34. ZAPADNI
MATIJA - Don't Leave
MATIJA - Don't Leave
It came as an immense surprise to MATIJA when she had won Pevaj Zapadni, gaining the right to represent the small protectorate in its second outing to WorldVision. She had only entered the contest to gain a greater exposure to her music irregardless of the result, and was actually quite wary of entering considering what had happened to Emilia Kopitar during and after Zapadni's debut. Now, she was chosen, and MATIJA was sitting nervously in the green room, knowing that it would soon be her turn to perform.
MATIJA, born in former territories of Izmedu now claimed as Zapadni's as Matallija Stejpanic, is a dance singer-songwriter who has no allegiance to either one of the nations politically. She has travelled back and forth between both countries to promote her music and Zapadni entry extensively, with that promo work making MATIJA realize just how big WorldVision was, and just how she could use her selection as a platform to promote her music to a wider audience.
Despite the immense amount of requests that the Zapadni delegation put on her and her team, she didn't care about them. To her, she represented herself, as MATIJA. She would not stay silent and act on a script that didn't represent her. All MATIJA cared about was the song and performance. With her three dancers in tow, all four walked to the stage as the stage was being set for their performance.
The stage lit up in mellow colors as the first seconds of the song started, which revealed an outline of MATIJA standing near the openings, looking down on the floor. The backup dancers were also situated at various places, but only their outlines could be seen. As the intro settled, a spotlight was shone on MATIJA, revealing her to be wearing this short sequin dress. A headset was on her as she had one hand to her hip, with her looking up in preparation for the first set of lyrics...
My heart remains silent but my body keeps moving wild
Is it one of my tricks?
Dying inside and yet I am abound with happiness
Have you been fooled at all?
The camera was focused on MATIJA as she sang the first verse, with the light now pulsing to the beat that had come about when she had started to sing. She walked closer to the center as the first verse progressed, taking steps to the song's rhythm. Geometric abstractions can be seen on the screen, changing colors to a black background.
For so long I have been in an eternal movement
I can't last for much longer
This pain inside must be forgotten, hurts must fade away
And I become desperate
She started to do a small routine at the song's hook, with her arms moving along to the more audible dance beat. At the hook's third line, she stopped moving, with her hand clutched to her chest as she looked to the camera, an emotional look plastered to her face. At the end of the hook, the camera transitioned from MATIJA to a stagewide view.
So don't leave me
See through my facade and help me heal
Wash away pain
Stop me from this aimless self-destruction
The screen turned white as the song transitioned to the chorus, with the lights pulsing to what was left of the rhythm. MATIJA moved as she sang the chorus, her arms reaching out to an invisible lover as she sang the pleading lyrics.
So don't leave me
See through my facade and help me heal
Wash away pain
Stop me from this aimless self-destruction
Backup singers can be clearly heard at the chorus' reptition as the instrumentation began to build, with the white screen also beginning to flash to the rhythm. The three dancers that were being hidden could now be seen walking together in tandem, approaching the center. At the chorus' final line, the camera closed up on MATIJA's face, with her eyes closed and hand on her arm, as the white screen disappeared and the stage lights disappeared for a moment.
I am broken...
She quickly said the line prior to the song's dance breakdown, and the backup dancers vocalized the 'ohs' as MATIJA and her dancers began to perform a routine based on the pace of the 'ohs.' Stepping one foot forward, holding one arm out, and hiding her face momentarily, with the routine expressing a desire to hide from the world. The lights also became a baby blue as the screen showed an equalizer that corresponded directly to the song.
Your presence mends the heart's bleeding
She continued dancing as she sang these lines, continuing the routine from earlier. The 'ohs' continued to be vocalized as MATIJA stopped the routine at the approach of the final line, with one of the dancers beginning to approach her.
The only way to deny pain
MATIJA sang this as the dancer was at close proximity to her, with her holding on to one of the dancer's arms. The song then quickly transitioned to the interlude, with MATIJA and her dancers performing another routine, this time it was a routine that emphasized smooth motion instead of the sudden movements that was done previously. The equalizer disappeared as soon as the interlude was finished.
My heart remains silent but my body keeps moving wild
Is it one of my tricks?
Dying inside and yet I am abound with happiness
Have you been fooled at all?
The repetition of the first verse brought about the return of the pulsating lights and geometric shapes, though the baby blue hue remained. MATIJA performed a subtle routine and occasionally looked at a dancer as she sang.
For so long I have been in an eternal movement
I can't last for much longer
This pain inside must be forgotten, hurts must fade away
And I become desperate
MATIJA looked to the camera again at the hook, as it transitioned to a close-up of her as she walked backwards slightly, her hair billowing about from moving around so much. At the final line, the geometric shapes and blue hue disappeared, replaced with a white screen and spotlights on MATIJA.
So don't leave me
See through my facade and help me heal
Wash away pain
Stop me from this aimless self-destruction
A minor projection effect was added to MATIJA's voice to reflect the added effects on the chorus. The beat almost receded into the music, sounding as if you were hearing it from the outside. The lights began to pulse to the rhythm once again, with the lights pulsing to either white or blue each time.
So don't leave me
See through my facade and help me heal
Wash away pain
Stop me from this aimless self-destruction
More lights began to trickle in as the screen began to show colorful abstractions, though the focus remained entirely on MATIJA as she held one arm out during the final part of the chorus. At the end, all of the lights disappeared except for a lone spotlight on MATIJA...
I am broken...
Blue lights returned to the stage as the 'ohs' were vocalized once again, with MATIJA and the dancers performing the same routine from earlier, except with subtle differences in terms of arm movement and the way MATIJA led the dancing, sometimes differing and adding more movements than the dancers. There was also an equalizer on the screen and also the stage's floor lit up.
Your presence mends the heart's bleeding
To coincide with the song's near-end, the stage floor began to pulse to the beat and alternated to red and black, contrasting to the blue and reflecting MATIJA's sorrow as she sang the lyric with a hushed tone.
The only way to deny pain
The last line echoed throughout the arena, with the instrumentation returning to the breezy atmosphere from the beginning, marking the beginning of the end of the song. The dancers receded into the shadows as the equalizer disappeared, the floor turned dark, and the blue hue began to disappear, with darkness now beginning to envelop the stage except for the spotlight on MATIJA.
The only way to deny pain...
The song ended with that last line, with the last shot seeing MATIJA looking down. For a few moment, the stage became completely dark until normal stage lights were put on, with MATIJA smiling at the crowd.
“Hvala Polkopia!” She said, taking off her headset and quickly leaving with the dancers.
