Moment of Silence (song) explained
Moment of Silence |
Cover: | Moment of Silence (song) cover.jpg |
Artist: | Ovidiu Anton |
Released: | 2016 |
Length: | 2:59 |
Producer: | Liviu Sorescu |
Genre: | Gothic rock |
Misc: | Embed: | yes | Song: | "Moment of Silence" | Year: | 2016 | Country: | Romania | Artist: | Ovidiu Anton | Languages: | English | Composer: | Ovidiu Anton | Lyricist: | Ovidiu Anton | Place: | Disqualified | Prev: | De la capăt | Prev Year: | 2015 | Prev Link: | De la capăt | Next: | Yodel It! | Next Year: | 2017 | Next Link: | Yodel It! |
|
"Moment of Silence" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Ovidiu Anton. It was written and composed by himself, while production was handled by Liviu Sorescu. A gothic-inspired pop rock track featuring an electric guitar solo throughout, "Moment of Silence" acts as a homage to the victims of the 2015 Colectiv nightclub fire. It received mixed reviews from music critics, with one likening it to the works of Swedish band Europe. At the 2017 Radio România Actualități Awards, the track won in the Best Pop Rock Song category.
Winning the Romanian pre-selection show Selecția Națională, "Moment of Silence" was selected to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden. However, Romania was forced to withdraw from the contest due to defaulted payments by the nation's broadcaster, TVR. Anton had promoted his intended Eurovision participation with live performances in Amsterdam and London, as well as on native Românii au talent. On 14 July 2016, "Moment of Silence" was digitally released as a single through Roton. It also received a music video, which was uploaded onto the label's YouTube channel the day prior.
Background and reception
Premiered on his YouTube channel on 8 February 2016,[1] "Moment of Silence" was written and composed by Ovidiu Anton, while production was handled by Liviu Sorescu.[2] Although withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, it was featured on the contest's official compilation, Eurovision Song Contest: Stockholm 2016, released on 15 April 2016.[3] "Moment of Silence" is a "song of the soul, for the souls", acting as a homage to the victims of the 2015 Colectiv nightclub fire.[4] A gothic-inspired pop rock track,[5] [6] it contains an electric guitar solo throughout.
"Moment of Silence" received mixed reviews from music critics. In a Wiwibloggs review containing several reviews from individual critics, the song received praise for its cohesivity and anthemic nature, as well as for Anton's emotional vocal delivery, but was criticized for the lack of connection it creates with the listener. Overall, the reviewers on the website gave the song 5.55 out of 10 points.[7] A Eurovision.de writer likened "Moment of Silence" to the works of Swedish band Europe.[8] At the 2017 Radio România Actualități Awards, the track won Best Pop Rock Song, while receiving a nomination for Song of the Year.[9]
Eurovision attempt and promotion
See main article: Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The Romanian Television (TVR) opened a submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries between 8 and 10 February 2016 to the Selecția Națională, in order to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.[10] A jury panel made up of music professionals rated all songs, revealing their 12 finalists on 11 February.[11] [12] During the contest's semi-final held on 4 March, Anton qualified for the final in first place, gaining 54 points from the jury. On the latter occasion two days later, he was chosen to represent Romania at Eurovision, with 6,585 televotes.[13] [14] During Anton's performance, he was accompanied by a sword dancer and several backing vocalists—including singer Teodora Dinu.[15] [16] Irving Wolther of Eurovision.de applauded the singer's vocals, but deemed his show as "lifeless".
Romania was originally planned to perform in the contest's second semi-final, but was eventually forced to withdraw. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced on 22 April 2016 that TVR had repeatedly failed to pay debts totalling CHF 16 million (€14.56 million) by 20 April, the deadline set by the EBU. TVR's failure to repay their debts resulted in their withdrawal from the EBU, and consequently Romania's withdrawal from the contest.[17] This led to strong reactions against the decision, including from Anton.[18] [19] He was eventually invited by Moldova's TeleRadio-Moldova (TRM) to accompany their entrant Lidia Isac on the Eurovision stage, with the intent of singing "Falling Stars" as a duet, but he declined the offer.[20]
In order to promote Anton's intended Eurovision participation, he had performed "Moment of Silence" at Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam,[21] as well as at the London Eurovision event in London in April 2016.[22] He also appeared on the third semi-final of the sixth season of Românii au talent in May.[23] Other performances of "Moment of Silence" include at the Selecția Națională 2017,[24] and at the 2018 Golden Stag Festival,[25] during which he acted as the representative for Romania.
Anton version
Moment of Silence |
Cover: | Anton Moment of Silence Artwork.png |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Anton |
Released: | 14 July 2016 |
Genre: | Pop rock |
Length: | 3:02 |
Label: | Roton |
Producer: | Liviu Sorescu |
Chronology: | Anton |
Prev Title: | Suntem brazi |
Prev Year: | 2017 |
Next Title: | Amintirea ta |
Next Year: | 2018 |
"Moment of Silence" was eventually released as a single by Ovidiu Anton as part of his band Anton, consisting of him on vocals, alongside Cristi Gram, Fernando Drăgănici, Dani Vlad and Liviu Sorescu on instruments.[26] It was made available for digital download on 14 July 2016 by Roton. In comparison to the original recording, the single version was remastered, opting for a more rock sound, and has the guitar played by Gram in the foreground.[27] An accompanying music video was uploaded onto Roton's YouTube channel on 13 July 2016,[28] featuring Anton performing the track in a "deserted attic".
Track listing
- "Moment of Silence" – 3:02
Release history
Notes and References
- News: 8 February 2016 . Ovidiu Anton – Moment Of Silence (Eurovision 2016) . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171017232318/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkeUCZAynx0 . 2017-10-17.
- News: Bejan, Anca . 15 March 2016 . Ovidiu Anton: "Avem nevoie de sponsori ca să ne putem promova" . ro . Ovidiu Anton: "We need sponsors to promote ourselves" . Click! . 13 February 2019.
- Web site: Eurovision Song Contest 2016 Stockholm by Various Artists on iTunes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160417105945/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/eurovision-song-contest-2016/id1098144806 . 2016-04-17 . 13 April 2016 . iTunes Store.
- News: Marica, Irina . 7 March 2016 . Who will represent Romania at the 2016 Eurovision? . Romania Insider . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160529091315/http://www.romania-insider.com/who-will-represent-romania-at-the-2016-eurovision/ . 2016-05-29.
- News: 8 March 2016 . Ovidiu Anton: Gothich rock song for Romania . de . Wolther, Irving . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170205174345/http://www.eurovision.de/news/Ovidiu-Anton-startet-beim-ESC-fuer-Rumaenien,rumaenien366.html . 2017-02-05.
- News: 22 April 2016 . Romania: First country to ever be kicked out of Eurovision . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171215204402/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/04/22/romania-first-country-to-ever-be-kicked-out-of-eurovision/ . 2017-12-15.
- News: Honciuc, Bogdan . 29 February 2016 . Wiwi Jury: Romania's Ovidiu Anton with "Moment of Silence" . . 13 February 2019.
- News: Rumänien: Ovidiu Anton - "Moment Of Silence" . de . Romania: Ovidiu Anton – Moment of Silence . . live . 14 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160421000008/http://www.eurovision.de/videos/2016/Offizielles-Video-zu-Moment-Of-Silence-von-Ovidiu-Anton,rumaenien376.html . 2016-04-21.
- News: Constanda, Alexandra . 25 April 2017 . Câştigători Premiile Muzicale Radio România 2017: cine sunt cei mai buni artişti şi cele mai bune piese . ro . 2017 Radio România Awards: who are the best artists and songs . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180525182916/http://adevarul.ro/entertainment/muzica/castigatori-premiile-muzicale-radio-romania-2017-cei-mai-buni-artisti-cele-mai-bune-piese-video-1_58fe67d85ab6550cb885ec8f/index.html . 2018-05-25.
- Web site: 15 January 2016 . Încep înscrierile pentru Eurovision 2016 . Submissions begin for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 national selection . https://web.archive.org/web/20160119145603/http://eurovision.tvr.ro/articole/selectia-nationala/incep-inscrierile-pentru-eurovision-2016/ . 19 January 2016 . 15 January 2016 . . ro.
- Web site: 15 January 2015 . Eurovision 2016 Regulament privind Selecția Națională . Selecția Națională rules . https://web.archive.org/web/20160122092523/http://eurovision.tvr.ro/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/REGULAMENT_EUROVISION_2016.pdf . 22 January 2016 . 15 January 2015 . . ro.
- Web site: 11 February 2016 . TVR a anunțat cele 12 piese calificate la Selecția Națională . TVR has announced the 12 entries qualified for the Selecția Națională . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160214000200/http://www.tvr.ro/tvr-a-anuntat-cele-12-piese-calificate-la-selectia-nationala_15519.html . 2016-02-14 . 11 February 2016 . . ro.
- News: Ștefan, Carmen . 4 March 2016 . Ei sunt cei șase finaliști la Eurovision România 2016 – Totul despre semifinală . ro . They are the six finalists for the Romanian national selection – All about the semi-final . Click! . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160410064455/http://www.click.ro/vedete/romanesti/semifinala-eurovision-romania-2016-ce-se-intampla-pas-cu-pas . 2016-04-10.
- News: Leon, Jakov . 6 March 2016 . Ovidiu Anton wins Selecţia Naţionala in Romania! . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180513215912/https://eurovision.tv/story/ovidiu-anton-wins-selectia-nationala-in-romania . 2018-05-13.
- News: Morton, Elise . 10 May 2016 . On song: 10 new east Eurovision hopefuls every self-respecting fan should know about . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117085139/http://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/5979/eurovision-song-contest-sergei-lazarev-jamala-IVAN-poli-genova-ManuElla . 2017-11-17.
- News: Solomon, Tatiana . 10 March 2016 . Ovidiu Anton plăteşte scump victoria de la Eurovision România . ro . Ovidiu Anton 'pays' for his victory at Eurovision Romania . Click! . live . 4 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170206081221/http://www.click.ro/vedete/romanesti/ovidiu-anton-plateste-scump-victoria-de-la-eurovision-romania . 6 February 2017.
- News: 22 April 2016 . TVR (Romania) no longer entitled to take part in Eurovision 2016 . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116055601/https://eurovision.tv/story/tvr-romania-no-longer-entitled-to-take-part-in-eurovision-2016 . 2018-11-16.
- Web site: Albinsson . Mathilde . 22 April 2016 . Efter uteslutningen av Rumänien i Eurovision – nu rasar fansen . After the Romanian disqualification – the fans are raging . https://web.archive.org/web/20160424065009/https://www.svt.se/melodifestivalen/om-esc/efter-uteslutningen-av-rumanien-i-eurovision-song-contest-2016-nu-rasar-fansen . 24 April 2016 . 17 May 2016 . . sv.
- News: Arvunescu, Victor . 15 May 2016 . Ovidiu Anton, despre rezultatul Eurovision 2016: "Dacă nu eşti controversat, nu exişti în showbiz" . ro . Ovidiu Anton, about Eurovision 2016: "If you don't have controversy, you don't exist" . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170903033142/http://adevarul.ro/entertainment/muzica/ovidiu-anton-despre-rezultatul-eurovision-2016-daca-nu-controversat-nu-existi-showbiz-1_57389ecc5ab6550cb8f6b386/index.html . 2017-09-03.
- News: Honciuc, Bogdan . 25 April 2016 . Ovidiu Anton declines Moldova's invitation to perform with Lidia Isac at Eurovision . . 13 February 2019.
- News: 9 April 2016 . Ovidiu Anton Romania 2016 "Moment of Silence" Live at Eurovision in Concert . . 13 February 2019.
- News: 17 April 2016 . ESCKAZ in London: Ovidiu Anton (Romania) - Moment of Silence (at London Eurovision) . . 13 February 2019.
- News: Costache, Alina . 13 May 2016 . Andra şi-a lăsat fanii fără răsuflare . ro . Andra left her fans breatheless . Romania TV . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181220235448/http://www.romaniatv.net/romanii-au-talent-andra-si-a-lasat-fanii-fara-rasuflare-cu-ce-decolteu-a-aparut-in-semifinala_292358.html#n#n . 2018-12-20.
- News: Cojan, Liliana . 13 January 2017 . Ovidiu Anton a făcut pace cu TVR . ro . Ovidiu Anton has reconciled with TVR . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170114182536/http://www.evz.ro/ovidiu-anton-a-facut-pace-cu-tvr-o-fac-pentru-fanii-eurovision.html . 2017-01-14.
- News: 1 September 2018 . Ovidiu Anton - Moment of Silence (Live @ Golden Stag 2018) . . 13 February 2019.
- News: Chirilă, Raluca . 22 August 2018 . Cine reprezintă România la Cerbul de Aur 2018? . ro . Who represents Romania at the Golden Stag 2018? . InfoMusic . 13 February 2019.
- News: Constanda, Alexandra . 14 July 2016 . Ovidiu Anton şi trupa sa au lansat videoclipul oficial "Moment of Silence", piesa ce ar fi trebuit să reprezinte România la Eurovision 2016 . Ovidiu Anton and his band have released the music video to "Moment of Silence", the song that was intended to represent Romania at Eurovision 2016 . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161023032546/http://adevarul.ro/entertainment/muzica/ovidiu-anton-trupa-lansat-videoclipul-oficial-moment-of-silence-piesa-trebuit-reprezinte-romania-eurovision-2016-video-1_5787792c5ab6550cb8d98905/index.html . 2016-10-23.
- News: 13 July 2016 . Anton – Moment Of Silence (Official Video) . . live . 13 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170814215428/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02t5B1et6OM . 2017-08-14.
- News: Moment of Silence – Single by Anton on iTunes . . 12 February 2019.