Prima Queen continue emotional Rontvian winter

 

Following The Rhythm Method's Please Don't Die and The Kiffness' Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat), our latest tearjerker is the breathtaking Butter Knife by female indie-pop duo Prima Queen. Produced by The Big Moon, Butter Knife was originally released in late 2022, when it was premiered on BBC Radio 6 by Steve Lamacq. Prima Queen - Louise Macphail from Bristol and Kristin McFadden from Chicago - stated at the time: "Butter Knife is a reflection on losing a loved one slowly to Alzheimer’s. When they pass away the loss is confusing because not only are you grieving the person you knew before the illness, but also the person they became.”

 

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "Over the years we have both given our 18 points on numerous occasions to spoken word heavy entries - most recently Maruja, Headache and Nabihah Iqbal, and of course sent them regularly ourselves - Public Service Broadcasting, Real Lies, Daithi, Swim Deep, Self Esteem, The Rhythm Method, and now Prima Queen. When we first heard Butter Knife we knew we had to send it - a tender sung chorus, affecting spoken word verses that tell the story, beautiful strings and instrumentation throughout, and a fuller sung outro as the tale reaches its climax. We think this is a stunning piece and we hope people like it.

 

Butter Knife (with a video which appears to have partly been filmed in Brighton <3) has followed Please Don't Die and Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat) to the top of the Rontvian charts, where it currently spends a second week at No.1.

 

 

Glastonbury 2023 performance:

 

Edited January 14, 20241 yr by gooddelta

162 = 1990

 

After three rather emotional songs in a row, it's time to lift the tempo back up as we slowly edge into spring, and for our 162nd entry we welcome a Celtic dance collaboration between two bands - Elephant Sessions, a folk group from the Highlands of Scotland, and Valtos, a trad/electronic duo from Skye, with the largely instrumental track (apart from a tiny spoken word sample), 1990.

 

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "It's been a bit of a sad winter here in FSR Rontvia, but things are brightening up and we wanted to send something more uplifting as we head up to Scotland for this wonderful piece from Elephant Sessions and Valtos. Opening with beautiful orchestral strings, it doesn't take long before the song adds a Swamp Thing-esque fiddle to proceedings and then things really get going as percussion moves it firmly onto the dancefloor. The elements all come together nicely, and there is even a little Eurodance breakdown two thirds of the way through that evokes the much-loved club banger sound of 2011. Rontvian's are keen fans of dance music and more traditional sounds, so this is a marriage made in heaven for us and we hope others enjoy it too."

 

1990 is currently riding high in the top five of the Rontvian charts, where it has been for the last month, peaking at No.1 earlier this month.

 

It's a Mirkhel

 

For BJSC 163, held once again in Sovarasma, we are going to Greece for I believe the first time, courtesy of Die Arkitekt, a producer who combines electronic and classical influences to create eclectic techno sounds. He is joined by 72-year-old pioneering Greek legend Lena Platonos, a pianist and composer of electronic music, so please show some love to our oldest credited entrant (while also recalling then 90-year-old Mary Keane, who was not officially credited on Mary Keanes Introduction, song title aside).

 

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "Mirkhel is the new single from Die Arkitekt and is taken from the album The Death of Postmodernism, released on 19 April. This is a quite spellbinding piece that truly unravels its magic the more you hear it. While the opening couple of minutes set the scene, with atmospheric chants set to a techno beat, after this it gets really interesting as the classical elements come through along with a vocal from the legendary Lena Platonos, one of the electronic music scene's original female pioneers. We're extremely proud to have Mirkhel representing FSR Rontvia this month."

 

Mirkhel is currently top three in the Rontvian charts, with the full chart for March set to be revealed next week.

 

Edited March 24, 20241 yr by gooddelta

Broken Mirrors

 

BJSC 163 saw FSR Rontvia claim our first top ten entry of the year, with Mirkhel finishing in 7th place. However, it was not the first song we confirmed for the contest last month - that was Gebroken Spiegels (Broken Mirrors) by Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest. We decided to switch away from that at the time as it felt like a huge risk, but then something happened, as Ricardo Delta explains:

 

"TikTokvia has exploded in the last few months with hype about Gebroken Spiegels, which originally hit No.1 in FSR Rontvia way back in January but has not left the top ten since and, in fact, climbed back to No.1 for another stint earlier this month - and also climbed to No.1 in our current year to date chart. The public had spoken, they wanted Gebroken Spiegels at BJSC for FSR Rontvia. The RTVN sat down and decided that, while an entry longer than 13 minutes was uncharted territory for the nation - our previous longest was just over 10 minutes - we would give it a wildcard into our national final for BJSC 164. We don't usually hold a public vote, but we wanted the public to have a say because BJSC 164 marks exactly 100 contests since we last won, with RAMelia (Tribue To Amelia), exactly 10 years ago.

 

"Gebroken Spiegels won comfortably against four other competitors, with 91% of the vote, and Dutch singer Sophie has agreed to represent us with this magical but also hard hitting song that twists and turns from one genre to the next - but it's better to listen to it yourself than listen to my explanation of it to understand why the Rontvian public has become so captivated by this song over the last three months."

 

A protest singer from Amsterdam, Sophie Straat collaborated with the talented orchestra Metropole Orkest on this song, which was released in January and is her first new music since her debut album Smartlap Is Niet Dood in early 2023. The song is inspired by the 1984 feminist Dutch film of the same name made by Marleen Gorris about sex workers. It is also about the downward spiral that humanity finds itself in, driven - in her own words - by xenophobia and stupidity.

 

Sophie said: “The song tells a story of different lives. While writing we noticed that you could also interpret it as the life of one person. It starts with birth and ends with a new family and the people they encounter. But we also play with the idea that you can have an innocent child who might grow up to be a fascist.”

 

The full version of the song is here:

 

 

And a shorter live version is here:

 

 

The song is split into six parts, and the translated English lyrics are below:

 

[Part I]

 

[Verse 1]

I stroke your head, you're so sweet

You're still so small and everything is still going well

With your big eyes you look at the world

I look at you and nothing is complicated anymore

 

[Verse 2]

What will life give you? And what do you give back?

Even if it is only for a moment, you are sweet and innocent.

What will you become? Do you have a dream?

That's not on the agenda yet, but the appeal doesn't fall far from the tree

 

[Outro]

I hope it turns out okay, but I'm so afraid it won't

We are all the same, we all have sadness

 

[Part II]

 

[Verse 1]

With the brothers on holiday in Amsterdam

Looking for trouble, looking for fun

Married with two kids at home in Liverpool

But drinking, snorting, fighting is your goal tonight

 

[Chorus]

You're stupid!

I hate your pink drunk face

You're stupid!

Acting normal doesn't occur to you

You're stupid!

I'm ashamed of my own people.

You're stupid!

So stupid, so f***ing stupid!

 

[Verse 2]

With the brothers to the red light district, everything is for sale

Let me see, lift your skirt

Your hair back and your collar high

Burned skin, steroids, but you can't get it up

You're stupid!

 

[bridge]

(You're stupid!) With your bachelor party

(You're stupid!) Always been a clown

(You're stupid!) You're acting like an animal

(You're stupid! You're stupid!)

(You're stupid! ) When does today happen?

(You're stupid!) Things are going to go wrong, sooner or later

(You're stupid!) Who's the next candidate?

(You're stupid!) Who's the next candidate?

 

[Chorus]

You're stupid!

I hate your pink drunk face

You're stupid!

Acting normal doesn't occur to you

You're stupid!

I'm ashamed of my own people.

You're stupid!

So stupid, so f*cking stupid!

 

[Part III]

 

[Verse]

Murdered for being herself

She walked alone on the street

No one harmed them

She was a victim of trans violence and hate

 

[Chorus]

I want to say it will be okay, but I actually don't think so

I'm afraid of the future, because I only see sadness

Everyone is furious, but no one sees it

And the government, as always, does nothing at all

 

[instrumental Break]

[Chorus]

I want to say it's going to be okay, but I actually don't think so

I'm afraid of the future, because all I see is sadness

They say barking dogs don't bite, but I don't believe that

And the quiet ones are screwed and there's no one there who sees it

 

[Outro]

You are stupid!

You're stupid!

 

[Part IV]

 

[Verse 1]

She would like to give thanks once

And wait for another

With tears in her eyes

She says: "Thank you for your time"

She stands empty-handed

And knows that nothing will change

She just wants stupid be

In her ignorance

 

[Chorus]

For a little while, just a little longer

Then she must give in.

Wait a minute, wait just a minute.

Not for the rest of her life, right?

It seems like ages

That she still has to endure this

Always giving

And everyone looking at her

 

[Verse 2]

She would love to refuse

to say that it would not suit

Can't she argue just once?

"No, I won't"

Powerless in her decency

Can she just do this?

“What if I pass gracefully?”

Surely not for the rest of her life?

 

[Chorus]

Just for a little while, just a little longer

Then she has to give in.

Wait a minute, wait just a minute.

Not for the rest of her life, right?

It seems like ages

That she still has to endure this

Always giving

And everyone looking at her

 

[Outro]

Always someone waiting for you

In the endless night

Always someone waiting for you

 

[Part V]

 

[Verse 1]

Tradition, you know better you don't have

the VOC mentality and of course Black Pete

Furious, but no one sees it

Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

 

[Verse 2]

Afraid of communism, also of Islam

Afraid of new times, you can't handle it anyway

A gut feeling, angry and powerless

No one understands what you mean, indignant and angry

 

[Part VI]

 

[Verse 1]

What a beautiful day

We are having such a good time in our homeland

What a beautiful day

How well things are going in the Netherlands

 

[Verse 2]

The grass seemed even greener on this side

But there's so much, way too much going on

And only when it turns

It turns out to be the silence that precedes the storm

The silence that precedes the storm

 

[Outro]

They are furious, but no one sees it

Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

They are furious, but no one sees it

Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

They are furious, but no one sees it

Maybe even louder shout, because they don't hear you

They're furious, but no one sees

Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

They're furious, but no one sees

Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

They're furious, but no one sees.

Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

Edited April 22, 20241 yr by gooddelta

Irish pop for 165!

 

After our entry last month clocked in at 13 and a half minutes, we are dialling it right back to basics this month with a very different prospect. Irish pop singer Lea Heart released If I Did What You Did in February this year and, weighing in at just 2:21, we follow our longest entry to date with one of our shortest (Holy Molly remains slightly shorter).

 

But this track packs a punch in its short running time, delving into the dynamics of betrayal and challenging societal norms by questioning whether such behaviour would be tolerated if the roles were reversed, according to the artist.

 

Lea explained: "'If I Did What You Did’ is a declaration of independence and strength. It’s about recognising your own value and refusing to settle for anything less than you deserve. It highlights someone’s bad behaviour by calling them out and holding them accountable for their actions. It’s also about singing along REALLY loudly to a new liberating anthem."

 

Ricardo Delta added: "It's been quite some time since we sent a pure pop song, but this one really caught our ear with powerful strings, an energetic pace and a confident delivery from young Irish star Lea. It's short but sweet and we can't get it out of our heads here in FSR Rontvia, and we hope others enjoy it too."

 

If I Did What You Did peaked at No.1 in FSR Rontvia in April and remains in the top five now on its 7th week around.

 

The verses in this remind me a little bit of Zara Larsson - Can't Tame Her.

The verses in this remind me a little bit of Zara Larsson - Can't Tame Her.

 

It does have a Zara vibe to it for sure!

I enjoyed this song - thanks for submitting it as an entry :)

I enjoyed this song - thanks for submitting it as an entry :)

 

Thank you for the kind words :heart:

Eurobeat power metal for 666, sorry, 166

 

Just over a year after Germany's Powerwolf finished 11th for us with Sainted By The Storm, we are back with more power metal, and after also finishing 11th last month with Lea Heart, hoping to find a way to escape that position. This time, though, our metal has a bit more of a Eurobeat feel to it, with Finnish group Beast In Black unleashing their new single Power Of The Beast, which is what you might get if you throw Lordi, Cascada, Lord Of The Lost and Käärijä into a blender - the type of Euro metal that wouldn't be out of place in a certain other song contest.

 

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "We first heard Power Of The Beast a few weeks ago and were instantly won over by this track, which the band say is a one-off not belonging to an album. With nods to metal, nordic hair rock, electropop and everything else that makes Finnish rock so exciting, it also has a chorus melody slightly reminiscent of Everytime We Touch, rooting its influence firmly in Eurodance just as much as metal. Complete with orchestra hits, racing synths, a classic slower middle eight and, of course, an awesome air guitar solo, this has everything we love and we knew it was time to unleash our latest rock entry. The video is also hilarious and highly recommended!"

 

Power Of The Beast went straight in at No.1 in FSR Rontvia, where it has stayed for three weeks so far.

 

Why do I hear It's Raining Men when those first rising notes begin :lol:

 

Fab entry though, as I tend to listen blind on first listen I had this 100% down as the Séyetana entry but then I realised there were 2/(3?) power metal songs :lol: this one takes the crown for me though!

Yeah it definitely has a touch of It's Raining Men at the start :lol: Along with its other several influences! Quite the homage to various things.

 

Glad you like it! I've started to send a bit more rock of late but I agree it's definitely very Séyetana for sure.

The music of champions

 

After finishing 11th with Lea Heart and going one better last month to sneak into the top 10 with the raucous Beast In Black, we are going in another direction and heading to the most famous podium of all - the Olympics. The magnificent sporting event was one of the highlights of the summer and the opening ceremony was a memorable spectacle. Among the various wonderful moments was a masked woman riding a metal horse was down the River Seine, which was soundtracked by...our entry to BJSC 167.

 

French composer, producer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and musical director Victor Le Masne specialises in both classical and house music, and he brought this fusion together to create a number of pieces especially for the games, including the TV theme music, called Parade.

 

Higher was another piece used in the opening event and Ricardo Delta explains its selection: "Like many others, we enjoyed watching the chaotic spectacle of the rainy opening ceremony but what really impressed us was the woman on the horse, and in particular the soundtrack to that moment. Higher is French instrumental house with grandoise orchestra strings, organs and a pumping bassline that leads to a calmer moment before building to a climax - or maybe the build is supposed to represent a final push for victory. The music evokes the likes of Justice and Kavinsky.

 

"As our esteemed host Neliönoir won with a wonderful French electronic track last month, we wanted to pay tribute with this very different take on French dance which - while heard by millions - has an identity that is not really widely known to many. In fact, it hasn't even been commercially released outside FSR Rontvia yet, but Victor has said he is in talks with streaming services to get his Olympics music up soon. We find this piece incredibly feelgood and motivational, and in FSR Rontvia the specially created radio edit has taken the track to No.1 for most of August. We hope others enjoy it too."

 

 

Its use in the opening ceremony can be heard from 2:53:23 in this video:

 

Edited August 27, 2024Aug 27 by gooddelta

well they did put another of Victor Le Masne's Olympics songs on Spotify today, his collab with French metal band Gojira *_* so hopefully your entry not too far behind schedule

 

(admittedly the Gojira song would have scored more Danævii points but we love the triumphant sound of 'Higher')

Oh that's good news, I'll check this out, sounds like quite a different pace but I gather he's quite the musical chameleon.

 

Hopefully the rest will follow onto Spotify, I'm not sure if any of his music has been used for the Paralympics too or not.

Oh yas I was disappointed when I discovered the Gojira performance at the Olympics was not a released song so nice at that getting a release now!

 

(sorry slightly off topic x)

J-dance x 168

 

Welsh electronic music producer Rachel K Collier has teamed up with Belgian electronic producer and singer Saruri for a catchy J-pop/dance crossover that serves as FSR Rontvia's 168th entry, this month in Taahino. Rachel had a UK No.12 hit in 2013 with the Ray Foxx collaboration Boom Boom (Heartbeat), while Saruri only has other music uploaded on Soundcloud, including a cover of The Kelly Family's 1990s classic Fell In Love With An Alien. FSR Rontvia previously sent The Kelly Family to a Christmas spin-off with Christmas In Our Hearts.

 

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "After finishing 24th last time out (for the 7th time!), we decided to stay in the dance genre but with a different spin on it once again. And in fact this is the first Japanese language entry we have ever sent, even though it is not a Japanese singer on the track, but Belgian Saruri - a keen lover of all things Japan - singing.

 

"When we first heard Kiye Yuku Hana we were kind of mesmerised by it initially, and then by the end of the song the 'dee da ree da de de' hook was absolutely lodged in our head and has been ever since. Even if you don't speak any Japanese, it's a very accessible track with pulsating dance production and charming lyrics about love, beauty and cherry blossom!"

 

Kiye Yuku Hana is currently No.1 in FSR Rontvia, where it has been for three weeks after replacing our previous entry, Higher by Victor Le Masne, at the top.

 

Take me back to Monaco

 

For our entry to BJSC 169, taking place in Aeroche after a long spell away from BJSC’s most successful nation, we have decided to send a pop entry after a couple of months in the dance realm. Jude York is an Australian singer who made his debut in 2022 with I Won’t Need to Dream, which he submitted to the Australia Decides national final in a bid to represent Australia at Eurovision that year.

 

That accolade ultimately fell to Sheldon Riley, but Jude has got bigger and better since then – even appearing in BJSC before as the featured artist on Kyriatine’s entry for 165, Glaciers by Wastemall.

 

The infectious Monaco was released on Spinnin’ Records this summer and has made positive noises online, as well as no doubt helping to secure Jude a spot on the Saturday lineup of the Mighty Hoopla festival in London next year.

 

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: “Jude’s love letter to Monaco was a very instant earworm for us, it launches straight into the catchy chorus and the pulsating production and Jude’s great vocal really made this the right time for us to dip our toes back into the pop pool.

 

“It’s short but sweet, and has shades of fellow Aussies Troye Sivan and even Darren Hayes, and we love the accordion break in the middle and the string outro.”

 

Monaco has been one of the biggest hits of the year in FSR Rontvia, still at No.1 at the time of writing for its fifth consecutive week.

 

Bul Bul Bul

 

For this year's final contest, and following our top five finish with Jude York's Monaco last month, we have decided - in an attempt to keep our 2024 Q streak in tact - to send...Turkish language psychedelic style indie to Terra Avium, going a bit leftfield in tribute to the ongoing efforts of our esteemed host. The song serves as FSR Rontvia's second Turkish language entry, following our entry to BJSC 96, Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak by Yaşar Gaga.

 

Kit Sebastian are a duo formed in London by Kit Martin and Merve Erdem. Their music calls on genres ranging from Anatolian Pyschedelia and Brazilian Tropicalia to 60s European pop and American jazz. Their most recent single is Bul Bul Bul and the duo said it was influenced greatly by gamelan and their desire to mix Indonesian and Turkish music.

 

Ricardo Delta explained the entry choice: "We were really impressed with the style of Kit Sebastian's music and we knew Bul Bul Bul had to be our final entry of the year as soon as we heard it. It has a rich range of musical influences and an infectious melodic hook made using a gangsa instrument from Indonesia that is a real earworm. Kit and Merve are also effortlessly cool and stylish, with Merve serving an enchanting vocal.

 

"The production has an instant Swinging Sixties vibe and it's no surprise that it has been at No.1 here for the last couple of weeks. We also love the classic look and feel of the music video, which was directed by Merve - it fits the retro aesthetic and is colourful and charming. And who doesn't love flamingos?"

 

Edited November 24, 2024Nov 24 by gooddelta

Such a shame that 'Bul Bul Bul' couldn't complete the 2024 Q streak for you, it's my favourite Rontvia entry since at least 161 and would have contended for quite a few Bronzil points in a very strong final had it made it. Hopefully we can both go one better in 2025!