Arcade (Loving You Is A Losing Game) but follow the Maps so you don’t have Amnesia like a Fallen Angel

Monday has arrived (sooner than we’d like) but Monday of course means music, so let’s get to it!

For the month of May, our Spotlight Dancer is our friend and regular participant of Monday’s Music Moves Me, John from The Sound of One Hand Typing! The theme selected for this week is “Songs from the Eurovision Song Contest in honor of its 65th anniversary”.

I must confess, I’d never heard of Eurovision (I know, right?!) so this was a fun experience listening through the songs and picking ones I’d like to share. Thank, John, for the opportunity to find new (to me) artists and songs! Let’s get this party started, shall we?

Let’s start things off with the 2019 winner, Dutch singer Duncan Laurence. The song was released represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel, which it won. In February 2020, this song won an Edison Award for Best Pop Song of the Year.

In the second half of 2020, this song went viral on TikTok, resulting in new chart successes and streams on various platforms. In January 2021, it became the most-streamed Eurovision song ever on Spotify. In April 2021, the song became the first Eurovision winning song in 45 years to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Here’s 2019 Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence, featuring FLETCHER with “Arcade (Loving You Is A Losing Game)”:

Next up is an Irish singer-songwriter from Balbriggan. She was signed to an independent Irish label in 2006 followed by a record deal with US label Jive Records. She released her debut album in 2008, and had a top 40 hit with the single Unbeautiful on US radio.

As a songwriter, the artist has experienced international success with releases for artists including Adam Lambert, Miss Montreal, Medina, Jana Kramer, Marlee Scott, Deorro, Anish Sood and Brendan Murray. In 2019 she was chosen to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with a song she wrote and produced, but the 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the artist had a top 20 hit in Ireland reaching number 12 in the homegrown charts, so she was subsequently chosen again to represent Ireland in the 2021 contest, with a different song (this one). She only made it to #37 in the contest, but it’s definitely a song worth listening to.

Give a listen to Lesley Roy with “Maps”:

Next up, this Romanian artist has had a passion for music since childhood. She took singing and piano lessons from the age of seven and went on to win several music competitions. In 2019 she rose to fame when she was featured on Stickoboy’s song “You Don’t Love Me”. It hit number three on the Romanian airplay chart and was picked up by radio stations worldwide. Later that year, she released her debut solo single “Ce-ți cântă dragostea”, which reached number one and has over 33 million views on YouTube.

The artist was reconfirmed as Romania’s entrant for Eurovision soon after the cancellation last year. She released new music in the meantime, with her Eurovision song released on March 4th.

The song is thematically about self-neglect and portrays someone caught up in society who forget to take care of themselves. The artist starts the song by describing an ideal girl “like a summer day she could push the night so far away”. But, as goes on, she reveals that there is much more than the eye can see. She continues describing her own negative experiences. “If you feel what I feel, see what I see, don’t bring yourself down”.

She goes on, blaming the complications of the modern world for her poor state. “Oh, I lost myself tryna have it all, the world feels in a rush and they say they know it all”. She describes the experience as “self-love amnesia”, forgetting to meet her own personal needs. And then she speaks to the audience saying “don’t worry if it got you”. She reminds us it’s okay to fall into a bad state “cause you’re not alone, not alone”.

She continues blaming modern life for the troubled condition we find ourselves in and warns us not to become attached to it. “Giving all they want might make you lose control, people always say ‘be careful watch you wish for’”. But says, no matter how much we neglect ourselves, we can always take time to ourselves. She said:

“Self love, it’s never gone, self love, put it back on”. It’s a lot more positive than “Alcohol You”, actually telling us the possibility and importance of looking after ourselves. It’s a very effective message from the young singer, and will definitely be appreciated by her fans and the Eurovision audience. Don’t feel bad for looking after yourself, y’all!”

Placing 29th in Eurovision 2021, here’s Roxen with “Amnesia”:

Last, but certainly not least, placing #18 is a Norwegian musician, record producer and songwriter from Bærum, Norway. He represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with this song.

He has Tourette syndrome, a condition characterized by involuntary movements called tics. During his childhood he was bullied for his condition and called “tics”, which he later turned into his stage name.

Besides being a musician, the artist is a mental health awareness advocate, and has shared his experiences with suffering from Tourette syndrome, loneliness and suicidal thoughts.

Without further ado, here’s TIX with “Fallen Angel”:

That’s a wrap for this week – see you on the dance floor! Please continue to stay safe and healthy!

Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:  

I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, Callie of JAmerican Spice, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!