Category: Music

Equality

One shouldn’t hide
or stay quiet
when the first Pride
was a riot!
To sing! Rejoice!
Lift up your voice
and chance a dance!

The joy to be,
not a tall ask!
To live freely,
why’s it a task
for so many
when love’s plenty
is there to share!?

Words and images © Stephen W. Buchanan 2021

Originally published advertising free at “If You Haven’t Got A Sonnet”

Pre-pandemic the local Pride-Fest would be the first week-end in June. It was canceled last year and is scheduled for October (LGBTQ+ History Month) this year, provided it can happen. The picture is from the 2019 Festival.

Eurovision

The songs were sung
and dances danced
The votes were rung
and backwards glanced
Who would agree
any country
had stunned and won

© Stephen W. Buchanan 2021

Originally published advertising free at “If You Haven’t Got A Sonnet”

Okay, so I’m not from or in Europe (though, I mean, neither is Australia!?🤔), but unlike many of my friends and acquaintances here in the US I had heard of Eurovision. My daughter saw it was being streamed in the US on a platform we got and said she might be interested. I had never seen it before, so I said why not, and we watched the finals (which means we didn’t get to see Australia 😁). I’ll admit it was a fun time.

I have to wonder how/why Germany picked their very popish entry, Jendrick, and why, in a song called “I Don’t Feel Hate” there was someone in a hand costume that kept giving the audience the finger. I guess he doesn’t feel it when he gives it? But I was very amused Germany was followed by Finland’s metal entry Blind Channel with their song “Dark Side” where the chorus starts with “Put your middle fingers up.” Maybe they could have borrowed Jendrick’s dancer. 😁 (I’m sure this joke has been made, but I couldn’t help it.)

And why does the UK even bother to send an entry?

The entry I enjoyed the most was Ukraine’s entry, Go_A and their song “SHUM”

https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2021/ukraine