Perhaps I needed to see S10 sing this live because at the start of this whole thing I really, REALLY didn’t understand the hype about this song.
I do now, though. I have, through the medium of a dark stage and a backlit performance, seen the light… as it were. This is beautifully shot from the start, something which other songs today have not been. S10 literally stands and sings the song at me, and it is strangely engaging.
It drew me in from the first second I saw it live, and I could not take my eyes and ears off the song. According to the cue-pilot camera-directing thingummy, in the first 2:30 there are only 25 camera shots and the lack of cutting away really helps focus the mind on what S10 is singing – and it doesn’t matter that it’s in Dutch, in the same way Barbara Pravi was in French last year.
It has a *something* – call it television magic if you will, but the trick of keeping her in the forefront of the shot at all times is a powerful televisual story that will make people have a connection with her and that is vitally important.
The road to Damascus definitely went through Hilversum for me.
S10’s haunting voice nearly does the impossible and makes the #Dutch language sound nice in a song. She doesn’t look greatly comfortable in her own skin though, and it does tail off a bit. But at the same time, if the crowd goes still and quiet it could be a moment. #Eurovision
— EurovisionApocalypse (@ESCApocalypse) May 4, 2022
I seem to have taken a different view on #Netherlands vs others. It is still a very good performance. Opening shot is amazing, camera angles are great. But for me it becomes too boring and message is not conveyed. #Eurovision
— TVTips.UK (@TvtipsUk) May 4, 2022
🇳🇱 First goosebumps moment of the day. That was a really good second run through from the Netherlands. Performance still needs some tidying up I think but there are some really good shots in this and S10’s vocals were great, especially on the big notes #Eurovision
— Patrick Flynn (@patrickjfl) May 4, 2022