WELCOME TO THE
WorldVision Song Contest 100
Semifinals
Live from Monterra, Kalosia
OOC Thread • Host Bid • Grand Final Thread
SEMIFINAL ONE
Playlist • Recap (alternative) • Liveshow
SEMIFINAL TWO
Playlist • Recap (alternative) • Liveshow
Tuesday, 19 July 2022. 20:59 KST.
Preparations for the live broadcast had been happening all day. Earlier in afternoon dress rehearsals had taken place and at this point, the main focus was to make sure that the Arenë Mediteranika was connected by satellite and able to broadcast the show to viewers across the multiverse with no interruptions. Technicians and the production crew were making last minute checks to ensure that they were all set to go live. From the TV room, the person in charge of the technical production was staring somewhat nervously at the main screen, occasionally peeking at the countdown timer or scanning across all the other screens to make sure everything was okay.
"30 seconds," he said into his headpiece, which was picked up by other technical crew members. This was the moment they had all been working towards for the past several months, although the abrupt announcement of semifinals by the WorldVision Committee near-tripled their workload. After many sleepless nights and a handful of successful rehearsals, however, there is now a degree of confidence that they were able to sort everything out and put together a coherent show.
Thursday, 21 July 2022. 20:59 KST.
Although the initial nervousness of initiating the WV100 series of events had now faded away, the pressure was still on to continue the high spirits and maintain the energy that the team was able to carry for the first semifinal.
Both days. 20:59 KST.
"20 seconds." As we drew closer to 9pm, it seems that everything was set, and we just needed to wait until the top of the hour before beaming the IBA ident into television sets in millions of households, watching from many, many countries. There was a similar countdown being shown on the LED screen behind the stage, allowing the audience members to build hype and excitement. They, too, were nervous. At the 5-second mark, the screen will go dark and the counting stopped to ensure the show is put on air as seamlessly as possible.
"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2..."
And now the live feed was being beamed onto satellite receivers in all corners of the multiverse. The broadcast initiated with the newly-launched official ident of the International Broadcasting Alliance, the telecommunications union affiliated with the WorldVision Committee, the organizing body of the contest. This signal officially marks the beginning and end of an IBA production, although its adoption is currently still optional for member broadcasters.
Once the ident had elapsed, the screen faded to black for a moment before displaying...
Tuesday, 21:00 KST.
After the IBA ident run its course, we now saw the stage. The lead conductor of the event, XXXX, was already in place. He raised his baton and waved it, signaling for the RTVK Concert Orchestra to start their rendition of Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity by Gustav Holst, an excerpt of which was already heard in the ident.
Thursday, 21:00 KST.
"Bringers of Jollity" by the Ministry of Motion Dance Troupe
tune: Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity — The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
While the RTVK Concert Orchestra, the orchestra in charge of bringing the show to life, plays Gustav Holst's 'Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity', the Ministry of Motion welcomes viewers through a dance performance. Themes include humanity, centuries of history and cultural heritage, and hopes for the future.
After a few moments of the camera being focused on the orchestra, some dancers ran onto the stage. They were from Ministry of Motion, a Palmañë-based dance troupe specializing in interpretive dance. Initially, they are seen doing various movements that reflected the spirit of the growth of civilization. Farming, hunting, pottery making. A chariot-like cart with two dancers, as if exploring the high seas.
As the playing got a little quiet, the cameras focused on the orchestra as the dancers repositioned themselves. Then, in the section of the song now known as Thaxted, the dancers were seen moving in sync, gesturing with open arms and reaching above with their hands. They were conveying uncertainty, but the calmness of their motions reflected a wise, profound hope for what was to come. The LED screens lit up, showing the starry expanse of the galaxies of the multiverse.
After Thaxted was over, the dancers went back to 'performing' choreographed human activities, much like earlier, but this time the activities were more modern in nature, suggesting the development of human civilization. Things like scientific lab research, using digital electronic devices, conveyor belt style factory work. Soon, a different cart was brought onstage, shaped like the cockpit of a rocket ship.
Soon, one by one, all the dancers walked over and sat in formation behind that cockpit, as if passengers on a plane about to take off into the skies. As the performance came to an end, they waved to the audience, who returned the greeting by applauding and cheering.
"When Our Hearts are in Monterra" by Meliora Napoleti
tune: Quando c'erano le lire — Arisa
Meliora is largely more associated with the World Hit Festival — she represented Kalosia in the 30th and 60th editions and also performed as an interval act in the 52nd. However, here she is tonight to perform her take on an old Kalosian classic, 'Noji kori u Monterë' ("Our hearts in Monterra"). Tonight, she will be performing an English-language version of the song specially for the multiversal audience, with an energetic performance that is sure to keep up the cheerful mood that has been in the air all week while WorldVision has been in town.
Chorus:
Let's sing together, let's sing a song together
Love is my anthem, my true devotion
Let's dance together, let's dance away forever
Freely expressing every emotion
It's so much better when we're with one another
I wish for happiness until the end of time
It's so much better, the days and nights are better
When love is shining and I have you by my side