Face time or FaceTime? The Eurovision Reference Group has ruled that the lyrics to Dami Im’s song “Sound of Silence” are only referring to a “face time” meeting and not the Apple video messaging service FaceTime. This means Australia’s entry for Stockholm is not deemed to be in breach of the rule that prohibits brand names featuring in song lyrics.
When “Sound of Silence” was first released, fans noticed that the opening lyrics seems to refer to Apple’s popular video messaging app. Dami sings:
Growing tired and weary brown eyes
Trying to feel your love through face time
The lyrics tell the story of a woman whose busy life keeps her from her lover. But did the lyric refer to FaceTime (keeping in touch via video chat) or face time (a scheduled face-to-face meeting)?
Fans noted that FaceTime made more sense in the context of the lyrics, but the Eurovision Reference Group has now ruled that as the official lyrics present ‘face time’ as the lowercase, non-trademarked term, it does not breach the rules.
An EBU spokesperson told the BBC, “The lyrics of the Australian song are presented as two separate words, ‘face time’ and not FaceTime which is an Apple trademark. The Merriam-Webster dictionary refers to ‘face time’ as ‘time spent meeting with someone’… so in this case the song lyrics have been cleared.”
The drama hasn’t hurt Australia’s odds with the bookies. Dami Im is still the third most likely act to win, now with even an higher chance of winning than Sweden. Dami has also recently announced a 34-date Australian tour to promote her new album, Classic Carpenters.
@James Its actually a common misnomer that Polaroids “fade”. By and large because a lot of shots with the camera tended to be overexposed, which would create that fading sensation. So while you are technically right, its such a commonly accepted myth that as a lyric its acceptable. Should point out that there is also a brand of mints called Icebreaker. NORWAYS DONE SOLD OUT DISKWALIFIE THEM NAAAAU! 🙂 Polaroid is kind of in that same vein as Kleenex- yes its a trade name, but such a commonly used one that it’s become more or less generic for all similar… Read more »
@Robyn Interesting, even though I’ve listened to the song and noticed the word, I guess people forget it’s a brand because it’s not something many people use or think about nowadays. But yes it is still a brand, so the same rules should technically apply.. I did feel these lyrics made little sense. A Poloroid actually slowly comes into being and fades in, not out.. Whist it could fade away if it was left in sunlight or over many years, it doesn’t just fade away for no reason. I have a Poloroid from 1983 of me and my brother that… Read more »
@James
Because my internet suckies, and your post cut out after the third paragraph, so I missed the last two parts.
@Pollaski
Good grief, in all my posts including the ones directed to you, I have said the EBU made the right decision, how I can be proving you right and me as wrong when I was never disputing that with you in the first place…
lol.
“Each to their own, that’s the point of music”
Welp, right there that’s it, ain’t it? Its open for interpretation, and by being open for interpretation, its not explicitly mentioning a product, given that explicit means there’s zero room for interpretation.
So you just proved me right in that the EBU made the right call.
*Bangs gavel*
NEXT CASE, PLEASE.
@Pollaski At no point in my comment did I mention anyone using Starbucks as a brand name, I said face time refers to her NOT being in a Starbucks (which was just a generic example , I only said Starbucks because it was the example YOU gave) Seriously – do you even English, bro? (I assume you meant do you SPEAK English?) Anyway that is your own (somewhat bizarre )interpretation of the lyrics, and most people in this comment have stated if she is only referring to face time then it doesn’t make sense with the rest of the context.… Read more »
@James You clearly take things way too freaking literally, given that you completely interpreted my using of Starbucks as another example of using brand names instead of just a generic place to drink coffee and talk to someone via video chat. And I just interpreted the lyrics for you. The opening lines are WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO (she wants to be with him face to face), the remaining song is her dealing with the actual reality (she can’t!). The term was used in proper context, and the EBU made the correct call. Most of the dissension here basically stems… Read more »
@Pollaski The dictionary definition of “face time” as an expression is specifically that is takes place in real time NOT over a video call , email or other technology. The person has to actually be there in the physical world with you. How hard is that to grasp? Those are the submitted lyrics , stating that Demi is ONLY talking about meeting someone in person not in a Starbucks. That doesn’t make sense for the rest of the song, as she clearly is not able to do that. FaceTime is a video call. If you read my post, I even… Read more »
@James Oh, you’re precious. What do you think video chatting is, son? Its meeting face to face over the internet. You can see them, they can see you. Its like sitting down for a cup of coffee, only they’re in some beautiful outdoor cafe in Rome and you’re in a dump of a Starbucks in Kalamazoo. Hence why its called FaceTime, because its like real face time, only digital. Its what we like to call an “analogy” Now lets look at the lyrics. Growing tired and weary brown eyes Trying to feel your love through face time Symphonies of dreams… Read more »
@Pollaski Clearly you don’t understand the term either. The term face time specifically refers to meeting face to face, whereas FaceTime refers to video chat. GASP – FaceTime does NOT give you “face time” Not at all. Yes the name might have been picked by Apple to reference a new way of meeting and have face time electronically but the point is, if the lyrics say face time that means she is specifically talking about meeting someone face to face. Given the lyrics suggest she cannot see her lover this meaning would make no sense in the context of the… Read more »
If “baby’s not here with her”, then she’s not trying to feel his love through face time, she’s trying to feel it through FaceTime. Come on folks, use your brains.
Australians speak English as their first language. They KNOW what the actual lyric meant. Get it through your heads: The rules just don’t apply to Australia.
LOL @ all the poor babies who don’t understand the term “face time”. Where the hell do you think the name off the Apple program comes from? Because *gasp* FaceTime… GIVES YOU FACE TIME!
So many people are simply bigots who can’t stand the notion that Australia’s not only in the ESC to stay- they’re going to perenially be a favorites because… believe it or not, the Australians have a damn good music industry. And Australia’s been dedicated to this thing for a TON longer than you Eastern European hacks have been.
Much ado about nothing. Next.
A very lazy excuse that Australia has got away with. Its obviously referring to Apple`s FaceTime. No one in 2016 is going to write a pop song and mean any other definition of the word (And the other definition that they claim to be using doesnt really make any sense in the context of that sentence). Had this been any other country they would have had to change the lyric.
Wait this was an issue? I thought it was about physically being face to face with someone not some app on a phone.
Are we that entrenched in technology our vocabulary is also affected?
Well I think that it is a purely poetic line in this song that laments the reality of two people who only can manage to have “virtual connections” in their busy lives — and FaceTime/”face time” is used as an analogous example here which encapsulates the sentiment in one/two simple words, it’s a great ballad and it promotes no product in my view and just imparts an emotional situation – so all good no broken rule here, let’s move on!
LOL it was pretty obvious that she meant “face time” as two separate words, it’s an actual saying. Not sure why people are making such a huge deal out of it TBH
Well of course it was cleared, they where not going to expel Australia, the current golden child of the EBU
God Maxime, you don’t have to be so rude and stereotypical! If the EBU wants Australia in, then so be it!
Bonsoir Stockholm,
This is a song, by definition there is no difference between face time and FaceTime when your hear the song. This is a subliminal advertising, then it is forbidden and Australia should be disqualified. We don’t need Australia, 42 songs are enough anyway. Australia is not Europe. “Song of silence” for Australia this year mute version. Australian should go back to do what they are good at : playing rugby and eating kangourous.
Cordially yours,
Maxime
@nn – true. And pathetic at the same time. I wonder when will someone from, lets say Moldova or Cyprus, get the same attention from EBU.
I hope that is last Australia entry at Eurovision. I hope from 2017 they wili be part of Asia Pacifick song contest.
Australia is EBU baby and Dami IM have many videos on eurovision youtube channel more than any other singers from rest of 42 countries.
Of course it’s okay, it’s Australia 😉
You really only have to look at the context to realize that “face time” doesn’t make sense.
Mari, your country hates gay people and has butchered and oppressed ethnic minorities for decades. Furthermore, Dami Im is a Korean-Australian, not a Chinese-Australian.
In short, you’re an ignorant bigot.
i hate chinese people!!!! i hate dami!!! they eat dogs!!! pets i cant believe it!!!
0 points to australia from SRBIJA
@Bradley. What are you basing that on? FaceBook Song was completely different as it there was no confusion at all as to whether it referenced a brand , she was even using a version of Facebook in the video.
If it was San Marino they told to change it double standards from the EBU
@James your definition on blackberry had me laughing on for a minute. LOL. Well said. Ebu does act in ridiculous ways. This years danish national final for example, the song that emmellie wrote had been previously performed. However i wish Dami all the luck. She’s got that voice that would probably crack glasses.
This was actually an issue…
WOW.
With rules…
Why so serious? It’s just a song contest..
In the French translation of the lyrics (availiable on the official site), it’s written “un monde virtuel”, a virtual world… So in the mind of the writers, it’s clear for me that they were thinking of FaceTime… A virtual world is not a face-to-face meeting or via an application !!!!!
@Cratis I see your point,, face time is a thing and makes sense even if there is a possibility she was talking about something else. “We don’t want to put in” is gramatically incorrect and doesn’t make sense. Also, don’t forget the video that went with it showed them putting their fingers to their heads in the style of guns when they said “put in” . I think each case has to be viewed individually and the situations are very different. This is about whether a brand is being mentioned, where the other was about whether a political message was… Read more »
@Cara, I am from UK, and now in Canada. I’ve spent time in New Zealand and Australia tho. It’s not come up, but perhaps I just never heard it when I was there. Regardless, I think one of the points is that it doesn’t make sense in the context of the song, that’s why people noticed it. I felt regardless of the FaceTime/ face time that the song was about not being able to be with someone, so if she is facing time with him, the rest of the song makes no sense. The next line says I’m calling ,… Read more »
It’s the way it sounds that matters not how it’s written. After all “we don’t want a put in” wasn’t allowed.
More double standards.
Its a widely known phrase AUS wide. Where are you from? @James
@fikri
HAHA…..no, if someone used blackberry I don’t think anyone would care lol.
I cannot see this song being a winner, not yet anyways.
I find it boring and Sanna-esque ……. No amount of FaceTime/face time with this song makes me connect …. Therefore I DON’T care what the odds say.
That being said, It would be a better winner than Azerbaijan 2011.
@Cindy S / Colin
I’m in my 30s and honestly I have never heard this phrase, perhaps it’s used in certain areas of the world more than others. I’ve never heard the expression “facing time” in reference to meeting someone. Obviously it does exist, but it doesn’t seem likely for something that Dami would be saying. I do think she is referencing the app, but even if she was, I don’t think it really matters, and it’s only mentioned once. She is not going to get extra votes for one possibly vague reference to an app anyway.
well played, australia. i ain’t even mad. 😀
@james: PEOPLE STILL USE BLACKBERRY?!
@agop. I’ll go and buy an Iphone as and when I want an Iphone, I couldn’t care less whether she says FaceTime or face time. If you take comments as grouching when they are clearly light-hearted and I even said I didn’t have a problem , well that’s your issue not mine. Read things before you react. I was commenting only in response to people suggesting that Australia were being let off with this line, whereas San Marino or others would not have been, which I don’t think would have been the case. I stated a difference between products like… Read more »
As an older person — aka 45 — I can vouch that face time is a phrase that has been used for DECADES. FaceTime is based on the expression people. DUH. get over it.
fsfsfss
@James
Will you go and buy an iphone if she had sung it as FaceTime ? What you said are pointless doesnt help the circumstance. Black berry thing is not funny tho. Whatever…
Oh, 2010s… even if you are aware of that website (which I wasn’t) why would you assume she was refering to that over a simple and often used statement like ‘facing time’? Modern public loves to see hidden connotations in everything. Yeah, Dami’s song is about internet product placement, Jamala’s song is about hating Russia and Poli’s song is a straightforward gay anthem… Also note that Juri’s song is probably named after Playstation or Playmoblie toys (whichever you prefer), Ovidiu’s song is an open invitation to agression, Greta’s song is rising awareness to multiple personality disorder and Zoe probably wants… Read more »
Maxime, there is no breach of rules since I’ve known it’s “face time” and not “FaceTime” from the time the song was revealed. And second, enough with the “Australia is not Europe” cliché – they earned the right to return through rave reviews from the public and the media regarding last year’s participation. They’ve been serious about Eurovision since the 1980s and I have no doubt that Dami’s song this year will be a strong contender for the title
Can’t believe so many negative people on Social Media who complain about nothing & having no knowledge of Australia’s rich, historical European heritage & no knowledge of Eurovision participation…Dami performing @Eurovision will be the most exciting, spectacular, monumental moment ever in Eurovision’s history.
@agop.
What complaints? I’m guessing you didn’t actually read my comment and are just trolling.
FYI “I don’t see a problem with it” generally means the person is not complaining.
Bonsoir Stockholm,
That represents a major break in the rules. I think Australia should be disqualified. This is anyway an European song contest, Eurovision !!! We don’t have enough space for all European countries. Australia can be guest once but why didn’t we invite another country this year… I propose Mongolia…
Cordially yours,
Maxime