The Nation on Stage-Romania
Introduction
The Eurovision Song Contest is an international TV competition concerning music. It is the longest-running competition and held among the associate nations of the (EBU) the “European Broadcasting Union.” The most popular song is chosen on vote bases after its performance on the radio and live television. Other nations with time have allowed taking part in the competition such as America, China, Canada, and Australia, which shows that diversity, has taken place over time. The contest is broadcasted throughout the work, and with the advancement in technology, the show is found on the internet as well. When a nation wins, the career of the artist is boosted for a short time but the success gained is a long term goal (O'Connor 5-16).Romania has taken part in the Eurovision Song Context for seventeen times. It began in the 1994 contest where they had a number of ten placements and the best results witnessed in the year 2005. In April 22nd, 2016, Romania participation was suspended. In the year 2000, Romania was presented in the contest which was held in Stockholm, Sweden. It was represented by the band known as Taxi where the first song was based on the topic English. The band failed which made Romania lose its chance to participate in the Denmark 2001 contest. However, they managed to get the initial 12 points which were awarded by Macedonia. Throughout the performances, those who represented the band expressed different attributes and attitude and diversity determined each year’s performance.
Identities that Represent Romania
In the year 2000, Romania was represented by a name recognized as Taxi with the song known as ‘The Moon.' The song was performed in the English language, and it was the first song which did not include any Romanian lyrics. The music can be categorized as a ballad and t gains tempo throughout its development. The pan flutes were used during the performance of this song, which is a group of musical instruments which are founded on the closed tube principle and made up of several pipes of different lengths. The pipes were made up of local reeds, bamboo or giant cane. “The Moon” is a song which uses nature things in its expression, such as “the wind is playing with the stars of my night” and “the moon I playing on and on with my heart.” The initial lyrics of the composition were in Romania, but the band translated and sang in English. At that time, the song was recorded as the best Romanian performance of the time (Raykoff 2-9).In 2001, Romania did not participate in the contest as they lose in the 2000 competition. In 2002, Marcel Pavel and Monica Anghel represented the nation with the song known as ‘Tell Me Why.' It was categorized as a ballad where the performers cried at the end of the relationship. It is a love song where the love had to end, and it was hurting, and they both wondered if love can be termed as a stupid lie. Anghel had tried to represent Romania in 1996 competition though she could not qualify due to the rules they had at that time. The song was a duo, with the two questioning each other the reasons why the love had to end. The song made Romania occupy the 9th position with 71 points
Nicole represented Romania in the 2003 Eurovision contest which took place at Riga she played a music known as “don’t break my heart.” With this song, Romania was able to reach top ten positions, and it received 73 points, thus giving the go ahead for the performance of the next year. A piano was used in the performance as it was a solo song. At that time, the lyrics of all songs performed were written in two languages which were mostly the Romania and English version. The fictional language was mostly used for performance during this year. The song was an original work as it was not allowed to be a cover song or a sample from another artists work.
In the year 2004, Sanda was given the privilege to present the nation at the Eurovision competition. The song that was performed was known as “I admit.” With the performance, the nation gained the 18th position and had only 18 points. It meant that Romania had to compete in the semi-finals so that it could gain a chance to take part in the subsequent year’s competition. The song can be categorized as an up-tempo number where the performer was confessing the way she felt towards her lover. While she was performing, Sanda wore a black outfit which resulted in the description of using the fewer clothes and more hair method Des Mangan, an Australian commentator (Reid, Robert, and Leif Pettersen 3-7).
Sistem and Luminita Anghel were the performers sent in the year 2005 to represent Romania in the Eurovision contest. They sang the song “let me try” which features the percussion background of the Sistem band. The song gained the third position and earned the nation a total of 158 points. The song was addressed to a lover where Anghel was saying that she did not want to say goodbye and the lyrics express the end of a relationship. The Sistem band acted as the backup group, and they used drums of industrial waste. The band members were wearing the drum lids as shoes. Anghel as well took part in the activities when the instruments were being played. The way Anghel had dressed her hair made her win more points during the performance.
Evaluation based on Attitude and Diversity
Over the years, attitude change and diversity have been witnessed keeping in mind the performance of the nation. Considering the time period between the year 2000 to 2005, Romania performance changed drastically, and by the year 2005, they were performing much better. The Eurovision contest also gave room for improvement, considering the harsh rules they had when the competition was just beginning. From the study, it is seen that the rules were harsh to the point that a Romania performer was denied participation permission. Later, changes were accepted in things such as performance, where all artists were given a chance to take part, and they could even dress as they wished. Sanda, the 2004 representative of Romania, is an example of the artists who were able to take part in the competition; sing her own way of dressing, such as less clothing and more hair makeup (Alina 1-7). It changed the attitude of the people towards the way of dressing of the artist, and as years have passed by, the most recent nation's representatives are allowed to use any type of clothing that they feel are best. Accepting all types of costumes is a way of showing the diversity, and the performers are not confined to the European culture alone. They can also use other themes to gain a competitive advantage.The types of instruments used have been seen to change over time and much better adopted which makes the artist performing feel part of the performance. In the year 2000, a plan flute was used to complement the song being played by the band. The make of the musical instrument can be seen to be traditional since it is only a join up of bamboo or local reeds. There was no technology used in making the instruments as during that time; it had not been adopted in the Eurovision contest. With time, piano and drums were used, and it is even witnessed in the year 2005 that the artist could take part in the body movements. Luminita Anghel, for instance, the Romania representative of the year 2005 was backed up by the Sistem band which used drums and wore drum lid shoes, which they used in making the song more interesting (Beissinger, Margaret, Speranța Rădulescu, and Anca 36-41). With the great performance, the song becomes the best recorded Romania representative in comparison to the past years.
Language has changed over time, showing a positive attitude to adopting other people language so that the competition can be appreciated globally. The Romania songs which have been played were originally written in the Romanian language; they were however translated to the English language while being performed so that all people listening to them internationally would understand. It shows a change of attitude since the Romanians were willing to adopt other methods such as other languages.
Conclusion
Participation of Romania in the Eurovision contest is a chance to interact with other nations and learn other things. It is also a method of spreading their ideology to the other nation people so that they can learn what Romani is all about. Other nations with time have allowed taking part in the competition such as America, China, Canada, and Australia, which shows that diversity, has taken place over time. The contest is broadcasted throughout the work, and with the advancement in technology, the show is found on the internet as well (Fricker, Karen, and Ronit 1-6).Language has changed over time, showing a positive attitude to adopting other people language so that the competition can be appreciated globally. The types of instruments used have been seen to change over time and much better adopted which makes the artist performing feel part of the performance. The Eurovision contest also gave room for improvement, considering the harsh rules they had when the competition was just beginning.
(Word count 1579)
Works Cited
Alina,
Stoica I. H. M. M. T. R. Culture and Paradiplomatic Identity: Instruments in
Sustaining Eu Policies. Place of publication not identified: Cambridge
Scholars Publis, n.d.. Internet resource.
Beissinger,
Margaret H, Speranța Rădulescu, and Anca Giurchescu. Manele in Romania:
Cultural Expression and Social Meaning in Balkan Popular Music. , 2016.
Internet resource.
Fricker,
Karen, and Ronit Lenṭin. Performing Global Networks. Newcastle, UK:
Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2007. Print.
O'Connor,
John K. The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History. London:
Carlton, 2010. Print.
Raykoff,
Ivan. A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Aldershot [u.a.: Ashgate, 2007. Print.
Reid,
Robert, and Leif Pettersen. Romania & Moldova. Footscray (Vic.:
Lonely Planet Publications, 2007. Print.
