#tijana celebrates

[dakaneeee]

Alr you know what Im gonna ask for. You mentioned her in the srpska post so, Herze hcs?

Herze Head cannons time

Again 2 points:

1. Yes i do know when Tix made her she was probably referring to Herceg Bosna, and not Hercegovina as a whole. I am breaking that rule cause I am biased

2. Once again, I am from Hercegovina myself, and since Hercegovina has no important figure i can’t make the same Milorad Dodik joke in the last post

ANYWAY

1. Design wise nothing too interesting, I do imagine she has a lot of Sunspots tho

2. Also thick ass arms. Idk every woman from Herzegovina is always jacked

3. 166 cm for Herzegovina with Tijana Bošković existing is a spit to the face, she should be 180 cm at least

4. Thick brown hair, possibly wavy, though we barely see her hair down

5. Her “pre-conversion” name was Danica

6. She never converted actually, she remained Christian the entire Ottoman period

7. She read the bible to Ilija every night

8. Probably cut most of her hair off and pretended to be a male poturica (a serbian convert), where she went by the name Idriz

9. She wore mostly Turk-like clothing, probably stolen from a few Poturica-s she’s killed

10. Though she still wore the Herzegovinian hat, so it sent subliminal messaging of who she really was so Ilija and Montenegro didn’t have a hard time recognizing her in disguise

11. Once the Ottomans figured out her gimmick they degradingly called her Idriza, which is where her current name originates from

12. Was forcefully married to Enis afterwards

13. She refused to take his last name, the only reason people think she took it is from superficial assumption

14. I don’t imagine her being related to Croatia, she was nicknamed “Serbian Sparta” after all

15. However I di imagine Herzegovina going to Croatia for help, only for him to take off the Herzegovinian hat off of her. Symbolically representing Croats trying to strip away Herzegovinians of their culture as they came to Dalmatia for help.

16. He also tried to convert her, didn’t work at first but it took a toll on her

17. Best Bonding time with Ilija was the Herzegovinian uprising

18. She will feel the same way later in 1993 when the serbs and croats collaborated against the Muslims one more time

19. Sadly, they probably drifted apart as he grew up and became his own thing

20. Also a tarp carrier, once again easy weapon holding but it’s her holding onto her past

21. Had a meaningful connection with Zeta (Montenegro) at the time of the serbian empire, which is where their strong historical bond started

22. “Hladno krvna” as in cold blooded in serbian. Could actually be about her being very cold, but also about her getting physically cold easily

23. Ambiguously calls herself “Christian” and doesn’t specify if she’s Catholic or Orthodox

24. Celebrates Orthodox Christmas with Srpska, Monte and Serbia every time lmfao

25. Serbian new years with Srpska only though

26. I imagine the house of BiH (as in Bosnia, Herzegovina and Srpska) is somewhere outside of Sarajevo, though she probably has a smaller house in Gacko or Trebinje where she goes to so she can feel reconnected to her rural identity

27. Very specifically she has a house with a chimney, weird preference but ok

28. She kept a relationship with Montenegro for the most time during the Ottoman period, the two kind of depending on each other most of the time.

29. Turkish coffee 4 times a day, she isn’t addicted to caffeine she’s just a mom from the area

30. Goran Bregović fan, probably cause she’s also half Croatian and half Serbian

31. Despite not liking the cold, she’d rather be in a freezing river than a warm sea

32. Probably won the cross on Bogojavljenje at least once

33. Also has a very obnoxious Herzegovinian accent, except she throws in Croatian words and it sounds even worse than whatever alien language Ilija is speaking

34. Knows the whole Gorski Vijenac book by memory

35. She told Enis their marriage reminds her of the Hasanaginica story and he crossed his arms and looked at her disapprovingly for the rest of the evening

36. She has a Red Brojanica, the silver cross on the red rope is kind of a nudge to Zahumlje / Duchy of st. Sava in the past

Anyways Herze doodle to get the idea

[primordialsoundmeditation]

🌝Under ye full Moon

Such wonderment does Loom

Let us bathe in its Light

As it shines down for us, so Bright

✨Tonight be the night of the Wolf full Moon or some call it the Old Moon. It be the first full Moon of this year. High upon this dark Winters night, “ Oh, let it shine bright. Let it shine for us so bright “

I always hold Ceremony and celebrate the Moon cycles. The full Moon refreshes and closes down the month that has been, it’s an opportunity to sit in the quiet. Go within, reflect and let go.

✨For all that has been

Has had its day

All that is ahead

Has yet to have its stay.

🌚And, the New Moon comes to awaken our hopes for the month ahead. Within its darkness is a time to consider “What will be for me” So take a little time to write down all your hopes and as you write them down commit to your hopes and truly believe they are already here. The Universe will always match your energy and only brings what it sees to be true.

Little Thoughts by Athey Thompson

Art by Tijana Lukovic

Tales of the old Forest Faeries

[fearsmagazine]

DRACULA, A COMEDY OF TERRORS, performances begin Sept. 4th, on at the New World Stages in NYC.

Drew & Dane Productions presents Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen in a limited 18-week engagement, September 4 – January 7, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening night is September 18. Directed by Gordon Greenberg (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Geffen), Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors features a company of fearless actors including Jordan Boatman (Medea at BAM, The Niceties), Arnie Burton (The 39 Steps, Peter and The Starcatcher), James Daly (Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival, Hulu’s “Letterkenny”), Ellen Harvey (How To Succeed, Present Laughter) and Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Disney’s Newsies, Tuck Everlasting). Tickets are now on sale at Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200.

(L-R) ARNIE BURTON, JORDAN BOATMAN,, ELLEN HARVEY, ANDREW KEENAN-BOLGER, JAMES DALY. Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors. photo by Maria Baranova

Bram Stoker’s horror classic gets a riotous makeover in this lightning-fast comedic reimagining that celebrates goth, camp, sexuality, and the magic of live theatre. This 90-minute, gender-bending, quick-change romp features a pansexual GenZ Count Dracula in the midst of an existential crisis. When he sets his sights on the brilliant young earth scientist Lucy Westfeldt, he meets his match for the first time – as well as a slew of other colorful characters including vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing, insect connoisseur Percy Renfield and behavioral psychiatrist Wallace Westfeldt, whose British country estate doubles as a free-range mental asylum. With a cast of brilliant quick take comedians, this Dracula will make you scream… with laughter.

(Back, L-R) KAITLYN BOYER, ARNIE BURTON, JAMES DALY, ANDREW KEENAN-BOLGER, SEAN-MICHAEL WILKINSON. (front, l-r) JORDAN BOATMAN, ELLEN HARVEY. Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors. photo by Maria Barano

“In re-reading Dracula, we were surprised and intrigued by the boldness with which Stoker, a closeted gay man in Victorian England, plays with sexuality and gender norms,” says director/co-writer Gordon Greenberg. Co-writer Steve Rosen adds “we wanted to celebrate him and, at the same time, send up his moody, broody melodrama in the spirit of some of our comedic heroes like Charles Ludlam, Monty Python and Mel Brooks.” In regards to the New World Stages production, Greenberg continues, “We are so fortunate to have assembled an extraordinary company of top-notch comedic actors whose fearlessness and hilarity make the whole experience feel like a party. We hope our Dracula gives audiences of all ages the chance to forget about their troubles and just laugh their heads off for a while.”

Playwrights STEVE ROSEN and GORDON GREENBERG. Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors. photo by Maria Baranova

Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors features scenic design by Tijana Bjelajac, costume design by Tristan Raines, lighting design by Rob Denton, original music and sound design by Victoria Deiorio, and wig and hair design by Ashley Rae Callahan. General Management is by Live Wire Theatrical. The company understudies are Kaitlyn Boyer and Sean-Michael Wilkinson. Production management is by Intuitive Production Management, and production stage management is by Morgan Holbrook. Casting is by JZ Casting. Dori Berinstein (The Prom) is Executive Producer.

JAMES DALY. Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors. photo by Maria Baranova

Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors was commissioned and originally produced by Maltz Jupiter Theatre (Andrew Kato, Producing Artistic Director/Chief Executive) in 2019. In 2020, it was adapted as a radio play for The Broadway Podcast Network with an all-star cast including Annaleigh Ashford, Laura Benanti, Alex Brightman, James Monroe Iglehart, Richard Kind, Rob McClure, Ashley Park, Christopher Sieber, and John Stamos. Productions followed at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany and Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal. A hit with critics and audiences alike, Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors has been praised by the Albany Times Union as “a raucous comedy, done with impeccable adroitness …stuffed with sight gags, wordplay and lightning-fast costume changes,” and described as “a delicious comedic romp” by Berkshire Edge. McGill Daily calls the play “a sexy retelling of the classic 1897 novel that leans into contemporary gender roles with an unprecedented comedic angle. … not to be missed.” BroadwayWorld calls it a “lightning-fast, laugh-out-loud comedy.”

Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors will play a 18-week limited engagement September 4 – January 7, at New World Stages, Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street.) Opening night is September 18. Performances are Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7PM, Friday and Saturday at 8PM, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2PM. Tickets are $99 - $119. Premium seating is available. Tickets are now on sale at Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200. For more information, visit www.DraculaComedy.com.

[maranofamilylawyers]

Family Lawyers - Why You Should Choose Blanchfield Nicholls

Family lawyers deal with a range of issues involving the breakdown of relationships. They help their clients navigate complex legal issues like property settlements and parenting arrangements. They also work to ensure that children’s interests are protected.

John focuses on high-profile civil litigation and is a recognised leader in the field. He has led several multi-billion dollar trials and argued dozens of appeals.

John R Quinn & Co

John Quinn is a partner at the firm and Family Lawyer Sydney cbd his practice on high-profile civil litigation and public interest matters. He has represented Airbnb, Uber, Gigi Hadid, and other individuals and businesses in complex litigation matters. He also leads the firm’s efforts in a number of progressive public interest matters.

He is a former co-founder of KHF and worked alongside Roberta Kaplan, best known for her Supreme Court victory that paved the way for same-sex marriage nationwide. Since joining the firm, he has navigated a major hotel developer through multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration proceedings; helped secure the release of documents related to alleged foreign lobbying by a prominent NYC law firm; and served as lead trial counsel in a libel case against a celebrity.

Previously, he was a senior partner at the largest law firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business litigation and arbitration. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was awarded the Joseph H. Beale Prize and the Addison Brown Scholarship. He is also a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has lectured at Duquesne University School of Law and is a published author. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a father and an avid mountain climber and Ironman triathlete.

Blanchfield Nicholls

Blanchfield Nicholls is one of the leading family law firms in Sydney, offering guidance and advice to individuals, couples and families during times of major life challenges. Their team of expert family lawyers is dedicated to helping clients find positive and lasting legal solutions for their family matters. They have extensive experience in all aspects of family law and can assist with any matter, regardless of its complexity or duration.

Blanchfield & Nicholls Partners Pty Ltd was founded in 2007. The company’s line of business includes providing full service legal advice. The company’s management includes Tijana Petkovic (Director), Cathie Blanchfield (Principal) and Marina Chin (Senior Associate).

Nigel was admitted as a solicitor of NSW in 1990 and in England and Wales in 2004 and has practised exclusively in family law since then, representing clients from all walks of life. He is a recognised specialist in complex and private funded family law matters and is a founding member of the Central Sydney Collaborative Family Law Forum. He is also a mediator and trainer in collaborative practice.

John Quinn

Having a strong Legal advisor Sydney with your spouse can help you through a difficult separation or divorce. You can even reach a peaceful resolution by working with a family law lawyer. A good family lawyer will help you make the best decisions for yourself and your children. They will also work hard to resolve your issues and ensure that you are not stuck with a bad outcome.

The firm’s lawyers specialize in complex parenting matters, property settlement and spousal maintenance. They have extensive experience and are committed to their clients’ success. They are highly rated by both their peers and clients. They offer a personalized approach and focus on meeting the needs of each client.

John is an attorney who has been hailed as a “master strategist” by American Lawyer and has helped many clients navigate complicated litigation issues. He has a wide range of expertise and is known for his commitment to diversity in the legal profession. He has also served on several amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court. He is an avid mountain climber and Ironman triathlete, and is a

father of five. He is also an advocate for contemporary art and owns a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review.

[epicurioushippo]

11.18.2023 - Sipping Splendor: Celebrating National Apple Cider Day

Image by Tijana Drndarski on Unsplash “He that drinks his Cyder alone, let him catch his Horse alone.” Benjamin Franklin Embracing the Essence of Autumn As the leaves paint the landscape with hues of red and gold, and a crisp chill fills the air, it’s time to raise a glass to the essence of autumn – apple cider. National Apple Cider Day, celebrated annually on November 18th, invites us to…

[celias-archieve]

— Kit Herondale, for @astoriaamalfoyy

“I could slay with my deadly sense of humor and wicked charm.”

Join the celebration!

[thescarletgang]

Congrats!! 😍💛💛

Can I have 👀 & ☀️? 💛

Thank you!!!

👀 for my first impression of you 

I think I found your blog during your celeb and I checked it out and I was like, ‘wow! great writing! wow! amazing edits! and I just had to follow you

☀️  for a blog rate

Url : don’t get it | omg omg omg | LoVe iT!!! | Who did you kill for that one?!!?!

Header : meh| *hearty eyes* | that’s freaking GoRgeOuS!! | We’re switching RN!!

Theme : oooh | nice!! | I love it so much!! | THAT IS AWESOME!!

Content : not my fandoms | AMAZING!! | Love the content!! | How do you come up with all of it?!!?!

Overall : 9/10

Additional Comment : Omg! Your blog is so amazing! All your content is so awesome! Love your blog💙

Join the celebration!

[oscar-fairchild]

CONGRATS!! You deserve more!! 😍💛💛💛 Can I have ⭐️ ( Nina Zenik, Zoya Nazyalensky, Inej Ghafa, quote; “Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.”), ☀️ and 🌙? 💛

⭐️ to join my literature family

You’ve been added as Nina Zenik!

☀️ for a handwritten compliment

🌙 for a pic of one of my dogs

Dot 💞

[youve-cath-to-be-kitten-me]

Congratulations!! 💜💜💜🎉 Can I have 😄💛✨?

Thank you, Tijana! ❤️

😁 - Random Thingy on my phone!

💛 - Why I followed you!

I’m pretty sure I followed you right after I established you were my bestie lmao. Besides that, you’re a great TSC blog and super nice on top of that, so of course I had to follow!

✨ - Blog Compliment!

Tijana Tijana Tijana your blog is GORGEOUS. It’s so prettyyyyyyy like the header and icon go SO WELL together. On top of that, you seem to find all the best fics and reblog them for everyone to find! Also, you’re super nice and give me so many ideas for TSC fics! Thank you!

[womansart]

Mabon Celebration by Tijana Lukovic

[cracowartweek]

Cracow Art Week KRAKERS 2020: Sztuka pojęcie otwarte

18 - 25.10.2020

PROGRAM GŁÓWNY

Wystawy (jeśli nie ma osobnego opisu) dostępne w godzinach: 16.00 – 18.00 poniedziałek 19.10. – piątek 23.10. 11.00 – 18.00 sobota 24.10. – niedziela 25.10.

SEKCJA MIASTO

Apteka Janicki Gallery Crash test, Alek Janicki, Formacja HiQ, Antoni Gralak

Art Agenda Nova Wszyscy jesteśmy terroryst(k)ami, Łukasz Surowiec

ARTzona Ośrodka Kultury im. C. K. Norwida ARTYSTA / ARTYSTKA NA CO DZIEŃ, Marek Basiul, Dominika Bobulska, Michał Bratko, Grażyna Brylewska, Marek Chlanda, Stanisław Cholewa, Beata Długosz, Agnieszka Dutka, Robert Kuśmirowski, Maria Kwiecińska, Agnieszka Łukaszewska, Krzysztof Marchlak, Małgorzata Markiewicz, Michał Misiak, Marta Niedbał, Małgorzata Niespodziewana-Rados, Kinga Nowak, Ernest Ogórek, Alicja Panasiewicz, Adam Panasiewicz, Jakub Pierzchała, Barbara Pilch, Anna Sadowska, Wioletta Sowa, Piotr Tołoczko, Małgorzata Wielek-M, Wojciech Wierzbicki, Olga Ząbroń

BIELEC Art, Dom Fotografii i Malarstwa, Galeria Sztuki i Studio Fotograficzne BIELEC Art – 120 lat rodzinnej tradycji fotograficznej

Cafe Dym Nowe gry barwne. Prace na papierze, Magdalena Kraszewska

Cricoteka Pierwszy Zmysł, Anna Barańska, Małgorzata Gorzelewska-Namiota, Marta Koguc, Zuzanna Łapka, Aneta Misiaszek, Jolanta Nowaczyk, Martyna Pinkowska, Hanna Rozpara, Martyna Rzepecka, Elwira Sztetner, Olga Ząbroń

CSW Wiewiórka Performatywny koncert pt. „Muzyka dla Ducha”, Big Band Drożdżowe Bąbelki w składzie: Piotr Lutyński – skrzypce, Kacper Iwo Matuszewski – perkusja, Grzegorz Kossowski – gitara elektryczna, Fryderyk Lutyński – gitara elektryczna, piano, Radost Stephanides – ukulele, Adam rzepecki, Murzyn – gitara Basowa, Bartolomeo Koczenasz – vj

Elementarz dla mieszkańców miast Two ribbons engaged in an aerial combat, Maria Loboda

Wydział Intermediów ASP & Elementarz dla mieszkańców miast Michał Łukasz | Anomalia, Michał Łukasz, Anomalia

Wydział Sztuki w Mieście 2020 Węzły. Wiedze niekonwencjonalne, Iza Szostak, Tomasz Węgorzewski, Maciej Szczęśniak, Sara Piotrowska wraz z goścmi – Magdaleną Lazar, Marysią Lewandowską (Women’s Audio Archive), Jasminą Metwaly, Jakubem Słomkowskim, Wiolettą Sową, Karoliną Szafran i innymi

F.A.I.T Otwórz usta, puść mi oczko, Katarzyna Olma, Joanna Tochman, Krzysztof Grzybacz

FRESZ GALLERY Wszystko i nic więcej, Kinga Popiela

GALERIA 2 OKNA MUSZTARDA PRZED OBIADEM – PAKIET KORZYŚCI, Pińczyńska Magdalena, Jurkowska Magdalena, Ochman Patrycja, Ochman Paulina, Westrych Tomasz, Sarnat Łukasz, Kapela Wojciech, Wójcik Tomasz, Braun Marek, Szumiec Paweł, Wojtaś Krzysztof, Michał Zakrzewski

Galeria ASP w Krakowie, Galeria Promocyjna Czas i piana Wystawa zbiorowa 30 artystów związanych z ASP w Krakowie.

Galeria Baszta, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki Astral Data Transmission, Aleksandra Liput

Galeria Domu Norymberskiego Lady Dada, Lena Berg (NO), Nadia Bournoville (SE/DE), Abigail Child (USA), Daniel Cojocaru (RO/DE), Zuzanna Janin, Bartek Jarmoliński, Monika Mausolf, Kaja Pilch, Bianka Rolando, Sarah Schönfeld (DE), Magdalena Zając

Galeria Dyląg Wydobyty. Marian Ozimek – prace na papierze z lat 50., Marian Ozimek

Galeria Dystans Na krawędzi, Dorota Goczał

Galeria i! Ferrofluctuations 2.0. Franciszek Araszkiewicz, Beata Malinowska-Petelenz

Galeria Kolekcjoner Wieloformy, Piotr Pasiewicz

Galeria Off-Frame TA | Ewa Kulka, Ewa Kulka

Galeria Off-Frame Mitologie, Agnieszka Bartak-Lisikiewicz

Galeria Olympia SSSSSS, Tomek Baran, Jagoda Dobecka, Maria Gogola, Krzysztof Grzybacz, Bartek Jurek, Tosia Kiliś, Ola Korzelska, Maja Krysiak-Podsiadlik, Julia Kwatro, Sara Piotrowska, Łukasz Podgórni, Marta Sala, Wojtek Stępień, Maciek Szczęśniak, Wiktoria Walendzik

Galeria Pryzmat siwek2siwek Granica czasu. Nowa wizja społeczeństwa w oparciu o sztukę dwóch pokoleń artystów: ojca i córki, Iwona Siwek – Front

Galeria Trzecie Oko Lofoty – Moje powroty, Andrzej Rolka, Kai Rolka

Galeria Wydziału Malarstwa ASP w Krakowie PSY, Piotr Bujak, Artur „Gepas” Gierlich, Bogumił Książek, Edward Linde-Lubaszenko (jako gość specjalny), Mikołaj Małek, Andrzej Pilichowski-Ragno, Michał Sroka, Dominik Stanisławski, Łukasz Surowiec, Grzegorz Sztwiertnia, Łukasz Trzciński, Tomasz Wlaźlak

Galeria Zalubowski Recykling opowiadań bez puenty, Magdalena Daniec

Hotel Cracovia Vistula is burning, Wystawa międzynarodowa w ramach projektu „Nature is my Homeland”, Zuza Banasińska, Lea Gudrich, Johannes Vogl, Mario Kolaric, Emilija Radojičić, Luka Cvetković, Tijana Petrović, Davor Gromilović, Michalina Bigaj, Katarzyna Skrobiszewska, Magdalena Lazar

Jak Zapomnieć Chałwa Wielkiej Polsce, Arek Dec, Karolina Jarzębak, Tomek Nowak

Jan Fejkiel Gallery Wzmożona obserwacja, Monika Szydłowska

Nasz Ogródek Nasz Ogródek Odsłona 4, Bogusław Bachorczyk, Bartosz Czarnecki, Karolina Jabłońska, Marcin Janusz, Jerzy Kosałka, Magdalena Kościsz, Tomasz Kręcicki, Katarzyna Kukuła, Agata Kus, Bartek Leśniak, Krzysztof Maniak, Aleksandra Młynarczyk-Gemza, Joanna Rolicka, Filip Rybkowski, Adam Rzepecki, Justyna Smoleń, Michał Sroka, Radosław Szlęzak, Przemysław Wideł, Małgorzata Wielek-Mandrela, Monika Drożyńska, Ewelina Gumienna, Władysław Markowski, Paweł Matyszewski, Thomas May, Gosia Mirga, Ewa Pasternak-Kapera, Michał Sosna, Wojciech Zasadni, Bettina Bereś, Piotr Kowalski, Maja Krysiak-Podsiadnik, Małgorzata Markiewicz, Paulina Ołowska, Kamil Sosin, Konrad Żukowski

OPCJA Galeria Wydziału Intermediów ADHEZJA, Ernest Borowski, Zuzanna Bodzoń, Estera Gałuszka, Aleksandra Huk, Michał Menkarski, Dominik Setlak, Mateusz Stanuszek

Pamoja Goods Vivien Poly „Jathilan” oraz praca grupowa „Remedy”, Vivien Poly oraz Ania Batko i Kola Śliwinska, Dobrawa Borkała, Przemek Branas, Agnieszka Brzeżańska, Ewa Ciepielewska, Iza Koczanowska, Diana Lelonek, Maria Łoboda, Małgorzata Markiewicz, Krzysztof Mężyk, Bianka Rolando, Łukasz Stokłosa, Stach Szumski, Iwan Wijono, Paulina Włostowska i Michał Szuwar, Natalia Załuska, Adam Gruba

PAON Lustereczko…, No_Poc_No_Chat

Potencja Nightwatching, Joanna Fluder, Ksenia Gryckiewicz, Karolina Jabłońska, Kamil Kukla, Dominika Olszowy

Pracownia Otwarta 25 lat malarstwa w Otwartej Pracowni, Ignacy Czwartos, Jacek Dłużewski, Wojciech Głogowski, Piotr Jargusz, Koji Kamoji, Krzysztof Klimek, Lech Kolasiński, Juliusz Kosin, Dariusz Mlącki, Olga Pawłowska, Beata Stankiewicz, Sławomir Toman

Pracownia Petera Bogatki Spotkania w pracowni Petera Bogatki

Raven Czar Sławy, Jerzy Tyburski

Shefter Gallery Green Pleasure, Natalia Kopytko, Krzysztof Marchlak, Małgorzata Wielek-M

Shefter Gallery Golden Years: Are You Ready?, Dawid Czycz

Skład Solny Zdrojowisko, Agata Kadenacy, Stanisław Koba, Diana Dyjak Montes de Oca, Bartolomeo Koczenasz, Marco Migliorisi, Maria Wasilewska, Andrzej Wasilewski

Szafirowa Pracownia St. Wyspiańskiego Świat-ły, Jakub Pierzchała, Maria Pyrlik, Adam Panasiewicz, Alicja Panasiewicz

UFO Art Gallery ENTROPY, Maria Ciborowska, Marcin Dymek, Radim Koros, Krzysztof Marchlak, Grzegorz Siembida, Marta Antoniak, Julius Reichel

Widna Znowu jedna z tych cholernych bestii, Bezimienny

Zofia Weiss Gallery VR Galeria – Muzeum Młodych z Krakowskiej Akademii, Weronika Adamska, Damian Bąk, Sylwia Brzyszczyk, Magdalena Chmielek, Joanna Kałdan, Dariusz Milczarek, Miroslav Mlkvik, Oliwia Smoleń, Anna Tajak, Agnieszka Wielewska

ZPAF Galeria TWOONE NEXT, Grzegorz Zygier

SEKCJA LABORATORIUM

Galeria Floriańska 22 Biologiczna Strefa Zgniotu, Betina Bożek, Grzegorz Bugaj, Zofia Hyje,k Kamil Kukla, Pierre Matsas, Julia Siuda, Weronika Szwarnóg, Dariusz Vasina, Bartosz Zaskórski, Piotr Zięba

Galeria Szaber Marek, tęsknimy za Tobą!, Ewelina Galla, Wiktoria Kieniksman, Mateusz Kordas, Michał Malinski, Sebastian Mikoś, Olha Synyshyn, Małgorzata Wowczak, Paweł Zięba, Jagoda Czarnowska

Galeria Szara Kamienica CELEBRITY, ArTVstka, Nikodem Baiser, Martyna Borowiecka, Karina Gorzkowska, Justyna Górowska, Krzysztof Grzybacz, Zofia Krawiec, Edmund Krempiński, Jana Moroz, Katarzyna Olma, Maja Szerel, Joanna Tochman, Daniel_a Weiss, Konrad Żukowski

Jak Zapomnieć 2 Green Gay from Far Away, Arek Dec, Maja Gomulska, Karolina Jarzębak, Tomek Nowak, Gabriela Sułkowska + zaproszeni artyści

Kolektyw artystyczny I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS, Natalia Kopytko, Bartek Węgrzyn, Tomasz Bugajski, Marcin Sipiora

Muzeum Farmacji Re-Kolekcje z Czarnym Zakładem w Muzeum Farmacji, Zuzanna Bartoszek, Kacper Bożek, Mariusz Czeżyk, Magda Hueckel, Robert Kuśmirowski, Krzysztof Marchlak, no_pic_no_chat, Aleksandra Waliszewska, Olga Winiarczyk, Mia Wróblewska,Natalia Kopytko, Czarny Zakład: Przemysław Wideł i Małgorzata Wielek-M

PAON Wystawa rolna | Imperium Ducha, Aleksandra Korzelska, Piotr Puldzian Płucienniczak, Łukasz Podgórni

Piotrowska / Szczęśniak Chorus, Sara Piotrowska, Maciej Szczęśniak, zaproszeni chórzyści

ZWROTNICA 𝔚𝔢𝔦𝔩 𝔰𝔦𝔠𝔥 𝔷𝔴𝔢𝔦 𝔎ö𝔫𝔦𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔢𝔫 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔫, 𝔪𝔲𝔰𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔫 𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔩𝔢 ℌ𝔢𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔟𝔢𝔫, ℨ𝔢𝔪𝔰𝔱𝔞 𝔅𝔯𝔲𝔫𝔥𝔦𝔩𝔡𝔶, Gabriela Rosenzweig

SEKCJA FRINGE

Fashion Startup Gallery | och koncept Aberracje, Patrycja Ochman-Tarka, Paulina Ochman

Galeria CONTENT ART Fleeting Glances / Ulotne Spojrzenia Zygmunt Kleszcz, Zygmunt Kleszcz

Galeria CONTENT ART FUSION Kamil Stańczak, Kamil Stańczak

GALERIA M37A PRZESTRZEŃ METAMORFOZY – projekt on line, Anna Sołtysik, Bartłomiej Domagała, Ewa Maria Romaniak

Kąt Kultury Vacancy, Patryk Czarkowski, Marta Kawiorska, Dariusz Milczarek, Jan Podgórski, Tomasz Prymon, Aleksandra Słowińska, Stanisław Słowiński, Kinga Trzepla, Joanna Warchoł, Bartłomiej Węgrzyn, Adam Wsiołkowski, Sebastian Wywiórski, Olga Ząbroń

Klub Alchemia DOT, Bożena Knecht

KREAKTYWNA #uczta, Kinga Burek, Joanna Kot, Aleksandra Kozuń, Natalia Maria Małecka, Klaudyna Masłowska, Mariia Mytrofanova, Piotr Mierzwa, Julia Podczerwińska, Marcin Szulc, TY – jako uczestnik

NAGA Gallery Wcielenie, Iwona Demko, Katarzyna Kukuła, Małgosia Rozenau, Śom,Wioletta Jania, Ksenia Gryckiewicz, Ola Młynarczyk Gemza, Agata Szymanek, Tyśka Samborska, Marysia Michoń, Majka Natalia, Kat Hanula, Sandra Bąk, Jagoda Woźny,Elżbieta Suchecka, Maja Krysiak

Momentum Gallery Mot/Her KC, FA KOLEKTYW – Anna Wańtuch, Filip Wańtuch

Mechanoff. Spokrewnieni, Weronika Poje, Konrad Miklaszewski

Sarego 10 Berlin calling, Angelika Wojas

Galeria Ciele-sny Ciele-sny, Natalia Spyrka, Danuta Turkiewicz, Karolina Korecka

Księgowość Polska Voyage with friends, Karolina Oczkowska, Dominika Śniegocka, Basia Karpiel, Anna Różycka, Mikołaj Bernsdorff, Radim Koros, Sabina Woźnica, Jan Kutryba, Dominika Wojtylak, Natalia Dziurny, Johannes Mundinger, Bartolomeo Koczenasz, Iryna Kot, Olek Rajewski, Spajder Jeruzalem, Jolanta Gmur, Michał Róg, Leona Iwańska, Aleksandra Wierzbińska, Jakub Tramecourt, Saren, Halina Mrożek, Mateusz Jote Morski, Raspazjan Someart, Marcin FRM Wierzchowski, Ramol, Maciej Klich, Szatiman, Izabela Kmieć, Marcin Rajewski, Dawid Wołek, Michał Bielawski, Magdalena Tryba, Weronika Wielecka, Shrooms i inni

Yegorov Gallery Prezentacja artystów galerii, Monika Chlebek, Krzysztof Grzybacz, Matúš Pius Niemiec, Beata Stankiewicz, Łukasz Stokłosa, Jan Eustachy Wolski, Konrad Żukowski

Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Van Rij 3+1, Paweł Orłowski, Adam Bakalarz, Lubomir Tomaszewski, Erwina Ziomkowska

PROGRAM TOWARZYSZĄCY

WYDARZENIA TRWAJĄCE CAŁY KRAKERS 2020

Cricoteka | ul. Nadwiślańska 2-4, poziom -1  | wystawa Między-czas

Cricoteka | ul. Nadwiślańska 2-4, poziom 3 | wystawa Marek Chlanda Cargo

Muzeum Etnograficzne w Krakowie | pl. Wolnica 1 | TRANSmisje –  zaproszenie do eksperymentu percepcyjno-interpretacyjnego

Muzeum Sztuki i Techniki Japońskiej Manggha, ul. M. Konopnickiej 26  | Galeria Europa – Daleki Wschód | wystawa Araki / Tsujimura. Na granicy cienia

Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury| al. Jana Pawła II 232 | Biała Galeria CENTRUM | Jubileuszowa wystawa malarstwa Małgorzaty Jagiełło

Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury | al. Jana Pawła II 232 | Czarna Galeria CENTRUM | Wystawa obiektów, fotografii Bogny Becker. Wystawie towarzyszy film biograficzny

Muzeum Sztuki i Techniki Japońskiej Manggha | ul. M. Konopnickiej 26  | wystawa Drzewek Bonsai

KRA 2020 Krakowskie Rezydencje Artystyczne 2020 | ul. Stefana Batorego 6a

Muzeum Krakowa | Kolekcja Otwarta działanie online | film

Muzeum Sztuki Współczesnej w Krakowie MOCAK | działanie online | konkurs, w ramach którego do wygrania będą publikacje MOCAK-u

MICET – Muzeum Starego Teatru |  ul. Jagiellońska 1 | Projekt ZALUPOWANI – kolekcja w budowie (odsłona III)

INFLATALES. Stalowe opowieści Oskara Zięty | wystawa | Galeria Architektury GAGA – Małopolski Ogród Sztuki | ul. Rajska 12

Skład solny | ul. Na Zjeździe 8 | Polish Paradise | wystawa

18.10

Oprowadzanie po wystawach Kolekcji MOCAK-u z przewodniczką

Wystawy – „Stary Rzepecki patrzy na młodego Rzepeckiego” Adama Rzepeckiego i „Sprawę Stanisława Pyjasa” Doroty Nieznalskiej

20.10

Wojna o pisuar. Kto był autorem przełomowego dzieła w sztuce XX wieku | dyskusja online

Spis rekwizytów: zabawy improwizowane na przedmiotach

21.10

Artcollecting: Rafał Kamecki

Spotkanie z zespołem kuratorskim towarzyszące wystawie “TA” Ewy Kulki

22.10

Magdalena Daniec Recykling opowiadań bez puenty | spotkanie i oprowadzanie z artystką

Magdalena Daniec Recykling opowiadań bez puenty | spotkanie i oprowadzanie z artystką

Iga Bałos. Wszystko widzę jako…prawo, czyli czy filmy o sztuce są o prawie? | wykład online

Spis rekwizytów: zabawy improwizowane na przedmiotach

23.10

4Seasons | Krakowskie Rezydencje Artystyczne 2020

Fałszerze i złodzieje | spacer dla dorosłych i młodzieży | live online

24.10

Nic z czegoś, czy coś z niczego? | Szymon Kobylarz | artist talk

Oprowadzanie muzyczne po wystawie Dawida Czycza „Golden Years: Are You Ready?”

EXTRA MUROS Józefina Chętko (Lou Cantor / Alfabet) & Piotrowska/Szczęśniak atelier moderuje Romuald Demidenko

Performance audiowizualny formacji Big Data Collective

25.10

Ufo na Kazimierzu. Spacer o muralach kazimierskich dla Dzieci z Rodzicami

Wszystko widzę jako sztukę | warsztaty dla dzieci 6-12 lat

Dom Norymberski | oprowadzanie kuratorskie

PROGRAM PARTNERSKI

Mandragora i ziemniaki:

Tomasz Kręcicki i Sebastian Tröger

Wernisaż 24 października 2020

[admelioraii]

New year

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash

How do you want to spend the new year? Be shot at by a water gun, or sleepover in a cemetery? Maybe you simply prefer to wear all plain white clothes and colourful underwear?

Pick your choice here comes some odd new year's celebrations and a reminder of ancient celebrations of which some are still celebrated today. 

In the past gift giving season didn't stop at Christmas!

Handing out gifts  as gilded coins or nuts was an old roman ritual. You could also give eggs for fertility; a Persian practice.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash 

Food

In Chile its lentils. In Spain grapes, 12 to be exact.Things as doughnuts, pretzels and other ring shaped foods  represent coming to full circle.

Other customs  as in Egypt suggest that you should eat something white for the new year (to get a ‘’clean’’ start to the new year.)

Songkran

Brazil - underwear attire.

While some of us wear our most shimmery dresses for new year ‘s eve parties, Brazilians take it much simpler.The dress code is for all white attire but the colour of your underwear is supposed to determine your luck in the upcoming year.

Want to find love - pick pink underwear.

Financial security- wear yellow underwear.

For good health - wear green underwear.

While the Thai new year isn't until April 13, their celebratory festival, called songkran, is just too good to pass up, a water fight! Yes a full on water fight where major roads are blocked off and Thai locals - and as you can imagine loads of visitors - use buckets, fire hoses, water guns, and even elephants to throw water at each other. Inner child rejoices. 

In Chile - a cemetery sleepover.

In the town of talca, Chile, locals add extra spirit to new year’s eve by celebrating the holiday in the cemetery, surrounded by all of their deceased loved ones.

Legend has it this tradition started with a little breaking and entering but it’s now a welcomed celebration that draws locals in by the thousands.

Photo by Tijana Drndarski on Unsplash

Ancient new year’s celebrations.

In ancient times the new year's celebrations were interconnected with vernal equinoxes (the spring equinox )and were thus celebrated in march.

Following the first new moon after the vernal equinox in late March, the Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia would honor the rebirth of the natural world with a multi-day festival called Akitu. 

Akitu dates back to around 2000 BC .During this celebration statues of the gods were paraded not to forget the unusual ritual of humiliation.The target was no one else but the king himself.He was stripped of his royal regalia.A high priest drag him by his ears in the hope of making him cry.If royal tears were shed the kings rule was extended.

The roman new year originally corresponded with the vernal equinox, but for the Romans the month of January carried a special significance.Its name  derived from the two faced deity Janus.Janus was the opening and the closing, the new and the old, the beginning and the end.

Consequently the Romans celebrated their new year giving offerings to Janus this day was seen as setting the stage for the next twelve months. Friends and neighbors exchanged well wishes and gifts as figs and honey with each other. Romans always worked at least part of new year's day, idleness was a bad omen for the rest of the year.

Photo by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash

Finally one of the oldest traditions still celebrated today is Chinese new year, which is believed to have originated over 3000 years ago. It began as a way of celebrating the new beginnings of the spring, but later became entangled with myth and legend. 

Nian (the Chinese word for Year ) prayed on villagers every new year. In order to frighten the hungry beast , the villagers took to decorating their homes with red trimmings, burning bamboo and making loud noises. The ruse worked, and ever since that is how the new year is celebrated in China.

Festivities last for 15 days.Following the invention of gunpowder in the 10th century, the Chinese were also the first to ring in the new year with fireworks.Chinese new year is still based on a lunar calendar and the holiday typically falls in late January or early February.

Nowruz is still celebrated in Iran and other parts of the middle east (Asia)Traditions include feasts, exchanging presents with family, friends and neighbors, lighting bonfires, dyeing eggs, and sprinkling water to symbolize creation. Nowruz has evolved considerably but many ancient traditions (as use of bonfires, coloured eggs, ) remains still a part of the modern holiday, which is observed by an estimated 300 million people every year.

However and whenever you decide to celebrate the new year we wish you a prosperous, delightful and blessed one!!!!

[eurofan78]

Tajči celebrates the 30th anniversary of "Hajde da ludujemo" through a special rendition with various artists and minds behind the mythical song

May 5th marked 30 years since the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) took center stage in Yugoslavia (present-day Croatia) for the first -and only- time after the country’s victory in 1989 with Riva‘s "Rock Me"

The 35th Eurovision Song Contest edition was held in Zagreb and Tajči defended the home colours with her epic entry "Hajde da ludujemo", which achieved an honourable 6th place in the competition. The song went on to become a massive hit in the Balkans and is considered as a classic ESC entry in the former Yugoslav republics

To celebrate 30 years of "Hajde da ludujemo", its interpreter, Tajči, recorded a new version in which various artists collaborate. Among the artists who collaborated in the video we find Alka Vuica, singer, songwriter and author of the song, and Tijana Dapčević, who went on to represent North Macedonia in 2014. In addition, they all recreate the characteristic dance of the Croatian singer

The so-called Yugoslav Marilyn Monroe can now boast, 30 years later, of keeping "Hajde da ludujemo" as one of the most emblematic and remembered songs of Yugoslavia in the ESC, and one of the topics most preferred by Eurofans

Yugoslavia no longer exists, but Tajči, who now lives in the United States, where she has lived for 28 years, still is rocking and rolling

[futurewriter2000]

Hey Tijana ♥️since it's my birthday in a few days I just wanna request a Sirius x reader imagine where the reader brought him home to celebrate her birthday and the New Year together 💕pure fluff thanks I LOVE YOU MUAH p.s.: don't reveal my age pls I just wanna keep it to myself thanks :)

fluff? What is fluff? me not familiar wit dis wort...ME KNOW ANGST! yES, yes...me loves angst... but hufsbahlebf I kind don’t like this request...can you like send another. 

[whenitsdarkweilluminate]

Kyiv 2017 – Semi-Final 2

Host: Ukraine Slogan: “Celebrate Diversity” Participants: 42 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - separated) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 5 + host General Overview: For whatever reason, the 2nd semi-final of 2017 isn't accessible on the Eurovision YouTube channel. I know that all of the 2016-2019 contests are Geo-blocked in the US and Canada, but this one doesn't seem to be available in any region. So I'm having to piece it together through clips. The show starts with a recap of the 10 qualifiers from SF1. Then, after the usual host introductions, Oleksandr and Volodymyr bring out a sopilka and an accordion to play Eurovision hits; while a traditionally-dressed group of musicians and choir join in to help them. The interval act stars Apache Crew, which involves a troupe of kids dancing around a school playground, with hopscotch squares on the floor, and playground equipment on screen. The music goes from an eerie chant to a modern beat to drumming to “Wild Dances”-style horns. Bulgaria wins this semi-final and it's not even close. They have a 1.7x lead over Hungary. And with 84% of the maximum possible score, “Beautiful Mess” is the second biggest semi-final winner ever after “Heroes”. Although to be fair, the rest of this year's top 5 were all in SF1. Needless to say, Bulgaria tops both the jury and the televote here. In other news, the juries saved Austria and Denmark at the expense of Switzerland and Estonia. While the public saved Romania and Croatia (ie. the more campy entries) in exchange for Serbia and Malta. The televoters actually gave Malta 0 points!

× Serbia: Tijana Bogićević - In Too Deep The unlucky 11th placer of SF2, missing out by just 3 points. Maybe “In Too Deep” was too underrated to be noticed. It's one of my qualifiers though. The chorus is catchy, the production has its quirks, and Tijana sounds like she's been tragically swept off her feet; particularly in the chorus. The lyrics describe how she fell so hard for someone that she's panicking about it. She didn't realize it was happening. She feels defenseless. She has no control over it. There's no escape. Musically, the verses move in a tugging motion by repeating this cawing effect, alongside wood clinks, as well as finger snaps midway through. It's like hitting the left arrow key over and over. The beat stops in the pre-chorus, allowing the chorus to launch off with a “WON'T SOMEBODY SAVE ME TONIGHT” hook, as a soft drum 'n' bass production flows in. The chorus has a sinking in water feeling. Later, the bridge switches to dramatic slams, backed by rattling percussion and some “whoa-oh”s from the backing; as a dancer appears next to Tijana. There's also a sad violin moment before the final chorus. The stage, meanwhile, starts with dark lighting and a letterboxed aspect ratio until the first chorus. Then the screens display water bubbles and people submerged (in love). While the floor shows water splashes. ✓ Austria: Nathan Trent - Running on Air A big jury favourite that received 0 televote points at the Grand Final. I'm siding with the public on this one. “Running on Air” is a carefree, laid back song, where Nathan brings an unflappable attitude, but it gets under my skin. There's a smug, self-satisfied vibe running through this. The implied “ass” bleep is cringe too. And the song doesn't “Run on Air” at all. Instead, it moves at a casual pace and remains in a chill mood. The instrumental starts minimal with just an acoustic guitar and finger snaps. Then the chorus introduces a series of percussion stomps; culminating in a “dun dun.. dun.. dun” sequence after the “I don't care” line. Then the second verse inserts a pause to let the “You can try to put me in a box” stand out. While the percussion becomes more defined in the second chorus. After the bridge, the production quiets to set up the finale, with some “oh-whoa”s towards the end. In the lyrics, Nathan explains how he needed some time to grow and meet the right people. Now he feels motivated, resilient, and unconcerned about the future. He also advises people to get off their (ass). As I said, it sounds smug. As for the stage, there's a giant crescent moon prop and misty clouds, since he's "on air". × F.Y.R. Macedonia: Jana Burčeska - Dance Alone That's 5 non-qualifiers in a row for North Macedonia. This one gives me Kylie Minogue vibes. Jana sings the verses in a similar seductive tone, but her live vocals sound processed, which throws me off. Mostly because the chorus vocal is different, although the backing overrules that part. Jana's seductive choreography doesn't quite connect either. Anyways, the song is about... dancing alone. Or more specifically, enjoying the freedom of being alone. Where Jana can ditch her hair and makeup. Until the bridge, where she asks someone to take her out. Which suggests she dances alone because her partner is unwilling. Musically, the song opens by moving through a tunnel, leading to a slam. Then the chorus comes first, as Jana's silhouette is shown. Following this, the light turns on and the gargling, glitchy dance synths take over, alongside some '80s drums. Jana also pauses after each verse line, so that “HEY” responses or finger snaps can fill the space. The chorus then gets the energy moving. It inserts a double tap thing after she says “I'm lost in the sound”, while the backing shouts “GO GO” ad libs. Later on, there's an additional “I let it go, I-I-I let it go, wild” post-chorus, where the beat sort of rolls over. And the bridge turns quiet so Jana can speak personally. The song is a harmless bop. On stage, the LED screen shows city skyscrapers, and the panel screens reappear. × Malta: Claudia Faniello - Breathlessly The juries will support Malta no matter what huh? Malta was a “jury qualifier” every single year before 2022. But I don't think 2017 needed to continue that streak. The song's message rubs me the wrong way. Claudia is basically saying that she's letting her partner “win” the fight just to make this relationship work. She calls it a “game”. She waits at their doorstep for the “storm” (argument) to begin, feeling tired, cold and breathless from the walk. But it reads like a lack of self-respect. And she's putting too much effort into this (an “acrobat for love”). She seems confident it'll work though. Maybe it is her fault, the context isn't given. Regardless, the song is still pretty boring. It begins as a slow-moving piano ballad, featuring a couple of whistle sounds. Then the strings emerge in the chorus alongside soft footsteps. While the second verse adds the drums to liven things up. But the first half of the song is so sluggish and the second half doesn't lead to anything worthwhile. The melody is plain too. The backing vocalists don't elevate it much. And there's just not much going on here. The LED screen, meanwhile, shows a blue image of Claudia's face singing along. ✓ Romania: Ilinca feat. Alex Florea - Yodel It! “Yodel It!” walks that fine line between catchy and annoying. I'd say it does a better job than the other novelty entries this year. The pair brings fun, friendly, uplifting energy and they have great chemistry. Alex even jumps on top of cannon at one point. The staging is based on the “make love not war” slogan. The song likewise begins with marching band drums and toy soldiers on screen, as Alex hypes up the crowd. The intro then finishes on a splash sound. Whereas a casual drum beat carries the verses, as Alex raps in a flow similar to “Hall of Fame” by the Script. Here, he encourages people to show their true selves. Ilinca also interjects with her goat vocal to inspire positivity, and to add a “bring it on, bring it on” hook. Somehow these two styles work together. The chorus then switches to a stronger, propelling drum beat, as Ilinca unleashes her yodels and Alex ad libs in between. It's done in a very catchy way. They also bounce on the spot during it. The yodelling is camp but it represents acting freely. The bridge then stops the beat, where Ilinca loses the goat voice and feels turmoil over her 9-5 desk job. The stress escalates right after – the strings grow, the percussion blasts like cannons, and the guitars jab. Throughout the song, there's colourful images on screen; like clouds, butterflies, crumbled paper, and the song title. Fun fact: this song was originally offered to Timebelle as the Swiss entry. ✓ Netherlands: O'G3NE - Lights and Shadows The Netherlands take a break from the country genre and recruit JESC 2007 alum and The Voice of Holland 2014 winners O'G3NE. The trio of sisters provide impressive harmonies here, right from the a capella opening of “cry.. no more CRY NO MORE”. As well as their verse responses (ie. “Here in the shadow”), their vocal runs (“walk that road”; “shadooOOWS”; “you'll be FREEEE”), and the “WHY YOUUUUUU” transition. Moreover, the lyrics are meaningful. The song is directed towards someone experiencing depression. The line “You are so much more to me than the one who carries all the burden” gets to me. The girls sound empathetic and caring, but they're also resolute about facing it. They want to make a change. So they decree to not cry anymore. While in the bridge, they find it unfair how such a good person is so unhappy with themselves. The “Lights and Shadows” metaphor is about how light can't illuminate every space. The instrumental is a little plain, but it creates enough impact. The first verse contains a hint of guitar and inconsistent percussion steps. Then the chorus drum pattern punches along, ending on a short rise-and-fall thing. While the second verse further adds wood-clanging. There's also an electric guitar release leading into the second chorus. And the last chorus changes to a crashing drum breakdown for a moment. The staging, meanwhile, is simple. The screen displays holding hands and lyrics. And the floor shows a person's figure during the “angel” lyric. ✓ Hungary: Joci Pápai - Origo “Origo” describes Joci's personal experiences of being a Romani person (who are pejoratively known as “gypsies”). They often have a negative stereotype associated with them. In the intro, Joci states that he needs this person to love who he truly is because he's suffered enough. Then he demands they leave for being prejudiced (he also raises his hand during this), and curses them forever. While in the rap verse, he explains how he can only rely on God; that people were afraid of him as a child.; and that his music represents many other people's struggles. This rap section lets him properly vent. Moreover, I love the smooth traditional instrumentation. The song starts quiet, with a few folk guitar pings as the bass-line sneaks in. Then the fiddle solo gets the song moving, as Joci plays a Cegléd water jug, and the clappy beat enters. The camera also cuts to the fiddler on the audience platform during this. The next verses use trickling hand drums. While the later choruses add a more modern synth underneath. The final chorus also returns the clappy beat. It's a catchy chorus in how it repeats the Romani chant “Jálomá lommá”. Joci's interactions with the dancer on stage are compelling too. They dance together as the pyro encircles them. She kneels before him looking upset and then he helps her up. And she wraps her hands around him at the end. ✓ Denmark: Anja Nissen - Where I Am Denmark's first qualification since they hosted. And Anja's redemption after finishing second in DMGP 2016. She also won the Voice Australia in 2014. In fact, Australia was the only country to give this televote points in the final. I mean, the composition is pretty mundane, but I think the hook is effective (“Laying down my armour, Laying down my gun!”) and Anja is a qualified vocalist. She even delivers a big note in the last chorus as the fire rains down. The song is about her wanting to remove the walls she's put up around her partner. She knew it wasn't right, but it's tough to overcome. She's making an effort though. She feels ready because this person remained in her life despite her being closed off. And they've opened up before (“I know who you are”). The line “Don't know why I do it because we're together” makes a valid point. The song starts with the backing choir exclaiming the main hook, as Anja's face comes into focus. Then the verse production uses snaps and cool-air synths, finishing with a scuttling beat that leads into the chorus, where the drums take over and the vocals intensify. It's like she's screaming this resolution out loud. It's not the most remarkable production, but it's fine. The staging is simple, where Anja performs alone, but not in an awkward way. × Ireland: Brendan Murray - Dying to Try 2017 sure has a lot of boring songs. In this one, Brendan offers a heartfelt appeal with a sensitive vocal, but the pacing is so slow. There's such long (nervous) pauses between each phrase. The song doesn't even leave room for a second verse. And once the backing choir comes in, the audio becomes too dense. The song transitions from delicate to overdone. The lyrics are fine though. In the song, Brendan suggests trying out a relationship. He reassures that he's also scared. And he recognizes that this could either succeed or fail, but he's willing to take that risk. He'll do his best, but he can't promise it'll work out. He's being realistic. On stage, Brendan stands inside of a hot air balloon, because of the “learn how to fly” lyric. I wish the balloon was floating, but I don't know if that was feasible. There's also multiple fades to black. Musically, the song begins restrained with ghostly hoots and stretched-out piano notes; followed by heartbeat pounds and a few jabs. It takes a bit for the percussion to get going. Then around the 2/3 mark, the backing overtakes the scene and the drums strengthen. Then the song returns to softness at the end. In the end, this became the 4th consecutive non-qualifier for Ireland. × San Marino: Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson - Spirit of the Night 1 whole point for Valentina's 4th appearance, and for Ralph Siegel's most recent composition. This was an obvious flop. The song isn't very dynamic – it's quite repetitive by the end of it. The title phrase is said too many times. The disco production is generic. And the back-and-forth dialogue is so cheesy. I love how the website indicates who speaks which line lol, since they do trade lines frequently. Basically, Jimmie wonders if Valentina is right for him and she replies to reassure him. He has doubts and trust issues from previous relationships. But they're done with waiting, so they decide to enjoy the night together. On stage, the pair brings some squirmy, antsy dance moves as they sing to each other with big smiles. But Valentina's dancing is quite... spontaneous. Their chemistry is too hammy to be cute. And the laughing in the bridge is too much. Otherwise, the song opens with a string roll-up. Then the verses are more intimate with heartbeat percussion. While the pre-chorus brings in the jogging disco beat to ignite the energy, featuring minor jackpot sounds, squiggles and guitar. Then the beat drops out for a clappy breakdown (not in the second chorus though). And there's multiple key changes! But the pre-chorus feels rushed and the chorus is “one note”. This is more “meh” than bad though. The “we (we) can (can)” hook is alright. ✓ Croatia: Jacques Houdek - My Friend No. It pains me that this is Croatia's best placement of the 2010s and their highest since 2006. It's also the last time they qualify until 2023. The whole concept is ridiculous. Jacques spends the song switching back and forth between English adult contemporary and Italian opera. The camera usually changes every time he switches too. He flips between these voices seamlessly, but as far as joke entries go... it's not that funny to me. In fact, the song is actually meant to be an inspirational anthem about living life. The theme is duality, since Jacques plays two different characters. In the spoken intro, he reads an Albert Einstein quote about optimism vs pessimism. He then advises seizing daily miracles. He later reveals that the miracle in question is life itself. The lyrics are pretty trite though. And he keeps calling us his friend. Musically, the song starts with violin, cello and piano. Then the clacking percussion comes in. The first verse moves at an easy pace. While the chorus employs clasping drums. Midway through, there's a sudden, vigorous violin/cello breakdown as the stage lighting goes dark. Then the overwrought backing choir intensifies the second verse, where the clasping drums are used dramatically. The chorus melody is kinda catchy, but this song is so annoying by the end of it. The screen, meanwhile, shows sunflowers and a rainbow at the end. ✓ Norway: Jowst - Grab the Moment Finally back to the good songs. This one didn't click with me until recently. The verses have a corny rap flow, but the lyrics describe the experiences of anxiety pretty accurately and uniquely. The narrator feels exposed and encroached upon. He needs to punch something. He pretends to act cool. He carries a heavy weight. He feels directionless. And he turns to distractions, which wastes his life away. But he vows to confront it and “Grab the Moment”. The pre-recorded vocal distortion hooks (which Norway was granted an exception to use) and the glitchy visual effects evoke this state of mind. As does the duelling faces animations representing the “voice in my head”. Indeed, anxiety is a voice in your head. So Jowst is the masked DJ on stage, while Aleksander Walmann is the uncredited vocalist. The song uses an electronic production to “get that good vibe going”. It features cawing effects throughout. The verses include snipped guitar notes. The pre-chorus sees the synths zoom in, leading to an distorted “ow-ow-ow” transition. The chorus follows a humming bass-line and a cowbell-like drum machine (where another concealed person hits one on stage). The second verse also adds snaps. And the last chorus skips midway. The production sounds modern and not something I'd associate with Eurovision, and I mean that in the best way. The stage looks cool too. × Switzerland: Timebelle - Apollo This was pretty close to qualifying, and I'm surprised it didn't. “I follow you Apollo” is such a memorable line. And that whole “I will never let you go... It is never easy...” part is so catchy. Maybe "Apollo" isn't the most essential pop song ever, but it doesn't have any bothersome qualities either. It would fit on any playlist. In the song, vocalist Miruna appeals to Apollo in an inviting and persuasive tone that will be hard for him to resist. Currently, their relationship is going through a rough patch, but she vows to not give up. However, she reveals in the bridge that Apollo isn't as willing because it isn't easy to fix things. But she reasons that it's not supposed to be. Musically, the verses use finger snaps, light piano notes, and a tambourine shake; followed by broken metal ticks and boops moving in. The beat stops then when the first chorus starts. The chorus is driven by drums and buzzing synths. While the bridge extends the chorus production, before reducing to just the piano and Miruna's delicate vocal. This helps set up the final chorus. She also faces the pianist during this part. The stage uses a pink and yellow aesthetic (ie. pastel colours). Miruna's yellow dress even matches the colour of the circular staircase she's standing on. ✓ Belarus: Naviband - Story of My Life #StandWithUkraine I'm going with the English title, since that's the one shown after the postcard, even though there isn't a single English lyric in this. This Belarusian folk song is somewhat annoying with all that “hey hey haiyayayah yo” shouting, and that bird call at the end, but it's a memorable chant. The song is also bursting with joyous energy. There's a valiant chorus melody. And the duo has nice chemistry. Ksenia's arm movements hype up the audience too. The pair performs on an airboat on stage, while the screen shows buildings moving past and fireworks going off. It symbolizes them journeying together. The lyrics centre on the theme of moving forward through life. The duo sees the days and events that have passed, but they're anticipating what happens next. It's a new beginning. The instrumental, meanwhile, is very active and it wants jump to around for 3 minutes straight. It moves like choppy waves. And it follows a consistent drum and guitar rhythm. The verses are calmer than the chorus though. There's also a pattering drum thing that runs across every so often. I keep forgetting this qualified for some reason. ✓ Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess Yeah, I'm putting Bulgaria at #1 again. “Beautiful Mess” is on another level from everything else this year. It's a beautiful pop ballad and Kristian is a great performer. His vocal contains so much emotional depth – like how he softens during “I don't want nothing more” and “on the wire”. Plus the production is high quality and modern. The “oh-ah-oh” chant is anthemic. And the “AND WE DON'T HAVE A THING TO LOSE” hook stands out. The lyrical meaning is encapsulated by the “Our love is untouchable” line. Kristian sings that chorus like he's fighting for it. He says they will withstand whatever adversities or disruptions are thrown their way, even under extreme strain. They're also unsure how to cope, leaving them in this “Beautiful Mess”. The title is an oxymoron that means loving a flawed situation. The song opens with a muffled effect, like a strained whimper, while the first verse is guided by gradual, careful piano notes. The verses also contains tiny guitar pings. The broken metal tick rattles drop after the first chorus, where the melancholic whimpering returns, and a clacking percussion appears for the remainder of the song. The metal ticks last from the second chorus until the end as well. On stage, Kristian is surrounded by a circular array of panel screens, which go away during the drop. There's also a split-second teleportation effect, white squiggly line animations, and a shower on the LED screen at the end.

× Lithuania: Fusedmarc - Rain of Revolution Yet another eccentric Baltic entry that I don't get. Viktorija's shrieking is annoying, especially during that “Yeah Yeah” repetition (and there's a lot of them). She sounds like she's about blow her lid. It's such an unpleasant hook and it doesn't flow with the song. Also, the central phrase “Feel the rain of revolution” just sounds like nonsense. The opening verse uses bad grammar too (“life like roller coaster”). The song is about “making a [new] start” and “breaking irrational fears”. But Viktorija's offbeat vocal style makes it impossible to take the message seriously. She acts as if she's imparting this revolutionary philosophy. But it's like she's playing a character. And her vocal melody is too bumpy. The instrumental isn't that revolutionary either. The song opens with some introductory horns, with plenty more horn releases afterwards. Then the drums push the verses forward, alongside a whirring sound. While the pre-chorus adds some piano notes to it. The chorus then throws in the cymbals, as she sings “Yeah Yeah” over the backing. The first chorus also slows into a heartbeat pound. There's also a “Dance to the rhythm of the soul” breakdown, where the backing members clap and the percussion booms. As for the staging, it has a red aesthetic. The visual effects include the camera spinning upside down during the “upside down” lyric. And a spinning fire effect on the floor. × Estonia: Koit Toome and Laura - Verona Koit returns from 1998, to pair up with Laura, who was a part of Suntribe in 2005. “Verona” is an undeniably catchy song that's committed to its metaphor but the live performance is a mess. The duo spends most of it physically separated. The camera switches between them frequently, sometimes with the other person's face on screen. But whenever it cuts to Koit, he looks too intense. Which is strange since his '98 entry was so genuine. The pair unites towards the end, but the chemistry is awkward. The song is a reference to Romeo & Juliet, which is set in Verona. Here, “Verona” has double meaning (ie. “lost in-” vs. “lost our-”). The former is an unresolved limbo – and the duo's tone sounds like they're helplessly and tragically trapped in one. The latter is the missing spark between them. They were reckless. The “romance turned to drama”. And now neither one will apologize. Musically, the song uses echoing, dramatic production. Laura starts things off (with a mic fail). Her first verse is like a slow, sorrowful walk down an empty hall. It opens with a lute-like flick, followed by echoing snaps and crashes. The beat picks up and begins to push things forward when Koit struts onto the stage. This part is partly driven by a light, restless guitar and a few caw effects. The beat then stops for the “WE ARE LOST” breakdowns, which switches to dramatic slams, leading to more percussion echos. There's lots of hooks here too – like the “Ah-Uh-Ah-Uh-Oh-Oh-Ah-Oh”s, the “we are lost in Verona!” shouts, and the epic “WE ARE LOST” parts. ✓ Israel: Imri - I Feel Alive This is kind of basic. Sure, Israel delivers another smart choreo routine here, the “breaking me to pieces” hook is decent, and the dance-pop production has a darker tone. The “fragile” part sticks in my head too. But the song is lacking personality and the melody is kind of forgettable? Which is a shame since Imri has charismatic stage presence. The song starts with some rigid dripping synths, as the screen graphics throb in sync to it. Next there's the finger snaps. Then the beat stops before the strings emerge and the synths build-up into the drop, while an image of Imri “breaks into pieces” on screen. After the drop, the spraying dance synths take over with some backing “oh oh”s and Imri holds a long “ALIIIIIIIIVE” as the fire erupts. The energy continues through the second verse (with a couple of vocal squeals) and into the next chorus (with more drips). The dancers also appear during the second verse. Then there's a traditional instrument break (which is the best part). The song is about Imri returning home after working abroad to see his lover again. He's been waiting a while for this. It's broken him into pieces. And now he feels alive. He brings a positive tone, which contrasts the more dark instrumental. My Ranking: 01. Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess ✓ 02. Hungary: Joci Pápai - Origo ✓ 03. Netherlands: O'G3NE - Lights and Shadows ✓ 04. Norway: Jowst - Grab the Moment ✓ 05. Serbia: Tijana Bogićević - In Too Deep 06. Romania: Ilinca feat. Alex Florea - Yodel It! ✓ 07. Estonia: Koit Toome and Laura - Verona 08. Switzerland: Timebelle - Apollo 09. Denmark: Anja Nissen - Where I Am ✓ 10. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Jana Burčeska - Dance Alone 11. Israel: Imri - I Feel Alive ✓ 12. Belarus: Naviband - Story of My Life ✓ 13. Ireland: Brendan Murray - Dying to Try 14. San Marino: Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson - Spirit of the Night 15. Austria: Nathan Trent - Running on Air ✓ 16. Malta: Claudia Faniello - Breathlessly 17. Lithuania: Fusedmarc - Rain of Revolution 18. Croatia: Jacques Houdek - My Friend ✓ So many bad songs in this one too. I think part of what drags this year down is the semi-final results.

[celias-archieve]

— Wessa, for @purplebass

Marry me, he said. Marry me, Tess. Marry me and be called Tessa Herondale.

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