Michael Ben David – I.M
If you are reading these in order, you will have just read me slating the Irish for an identikit-by-numbers song on a theme that has been done to death and, like London buses – here comes another.
On first listening, I got to precisely 11 seconds before I decided what this song was about, who it was aimed at … and why I would hate it.
It is, essentially, the anthesis of the Australian entry. Whereas that was a three-minute whinge about being different, this is the celebration of that difference wrapped up in the kind of song that would stand out if it had been dropped into Presilla Queen of the Desert. It’s empowerment, Jim, just not as most people know it.
Being a gay man myself, I get ALL of what Michael is trying to be and show. Hell, I can mince up and down the office better than most, but the target audience for this song is only a fraction (or a faction depending on your point of view) of the viewing audience on a semi-final night.
Sure, it will get most of the gays fawning, saying he “slays” and “smashes it” (and other choice sayings with attitude), but the Eurovision Song Contest is not exclusively the purview of the gays. 90 percent of the audience will be made up of families, and will this song appeal to them?
Probably not.
Like it or like it not, the audience is going to see a young man looking gay, acting camp and being himself – all perfectly acceptable traits – however, that will immediately turn off some of that audience in favour of something more “wholesome” (their words not mine). Is it a good song? – well no, again it’s not. It’s a typical gay floor filler at <insert club of choice> and that’s fine if that was the audience. It isn’t.
Vocally Michael is decent – I just wonder, though, if the whole package is aimed at the wrong demographic?
Phil’s Score. 2 Points
