From our special correspondent in Malmö (Sweden)
What if Eurovision came home? That is to say in Switzerland, the country which organized and won the first edition in 1956 and where the headquarters of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which holds the reins of the competition is located… The last time the competition was organized among our neighbors, it was in 1989, a year after the triumph of Celine Dion with Do not go without me. This return would be possible during the night from Saturday to Sunday, if the Swiss Nemo won with his song The Code.
For now, on the bookmakers’ side, the 24-year-old artist, who is participating in this Thursday’s semi-final, is in second place in the list of favorites and favorites for victory. A status that the non-binary candidate, that is to say who completely identifies with neither the masculine nor the feminine gender, tries to manage with composure.
“Eurovision itself is a surreal experience, being well placed among punters adds to that. I try not to focus too much on that. I prefer to let go of what is external to my performance and that I cannot really control,” he confided to 20 minutes mid-April before a concert in Amsterdam (Netherlands).
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His first rehearsals in Malmö disconcerted observers, particularly due to questions of clothing. Some believe that the chosen outfit, cream skirt, top and boots with long synthetic hair forming a shade of pink, might not be unanimous and cause her to lose precious points in the final.
Nobody imagines, however, that Nemo does not qualify at the end of Thursday’s semi-final (broadcast on Culturebox, channel 14, from 9 p.m.). His song, The Code, being of formidable modernity and efficiency. The piece condenses the artist’s universe.
“Everything I have done in my life has led to this”
“I started playing the violin at a very young age. I was never very good at it, but it was a lot of fun. This learning shaped my way of understanding melodies, they told us. I played very classical songs and I started to be interested in opera around 9 years old, the age at which I joined the Youth Opera. Then afterward, I told myself that I actually liked rap and I started writing my own songs. I have always loved a wide range of musical genres and still do. Music is what connects me to the world. »
The Code reflects all these influences, which blend together fluidly. “Everything magically found a place, it wasn’t planned and I’ve never done that before. It was obvious, everything was consistent. Looking back on it, I tell myself that everything I have done in my life has led to this,” analyzes Nemo.
“Drama and comfort”
For him, this song sums up his “emancipation” and his “fulfillment”. “It started with the realization that I am non-binary. The main question was where do I fit in if I’m not on one side or the other. I describe this whole personal evolution made up of very beautiful but also very difficult moments, they continue. In the song you have drama and comfort. It’s crazy to think that everything is told in three minutes. But if you listen, you can almost feel how I experienced this journey. »
On stage Nemo will move on a sort of circular platform in precarious balance: an acrobatic performance meaning that even if it sways, he remains standing.
