1 Day, 1 Song: Crno i Belo (2012)

Every day, we share with you a favorite or a favorite. Today, I’m taking you to 2012 with Kaliopi (MACEDOINE DU NORTH) who obtained 13th place in the competition.

This song was simply my favorite of the 2012 contest, an extraordinary song to my ears and eyes.

I was captivated by this title from my first listen: first of all by the singer’s sublime voice. A gift from heaven put at the service of an absolutely millimetric song built like a house with several floors: a very gentle beginning, a contained acceleration then the rush towards a more rock version which gives an explosive but harmonious whole. Kaliopi’s vocal abilities and her presence on stage contribute a lot to it. If we add music with several tempos but respecting the structure of the song and a highlighting of the Macedonian language, which was little or not at all the case until this song, “Crno i Belo” is a masterpiece from my point of view very poorly rewarded with this 13th place…

My only consolation is that it was one of the few songs from Macedonia to qualify for the final during the 2010s, which was already an achievement in itself.

Now, it’s up to you to tell me whether this song also evokes a memory for you, or on the contrary leaves you totally indifferent. But first, I’ll leave it to two fellow editors to give their opinion on this song.

We will start with Maxence’s kind opinion:

“Kaliopi is a big star in North Macedonia and the Balkans and she proves it here. She shows her great vocal mastery and the power she can provide, up to that famous high-pitched and piercing scream while being pleasant to listen to around 2min30. She invades the stage with her presence. A well-deserved place in the final but the competition was high that year and it’s simply not what I like the most.”

We will continue with Rémi’s detailed and positive opinion:

“There are some Eurodivas apart. I’m not talking about the Scandinavian, Greek or Spanish Eurodivas, no. I’m thinking of those who arrive at the competition with their own style, their singularity, their artistic identity, and Kaliopi is certainly one of those. Like a black and white rocker, she took over the stage of the Baku Crystal Hall with style, class and an inimitable aura. No need for flames and other pyrotechnics to make the pop-rock queen shine with her Crno e belo, a good song that probably hasn’t entered the legend of Eurotubes, but no less devoid of essence and charm. A title that owes a lot to its performer with such a particular and inimitable tone, who probably wouldn’t have had the same power of capture with one or another.”

It’s your turn to express yourself below in the comments section; see you on Thursday for a new headline title, a Swiss song from the very beginning of the 70s performed by a specialist in children’s songs.

Photo credits: Maraaya (EAQ visual)