Grow (song)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grow
Jeangu Macrooy
publication 4th March 2020
length 2:59
Genre (s) pop
text Jeangu Macrooy
music Jeangu Macrooy, Pieter Perquin
Label Unexpected Records

Grow ( English for growth is) an English-language pop song of Jeangu Macrooy was interpreted. He wrote it together with Pieter Perquin. With the title Macrooy should represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam .

Background and production

In January 2020, the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that the Suriname musician Jeangu Macrooy would represent the Netherlands as host at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. On March 4th, his competition title Grow was presented to the public for the first time.

He wrote the title with Pieter Perquin, the latter also produced and mixed it. The album cover was photographed by Anton Corbijn .

Music and lyrics

Grow carry autobiographical influences. It is about the personal story of getting older and the challenge of being in search of yourself. The line “The more I learn, the less I know” (German “The more I learn, the less I know”) means that there are no instructions for life. One should be open and honest about the ups and downs in life, so one can progress and bring oneself closer to oneself. There is no single and clear path to happiness.

“Emoties, goede en slechte, vormen een universele taal. Ik hoop dat mensen zich door dit number iets less eenzaam voelen in hun zoektocht naar geluk. Ik think that openheid en eerlijkheid over hoe we ons Echt voelen, ons uiteindelijk Dichter bij elkaar brengt. "

“Good and bad emotions form a universal language. I hope that those in search of happiness will find themselves less lonely with this song. I think that being open and honest about our real feelings ultimately bring us closer together. "

- Jeangu Macrooy

The title is made up of two stanzas. The refrain is then repeated. This is followed by the bridge, which merges into the outro, which contains the eponymous Grow . In the first part of the title, the performer is only accompanied by an organ . Towards the end of the second stanza he is supported by a choir. The instrumentation only becomes more intensive in the outro, u. a. through the constant build-up of percussion .

At the Eurovision Song Contest

As the host country, the Netherlands would have automatically qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. However, due to the advancing COVID-19 pandemic , the competition was canceled. The performance should be directed by Hans Pannecoucke.

reception

Lenny Kuhr said Grow is not your usual ESC song, but it is sung very well. Stefan Raatgever of the newspaper Het Parool is of the opinion that, unlike other Grand Prix winners, the Netherlands would send a worthy successor to their winning contribution. The song is not for everyone, but one that would definitely have stood out in Rotterdam.

On the one hand, ESCXtra criticized the structure of the title, despite Macrooy's good vocals. On the other hand, it was praised for taking a risk with the title. Eurovisionary said that Macrooy had better songs in his repertoire. Nevertheless, the title was largely received positively.

publication

The music video was shot under Joe Roberts as director. Two live versions were released on May 1, 2020: on the one hand a recording of an acoustic version from the Concertgebouw Amsterdam , on the other hand a performance with a band, recorded in the Rotterdam Ahoy .

Commercial win

Charts Top ranking Weeks
Chart placements
Ultratip Bubbling UnderTemplate: chart positions / maintenance / country unknown (4 weeks) 4th
Netherlands (Media Markt) Netherlands (Media Markt) 29 (3 weeks) 3

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Jeangu Macrooy represented Nederland op het Eurovisie Songfestival 2020. In: Nederlandse Publieke Omroep . January 10, 2020, accessed July 24, 2020 (Dutch).
  2. ↑ a b c Jeangu Macrooy met Grow naar het Eurovisie Song Festival 2020. In: Nederlandse Publieke Omroep . March 4, 2020, accessed July 24, 2020 (Dutch).
  3. ↑ Jeangu Macrooy. In: eurovision.tv. Retrieved July 24, 2020 .
  4. ↑ credits. In: Tidal . Retrieved July 24, 2020 .
  5. ↑ Everything about the release of the Song Festival Song from Jeangu. In: Nederlandse Publieke Omroep . March 2, 2020, accessed July 24, 2020 (Dutch).
  6. ↑ Which country performs in which Eurovision 2020 Semi-Final? In: eurovision.tv. January 28, 2020, accessed March 26, 2020 .
  7. ↑ Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam is canceled. In: eurovision.tv. March 18, 2020, accessed on March 26, 2020 .
  8. ↑ Dit zijn de eerste reacties op Songfestivallied Jeangu Macrooy. In: shownieuws.nl. March 4, 2020, accessed July 27, 2020 (Dutch).
  9. ↑ Stefan Raatgever: Song Festival Song Jeangu Macrooy: gewaagde keuze, prachtige song. In: Het Parool . March 4, 2020, accessed July 27, 2020 (Dutch).
  10. ↑ Rigmo Kannike: Xtra Insider 2020: We Review The Netherlands! In: ESCXtra. April 26, 2020, accessed on July 25, 2020 .
  11. ↑ Wouter van Vliet: Eurovision 2020 entries: The Netherlands - we are discussing Jeangu Macrooy and Grow. In: Eurovisionary. May 26, 2020, accessed on July 26, 2020 .
  12. ↑ Jeangu Macrooy premiers 'Grow' for the Netherlands. In: eurovision.tv. March 4, 2020, accessed on July 24, 2020 .
  13. ↑ Grow (Live) - Single. In: iTunes . Retrieved July 24, 2020 .
  14. ↑ Flanders Music Charts
  15. ↑ Music Charts Netherlands