Poland’s pre-selection for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest has sparked controversy after one of the acts was accused of singing “gibberish.”
Little-known electronic Sw@da and Niczos caused an online storm with their track “Lusterka” (Little Mirrors), which combines electronic beats with folk-inspired melodies and lyrics in Podlachian, a minority language spoken in northeastern Poland.
A blend of Polish, Belarusian, and Ukrainian dialects, Podlachian is affectionately called “po swojomu” by locals, meaning “in our own language.”
For some, this nod to Poland’s multicultural heritage is a refreshing representation of the nation’s diversity, with one fan saying: “I don't understand a damn thing, but it rocks brilliantly!”
Another commented: “I didn't even know that such a language existed. Definitely the best! This is folk worthy of Eurovision!”
But others have slammed the lyrics for being unintelligible and have accused the duo of pandering to Poland’s growing Ukrainian minority.
One outraged listener said: “It is such a Podlasie dialect that even the inhabitants of Podlasie themselves have not heard it.”
Another said: “My Podlasie grandmother has been claiming since the Middle Ages that most of the phrases – in her opinion – are Ukrainian and Polesian dialects.”
In response to the criticism, Sw@da and Niczos defended the song by posting a statement on their website describing their artistic vision.
The statement read: “Sw@da is a borderline phenomenon. Not only Polish-Belarusian-Lithuanian but also the borderland of worlds.
“Sw@da is located where the heaviest 808 bass meets a Belarusian traditional song sung with a white voice and Tatar kemancheh.”
The duo are up against 1990s music legend Justyna Steczkowska, a household name in Poland, whose mainstream appeal and well-established fan base make her a formidable contender.
The nation’s choice for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, will be decided during a televised concert on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 20:45 on TVP2. Polish viewers will have the final say via SMS voting.
A blend of Polish, Belarusian, and Ukrainian dialects, Podlachian is affectionately called “po swojomu” by locals, meaning “in our own language.”
For some, this nod to Poland’s multicultural heritage is a refreshing representation of the nation’s diversity, with one fan saying: “I don't understand a damn thing, but it rocks brilliantly!”
Another commented: “I didn't even know that such a language existed. Definitely the best! This is folk worthy of Eurovision!”
But others have slammed the lyrics for being unintelligible and have accused the duo of pandering to Poland’s growing Ukrainian minority.
One outraged listener said: “It is such a Podlasie dialect that even the inhabitants of Podlasie themselves have not heard it.”
Another said: “My Podlasie grandmother has been claiming since the Middle Ages that most of the phrases – in her opinion – are Ukrainian and Polesian dialects.”
In response to the criticism, Sw@da and Niczos defended the song by posting a statement on their website describing their artistic vision.
The statement read: “Sw@da is a borderline phenomenon. Not only Polish-Belarusian-Lithuanian but also the borderland of worlds.
“Sw@da is located where the heaviest 808 bass meets a Belarusian traditional song sung with a white voice and Tatar kemancheh.”
The duo are up against 1990s music legend Justyna Steczkowska, a household name in Poland, whose mainstream appeal and well-established fan base make her a formidable contender.
The nation’s choice for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, will be decided during a televised concert on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 20:45 on TVP2. Polish viewers will have the final say via SMS voting.
More In Culture MORE...
