“Oniro Mou” – Greek Nationalism at Eurovision
Debrief
In 2018,
Eurovision was held in Lisbon, Portugal with the theme, “All Aboard!” Yianna
Terzi, born and raised in Greece, was selected to represent her country after boasting
a successful musical career in Athens and Los Angeles. Her song, “Oniro Mou,” harbored
much commercial success prior to the competition, but unfortunately did not
qualify for the final after placing fourteenth in the semifinals. The lyrics,
staging, and political context of this performance provide an interesting look
into how Greece wants to represent itself internationally. My previous blog
post addresses the complicated definition of what it means to be Greek, which I
argued to include language, history, and perceived ethnicity. In this post, I
will be analyzing Greece’s 2018 Eurovision performance to explore the ways in
which this performance aligns with the Greek identity.
Musical Style
“Oniro Mou”
is a somber, but hopeful sounding piece that incorporates traditional Greek
musical elements into a modern pop/r&b framework. There are two unique
verses, and a chorus that is repeated several times. The song features the
prominent use of a pan flute and other traditional Greek instruments, giving it
a distinct Greek folk sound. It is relatively slow, but powerful, with
background vocals that sustain ethereal chords which become stronger during the
chorus to match the intensity of the drums. Yianna’s voice beautifully
complements the background music, remaining soft but clear throughout and executing
riffs which incorporate Greek musical notes and scales. The simple costuming
and set design ensure that Terzi’s vocals are the centerpiece of the
performance, only to be interrupted by a brief instrumental interlude with
light choreography and special effects.
Costume
Terzi is
wearing a long, flowy, white dress with sleeves that drape to the floor. This
could be a nod to Ancient Greek attire, which is often depicted in media as
white cloth loosely hanging off one’s body. This contrasts with her shimmery,
blue hand, which makes the ensemble appear to mimic the Greek flag. Her blue
hand could simply be a reference to the national colors, or it could be a
symbolic way of expressing her Greekness. It makes her appear as if she is ‘bleeding
blue’ which insinuates the idea of ‘Greek blood,’ supporting the nationalistic
perception of ethnicity being an important part of the Greek identity. Although
this sentiment is being presented in hopes to unify the people of Greece, it also
inherently others anyone who doesn’t feel fully represented by the flag such as
immigrants and religious minorities. The only choreography during this
performance is executed through rhythmic movements of the sleeves and her blue
hand, emphasizing the importance of these costume choices.
Stage Presentation
The staging
of this performance is extremely simple in comparison to the more elaborate
productions often seen on Eurovision. Yianna Terzi stands alone under dark blue
lights, with gold lights flashing to the beat of the drums behind her. The
color palette remains consistent with blue, white, and gold dominating the
stage. The use of dramatic lighting and visuals enhances the mood of the song,
creating an atmosphere of divinity and intensity. At the climax of the song,
dry ice floods the stage and large sparklers shoot towards the sky in front of
the audience. The fog adds a sense of mystical antiquity, transporting the
audience to a simulated Ancient Greece. There were no dancers, no backup
singers, and no props. It is worth questioning whether this was an artistic
decision to direct focus towards the vocal performance, or one influenced by
Greek’s financial position or abilities at this time. Terzi's strong stage
presence and emotive gestures add to the overall impact of the performance.
Novelty
Novelty songs are categorized as those which have one
or more characteristics that make it unique and memorable. Ellie Chalkley
proposes that these can include an unusual vocal quality, to be about something
other than love, a presentational gimmick, or some kind of musical innovation
(Chalkley, 2017). Yianna Terzi’s performance is relatively simple, but the
presentational gimmick of her blue painted hand makes it stand out from other
ballads at Eurovision. The audience is left wondering what it symbolizes, and the
performance is more likely to remain on their minds during voting. With a
slower song like “Oniro Mou,” a gimmick can be a strategic way to keep the
audience engaged. However, even if they are efficient at being memorable, novelty
songs don’t have a great track record of success at Eurovision, with only one
being able to take home the win during the 21st century (Chalkley,
2017). Terzi’s song follows this trend, as the blue hand gimmick was unfortunately
not enough to get Greece through to the finals.
A Closer Look at the Lyrics
In a surface
level reading of the lyrics, this song could be understood as a conversation
between two lovers expressing their story of love and longing for one another. However,
upon deeper analysis, it becomes clear that it instead represents an imagined
dialogue between Greece and the Greek people. In the verses, Greece expresses
uncertainty and longing for acceptance, while the chorus is a strong response
from the Greek people who promise their unconditional love. The chorus repeats
the phrase “Pos thes nha sou to pau / Pos gia
senna ego t pethaina” which means “How can I make it clear that I’d die for you / I'd give my
life for you?” (Yianna Terzi, 2018). These lines depict the intensity of the protagonist’s
feelings and the willingness to sacrifice everything for what they love. However,
some of the lyrics have a slight nationalistic undertone, with promises of “I
wouldn't strike you off the map / I'd give my life for you” (Yianna Terzi,
2018). This presents
sacrifice and protection of territory as the way to show love for your country,
which could potentially be taken as a threat from one of Greece’s external
others. Türkiye, for example, may hear these lyrics and fear that Greece is
declaring their willingness for war if their territorial or cultural boundaries
are encroached on. The concept of loving one’s nation is inherently nationalistic
because it assumes that a nation is a real, individual entity, rather than a
socially constructed territory.
Political Implications
The title
translates to, “My Dream,” which Terzi further explains in an interview with
Eurovision Radio International as “the dream that both Greek people and Greece
has to come together again because lately we haven’t been on the same page as
people and country” (Eurovision Radio International, 2018). This signifies an
underlying political message, but she is careful not to overtly disclose the
issues which she is referencing as to remain unpolitical in the eyes of
Eurovision.
In 2018, the
signing of the Prespa Agreement sparked much discourse across the country and
became the main focus of Greek politicians. This deal essentially granted
Macedonia the right to be recognized by the UN as having their own nationality
and language separate from Greece. (Skoulariki, 2020). This was perceived as a
threat to Greece’s national identity by many of its citizens, as there is much
overlap between their cultures which weakens the argument for a unique Greek identity.
Due to the relevance of this issue at the time of this performance, I infer
that it may be reflected in her lyrics and motivations. In one of the verses,
metaphorical Greece seems to be responding to some sort of threat to Greekness:
“Why would you want to change me and dull my blue?” (Yianna Terzi,
2018). As mentioned
previously, this song is an imagined dialogue between Greece and its people,
and this verse could suggest that Greece’s cultural vibrance is being diluted
by the unclear distinction between Greek and Macedonian identities. Part of
Greece’s national identity is the idea that it is inherently different to other
nations, and the Prespa Agreement questions the validity of this assumption.
Audience Response
Unfortunately,
Greece did not qualify to compete in the 2018 Eurovision final, and this
outcome is reflected by audience reviews and reactions to this performance. It
was generally well-received by Greeks, as it served as an anthem of love for
their country, but many critiqued the simplicity of the song and believed that
it did not translate well to a live performance. It contrasted heavily to the
normal, upbeat pop songs which dominate the competition. One critic wrote,
“This is atmospheric for about a minute before it becomes tedious” (Gallagher,
2022). Its repetitive structure ended up being a drawback, as it made some feel
unable, or unwilling, to stay engaged in the performance. While "Oniro
Mou" received mixed reviews from both audiences and critics, it was
generally praised for the beautiful vocals and emotional depth.
Final Thoughts - Does It Align?
In Blog Post
1, I argue that Greece’s national identity includes the importance of their
language, history, and perceived Greek ethnicity. Yianna Terzi’s performance
aligns itself with all of these characteristics through the language and
meaning of the lyrics, the song genre, and costume choices. By writing and
singing this song in Greek, Terzi is clearly and unapologetically showcasing
her culture, regardless of the difficulty that other countries may have in
understanding its message. With Greek only being spoken in Greece and Cyprus,
the remaining Eurovision participants are othered through the inability to
participate in Yianna’s storytelling. “Oniro Mou” is a contemporary
interpretation of traditional Greek folk music, which displays Greek’s cultural
history through the vocal style and instruments used. The importance of Greek’s
history is also highlighted within the lyrics of the chorus: “(You’re) the end
and the beginning, you’re everything” (Yianna
Terzi, 2018). She portrays Greece as a nation of antiquity,
defying historical timelines. This correlates to the mass education of Ancient
Greek history, and how that impacted the international perception of Greece and
its culture. Finally, Terzi’s blue hand suggests that her Greekness is a
physiological feature rather than a socially constructed identity. This supports
nationalistic notions of ethnicity being a factor in one’s ability to belong to
a nation. In the end, this song and performance align with my previous
definition of Greek national identity, including the importance of their
language, history, and the perception of shared ethnicity.
References
Chalkley, E. (2017, May 10). Novelty and silly songs at
the Eurovision Song Contest. ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial
Eurovision Song Contest Podcast. https://escinsight.com/2017/05/02/eurovision-song-contest-novelty-songs/Destination Lisbon (#32): Meet Yianna Terzi from Greece.
(2018, April 17). Eurovision Song Contest. https://eurovision.tv/story/destination-lisbon-part-32-yianna-terzi-greece-2018Eurovision Radio International. (2018, May 4). Eurovision
2018 - Interview with Gianna Terzi (Greece) [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfaS4qXsSSMGallagher, R. (2022, September 18). Wiwi jury: Greece’s
Yianna Terzi with “Oneiro mou” Wiwibloggs. https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/04/13/wiwi-jury-greece-yianna-terzi-oneiro-mou/219215/Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. (2023,
March 9). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2018Griechenland:
Yianna Terzi - "Oniro mou" (2018,
August 5). [Video]. Eurovision. https://www.eurovision.de/videos/2018/Griechenland-Yianna-Terzi-Oniro-mou,griechenland1250.htmlSkoulariki, A. (2020). Political polarisation in Greece:
the Prespa Agreement, left/right antagonism and the nationalism/populism nexus.
South European Society and Politics, 25(3–4), 411–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/13608746.2020.1932020Yianna Terzi. (2018). Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved February 25, 2024,
from https://eurovision.tv/participant/yianna-terzi
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