NationStates Jolt Archive

"Welcome to Na~ovi kali!" - "Hos geldiniz Na~ovi'da!" - "Isana veka Na~ovi'ra kali!" Banners in different languages greeted the foreign guests in the rejistanian coastal city. The Concert hall is located in the Vaijama kalesa, which is near Hariamela beach (which is about the only location most rejistanis know about Na~ovi kali).

The stage is made of a hard plastic and below it are lights in different colors, behind the stage is a white canvas, which can be used to show animations to support the performance.

The announcer for this event is again radio speaker Hana Kansu, a small (by international standards), black woman with long, curvy hair. She was selected because she speaks English very well and with nearly no accent (except during exciting situations) and looks hot. She is wearing a long dress in green with blue ornaments in a traditional style.

"Welcome to the second NSVision Song Contest! Welcome here to set a sign against war and hate and meet in the spirit of fairness and competition! These are no times for hate and I hope that especially the people in Fattyboland will learn that lesson! I am glad to see you all here in Na~ovi kali as well as in front of the television! Let this show begin!"

The songs in this competition:
Spruitland - Jackson Starr - Nurse, my temperature’s rising
Bazalonia - Malcom Jones - Over the Hill
Pablicosta - GoGoGo - Good Times
Rejistania - Kansu ve Karma - Silence between the stars
Lord of Hosts - Charles Rozenbaum - "Praise the Lord."
Der Angst - Melissa Miyazaki - Lick me out
Mega gning - Gianna Rianna - i'm in the mood for drinking banana milkshake
Quakmybush - Crass of the Organ Verbal -
Kajal - Iu - Sound of Her Voice
Wentland - Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear - Alan Price
Fattyboland - Harry - The Alphabet
Funnia Lan - Spirit - Bridge
Liverpool England - Ijanna Ristovsk - Soon...
New Montreal States - Mais Criez Donc -
Bears Armed - Urratharra - Peace

OOC: please post detailled about the performance, about the text and about the songs! If you are not in this list despite having posted in the signup-thread, please read the signups the next time. NMS was added only because I liked their signup-posting despite the error.
Voting: Later the participating nations assign votes to the different participating nations. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points are assigned. In the end, the nation with the most points wins and gains hosting rights for the 3rd installment.

Malcolm Jones Had arrived in Rejistania, despite being harrased by a reasonably small bunch of Rejistanian youths shouting pro-marijuana slogans and various Free Brooke. Statements after being harrassed for 10 minutes he finally told them where to go shove it.

"Look, I don't know what the heck you think I can do about Brooke. It's not like I'm a member of Parliment or anything. But I am here and she is not. I don't know what this has to do with you slani Rejistanis anyway. I think she'll be in court during ther contest anyway. She should get put away."

Later that night it was almost an entirely different Bazalonian entering Na~ovi kali, Being dressed up but not in a black dinner suit it was a black sports jacket ontop of a brown shirt with black trousers. He looked good and entered backstage he was surprised to find that he was the first on. The backing band was there all set up and ready and he was on first.

Anyway, time for the performance...

The soft rhythm of the music started and Malcolm was no where to be seen on the stage. When the time came in the music for him to sing his voice came over the speakers as he walked on. The words echoed throughout the concert hall, movements subdued but full of the emotions of the words.

I'm looking to the future, trying to see what is there.
looking towards a bright hope or the dim dark despair.
but there is no crystal ball or sign to show me the way
no way to know who will to take the lead or steal the day.

[chorus]
For I'm looking over the hill trying to imagine what is there
I'm looking over the hill dreaming what it will be like there
I'm looking over the hill trying to feel it's grass in my hair
I'm looking over the hill and I do not know what will be there

I'm looking to the future, trying to see what is there.
looking for a flying car or will that not be there?
looking to great uncertainty and no on knows what to do.
No one knows what, no one knows how but it comes up right now.

[chorus]

[bridge]
Over the hill lies the future. Hidden over it's crest.
No way, no chance to see what the future holds for us
Only until it comes and we are over the hill is the future revealed to us

[chorus]

No more looking at the future, We are right now
No more looking at the future, wondering at how
No more looking at the future, Not wishing to know
No more looking at the future, what it has in tow

Over the hill..... Over the Hill... Over the hill
The future... Over the hill. It will be there once we go
Over the hill.


The first verse showed A hill blocking the way then a Crystal Ball and a sign on the hill disappeared. The chorus showed movement over the hill the camera zooming over the rolling hills. Which stoped infront of another hill much similiar to the first, an artists impression of what a flying car would look like appeared from up behind the hill and then faded into non-existance during the second line. The rest of the verse showed a larged question mark. The next chorus was the same as the fother choruses and the bridge saw the hill they stop at turn into a large wall covering up the entire screen the revet back to the hill for the 3rd chorus. The last verse saw a change from looking at the future symbolised by turning 90 degrees and looking down the valley representing now. Now saw friends and family, fun and games. And then goes to the coda. which saw a figure walk over the hill embracing the future as it comes.

An elderly couple watching TV at home flicking through the channels...

"Oh lord, they're holding another NSVision Song Contest?"

"Really? I wonder how Schiavonia do."

"I don't think we're in it this year."

"Oh. Why not?"

"Can you remember the last one?"

"Mavis, I forget my own name sometimes!"

"The cheese song. We came last. We were almost even beaten by Oliverry."

"How does that work?"

"What?"

"Coming last, but almost being beaten by someone? Surely that means we beat them?"

"Oliverry didn't enter."

"Ah."

"So they thought that we'd better not turn up for a few years. Just out of shame, really."

"Oh. So why are we still watching it?"

"Because you've got the remote control."

"I did? Oh hell, don't say I've lost it again."

"You mean..."

"Looks like we're stuck with NSVision."

"Blimey."

Jackson Starr was in that special place, somewhere between fear and excitement, between concentration and anticipation, that unique feeling he loved to hate, seconds before going on stage for a performance. He had been there many thousands of times, but the feeling was still as strong as it had been at age twelve, when he traveled from karaoke bar to karaoke bar with his parents.

When the Bazalonian dude was done with his performance, Jackson only noticed it because of the mixture of applause and boos that managed to break through his concentration for a moment. He had seen the act during rehearsals, and it wasn’t his style. Bit too mushy, heavy-handed and vague to his taste. Not like Jackson’s song, which was joyful, and dealt with a topic that was close to the hearts of the people. But he knew the boos of the Rejistanian audience had very little to do with the Bazalonian song itself, but more with external events, so this Malcolm Whatshisname wasn’t out of the race yet. He wouldn’t get many votes from the Spruitland audience though, Jackson would help make sure of that.

But this was not the time to dwell on it too much. His own momenth of truth was nearing fast now. A surge of stage fright briefly took control of him. As if she sensed it, Hazel, his lead background singer/dancer, gave him a little squeeze in the shoulders from behind his back.

“Blow’m away, Big Starr.”

Ten seconds, the stage master signaled, and Jackson zoned back into his trance with ease, letting his experience take over. He had nothing to worry about. He knew this song by heart. It was his biggest hit. Spruitland had gone crazy for it. In a few minutes, the rest of the world would follow.

Whatever introduction he had gotten, it had now ended. Jackson saw the lights change on stage. And then the music started. Joyful, uplifting, catchy music.

The Klini Klowns danced onto the stage in their skimpy outfits – two feet long clown shoes, red curly wig, clown nose, and red bikinis with white polka dots. They did a little choreography across the stage, until they came together in two rows.

“Is it getting hot inhere?” the front girl asked the audience, putting the back of her hand to her forehead.

Then Jackson appeared. He was in a wheelchair, dressed in nothing but a hospital gown, and pushed by a sexy nurse in a miniskirt. The music swelled. The nurse drove the wheelchair through the rows of Klini Klowns, who ooooh-ed and aaaah-ed, with perfect timing: they reached the front of the stage, Jackson stood up and put the microphone to his lips just as the music switched and the drums took over.


(background singers’ lyrics in parenthesis)

My temperature is rising (ah, rising)
My resistance is getting low (ooh, uh-oh!)
So I hurry to the hospital (better hurry baby)
Because that’s the place to go
When my body’s turning up the heat
And my breath is a furnace blast
I check in with my favorite nurse
And say “Honey it’s rising fast!”

It’s rising fast
Mama mia
It’s rising fast
Oh boy (Oh boy)

Jackson’s part in the choreography was rather limited. He made some simple dance moves, occasionally moved a few feet left or right, but the big movements happened around him. The Klini Klowns danced in a big circle around Jackson, constantly switching positions, while the nurse stayed close to him, performing a provocative pole-dancer-style routine by his side, then putting her hands on his shoulders and moving to his other side to show off her features to another section of the audience.

But despite all that, Jackson remained the center of attention. His poise was self-confident, and his subtle hand and head motions were perfectly timed. His act – as if he was surrounded by these twenty gorgeous women for the very first time – could only be the result of years of practice.


I am shivering
And I’m covered in sweat
I am absolutely soaking wet

It’s rising fast
Mama mia
It’s rising fast
I stand aghast
Nurse please tell me what to do
‘cause I am sick with heat - for you!

God Bless modern medicine
For providing this cure for me
To bring my temperature back down
The nurse gets down on her knees
And with skillful expertise
She takes away my pain
But by the time I’ve paid my bill
It’s starting to rise again! (not again?)

It’s rising fast
Mama mia
It’s rising fast
Oh Boy
(help him, nurse!)
It’s rising fast
Mama mia
It’s rising fast
Oh Boy!


As the music swelled to its final climax, the nurse moved behind Jackson, kneeled, and leaned forward slightly. She put her hands on his butt cheecks.

“Hey, where did my thermometer go, honey?”

The music climaxed with a bang, and Jackson swung around, putting his back to the audience for the first time since entering the stage. His arms were raised high, spreading the back-less hospital gown open as wide as possible. A long, fat joint was dangling down from between his butt cheecks. Written on the left cheeck was the word “FREE”, on the right cheeck was “BROOKE”.

The songs in this competition:
Lord of Hosts - Boy Choir of the Grand Gushchalav Synagogue - Ya Habibi ul-Rachimi
Please check again my post. I'm quite sure the Boy Choir won only 232,144 votes, whereas I won 819,478 votes, winning the preliminary competition by a margin of 251,836 votes. I protest!

----

Cantor Charles Rozenbaum

Please check again my post. I'm quite sure the Boy Choir won only 232,144 votes, whereas I won 819,478 votes, winning the preliminary competition by a margin of 251,836 votes. I protest!

----

Cantor Charles Rozenbaum

Excuse my mistake. Since rejistanis use another writing system, someone read the vote number of the competitor as written with rejistani decimal places. The responsible person has already been fired.

Kuris Jeri, president of the ISRRvTM

Simon Smith was a little bit concerned. Bruin had been off his honey in rehearsals; surely he had not got the sniff of other bears? It was going to make his performance in the NSvision contest a little bit tricky. Especially with his extensive backing musicians.

But he was drawn to go on third, so hopefully any problem with the dancing bear would be alleviated by the early start.

A mooning competitor was ushered away by a hot babe in nursing uniform and the crowd settled down.

"And now...with his song "Alan Price Set", please welcome Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear!"

A bunch of musicians dressed like ringmasters shuffled to the back of the stage and struck up a jaunty bouncy tune, with accordian and piano to the fore. Simon Smith himself strode to the front of the stage, with Bruin alongside him ready to perform his special dance; there were oohs from the audience.

Oh, what a day to see some music
And stride out with my pet
There's a great band in the neighbourhood
Called the Alan Price Set
Music
Dancing
Magic
Prancing
Who would think it'd be so great
A keyboard man and his best mates
It's wonderful to see
How great music can be

Smith glanced at Bruin, who was beginning to moan and had not put the full energy into the flip when the second line was sung...Smith had expected huge "ooh"s but instead he only got a smattering...

"Come on, Bruin..." whispered Simon during the instrumental break..."this is our big moment..."


The band's in town for the first time
I want to see them play
Alan Price is my favourite musician
And I'll see him today!
Guitar
Keyboard
You won't
Be board
I have all the records that they have done
Albums, singles, their number one
They're going to put on a great show
And play all those songs that I know


"Bruin, what's up?" The bear was moaning and groaning at something going on offstage. "There's no other bears here..."

But Bruin was not concentrating on his routine and was pawing the stage. The audience was beginning to get excited, not realizing that this was not expected and their applause kept growing.

Simon Smith looked back at the band helplessly. "Guys, we've got to cut this short...it's not working..."

"OK," said the drummer, "let's go straight to the final verse..."


My dancing bear is with me now
His special dance is all the rage
He;s the number one attraction 'round here
Since I rescued him from the cage
Big bear
Moving
And he's
Grooving
He's gonna show all his movements
At the concert he's in his element
And everyone knows we make a pair
Me together with my dancing bear!


Simon finished with a smile on his face, but tears in his eyes...something was definitely wrong with Bruin...he hardly Charlestonned at all in the final verse...

The applause was genuine, no-one realized what had gone wrong with the performance, but Simon Smith repaired quickly back to the green room, whilst an agitated Bruin took an encore set of applause before Simon returned to usher him back. "Come on, Bruin...there's nothing to be afraid of...oh, why did this have to happen tonight?"

We would just like to announce to the public before Harry comes on stage that he is at best a bit violent and not all there. Unfortunatly during the 72 hours of flying and transfering from 6 differant flights Harry became too violent to control and had to be sedated with morphine. The sedation has not yet worn off so Harry may seem a bit more aggiatated then usual. For this reason Harry will be performing in a locked room backstage away from the thousands of cheering NS Vision fans as they may scare him into a violent rage. The audience will be able to watch via the large projection screens and hear through the many speakers hooked up to the microphones place in Harry's room. The National Fattyboland Ballet will be performing their latest piece on stage during Harry's performance. The choreography was designed with Harry's performance in mind - it is entitled "the alphabet ballet". We now go live to the stage.

A light drum roll starts off with the stage glowing in a purple red
ballet dancers in skin tight white leotards run onto stage - there outfits leave nothing to the imagination
They reach their positions on stage then freeze standing perfectly still
The Lights Flash and Harry can now be seen on the screen
"A" he says
The ballet dancers twirl around to form the letter "A" from the air - then freeze
Ding ! - Harry hits a note on his Xylophone - The background light changes to green and another light drum roll can be heard
The dancers twirl back to there original positions and freeze once more
"B" he say
The ballet dancers twirl around to form the letter "B" from the air - then freeze
Dang ! - Harry hits another note on his Xylophone - The background light flashes to a yellow the drum roll starts again
The dancers go back to there original positions and freeze again
Harry looks up towards the camera
he starts to cry and scream
he picks up his xylophone and hurls it towards the camera
the dancers can be seen taking directions from a person back stage - they soon start leaping back and forth trying to get the audiences attention but it doesnt work
On the screen Harry can still be seen and heard having an aggressive tantrum - he now starts pounding himself against a wall
2 men dressed in white come and tackle Harry to the ground while a 3rd man in white injections him with some green fluid
It seems to have an almost immediate effect on Harry and he drops to the ground
As he slumps on the ground you can hear him mumble "no a, b, c, bad"
His head falls and hits the xylopone making a "Bong!" sound
The screen goes black and everyone - audience and staff look stunned
The ballet dancers are still jumping and leaping about - well some of them , most are staring up at the screen with their mouths hanging open
The curtain comes down on the stage
"That was Harry with the Alphabet for Fattyboland"

The organising committee of Original Star (Liverpool England's preliminary contest) are lodging a protest against the Spruitland entry for indecent exposure on an international stage. We hope the NSVision people do something about this.

--Original Star producers and organisers

--------------------------------------

"You can do it, Yan (Ijanna Ristovsk's nickname). Go out there and make the country proud."

"What if they don't get what I'm singing about?"

"Don't worry. It's not difficult to realise that this girl is far from home and her boyfriend, she's working her ass off to get back home but, as the song goes, 'the days are long and the nights are short'. Relax, Yan, you're ready for this."

Ristovsk was far from ready, though. She was a wreck, but she knew surely she couldn't let so many people down... or could she? No, she shouldn't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it.

Dammit, why was she still thinking about it!?

She stepped out onto the stage, and for a moment bright lights blinded her. She waited for her cue, then as the background music started to play, she decided to close her eyes. Don't think about it. Don't think about it. You can do this, Yan.

"The days are long, the nights are short," she began, continuing to repeat her mantra in her head. "I can't wait for it to happen... I'll..." She stalled for just a second. She glanced at her band, and motioned for the chorus. Something obviously wasn't right.

"I'm working on getting home, I can't wait for it to happen... Soon, you will be, mine, soon, I will be yours... Soon, if I don't die.... Soon, you will be... mine."

She staggered a bit, feeling slightly dizzy. She had hardly been on stage a minute, the song was meant to be far longer. As the background music played on, she continued. "I'll wait for you, I hope you'll wait for me..." She cleared her throat slightly. "'cos the days are long and the nights are short, I'm can't wait for it to happen. I'm working on getting home..." as the band built up to the final chorus, "and soon, you will be mine, soon, I will be yours... soon, if I don't die, soon, you will be, mine! Soon, you will be..." Dropping the note slightly, she finished. "... Soon, you will be, mine."

She stumbled off the stage, murmuring to herself: "It's over. It's over. It's over, Yan." Only then did her manager say, "Yan... you missed out about half the song."

The lights on the stage are so dim it appears that they've been turned off. There's complete silence, for a moment, and on the relayed broadcast on S-NET KIANN, "Kann I Kaisa Kan - IU" appears in the lower corner for a moment as a lilting melody begins to play. It subtly wafts upwards in volume, barely noticeable at first, until it reaches full volume. When the first line of lyrics is sung, a single spotlight illuminates IU's lead singer, Keran Shyaal, and each consecutive line reveals the rest of IU.

A steady breakbeat (if there was such a thing) picks up as the second verse begins, and a small but substantial string section is revealed, as the stage lighting is brought up to full in shades of blue.


KANN I KAISA KAN
The Sound of Her Voice
IU

(x3)
Cenn Mi-sur
When I stop
Mi-sherya
I turn around
Mi-iyar kaisa kan...
I hear her voice...

Aisa-i kaa
Memories of life
Calai-ia oai
before all this

O kamoi mi calai
It takes me back
Kann i kaisa kan
the sound of her voice
Oai farai calai
to those past days

Farai, cann, i-cala
Days, months and years
Alarar xhe
pass on by
Es-saan
but still
Mi-aia i kaisa
I think of her

Kaisa kan
Her voice
Kamoi mi calai
brings me back
Iyaa risa
to happiness

An instrumental break introduces a new instrument - a sort of guitar, though it sounds more like a sitar. It introduces a new melody over the strings, which repeats a few times, slightly different. It has a strange sort of sadness to it, almost tangible. Keran appears to be looking at the floor, and appears - for a moment - to be close to tears. The lyrics resume, with a slight shakiness to them that quickly fades.

O kamoi mi calai
It takes me back
Kann i kaisa kan
the sound of her voice
Farai mi-ras kaisa
to the day I lost her

Mi-iluu ar
maybe I should run
Alarur
disappear
I-ras mi-ler
and lose myself

(x2)
Risa i mi-kaa
The love of my life
Kann i kaisa kan
the sound of her voice
O kamoi mi calai
it takes me back

I mi-iyaa sya
And I'd do anything
Iyar sherya
to hear it again...

The stage lighting drops to the single spotlight on the lead singer as he delivers the last stanza, unaccompanied by either the strings or the rest of IU. The song concludes as it began - in total darkness. S-NET KIANN fades the title in again on the corner of their relayed broadcast, and out again just as quickly. Text appears on the screen in the background, lines of white hovering in darkness, in both English and Riikan.

http://palara.sularan.net/warpeace.gif

The text fades, and the stage lights come back up - If the next band wants them to, that is - when the next band begins their performance.

OOC: A note on Riikan - when a hyphen is placed between two words, they are effectively pronounced as one. Calai-ia would sound like Calaia, whilst the line "I-ras mi-ler" would sound like "Iras miler", if you know what I mean.

“Not on the official list of entries?” Urratharra enquired plaintively of Garrthro Troutcatcher, her manager and current mate, “The Minister of Culture said that he would personally send a telegram telling the Reijistani government that I had won our national contest and what my song’s title was…”
“He did, and I actually saw him despatch the message,” replied Garrthro, “But apparently the videotape of that contest that was sent directly to the Rejistani broadcasters hasn’t arrived yet and that was also a requirement for getting listed: It seems that entrusting the tape to those bikers to deliver might not have been a good idea…”
“Oh.” Urratharra looked pensive. “It’s not not being allowed to compete that I really mind, at least not when it’s a problem like that rather than speciesism that’s responsible, but I really wish that I could have a chance to sing my message to all of the watchers. Do you think the organisers might let me sing anyway — not as an actual entry, just as part of the show — perhaps while the votes for the listed competitors are being tallied?”
“It certainly couldn’t hurt to ask,” Garrthro mused, “I’ll go and have a word with them about it now…”

(Slightly later...)

"Wonderful news, darling!" Garrthro told Urratharra: "Apparently the tape has turned up since we got here, or they've decided to waive that requirement because of the official letter that was sent with you, or something, because you've been added to the list of official entries after all..."
"Ohhhh..." Urratharra sighed with relief. "I must go and practice, to make sure the flight here hasn't affected my singing voice..."

_________________________________________________________

OOC: I thought that I had supplied [just] enough information before the cut-off point, but then RL problems (including the loss of one of the internet connections I use) kept me from typing & posting a detailed account of the national contest -- and from checking on what was happenning -- for a few days… Sorry! Can Urratharra sing anyway, as part of the show if not as an actual competitor, as she’s suggested here? Whether or not you decide that she can, I’ll insert the national contest’s details into that latest post of mine in the signup thread (when I’ve got slightly more time available at the computer) either tomorrow or the day after…

OOC: Why don't y'all make 1 or maybe 2 posts instead of making n+x posts in the signups? WHY? I mean, IRL it is also ONE show and not 1000 ones! The higher number of posts, the more the chance that I will not see the all-important one.
OOC: Because I thought that a new post would be more likely to be seen than just an update to the original one, which might have been a page or two back from the newest part of the thread by then... Thank you for adding Urratharra to the official list: I've got the entry typed-up & saved onto a disc, but seem to have left that at home today (things have been busy lately, and I overslept this morning so there wasn't time to check that I'd packed it...) so she'll sing tomorrow (in RL terms) unless you'd rather place her at some specific point in the programme...

SONG TV reporting from the NS Vision Song contest.

Today controversy erupted at the song contest. The organisers of the song contest had given them only ten minutes to perform the traditional cleansing ceremony before their singers could perform. The band Spirit were clear that if their elder and their healer did not believe the ritual could be properly done, then there would be no performance.

The healer man and tribal elder consulted among themselves for three hours while the rest of the band huddled waiting for the "all clear".It was a tense time for the team from SONG-TV as the two figures bent over in animated conversation. Eventually a compromise was reached and the elder advised that as this was an event promoting peace and world friendliness, then that constituted half the ceremony.

Much of the rest could be done outside the venue meaning that the healer only needed a few minutes of precious set up time.

So finally, the band reached the stage. Starting in a pitch black venue, the traditional clapping sticks started playing. As smoke machines billowed, two of the band were highlighted in red and blue light wearing traditional dress. Drummer Marc "Numbat" Almond playing softly on an ancient drum made of Manna Tree. His grandfather had specially given him the drum for this event. Jess "Lithe Spirit" Simmons began a melodic chant whilst playing the clapping sticks.

The two dancers Cherry and Willow Walker began stepping out "the dance of deep love". Thirty seconds later, the electric guitars and vocalists leapt in.

Then the haunting words began:


A true peace never seems too easy, to find.
we have to follow and learn to find the way.
I promise there was fear in, my mind.
But I will never let go, I want to see what this peace has to give
We'll just have to face it, build the bridge to find our peace today

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Gaze at our world, take a moment or two
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

You know there's always darkness in our world
All we have is one chance, to reach out for the future ones.
We'll just have to face it, build the bridge to find our peace today

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Gaze at our world, take a moment or two
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

Still today, my hope is stronger with every step that we take,
From the time of sleep, to the moment we wake.
I will hold our kids close as we face our future call
And then the bridge between us will never fall

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Gaze at our world, take a moment or two
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

You know there was always doubt in, my mind.
War is always so easy, to find.
If only we follow and learn.
But I will never let go, I wanna see peace take a turn
We'll just have to make and place it, We'll never let peace pass us by?

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Gaze at our world, take a moment or two
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

You know there is always hope in, my eye.
All we have is one chance, to reach out for the clear blue sky.
We'll just have to make and place it, We'll never let peace pass us by?

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Gaze at our world, take a moment or two
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

And then our peace will go stronger with every step that we take,
From the moment we go to sleep, till the time we awake.
I won't let anybody lead this world astray,
And then the line between us will never break

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Peace forever? Yes, we will, please say I do!
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.
Make: peace forever", say you will, say you do.
Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

Say: "You Will do" Say “you do”

Say: "build the bridge", say you want us to.

Say: "build the bridge"


The crowd applause at the song and the performance was loud and genuine. Funnia Lan can be proud of our efforts tonight!

OOC: Why don't y'all make 1 or maybe 2 posts instead of making n+x posts in the signups? WHY? I mean, IRL it is also ONE show and not 1000 ones! The higher number of posts, the more the chance that I will not see the all-important one.

Maybe this should be part of the rules? Please limit to one post etc?

OOC: Why don't y'all make 1 or maybe 2 posts instead of making n+x posts in the signups? WHY? I mean, IRL it is also ONE show and not 1000 ones! The higher number of posts, the more the chance that I will not see the all-important one.

Urratharra is the next to perform. She is seated centre-stage, behind her dulcimer, illuminated by a single white spotlight while the rest of the stage is lit only by a gentler green light. Cloths hanging behind her and to her sides are decorated with pictures of woodland scenes, and her two youngest cubs are playing amongst them. She begins playing her dulcimer, and then singing (in English at first, on the assumption that this is probably the most widely understood language in the NS multiverse), her soft tenor voice carrying easily through the hall…

“I sing of peace, I sing of friendship,
I sing of peace and understanding;
I sing of friendship between all peoples,
May all peoples live in peace:
Bear and Human, Wolf and Tiger,
May all peoples live in peace.
Bear and Human, Cat and Dragon,
May all peoples live in peace.

Peace for living, Peace for loving,
No more warring, No more grieving,
Understanding between all peoples,
May all peoples live in peace:
Bears and Humans, and all others,
May all peoples live in peace.”

She repeats these verses in 'Ursine', in Russian which a few of the Bears’ communities have as their main language, and in German which is one of the main languages — along with English — of our closest Human neighbours the nation of ‘Mikitivity’, before returning to English again…

“Let’s sing of peace, Let’s sing of friendship,
Let’s sing of peace and understanding;
Let’s sing of friendship between all peoples,
May all peoples live in peace:
Bear and Human, Wolf and Tiger,
May all peoples live in peace.
Bear and Human, Cat and Dragon,
May all peoples live in peace.”

Her cubs cease their playing around, and work together to lift up a board bearing the injunction “Everybody sing now!” ... The words of the next verse are projected (in large friendly letters) onto the cloth hangings at either side of her…

“We sing of peace, we sing of friendship,
We sing of peace and understanding;
We sing of friendship between all peoples,
May all peoples live in peace:
Bear and Human, Wolf and Tiger,
May all peoples live in peace.
Bears and Humans, and all others,
May all peoples live in peace,
May all peoples live in peeeace…”

Other voices do rise from the audience to join hers in this verse, and by the time that she concludes another repetition of it a fair proportion of the crowd are singing along…

Simon Smith was with Bruin in the green room post-performance. There was definitely something wrong with Bruin. "Calm down, Broo...there's no bears here...I checked the official entry...what IS your problem?"

Bruin was pacing and moaning. Suddenly he let fly a high-pitched moan and dashed through the green room door. "BRUIN!!! Come back!!!!"

As Simon Smith darted out after his bear, he suddenly caught a glance at a screen and heard singing...

"May all peoples live in peeeace..."

"Oh. My. God."

Urratharra had just left the stage, and was telling her cubs how well they'd played their part in the performance, when the door to the 'green room' was flung open and another Bear rushed out.

"Grreg!" she exclaimed, as she recognised him. "So, is this country where you disappeared to after the Olympics (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=492213), or have you been travelling around a bit since then? Your mother was worried about you..."

Simon Smith was frantic with worry. "Er, the singing bears...which room are they in?"

One of the backstage runners was able to help. "They're in a special green room, just in case."

Smith tore frantically away. He had been assured that Bears Armed had been banned. They were not on the entry list and were not in the rehearsals. Where was Bruin? He could lose his temper, a strong bear like that, and he feared that he would be in a massive fight.

He found the other green room door and was slightly relieved that he did not hear any noise of scrapping within. Tentatively he pushed the door open and could see a bunch of cubs playfully scrapping. He peeked his head around the door and saw Bruin, apparently embracing a surprised-looking female bear...

And then, after the lights went out for a moment, for the stage to be re-prepared, and bears were engaging in affectionate hugging, there was a moment of silence... And when the lights went back on, everything was bathed in pink, for a moment blinding even the most hardened veteran of kitsch & trash and immature teeny girlgroups.

Pink lights, pink balloons, a pink stage, and pink clothes. And more than one mildly cynic individual would note that the song about to be performed was about a 'Pink' spot, too...

"And now, Melissa Miyazaki with her song, Lick me out!"

Five people on stage. In front, Melissa Miyazaki, dressed in what amounts to pink nothingness.

Behind her, two man/ woman pairs, again dressed in pink nothingness - the men with even less nothing than the women -, as if underlining the fact that yes, the song's rather pointless, shallow, and not really a winner. Or serious. Or worth any attention at all. Or anything else than a tool to turn parties among the idle youth into orgies.

Miyazaki's cleavage on the other hand... Well, it's quite possibly Miyazaki's most important asset, given her - according to her critics - utter lack of talent or skills (Her fans actually agree with this, but unlike her critics, they tend to be shallow enough to enjoy the cleavage, prominently showing on her album covers - besides, Miyazaki is useful when it comes to getting the cleavage of others to show, too. Assuming that they're already stoned out of their minds, that is, which is the state one will most usually find Miyazaki-fans to be in).

And then it begins, to even more flashes of pink, and a blinding mixture of light and sound drowning out the occasional... Mistake. In timing, or in pitch, or in pronounciation... On the plus side, at least she writes her songs all by herself.

Which is... Noticeable.

"I've a secret spot,"

"Secret spot, secret spot"

"Few know of it, but you're chosen,"

"You're choosen, you're chosen"

"Just let me tell you what to do,"

"What to do, what to do"

"So the sweetness may overcome even youuuuuuuuuuuu!"

"Even youuuuuuuuuuuu"

"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out then get it out
"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out for you're chosen!"

"Go right there, oh yes that's right,"

"Oh yes that's right, oh yes that's right"

"Just be careful, in this night,"

"In this night, in this night"

"I've a secret spot for you,"

"Spot for you, spot for you"

"It'll show you something to do!"

"To do, to do"

"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out then get it out
"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out for you're chosen!"

"Dripping honey, wait for it,"

"wait for it, wait for it"

"Taste it, feel the sweetness reign,"

"Sweetness reign, sweetness reign"

"I am the flower, you are the bee,"

You are the bee, you are the bee"

"Find my nectar, little bee!"

"Little bee, little bee"

"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out then get it out
"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out for you're chosen!"

"Come on baby, just come on,"

Just come on, just come on"

"You've the key to unlock me!"

"Unlock me, unlock me!"

"Now don't be shy, just turn it in!"

"Just turn it in, just turn it in!"

"So both of us may win!"

"May win, may win!"

"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out then get it out
"Lick me out, lick me out, baby
"Lick me out for you're chosen!"

Obviously, the whole performance was accompanied by the appropriate, suggestive behaviour - they never actually crossed the border that separates the same from sheer pornography, but well... They came pretty close.

And with kisses exchanged between everyone - men-kissing-men included - during the chorus, the performance eventually ended, and the much-loved-much-hated Melissa eventually departed from the stage.

OCC: whats happened with the contest?>????

OOC: FSCK, totally forgot it... gimme one day for my song, then I will start the voting.

Kansu ve Karma are an a capella choir. The 16 singers are dressed in long dresses in dark blue with white ornaments resembling stars but not so much that it would appear kitschy. The ornaments resemble flowers in a very spartanic southern drawing (maybe I should emphasis that there are no male singers in this choir). The canvas behind them is showing random lights, patterns which can be identified as the night-sky in Rejistania, only more dramatically.

Ehma, Hese and Juru start with the basic harmonies, Syku and Velit start assisting with a more melodic than harmonic wordless singing. The rest except Visnu start creating the melody out of several melodic fragments. Then Visnu starts singing:

I don't need to talk to people, I know how they sound
I sit in my small spaceship - and look around!
I look trough my telescope - I look at life.
I don't really care about it just helps me to survive...

Then Visnu starts singing the chorus, using Sign Language as an emphasis (shown in brackets) and as replacement of a more refined choreography.

What I am I know at last, (I am)
trapped in memories of the past (trapped/in a cage)
I am floating (inside of) through the silence between the stars (the silence)

What I am I had to see, (I am)
No one's here to rescue me (at risk)
When I fall (to fall) there's no one who'll ever help me up (forever)

Then, more quiet:

The silence between the stars, the silence...


The background singers start making their melodic fragments move away from each other to reassemble again for the verse:

The horrors of other people - I left them behind
I am at the only place - they will never find.
Now I can enjoy my freedom - and won't be deceived
But somehow I hope one day - I'll find relief!


The choir started to increase the intensity and the song reached a climax in the chorus. Then the melodies died slowly and the lights went lower. Suddenly a computer voice from the off was heard saying: "Konihektra mi'la'ixunus"

Bazalonian News Flash --- NEWS FLASH ---

In a shocking decision The Federal Court of Bazalonia has acquited Brooke Cockleton of various Drug Trafficking Charges except she was found guilty of "Possessing Traffickable Quantities" she was sentenced for 2 years home-based imprisonment.

The judge stated in his summation that there was no evidence that Brooke had indeed sold or even attempted to sell drugs and the drugs that where proven to be from Brooke satisfactory explanations with supporting evidence of the drugs in question where in fact gifted not sold.

The government has re-affirmed it's current stance on drugs and purposely steered clear of commenting on the politicising of the NSVision song contest with Rejistantian and Spruitlandish protestors campaigning for legalisation of drugs. However Brooke has "I firstly would like to thank everyone that has shown support for me, after my two year sentence I will be looking to tour in Spruitland and Rejistania but let me say one thing. Malcolm Jones is a great singer and I am sad that circumstances have come as they are. I urge all Spruitlanders and Rejistanians to Vote on the quality of his singing and not purely on the political front. He is, as much as me, the victim of all this. Thank you.

OOC: Could we have a reminder of how the voting system works (especially bearing in mind that we seem to have only 10 songs between which to choose, and presumably can't vote for our own ones), please?

OOC:The way it works is much like the RL Eurovision... We TG our rankings to rejistania 1 being the best... down to whatever excluding the song from your nation.

OOC: 12 being the best and 1 being the worst. It goes: 1-8, 10 and 12 IRLly. And please TG System Karela, not me.

OOC: A bit of a bump, but... Do we have results tabulated now?

OOC: A bit of a bump, but... Do we have results tabulated now?

I was wondering that, too...

OOC: sorry, I was close to a total breakdown due to the tasks I was and am supposed to do

IC:
These are the results of the 2nd NSVision contest:
1st: Rejistania 62 points
2nd: Kajal 60
3rd: Bears Armed 60
4th: Funnia Lan 59
5th: Der Angst 57
6th: Spruitland 50
7th: Bazalonia 46
8th: Wentland 36
9th: Liverpool England 30
10th: Fattyboland 19
11th: Lord of Hosts 6
12th: Mega gning 5
13th: Pablicosta 4

Go Funnia Lan GO!!!!
We did it!! 3 points off top score ..gives us 4th place BUTso close to top score...every Funnia Lanner is a proud person today
Congratulations and thank you to Rejistania. Thank you to all of our fellow participants.
Paix pour tous
:fluffle:
OOC: sorry, I was close to a total breakdown due to the tasks I was and am supposed to do

IC:
These are the results of the 2nd NSVision contest:
1st: Rejistania 62 points
2nd: Kajal 60
3rd: Bears Armed 60
4th: Funnia Lan 59
5th: Der Angst 57
6th: Spruitland 50
7th: Bazalonia 46
8th: Wentland 36
9th: Liverpool England 30
10th: Fattyboland 19
11th: Lord of Hosts 6
12th: Mega gning 5
13th: Pablicosta 4

Malcolm Jones was furious.. 7th? a lousy 7th. It was in the middle of the field and he top 4 or 5 where fairly close and did deserve to be there they did well but still Malcolm was furious at his result. Not because of the position but because of politics. In a pre-result interview he started berating both Rejistanians and Spruitlanders for the apparent voting down.

"That's politics, The Bazalonian Government, not me. If they didn't like my song or the lyrics then that is one thing but to punish me for something I had no involvement in is just, I think it is anyway, wrong. Vote on the Song and the singer not things off-stage. You guys must be smoking too much pot if you think that decision you made was right."

In other news Brooke Cockleton announced through her lawyers that once she is out of Prison she will perform an international tour Rejistanian and Spruitlandish venues have been booked with people acting as Agents for her behalf. Apparently the incident with the drug has made her a well known name in Rejistania and Spruitland and It seems like she already might have to extend her tour as demand from Venues for her particularily nations has reached feavor point.

"...IU secured 60 points, and beat out the entry from Bears Armed due to a greater number of douze points..."

"...the Iyan tour has just been announced, and the first confirmed venue is in Na~ovi kali, moving to New York and Vinyatírion shortly thereafter..."

"...commemmorative merchandise now available! Buy your limited edition NSVision t-shirt..."

"...quite pleased with their performance, especially considering their status as relatively unknown in Sol..."

"...rumors of hosting the next contest, should the current hosts deign not to..."