Jendrik Sigwart has already spawned hundreds of fan site reviews suggesting he perhaps ought to feel hate, and others where those watching the rehearsals embrace what they get.
I took time to read the lyric and check out some of Jendrik’s excellent online work around the types of hate that prevail in our society. He’s doing a fine job, and this song is simply one small part. My reservation is that perhaps there’s so much on-stage action, maybe his intended message will be served up a side dish.
He’s dressed up blue and pink with box fresh sneakers and strumming his silver ukulele – which he takes a risk on by flinging it in the air and catching at one point. There are three trumpet-playing/miming dancers and his ever-present wriggling middle finger. The backdrop explodes with Holi festival colours and crumpled balls of hateful comments; the stage is lit in black and white squares. They end the song on the satellite stage.
Jendrik hits every camera shot, ad libs throughout and dances up front with his middle finger throwing himself into all he does. So much so that – during the first run-through – he was noticeably out of breath by the middle of the song. To be fair, the second take was better.
And I admire his silver ‘annoying’ necklace.
The Fanning Verdict
I’ve grown to like this song (and get firmly behind its message) and Jendrik brings superb energy to the show. It’s a love or loathe song (see how I avoided using that ugly word). The bookmakers are offering short odds for it to end last. It could just as easily sneak through.