We Will Rave

The concert began, and thirty-eight countries were competing in the contest this year. With the Big Five Plus One filtered out, there were thirty-two, which meant there were sixteen in each Semi-final. Unfortunately, only ten could move through.

Of our closest Solstice friends, only Finland was in our Semi, Romania was in the second Semi, and both Italy and the UK were automatically through as part of the Big Five plus One. Although it was sad not to be around everyone, it also meant there would be far less chance of a bloodbath between us. Two acts out of sixteen was a much easier feat than five.

Hell, it would be hard enough for us to make it through as it was. Thankfully, favourite Moldova and powerhouse Sweden were in the other final. That’s not to say we were without competition. Several strong competitors, including Ukraine, which was even more of a powerhouse than Sweden, were in our Semi. We would have to fight for our position.

Stephanie was waiting with us backstage. Perhaps after the disaster of a performance yesterday, she thought it would be good to check in on us before we hopped on stage. Or maybe she was here as part of her job.

“How are you all feeling?” she asked.

“Pretty hungry,” Luca responded before any of the rest of us could answer.

“You can eat once you get to the green room, although if you spill anything on your outfit, I will kill you,” she turned to the rest of us. “And all of you?”

“As good as I can be,” Noah responded.

“Yeah, not bad,” Jet added.

“And you, Blake?” Stephnie turned to look at me.

“Honestly, I think it may just be too much. Perhaps I should just throw in the towel.”

The rest of the band looked at me in shock.

“Guys! It was a joke. I’m pumped. Let’s rock out there.”

“Thank god, I was about to strangle you,” Stephanie added. “Go get ’em tigers.”

With that, she left for the green room. I knew I had to perform as best as I could. I had to prove to everyone, but mostly myself, that yesterday would never happen again, that it was a once-off. I had to prove I deserved a place on stage with Marco on Saturday.

The show opened with San Marino performing a dance track. I wouldn’t normally listen to it, but it was funky and fun—a great way to open the show.

We were on fifth, just after Ireland. It was a good slot for the first half of the show. They needed time to remove our staging, so they placed us fifth so they could run an ad break after us. It was a very clever idea—something I never really considered when I was just a fan. Also, it helped that Ireland had very simple staging—just a small box and an acoustic guitar. It meant the crew had the maximum time to focus on our staging.

But being so early also meant we had to wait backstage. Two more acts were ahead of us, which gave me plenty of time to try to calm my nerves. I popped in my earbuds and began to listen to a song.

While waiting, Aina came over to join us. She had no reason to be waiting here in line; she was the final act of the night. I thought she should be relaxing with her brother, but maybe she was here to check up on us. Perhaps my performance yesterday was so bad that it worried everyone.

“Whatcha doin’?” Aina asked, although I tried to push her out of my mind. I needed to listen to this song.

“Don’t interrupt his ritual,” Luca commented.

“Blake has a superstition?”

The rest of the band sighed, nodding their heads in unison. They seemed to be more annoyed at me for my ritual than they were at my screwup the previous night. Again, I had no time for that. I had to finish listening to this song. I pushed them out of my head.

“What’s is it?” Aina asked my band members.

“He has to listen to Bette Davis Eyes,” Noah added with another sigh.

Aina looked dumbfounded.

“You mean the Kim Carnes song?”

“Yep,” they replied in unison before their synchronised sighs.

“I don’t even know what to say. Why?” She commented.

“It’s crazy, but it’s Blake’s thing. None of us get it. But whatever works, works,” Jet shrugged.

I finished listening to the song, placing my phone and earphones into my bag, which was tossed near the stage.

“I could hear you, you know.” I scolded them.

“Then care to explain to Aina and the rest of us why you do that?” Noah prompted.

I sighed.

“Fine,” I turned to face Aina. “Have you ever been to a really amazing rock concert?”

“Yes.”

“Did they play that song before the concert?”

“I dunno. Who pays attention to that sort of thing?”

Her instant dismissal of the preshow setlist hurt me.

“I guarantee you they did.”

“I’ll take ya word.”

“If that song plays before a concert, you know it is going to be a good show. So by listening to it, I know I’m going to put on a good show.”

“Okay, whatever works for ya.” She gave a thumbs up. “Anyway, good luck out there.”

She patted me on the back just as we got the signal to hop on stage. This was the moment we had been waiting for—to put the effort of the last few months into action. It was the first semi-final, live in front of the largest audience we had ever played before. All eyes would be on us.

As I walked onto the stage, I could hear the cheers. The rolling boom of their outcry was like thunder. I thought of last night with Marco. I would show them. I would prove I deserved to be here.

As the music began, I lost myself in the moment. I just let the mood of the room carry me. The energy of the room was kind of hypnotic. I have no memory of the performance, only fragments of the crowd cheering and singing along, the odd pyro technics going off and hitting the crescendo at the end. In other words, I fucking redeemed myself from yesterday.

The next thing I remember is being in the green room waiting for the final few acts.

─── ༻ ☼ ༺ ───

End of Chapter 32