Musical Genre as an Indicator of the Unity in Diversity Concept: Case Study of the ESC's Winning Song Hard Rock Hallelujah
Abstract
In this paper, the author questions the role of musical genre presented on the
Eurovision Song Contest in the context of the unity in diversity concept, recognized as one of
the markers of European cultural identity. Interpretation of this concept in sociological theory
is presented while arguing that it could be understood in the history of the contest. A broader
view on genres presented in the first decades of the contest is offered, before focusing on a case
study of Finland’s 2006 winning song. Although unusual in a purely musical sense in the context
of the ESC, it is argued that this entry is more understandable when more determinants
of performing European identity on the ESC stage are included in the interpretation, and that
music serves as only one of those determinants and thus should be interpreted as cultural
discoursive practice.
Keywords:
Eurovision Song Contest / Europe / unity in diversity / musical genre / FinlandSource:
AM Journal of Art and Media Studies, 2016, 10, 59-65Publisher:
- Belgrade : Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University
Note:
- This essay is based upon two previous papers written under the mentorship of Prof. Dr Vesna Mikić. One was written during the project “Jean Monnet Module: Musical Identities and European Perspective: an Interdisciplinary Approach”, No 553391-EPP-1-2014-1-RS-EPPJMO-MODULE at the Faculty of Music, Belgrade, in the academic year 2014/15. The other was read as part of the Poster Session by young researchers at the international conference Musical Diversity and Cultural Identities in the History of Eurovision Song Contest, Institut für Musikwissenschaft der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, 19−20. June 2015.