and Eurovision is an appropriate place to address those topics imho. I don't mean Eurovision should be all about politics but stating it isn't would be a lie, and serious message have a place in this contest, alongside peace songs, unoffensive love songs, songs about partying, etc.

It depends on tastes though, if all you look for is songs that say nothing, then fair enough, I get your point. Personally, I don't mind songs with messages, it doesn't disturb me because that's the reality we're living in, even if it's sad. The power of music is endless and songs considered "political" are far more powerful than any other medium. We should never forget what happened in the past, even if not everyone's happy about that.

Lacking a message doesn't mean being about nothing. Songs can be deep, emotional, meaningful or intelligent without dealing with a clear subject that intends to draw public attention to a situation or other

 

[Sammy]

Anything containing political barbs against another country or group of people.

Well, that doesn't help much, because you cannot define a word by using the same word again.

So again: could you please define, what you would label as a political song.

 

[tuorem]

Lacking a message doesn't mean being about nothing. Songs can be deep, emotional, meaningful or intelligent without dealing with a clear subject that intends to draw public attention to a situation or other

If there isn't a message, then it's about nothing basically. Meaningful songs aren't all dealing with topics that are labelled as political though, if that's what you mean.