There is a hectic atmosphere at the studios in the RTVK Broadcasting Centre as final checks were being conducted on the set of the 52nd World Hit Festival. Technicians and other staff members were making sure that the stage and all of its effects were working, that the cameras were operating, and that there was a working satellite connection ensuring that the broadcast was ready to go on air.
A minute later, the countdown begins. Although there are no spectators in the venue, the LED screens behind the stage display a 60-second countdown. At this point, the production is pretty much ready to go on. It’s time.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
On TV screens across the multiverse, the ident of Radiu-Televižio Kalosia plays, identifying RTVK as the source of the broadcast as various TV stations are airing the show live. The 52nd World Hit Festival has begun.
tune: Love Shine a Light — Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Now the screen is briefly black, before slowly squares featuring different musicians “come online”, much like a video teleconference. Then on one of the squares, a conductor appears. As he signals the others to start playing, the different musicians, who are members of the Kalosian Philharmonic Orchestra, start playing a rendition of Shine a Light, a song originally by Paola Amadin which was released in Kalosian in the 1990s, while this English version was released in March of this year as a charity single, with proceeds from sales going to fund the fight against COVID-19.
Slowly, the squares appear to shrink… oh no, the camera is just zooming out, and it turns out the members of the orchestra are being displayed on a retsepalaasi, a crystal set of crystalline device commonly found in Tödlichebujoku. The camera zooms back further, revealing that they are in front of a much larger building. That building proceeds to be lit up, revealing itself to be Taploukkun Siipien Smelauka, the venue of the last World Hit Festival in Tödlichebujoku.
Soon, the camera shows another landmark from a participating country being lit up… and then another, and another. As it turns out, we are going on a journey throughout the different participating countries tonight, each whom have lit up a landmark in the spirit of the theme of the 52nd World Hit Festival, Shine a Light.
Towards the end of the musical piece, we arrive in Kalosia, with the Amfiteatru d’Akropoli being shown as it lights up. This venue was initially rumoured to host this show as reports emerged that the arena was booked by RTVK a week after the Kalosian victory in Tödlichebujoku.
The drone recording this scene gradually flies into the arena, revealing that a stage has been set up and a man stands at the end of the stage. The closer the drone gets, the clearer it becomes that that man is in fact Domeniku Kaľari, the most recent winner of the World Hit Festival. And he is here to reprise his song.
Domeniku was was wearing the same floral patterned blazer he wore when he won the contest. Although the arena’s exterior was well lit, the interior was only lit enough to allow us to see him and have an idea of his surroundings. Of course there was a spotlight on him, but the lighting was otherwise rather dim. Throughout the entry, there were camera crew dispersed throughout the arena to help with the angles, which changed periodically.
Sta kelkuno oskuro
Ma në es la notë
Sëmbla komë lë mondu sta silenžosu
Ma es la ilušio, lë silenžo
Se la vitë stesë brušandu
La foku sarebë pašio
E se le stelle stesë niu siñu
Noš giderebere a kazë
Në briľa lasu
Keste mezoñe
N’atšeka mi pju
Blue and white lights filled the interior of the arena. Although it wasn’t exactly bright, it was enough.
Vidël l’eklisu ki
U miu stanku koru flestuto
Es klaru, tu e ja saputo
Kë eklisamu ši
U kestë albë në sta lë sol
Komë un poémë senzë paroli
Es tropu
Ja e tu
Domeniku too his mic off the stand and started walking down the vast, empty platform of a stage. Although at this point there had not been drums, they would eventually gradually be introduced during this next part.
Lë ventu noš kanta unë melodië
Lë tšelu es niu pitor
Ma ov’z es kela vož?
Ov’z es kela piturë?
Kestu kanžu es un kridu
Kadë le nuve diventanu oskure
E le lakrime dëla pložë stanu kadendu
Semprë ja spetu pël’arkutšelu
Ma n’es arivatu maj, l’arkutšelu
After wandering around the stage, Domeniku turns around and walks back to the mic stand.
Në briľa kaǧu
Kestë speranzë
Në gida mi pju
With the mic in one hand, Domeniku snatches the mic stand with his other. It’s clear that his performance is one of passion.
Vidël l’eklisu ki
U miu stanku koru flestuto
Es klaru, tu e ja saputo
Kë eklisamu ši
U kestë albë në sta lë sol
Komë un poémë senzë paroli
Es tropu
Ja e tu
He spun around while the camera showed a wide shot of the arena, and we could see that the empty audience stands surrounding the stage were lit up in blue and white, making one large Kalosian flag as the beautiful instrumental break continued to play. This is the goosebumps moment.
In this next part, a camera spun around Domeniku as he sang.
Noj eklisamu ši
U kestë albë në sta lë sol
Komë un poémë senzë paroli
The lights in the arena started to dim down again as the camera angle changed to less dynamic ones.
Oľal lo, kestë romanzë es mortu ǧa
Amurë nia a finitë tantu tempu fa
As Domeniku let out one last "Oh...", there was silence. Surrounded by cameramen and technicians, this is the only time Domeniku has performed L’Eklisu in front of a Kalosian audience.
After a moment of quiet, Domeniku looks up at the camera, smiling. He says:
Hello everyone, good evening. My name is Domeniku Kaľari and you are watching the 52nd World Hit Festival.
The camera zooms out, revealing that Domeniku is being projected on the background screens of the WHF52 venue.
Now, may I present to you… the participating artists of tonight’s show. Enjoy!