Nadija Djokanović hadn't stopped crying yet. It was all happy tears of course, but forever in her mind the memories of the sixth Euskirribakondaran win would have a blurry filter because of her tears. Watching the whole Majcena Foruma explode in joy with the announcement of the Euski win was just too much for this girl from Viskuncagrad, who two years ago wouldn't have even dreamed to step on a WHF stage, let alone step twice to perform the reprise of a winning entry. Euskirribakondarans have an almost inexplicable love for their country, and watching Izmeduans "fly" the national colors with such love was just heartwarming for everyone in the Euskal delegation. They tried to fix Nadija's makeup, but it was useless.... She just couldn't contain herself.
She received the WHF trophy from Katarina Zunic after a very heartfelt hug, and a small exchange of words. "Hvala lipa" said Nadija, to which Katarina replied "????". The stage rapidly turned pitch black and the stage crew gave Nadija a microphone. It took a few seconds before the seven additional screens dropped from the ceiling in several parts of the Foruma. Nadija stood in the center of the square, as the crowd roared awaiting the beginning of the song. Finally, the spotlights from the roof began projecting the beams of bright white light that formed a cylinder around the frontal square of the stage. And the song began.
The mosaic of screens showed Nadija's face. One screen showed her left eye, one screen showed her lips, another her nose, and so on. The makeup was completely messed up, but she was so happy no one would care... one could see in her eyes that she felt as proud as she had never felt before. Each screen had a different color filter, building a pop-art image effect. The cameras showed this mosaic of colored screens as the song started. Nadija had her eyes closed and smiled before delivering the first lines of her song, in Euskal language, the nation-wide official language of her country. As she sang, the screen images were beating to the rhythm of the song and exchanging colors.
The camera zoomed out and changed its angle, breaking the mosaic illusion. All these screens changed to an orange filter, and all of the spotlights and stage outlines also changed their color to a yellow-orange-red hue palette (the stage floor was still black). The dancers appeared and began performing their choreography (two men and one woman on each side of Nadija). For this next verse, the camera began horizontally panning from left to right showing the backing dancers/singers and Nadija. Unlike in the original performance, the screens stayed, showing the words "Thank You" in the languages of the other sixteen participating countries.
Attention shifted over to back of the stage, where Irina had appeared with a white canvas screen behind her (she had been hidden so far from the cameras and the audience with lighting tricks). A large portable spotlight was placed in front of her. With her body and some props, she was creating shadows in that canvas, that were being captured by the camera (conveniently located between her and the canvas, but angled so that it wouldn't cast any shadow over any of the two). These shadows were the graphic description of the lines of the following verse, sang by Nadija in her native language (Sirbadian).
Now the camera was taking a panoramic shot of the stage (circling around) and the bits of the stage floor that could be colored were beating with orange (as in the Euskal flag) light. As Nadija sang, the camera was zooming in. The backing dancers kept on dancing, their choreography being minimalist and urban-hip-hoppy in style. On the background screens, blue (as in the Euskal flag) arcs appeared, one behind the other, synchronized with the song's tempo.
With the last note, the stage went pitch black; and with the sound effect of 0:52 (and like in the OOC video), yellowish spotlights from all over the arena were turned on and rapidly focused on Nadija. She profited the small pause to shout...
To then continue with the song...
A fast flash of pyrotechnics illuminated the arena from the stage, and the stage came back to life with sky blue colored light on every screen, spotlight and stage outline. Nadija now joined her people dancing (she had been only singing and gesturing until now), the camera work being very similar to that in the OOC video (horizontal pans in circular motions, zooms both out and in) and a lot of light and energy overall. The camera was now also showing the audience of the Majcena Foruma who was dancing and singing with Nadija: it was definitely the climax of the night.
Everyone froze as the chorus ended with an audible loud cheer from the audience (which the sound engineer had already decided not to tune down for the broadcast). The cameras were on Irina and her canvas again, who again, with her body and props, was casting shadows over the canvas that echoed the lyrics of the song (the language had changed back to Euskal). Nadija was giving the performance of her lifetime, for sure; we couldn't hear her much anyway, though, so if she ever missed a note, we will never know, because the roar of the Foruma was much louder than her own voice.
Irina left to the backstage. The stage was less lit than during the chorus, but it still was colorful. The camera now focused on Nadija, who made a 360° turn (her dress gracefully flowing with her) and began walking forward as she sang, looking directly into the camera and using her arms to convey the message of her lyrics. During the time in which the back of the stage was not visible, the stage crew took away the canvas and the spotlight of Irina. The Izmeduan crew interspersed her images with those of the crowd: we could see all kinds of people, young and old, men and women, having fun. Most of them singing too, the lyrics being shown on the seven screens provided by EUSK1.
Now a panoramic view of the stage allowed us to watch the backing dancers again, who began the corresponding part of the choreography (without Nadija). The screens now showed water patterns (like a window in the rain, with a lot of drops and some lines of flowing water), and the floor looked like rippling water. Nadija changed back into Sirbadian, as the cameras were dynamically moving around the stage to show both her and her dancers.
Suddenly, all the crew fell down and gradually tried to get back up again. The camera "fell down" with them as well, creating a nice visual effect for the broadcast. They were supposed to get up, but all of them (the six dancers, who were WHF die-hard fans) and Nadija were so ecstatic that they decided to stay lying on the ground. Blue fire flames were surrounding the main stage, growing in size as the song continued. For the last line (the first one in Portuguese, by the way), which Nadija and her backing singers sang passionately, the fire flames "exploded" and changed into orange/red.
The stage was now entirely lit, the spotlights stage contours in orange, and the floor showing a red beating heart. Nadija and her crew stood up, visibly joyful; and they altogether decided to add a twist to the performance. They would sing in Izmeduan. The seven screens showed the six dancers and Nadija; in a filter of the Izmeduan flag. A camera was traveled from the back of the arena to the stage, showing the different screens in a brisk manner, flying over the audience INSERT IZMEDUAN AUDIENCE RESPONSE.
For the next few lyricless seconds, different cameras among the stage audience showed people from different countries and backgrounds dancing to the song, enjoying themselves with the Euskal entry; with orange and yellow spotlights illuminating everything and everyone (the seven additional hanging screens changed to show the Euskal flag). The stage was turned off entirely except for the floor of the main frontal square, which shone brightly focusing on the crew, who was standing and smiling behind Nadija in a triangular layout (the four men on the back; in front of them the two women; and in front of them, Nadija). The last line of this verse was also changed to Izmeduan, so INSERT AUDIENCE RESPONSE.
The stage went again pitch black as Nadija breath heavily to the beat and the dancers distributed themselves along the stage. When the music started over, almost magically, the lips, eye lids, shin bones and hands of the whole crew and Nadija were the only thing that could be seen (thanks to glow-in-the-dark make-up). They began dancing, with the stage still dark, and the effect on camera was beautiful. The light was gradually increasing, revealing them and the stage. The cameras were moving dynamically through and around them, and by the end of the chorus, the whole arena was bright again.
Nadija and her crew descended from the stage and started walking into the audience.
INSERT SPECIAL EFFECTS FROM IZMEDU PREPARED FOR THE WINNING ENTRY (maybe confetti? a flash of fireworks?)
INSERT NADIJA'S INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
CONTINUE NADIJA'S INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
CONTINUE NADIJA'S INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
END THE PERFORMANCE WITH MAYBE PANORAMIC SHOTS FROM OUTSIDE THE STADIUM AND PYROS?
Nadija held the trophy again in her hands and shouted...
CREDITS?
She received the WHF trophy from Katarina Zunic after a very heartfelt hug, and a small exchange of words. "Hvala lipa" said Nadija, to which Katarina replied "????". The stage rapidly turned pitch black and the stage crew gave Nadija a microphone. It took a few seconds before the seven additional screens dropped from the ceiling in several parts of the Foruma. Nadija stood in the center of the square, as the crowd roared awaiting the beginning of the song. Finally, the spotlights from the roof began projecting the beams of bright white light that formed a cylinder around the frontal square of the stage. And the song began.
The mosaic of screens showed Nadija's face. One screen showed her left eye, one screen showed her lips, another her nose, and so on. The makeup was completely messed up, but she was so happy no one would care... one could see in her eyes that she felt as proud as she had never felt before. Each screen had a different color filter, building a pop-art image effect. The cameras showed this mosaic of colored screens as the song started. Nadija had her eyes closed and smiled before delivering the first lines of her song, in Euskal language, the nation-wide official language of her country. As she sang, the screen images were beating to the rhythm of the song and exchanging colors.
[0:19 - 0:25]
Unea izan, exnaraki. (It's time to wake up.)
Axatzeapu, zu ikartuta... (When you are getting up, are you...)
Izanári zerbaki? (Afraid of anything?)
The camera zoomed out and changed its angle, breaking the mosaic illusion. All these screens changed to an orange filter, and all of the spotlights and stage outlines also changed their color to a yellow-orange-red hue palette (the stage floor was still black). The dancers appeared and began performing their choreography (two men and one woman on each side of Nadija). For this next verse, the camera began horizontally panning from left to right showing the backing dancers/singers and Nadija. Unlike in the original performance, the screens stayed, showing the words "Thank You" in the languages of the other sixteen participating countries.
[0:27 - 0:34]
Orduan kilak, zu jansa... (Why then, do you put on..)
Egunero sopalak goian... (Daily over your shoulders...)
Hurk' irribixea karsa? (That load that drags down your smile?)
Attention shifted over to back of the stage, where Irina had appeared with a white canvas screen behind her (she had been hidden so far from the cameras and the audience with lighting tricks). A large portable spotlight was placed in front of her. With her body and some props, she was creating shadows in that canvas, that were being captured by the camera (conveniently located between her and the canvas, but angled so that it wouldn't cast any shadow over any of the two). These shadows were the graphic description of the lines of the following verse, sang by Nadija in her native language (Sirbadian).
[0:35 - 0:43]
Stavljate seb (Imagine)
Siluetu nožnici (The silhouette of scissors)
Za dlja razbite (To break)
Lance tih steni (The chains of those shadows)
Now the camera was taking a panoramic shot of the stage (circling around) and the bits of the stage floor that could be colored were beating with orange (as in the Euskal flag) light. As Nadija sang, the camera was zooming in. The backing dancers kept on dancing, their choreography being minimalist and urban-hip-hoppy in style. On the background screens, blue (as in the Euskal flag) arcs appeared, one behind the other, synchronized with the song's tempo.
[0:44 - 0:50]
Ustvaranje črno (Creating black)
Je teže naći svitlo (Is harder than creating light)
No je vsegno najtemnje... (But it's always darkest...)
With the last note, the stage went pitch black; and with the sound effect of 0:52 (and like in the OOC video), yellowish spotlights from all over the arena were turned on and rapidly focused on Nadija. She profited the small pause to shout...
Thank you everyone!
To then continue with the song...
[0:53 - 0:55]
... pred zore; uvzit skok vjere! (... before the dawn; take the leap of faith!)
A fast flash of pyrotechnics illuminated the arena from the stage, and the stage came back to life with sky blue colored light on every screen, spotlight and stage outline. Nadija now joined her people dancing (she had been only singing and gesturing until now), the camera work being very similar to that in the OOC video (horizontal pans in circular motions, zooms both out and in) and a lot of light and energy overall. The camera was now also showing the audience of the Majcena Foruma who was dancing and singing with Nadija: it was definitely the climax of the night.
[0:55 - 1:13]
Po, daj ti silate (Come on, give yourself your own strength)
Ti si silate (You are your own strength)
Po, daj mju silate (Come on, give out your strength)
Samo tvoje, lancuhi i ključi! (Only yours are the chains and the keys)
Po, daj ti silate (Come on, give yourself your own strength)
Ti si silate (You are your own strength)
Po, daj mju silate (Come on, give out your strength)
Samo tej kto, mevažaje tovo! (You're the only one hindering this!)
Everyone froze as the chorus ended with an audible loud cheer from the audience (which the sound engineer had already decided not to tune down for the broadcast). The cameras were on Irina and her canvas again, who again, with her body and props, was casting shadows over the canvas that echoed the lyrics of the song (the language had changed back to Euskal). Nadija was giving the performance of her lifetime, for sure; we couldn't hear her much anyway, though, so if she ever missed a note, we will never know, because the roar of the Foruma was much louder than her own voice.
[1:17 - 1:23]
Unea izan, nouro kosteaki (It's time to start over)
Krozeapu, gure'baguneak... (Growing up, will we...)
Alfirrarípari? (Waste our opportunities?)
Irina left to the backstage. The stage was less lit than during the chorus, but it still was colorful. The camera now focused on Nadija, who made a 360° turn (her dress gracefully flowing with her) and began walking forward as she sang, looking directly into the camera and using her arms to convey the message of her lyrics. During the time in which the back of the stage was not visible, the stage crew took away the canvas and the spotlight of Irina. The Izmeduan crew interspersed her images with those of the crowd: we could see all kinds of people, young and old, men and women, having fun. Most of them singing too, the lyrics being shown on the seven screens provided by EUSK1.
[1:26 - 1:32]
Orduan kilak, zu ez... (Why then, don't you...)
Egunero aitortzen zuhá... (Everyday acknowledge yourself...)
Kisa benkogizanez*? (As a benkogizana*?)
*A 'benkogizana' is a concept in Euskal philosophy which represents the true nature of mankind: a human being with both virtues and flaws that can fail and succeed throughout his life in a duality universe where balance is achieved acknowledging both sides.
Now a panoramic view of the stage allowed us to watch the backing dancers again, who began the corresponding part of the choreography (without Nadija). The screens now showed water patterns (like a window in the rain, with a lot of drops and some lines of flowing water), and the floor looked like rippling water. Nadija changed back into Sirbadian, as the cameras were dynamically moving around the stage to show both her and her dancers.
[1:34 - 1:42]
Mi vsi majemo (We all have)
Naše otvoreni rani (Our open wounds)
Vsi majemo (All of us have)
Naše istoriji (Our own history)
Suddenly, all the crew fell down and gradually tried to get back up again. The camera "fell down" with them as well, creating a nice visual effect for the broadcast. They were supposed to get up, but all of them (the six dancers, who were WHF die-hard fans) and Nadija were so ecstatic that they decided to stay lying on the ground. Blue fire flames were surrounding the main stage, growing in size as the song continued. For the last line (the first one in Portuguese, by the way), which Nadija and her backing singers sang passionately, the fire flames "exploded" and changed into orange/red.
[1:43 - 1:51]
I ako padajemo (And if we fall down)
Mi vraćamo znovu, ne? (We get back up again, don't we?)
Što se bojitem?... (What are you afraid of?)
Não tenha medo de tentar! (Do not be afraid to try!)
The stage was now entirely lit, the spotlights stage contours in orange, and the floor showing a red beating heart. Nadija and her crew stood up, visibly joyful; and they altogether decided to add a twist to the performance. They would sing in Izmeduan. The seven screens showed the six dancers and Nadija; in a filter of the Izmeduan flag. A camera was traveled from the back of the arena to the stage, showing the different screens in a brisk manner, flying over the audience INSERT IZMEDUAN AUDIENCE RESPONSE.
[1:52 - 2:10]
Ej, daj mi ljubaur (Hey, give me your love)
Daj mi ljubaur (Give me your love)
Ej, daj mi ljubaur (Hey, give me your love)
Danas je sad, tamo ništo drugo! (Today is now, there's nothing else!)
Ej, daj mi ljubaur (Hey, give me your love)
Daj mi ljubaur (Give me your love)
Ej, daj mi ljubaur (Hey, give me your love)
Danas je sad, tamo ništo drugo!... Oh-oh-oh! (Today is now, there's nothing else! Oh-oh-oh!)
For the next few lyricless seconds, different cameras among the stage audience showed people from different countries and backgrounds dancing to the song, enjoying themselves with the Euskal entry; with orange and yellow spotlights illuminating everything and everyone (the seven additional hanging screens changed to show the Euskal flag). The stage was turned off entirely except for the floor of the main frontal square, which shone brightly focusing on the crew, who was standing and smiling behind Nadija in a triangular layout (the four men on the back; in front of them the two women; and in front of them, Nadija). The last line of this verse was also changed to Izmeduan, so INSERT AUDIENCE RESPONSE.
[2:18 - 2:26]
Os dois podemos caprichar... (Both of us can work it out...)
Não pense que não vai dar... (Do not think that we're not going to succeed...)
Deixa acontecer o amor... (Let the love happen freely...)
Imamo među, to je buosta! (We have each other and that's enough!)
The stage went again pitch black as Nadija breath heavily to the beat and the dancers distributed themselves along the stage. When the music started over, almost magically, the lips, eye lids, shin bones and hands of the whole crew and Nadija were the only thing that could be seen (thanks to glow-in-the-dark make-up). They began dancing, with the stage still dark, and the effect on camera was beautiful. The light was gradually increasing, revealing them and the stage. The cameras were moving dynamically through and around them, and by the end of the chorus, the whole arena was bright again.
[2:29 - 2:46]
Po, daj mju ljubavte (Come on, give your love to 'us'*)
Daj mju ljubavte (Give out your love to 'us'*)
Po, daj mju ljubavte (Come on, give out your love)
Mi je vso - ništo ničnoho! (We are all we have, and that's enough!)
Po, daj mju ljubavte (Come on, give your love to 'us'*)
Daj mju ljubavte (Give out your love to 'us'*)
Po, daj mju ljubavte (Come on, give out your love)
Mi je vso - ništo ničnoho! (We are all we have, and that's enough!)
*As in 'you and me', the 'us' project of a couple.
Nadija and her crew descended from the stage and started walking into the audience.
INSERT SPECIAL EFFECTS FROM IZMEDU PREPARED FOR THE WINNING ENTRY (maybe confetti? a flash of fireworks?)
INSERT NADIJA'S INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
[2:47 - 2:55]
Amē ajēyā kacōhō (We are invincible)
Yā tūphān bēm tharābam (And we will survive this storm)
Mērā hāth pakadhō (Grab my hand)
Po, daj mi ljubavam! (Come on, give me true love!)
CONTINUE NADIJA'S INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
[2:55 - 3:02]
Mām̐ hāmān hai kī ēkatrā (I believe that together)
Saphalā rāyā hānā (We are both prosperous and victorious)
Adhik pūch kadhōṁ? (Why do we ask for more?)
CONTINUE NADIJA'S INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
[3:02 - 3:04]
Imamo među, to je buosta! (We have each other, and that's enough!)
END THE PERFORMANCE WITH MAYBE PANORAMIC SHOTS FROM OUTSIDE THE STADIUM AND PYROS?
Nadija held the trophy again in her hands and shouted...
Hvala lipa Mousiki! And thank you world.... See you in Euskirribakondara for WHF32!
CREDITS?