Isnt it interesting to realize in the year of 50-years-migration in Belgium, just before the finales of the selection for Eurosong 2014, that the only song (1 out of 6) which includes artists of colour is in French, not in Flemish! It is Yass Smaalis song Need You Tonight, which recounts the story of his 10-years nomadic existence, particularly in Paris. Kudos to the Eurosong team not to exploit his superdiverse, post-migrant background. He was born in the French city of Nîmes of Lybian parents, a mother of Maroccan descent and a father born in Tunisia, but this should really not be the (first) question. The television makers do focus on him as a serious artist and candidate. But I do have serious questions about what is being communicated in the end in his song and the narrative he is selling through its choreography. Yass is a self-made man, a graffiti artist on demand, who - so impressed with Michael Jacksons Thriller - went out in the world to try his chances. He finally got the opportunity to develop as a choreographer at the commercial Club Med spectacles in the Dominican Republic, where he met his Belgian wife, Graziella. In his choreography to the song, he chose to depict homeless of colour in the typical Eurovision-aesthetic. Although I think it is an absolute disgrace how the music industry in Flanders is still a purely white business, and the selection of songs for the finales reflect the current power structures dominating social life, I am hesitant to say if the sentimental, self-exploitative gesture of Yass will really make people aware of the growing population with a migration background and of the growing number of homeless. I am afraid it will just only confirm the already growing conservative, hegemonic, right-wing perspective about self-made migrants, living the American dream in France or Belgium, as success stories. By the way, the song was composed by the American, Ashley Hickin, who also made the successful Eurovision song Me & My Guitar for Tom Dice. Luckily he didnt try to include exotic elements and the media focus more on the lyrics, which were partly written by Yass Smaali himself. But what does I really need you tonight mean in all this context? Judge for yourself! Je vague le coeur amère, le passer comme seul ami. Et tout ces rêves ces prières, partent en vrille sous cette nuit. https://youtube/watch?v=igjJ6krmNAA eurosong.een.be/#person/25
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:55:56 +0000
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