This new project harks back to our previous show 1973, created at the Festival d’Avignon in 2010, which was a reenactment of the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. So why return to the idea of the Eurovision Contest? Because it allows us to get a better idea of the commercial and standardised features of today’s music. Be­cause it raises questions about identity: of the different participating countries and of Europe as a community – especially as Europe is becoming more fragile and notions of what it means are being reassessed. Because the idea of competition affects all aspects of our contemporary world: political, social, economic, sporting and cultural.
Just as with 1973, the visual dimensions of scenography, lighting, costumes and choreography are a vital part of the project. However, this time it is not about re­creating past performances, but rather making up an entirely new contest that will focus on the song lyrics. We have given the task of writing these texts to thinkers (philosophers, historians, anthropologists, etc.). For form, the texts follow the poe­tical codes of song, that is, a structure including verses and a chorus, which may be rhymed. For content, however, it is not a question of poetry, lyricism or emotions, but rather of considering sociological, anthropological or philosophical aspects of our contemporary world. The authors have therefore begun with an idea and then have sought to give it the form of a song.

With the European Philosophical Song Contest, our aim is to respond indirectly and with humour to the growing contempt that populist discourse displays toward in­tellectuals and to the disappearance of thought from the public space in favour of entertainment. Using the ruse of the Trojan horse, we are reintroducing thought and philosophical reflection into the heart of entertainment by means of a musi­cal show that is both entirely credible in terms of the standards of popular music (rock, pop, latino, disco, etc.), but that at the same time through the lyrics stresses the importance of thought and reflection. The most important thing for us is for thought to be present in the public space and for it to be heard, shared and un­derstood. In order to do this, we have also put thought and thinkers in a position that required from them to deal with popular culture, taking it seriously and using it intelligently.
A jury is also present at the contest. It is made up of intellectuals – specialists in contemporary history, philosophy, ecology, anthropology, environmental science, etc. After each song, the members of the jury comment on and discuss the themes evoked by the lyrics. This panel of experts reflects the many televised programmes that use specialists to comment on the performance of candidates in all kinds of domains, from music to sport, from dance to cooking. The critical dialogue de­veloped by the members of the jury plays a key role in the show and is a further opportunity to put thought and reflection at the centre of the proceedings. They lead, at every performance, to unique debates, learned and fascinating, funny and unexpected. Along with the songs, they help take stock of contemporary thought by showing, with humour and yet serious consideration, the beauty and pleasure of thinking and reflecting.

Massimo Furlan e Claire De Rabaupierre

Massimo Furlan, biography