Solo (Blanka song) explained

Solo
Cover:Solo (Blanka song).jpeg
Alt:The official cover for "Solo"
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Blanka
Genre:tropical house, dance pop
Length:2:34
Label:Warner Music Poland
Composer:
  • Blanka Stajkow
  • Maciej Puchalski
  • Mikołaj Trybulec
  • Bartłomiej Rzeczycki
  • Marcin Górecki
Lyricist:
  • Blanka Stajkow
  • Maria Broberg
  • Julia Sundberg
Producer:
  • Tribbs
  • Puchalski
Chronology:Blanka
Prev Title:Better
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Boys Like Toys
Next Year:2023
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "Solo"
Year:2023
Country:Poland
Artist:Blanka
Language:English
Place:19th
Points:93
Place Semi:3rd
Points Semi:124
Prev:River
Prev Year:2022
Prev Link:River (Krystian Ochman song)
Next:The Tower
Next Year:2024
Next Link:The Tower (Luna song)

"Solo" is a song by Polish singer and model Blanka, released on 23 September 2022.[1] It represented Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 after winning Polish: Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję, Poland's national final for that year's Eurovision Song Contest.[2] [3] The song finished 19th with 93 points.[4] It reached number one in Lithuania and Poland, later certified diamond in Poland for estimated sales of 250,000 units.

Background and composition

According to Blanka, the song is about a relationship that is one-sided and a "sham", where one loses "their head for someone" yet the other person in the relationship is "playing [with them]."[5] The song represents her belief that "sometimes it's worth being alone and that's OK... we can get to know ourselves better and see that the other person may not be the best for us."[6]

Eurovision Song Contest

See main article: Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Polish: Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję

Polish: Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję ("Here beats the heart of Europe! We choose the hit for Eurovision") was the national final organised by TVP that selected the Polish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The show will be held on 26 February 2023, with 10 artists and their songs competing.[7] [8] The winner was determined by a 50/50 combination of votes from a five-member professional jury and a public vote. In the event of a tie, the tie would be decided in favour of the jury.[9]

On 15 February 2023, "Solo" was announced as one of the ten songs competing in the contest.[10] [11] Heading into the final, the song wasn't considered a heavy favorite to win the contest, being beat out by what was considered the favorite according to a Eurovision fan-site poll, Jann's "Gladiator".[12] In the final, the song would manage to score 22 points, earning 12 points from the juries and placing second in the public vote. As a result, the song went on to represent Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 31 January 2023, an allocation draw was held, which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, and determined which half of the show they would perform in. Poland had been placed into the second semi-final, which was held on 11 May 2023, and performed in the second half of the show.[13] The song was announced as one of the qualifiers to move onto the grand final, and was drawn to perform fourth in a field of 26 songs.[14] In the final, the song finished in 19th place, scoring 93 points: 81 points from televoting and 12 points from juries.

Controversy

The song's win in Polish: Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję sparked controversy in Poland due to alleged rigged votes and corruption within the jury panel for the national selection.[15]

Before the contest, the opening line of the song, "Baby / It's kind of crazy", became an Internet meme due to Blanka's pronunciation of the opening line. Over time, the line would be mocked, with Polish media and people coining the term ", it's kajna krejsa", with the term becoming popular across Poland to both mock TVP and Blanka. Blanka would respond by wearing a dress during the contest's Turquoise Carpet before the contest, wearing a green dress with the word "Bejba" written in pink at the back of her dress.[16] After she qualified from the second semi-final, in a response to a question about the song's promotion and widespread phenomenon as a meme, Blanka would say "Well, I want to thank all the haters because they really motivated me... I really hope that I can make my country really proud in the finals."[17]

Track listing

Digital download / streaming[18]

  1. "Solo" 2:34

Digital download / streaming – Christmas Bell version[19]

  1. "Solo" (Christmas Bell version) [Live] 2:43
  2. "Solo" 2:34

Digital download / streaming – Audiosoulz remix[20]

  1. "Solo" (Audiosoulz remix) 2:38

Digital download / streaming – Acoustic version[21]

  1. "Solo" (Acoustic) [Live] 2:43
  2. "Solo" 2:34

Digital download / streaming – SMYLES remix[22]

  1. "Solo" (SMYLES remix) 2:24

Digital download / streaming – Sped up version[23]

  1. "Solo" (Sped up version)" 2:11

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022–2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[24] 12
Germany Downloads (GfK Entertainment)[25] 36
Greece International (IFPI)[26] 24
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[27] 11
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 85
Latvia Airplay (TopHit)33
Lithuania (AGATA)[29] 1
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)10
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[30] 1
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 3
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[32] 169

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
Poland (ZPAV)[33] 87
Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[34] 16

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Solo"
RegionDateFormat(s)VersionLabel(s)
Various23 September 2022Original
15 December 2022Christmas Bell
20 December 2022Audiosoulz remix
3 January 2023Acoustic
5 May 2023SMYLES remix
11 May 2023Sped up
Italy22 May 2023Radio airplayOriginalWarner[35]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 23 September 2022 . Blanka zaczyna "Solo". Kim jest 23-letnia piękność z Polski? . 26 February 2023 . Interia Muzyka . pl.
  2. Web site: Hendryk . Tom . 26 February 2023 . BLANKA wins Poland's Tu bije serce Europy 2023 and will sing "Solo" at Eurovision . 26 February 2023 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: 26 February 2023 . Blanka wins Poland's Eurovision pre-selection with 'Solo' . 26 February 2023 . . en.
  4. Web site: Results of the Grand Final of Liverpool 2023 - Eurovision Song Contest . 2023-05-15 . eurovision.tv.
  5. Web site: 23 September 2022 . Blanka zaczyna "Solo". Kim jest 23-letnia piękność z Polski? . 26 February 2023 . Interia Muzyka . pl.
  6. Web site: Królak . Sergeiusz . 23 February 2023 . "Wszystko jest w rękach ludzi i Boga". 23-latka przed życiową szansą . 26 February 2023 . Plejada . pl.
  7. Web site: S.A . Telewizja Polska . Eurowizja 2023. Kandydaci mogą zgłaszać swoje muzyczne propozycje . Eurovision 2023. Candidates can now send in their musical proposals . 2022-10-26 . rozrywka.tvp.pl . pl.
  8. Web site: 2022-09-19 . Eurowizja 2023: TVP ogłasza preselekcje! Kiedy finał? . Eurovision 2023: TVP announces preselections! When is the final? . 2022-10-26 . Eurowizja.org . OGAE Polska . pl-PL.
  9. Web site: 2023-02-22 . Eurowizja 2023: polskie preselekcje ze zmianą w zasadach głosowania. . 2023-02-22 . Eurowizja.org . pl-PL.
  10. Web site: 2023-02-15 . Eurowizja 2023: oto uczestnicy polskich preselekcji! Kto wystąpi 26 lutego? . 2023-02-15 . Eurowizja.org - najwięcej o Eurowizji . pl-PL.
  11. Web site: 15 February 2023 . Poland reveals its Eurovision pre-selection lineup . 15 February 2023 . . en.
  12. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 26 February 2023 . Poll results: Jann should win Poland's Tu bije serce Europy 2023 according to our readers . 26 February 2023 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: Groot . Evert . 2023-01-31 . Eurovision 2023: Allocation Draw results . 2022-01-31 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
  14. Web site: 11 May 2023 . Eurovision 2023: The Grand Final running order . 13 May 2023 . . . en.
  15. Web site: 2023-03-06 . Eurowizja 2023: zagraniczne media o skandalu w Polsce. "Podejrzenie korupcji w wyborze" . 2023-03-16 . Eurowizja.org - najwięcej o Eurowizji . pl-PL.
  16. Web site: Chojnacka . Joanna . 9 May 2023 . O co chodzi z tym "BEJBA"? Blanka pokazała dystans . What's up with this "Bejba"? Blanka showed the distance . 13 May 2023 . Gazeta.pl . pl.
  17. Web site: Choinski . Robert . 12 May 2023 . Zaskakujące słowa Blanki po występie na Eurowizji: "Dziękuję hejterom" . Eurovision 2023. Blanka's surprising words at the press conference: "Thank you to the haters" . 13 May 2023 . Glamour Poland . pl-PL.
  18. Web site: Solo – Single by Blanka. iTunes. 26 February 2023.
  19. Web site: Solo (Christmas Bell Version) [Live] – Single by Blanka]. iTunes. 26 February 2023.
  20. Web site: Solo (Audiosoulz Remix) – Single by Blanka. iTunes. 26 February 2023.
  21. Web site: Solo (Acoustic) [Live] – Single by Blanka]. iTunes. 26 February 2023.
  22. Web site: Solo (SMYLES Remix) – Single by Blanka. iTunes. 5 May 2023.
  23. Web site: Solo (Sped Up Version) – Single by Blanka. iTunes. 11 May 2023.
  24. Web site: Rádio Top 100 – Blanka – Solo. May 22, 2023. May 22, 2023. ČNS IFPI. cs.
  25. Web site: Download Charts Single – Aktualisiert am: 22.05.2023. mtv.de. German. https://archive.today/20230523195451/https://www.mtv.de/info/b45gik/download-charts-single. 23 May 2023. 23 May 2023.
  26. Web site: IFPI Charts . ifpi.gr . 24 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230525081000/https://ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. 25 May 2023.
  27. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. Plötutíðindi. 20 May 2023. 20 May 2023. https://archive.today/20230520213300/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. 20 May 2023. is.
  28. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 20 May 2023.
  29. Web site: 2023 18-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. 5 May 2023. 5 May 2023.
  30. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie. OLiS. pl. 26 May 2023. Select week 12.05.2023–18.05.2023..
  31. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 20. Sverigetopplistan. 19 May 2023.
  32. Web site: Solo – Blanka. TopHit. 14 April 2023.
  33. Web site: Airplay 2022 – najpopularniejsze radiowe single. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. pl. 26 February 2023.
  34. Web site: Top 100 OLiS – single w streamie 2023. OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. pl. 16 February 2024.
  35. Web site: Blanka 'Solo' (Radio Date: 22/05/2023). Radiodate.it. it. Raffaella. Tenaglia. Warner Music Group. 24 May 2023.