On May 13 Portugal’s Salvador Sobral wowed audiences by staying true to himself and delivering a message from the heart. And the same held true just moments after he won and accepted the Eurovision 2017 winner’s trophy.

“We live in a world of disposable music — fast-food music without any content,” Sobral said on stage in Kyiv’s International Exhibition Centre. “I think this could be a victory for music that actually means something. Music is not fireworks. Music is feeling.”

The speech was widely interpreted as criticism of music that’s become commonplace in the contest recently, including slickly produced songs from the Nordic countries. To many it was arrogant and misplaced.

A few days later, Sweden’s Robin Bengtsson — who placed a very respectable fifth — responded to Sobral’s comments via his personal Instagram account.

“I think your speech after winning the ESC was below the level of a true winner,” he wrote. “‘Fast food’ pop music can be the best thing in the world at the right place and time, so can a song as beautiful as yours. There is room for everyone.”

Our comments section exploded, with people rushing to defend Salvador and Robin in equal measure.

In honour of the ongoing debate, which will no doubt rage during the Eurovision 2018 selection season, we’ve dreamed up a delicious new design, available on t-shirts, vests, sweatshirts, hoodies and more, that let’s you express where you stand on the debate.

Built around a hamburger wearing headphones, this appetising statement piece either features the words “say yes to fast food music” or “say no to fast food music” and they come in a variety of colours, including red, green, pink, black, blue, yellow, orange and purple. Dripping with mayonnaise and ketchup, it’s tasty no matter what option you go for!

Fast-food music t-shirts

*Get the SAY YES to fast-food music shirt

*Get the SAY NO to fast-food music shirt

Among those artists who would definitely say yes to some musical fast-food are Alexander Walman, who acted as vocalist for Norway’s track “Grab The Moment”, Australia’s Isaiah Firebrace and two-time Melodifestivalen finalist Wiktoria.

All of them liked Robin’s Instagram post.

Writing on our news item about Robin’s statement, wiwireader “God-Emperor” said he loves fast-food music. But he also described Salvador’s win as “the nightmare of the Swedish establishment, who seem to love nothing more than a performance that is completely planned-through into the smallest detail and will always be the robotic same. Who seem to want to kill any spontaneous artistic expression at the root. Who seemed like they needed to teach the rest of Europe how to do Eurovision ‘properly’ (in their eyes). Who seemed to force their standards upon the whole contest. Who – deliberately or not – seem to have established colonies in Azerbaijan, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland and other countries, in a condescending attempt to take over the whole of Europe, the whole of our Eurovision. They failed. Europe has emancipated itself from the Swedish establishment.”

Where do YOU stand on the debate? Vote in our poll below. And which hamburger shirt would you wear if forced? Let us know in the comments box below.

[polldaddy poll=”9768706″]
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Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago

I would love Wiwibloggs to go from strength to strength and sell thousands of tee-shirts, but I think Sobral’s sentiment is the last thing it should be presenting. Eurovision fans like me have been fighting against such feelings for decades from those who dismiss the contest as a whole. The last thing we want is for them to come from our own cognoscenti. Back in 1975 at school I was peer-pressurised to hate “Ding-A-Dong” and I almost gave in to it. Then one day, I realised that I really loved the song didn’t care who knew. Sobral’s whining has reminded… Read more »

claclap
claclap
6 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

He spoke only after winning. You can love whatever music you like, but don’t hope that a contest fits your own needs.

Strato Incendus
Strato Incendus
6 years ago

Great idea! Now all we’re still missing is a shirt reading “Kekistan 12 points” ^^.

Kindoff
Kindoff
6 years ago

The Salvador’s song is so Fast Food Music as others…he don’t sell that song and nobody is really listening when he sings in English in Portugal. It is offered with the CD from Eurovision.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Kindoff

Exactly!! Nobody likes disposable songs whether they are pop or jazz!! But good songs are just good songs and most people would gladly listen to them ……

Ana
Ana
6 years ago

I would never wore any of these, I think it’s bad and immature idea, it only divides people and make them quarell.

192.168 1.1
6 years ago

The design of T-shirt looks nice. Fast food’ pop music is not too bad kind of music.

Miguel
Miguel
6 years ago
Reply to  192.168 1.1

Y de comida? ?

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

I disagree that pop music is disposable in the first place!!
Salvador’s song has been disposed off faster than Hey Mamma , City lights . I can’t go on is also still in 2 charts I think. So by definition not disposed yet.

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Sorry, but that is not true. Salvador is still charting. Last time I checked more than Belgium and Moldavia. I don’t this is a good indication, anyway, of what is disposable or not… Also, nobody ever said, including Salvador, that pop is by definition disposable… The Beatles made pop and lasted forever.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  L'oiseau

No he wasn’t charting

Andrea
Andrea
6 years ago

If this makes them send more variety, then let the controversy burn.

Sandra
Sandra
6 years ago

Calm, Salvador’s song no one will sing it???

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago
Reply to  Sandra

Well… Everyday I see new versions showing up in Youtube in all languages… So, somebody is singing it…

oggy
oggy
6 years ago

Most of the Eurovision fans are not a problem with the fast food style music & I think so. But mostly are just bored with the Sweden who always send out English songs. Same like Azerbaijan.

We hope Sweden will send a Swedish song in Eurovision stick with its usual style even though it does not have to be a Swedish song every year.

oggy
oggy
6 years ago
Reply to  oggy

& Azerbaijan,Georgia,& Russia is also.

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago

I think Salvador was 100 % right in his speech. And we should remember it was not a “dismissment” of the other ESC-songs…more about pop songs in general. I also prefer songs – especially in ESC – which are a bit “deep”, honest, daring, different sounding, sophisticated, innovative etc. That Robin reacted so strongly is interesting…maybe it says something about the way the wedes make their ESC-songs? OK, thankfully they have stpped making schlagers. Stil their songs are a bit generic, and “superfincial”. Even if I like some of them. I think also “fast food music” can be nice music… Read more »

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago

You can’t have it both ways “Music is the key”. At first you say Sobral is 100% right to dismiss “fast food music”, then you say it “can be nice music”.
Those fence posts must be really uncomfortable.

4li3n
4li3n
6 years ago

when people still salty with the winner and some of them hear fastfood songs, good luck for your health, salty with fastfood can be dangerous jajajaja

Meanwhile, I’m so happy with Jamala’s victory and Salvador Sobral’s victory 😀

claclap
claclap
6 years ago
Reply to  4li3n

Hahaha! 😀

Qooj
Qooj
6 years ago

Thanks wiwi team what a cute design !!!
I am very happy Salvador’s favorite song
“City Lights” and “Occidentali’s Karma” is great radio hit and top the chart Ranking in many country worldwild .congratulation.

Qooj
Qooj
6 years ago
Reply to  Qooj

His another favorite song “Blackbirds” also top the esc2017 press center semi1 rehearsal ranking .

Eurovision Fan
Eurovision Fan
6 years ago

The problem here is that everyone start to participate with songs that sound the same what makes eurovision really boring sometimes.They all sing in English with swedish pop song.For me the portuguese victory is an open eyes for everyone.Its not that type of songs tha could be sucessfull in ESC.I think its a show that needs a little of everything,country cultures(like Hungary this year.I didnt like that song but im really happy with their place because they deserve because they bet different or Belarus).Thats for me its the most need of ESC more varity of songs,cultures not the same type… Read more »

buskyta
buskyta
6 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision Fan

Explain that to juries…

Robert
Robert
6 years ago

I love any kind of music.. I don’t judge.. tears with Amar pelos dois, happy with Hey mamma, jealous about the voices in Lights and shadows and dance to City lights.. just love music

fastfoodmusiclover
fastfoodmusiclover
6 years ago

so wiwibloggs is on salvador’s side?

fastfoodmusiclover
fastfoodmusiclover
6 years ago

oh wait nevermind…. just realised there are 2 versions of the shirt lol

James
James
6 years ago

Rather see more musical variety than everyone going into ESC with the same sounding generic pop tracks I’ve been hearing and seeing in the contest in recent years. And to think that in the almost 10 years of their participation, Azerbaijan has been relying on foreign songwriters, composers, and producers, with only partial local involvement other than who the country sends to sing their entries. A playbook that has yielded them early Top 10 placements and one win but has since been failing to keep that momentum going in later years. Probably a good time now to rethink their strategy… Read more »

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

I’m far too unsophisticated to understand the difference between fast food and gourmet music. Heck, I don’t even know why it should matter. I’m in awe of those who can comprehend such musical subtleties as the difference between ‘dated’ and ‘retro’ or ‘generic euro trash’ contra ‘good pop music’. Now, not having a deeper understanding of music of course gives me the privilege to listen to everything with equal enjoyment. I mostly listen to classical music, which I suppose falls into the category of real music, but I do it for the same reasons I listen to I can’t Go… Read more »

buskyta
buskyta
6 years ago

“For others who invest a lot of their identity into what music they prefer, this question might be of greater importance.” That´s the real point of this question. People who are really emotionally mature and sound, are the ones that embrace diversity in all aspects of life. Because is hypocrite to have a speech about the need to help refugees and after that depreciate other genres of music and artistic manifestations. That´s the kind of people that unconsciously need to make themselves superior and better than others, just to mask a very weak sense of self. The kind of people… Read more »

GreenMoon
GreenMoon
6 years ago
Reply to  buskyta

Actualy Salvador means Saviour.
Amazing what he said about music, it can even be very useful for musicians, so they are not fake with their songs. Genuine music!
About refugees, it was a humanitarian act. But what he says about music can also be a cold and at the same time humanitarian attitude.
About “that depreciates other genres of music,” he doesn’t hear only jazz or classical music, he appreciates other genres. I think you’re labeling him too much.

Justin K.
Justin K.
6 years ago

Like most others below (and the poll), I quite like having a mix of both ‘gourmet’ and ‘fast food’ music–you probably wouldn’t want to sing ‘gourmet’ at a karaoke night, but at the same time, you wouldn’t want to sing ‘gourmet’ if you’re not trained to begin. While I enjoy that sort of music (to whatever definition people have), in the end I still like ‘fast food’ since it’s fun to sing along.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

As a pop music lover I say the less fast food music the better. Fast food music doesn’t equal pop music or party music, just like ballads aren’t automatically “real music” (for example that pandering Georgian song). Fast food music is music made without feeling with the only purpose of making profit or winning a contest. It’s usually bland, inauthentic and forgettable. If I only have money to buy a frozen pizza from the supermarket that’s what I’ll eat, but anytime I’d much rather have a home cooked meal (home cooked pizza!) or a pizza from an actual good restaurant.… Read more »

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

In light of my longer comment, I wish there was a T-Shirt option for “Say ‘Sometimes!” to Fast-Food Music” 😉

As the Cookie Monster so eloquently puts it on Sesame Street, nowadays: ‘cookies are a sometimes food’

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

The more accurate term would be “junk food” music or “comfort food” music: mostly treat, little nutrition, taken in because it feels good at the time. Fine in small doses, dangerous in large ones. The key is not mistaking “an occasional empty, tasty delight” for “a valid primary staple of my diet”. Even more key: not deluding oneself into thinking that the comfort food/music is somehow “just as good as” more nutritious fare, and thus a worthy replacement for all such fare. Because it isn’t. Let’s be honest. We all know that burgers, ice cream shakes, chicken nuggets, cupcakes, quick-croissants,… Read more »

4li3n
4li3n
6 years ago

The problem of “fast food” “music” is the overrating. Of course theres no problem listen this kind of music. But it’s bad overrating plastic music, there are artists that write songs genuinely and something pure. Nowadays people prefer something more impulsive with excessive beatings without vocal expression and robotic and random lyrics….
But obvious that money comes first, and lets make something “fake” for playing on radios… well capitalism problems… ?

(fast-food (level hight) for fast-food lovers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0hKqe918nc)

Corey
Corey
6 years ago

All you need for a hit song is just a couple of Swedes and a laptop…Scandipop is the best!

Miguel
Miguel
6 years ago
Reply to  Corey

O dos portugueses con una guitarra y una voz , donde esta el argumento?

Corey
Corey
6 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

All you need to do is look at the songwriting credits of Max Martin, RedOne, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Carl Falk, and Rami Yacoub to name a few that are responsible for multiple #1 songs.

Bart
Bart
6 years ago
Reply to  Corey

True. That doesn’t necessarily makes it good.

raulescfan
raulescfan
6 years ago

I meant *isn’t harmful*

raulescfan
raulescfan
6 years ago

I don’t think he got it right by saying that disposable music is bad. It’s definitely not my cup of tea, but I don’t find any problem on people liking it (as long as this music is harmful to any group of people such as the hypersexualized, sexist reggaeton that is widely spreading around the world with the at my view shameful Spanish tag on it). However, I feel the same as him by the fact that music industry is so hard to access as it is a forever rotating wheel of veteran artists whose music is just recorded and… Read more »

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Let my cholesterol level goes to the sky and my body to the floor.

disposable-meter
disposable-meter
6 years ago

That design is so disposable guys. Couldn’t you make it with real photo of tasty burger just up from microwave, pardon, hot coals?

Nancy
Nancy
6 years ago

comedic realism > tragic realism. ain’t nobody gonna want a REAL burger on their chest!

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago

McDonalds do very nice salads these days. I had a lovely one in Monaco.

Uk esc fan
Uk esc fan
6 years ago

Can we have a poll please

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Yas, I’ll be wearing this while bopping to Chained to the Rhythm by Katy Perry (available on iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music NOW!!!)

steph
steph
6 years ago

?very music genre is good depending on the taste of the listener, and every song can cause feelings even catchy pop songs can cause happiness. Salvador is not the god of music and has no right to tell us what to listen, shading the taste of other people was offensive and ridiculous and also i dont think salvador’s song is so exceptional and real as he thinks it is, to me it’s just another boring ballad about love and it stood out mainly because it was the slowest song in the contest and the singer was acting weird onstage

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago
Reply to  steph

Huge agreement on this 🙂 I still can’t see how people can call him the kindest and purest contestant of them all

4li3n
4li3n
6 years ago
Reply to  steph

has I said: “The problem of “fast food” “music” is the overrating. Of course theres no problem listen this kind of music. But it’s bad overrating plastic music, there are artists that write songs genuinely and something pure. Nowadays people prefer something more impulsive with excessive beatings without vocal expression and robotic and random lyrics…. ”

Salvador isn’t a god, but I hope he is the salvador (please write it on google translator lmao) of eurovision.

Marc
Marc
6 years ago

Salvador never mention Fast food = Nordic music lol

As for Eurovision. Juries are the ones who vote more “Fast Food”: Heroes and Sound of Silence.

On Sweden. We need to point out Swedes didn’t want Robin’s Fast food to represent them (juries again).
They wanted Nano and his authenticity + Hit (Following Frans’ steps).

That said, I enjoy good Fast Food like Hey Mamma or As I Lay Me Down 🙂
But not bad and pretentios Fast Food.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

If those jurors vote based on what could do well on the radio (and they do), then they should apply for a job at some record label. Still, they got it all wrong, since I Can’t Go On was a commercial flop outside of Sweden – and even within Sweden, it didn’t manage to outpeak and outstream As I Lay Me Down.

Marc
Marc
6 years ago

Indeed. We need all kind of Hits.

But “Sound of silence” was a flop on radio success. “If I were sorry” a huge hit. Who did juries vote for?

Same this year. “Hey Mamma” and “City Lights” are being played on the radio in many countries.. yet juries didn’t see it and voted for other countries.

I don’t understand how they do their job.
If we have a Hit in Eurovision, public will vote for it. We don’t need juries on that purpose I think.
Also juries never vote funny or unique entries 🙁

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Can we all agree that the juries are a small sample of the general public who mostly vote based on their personal taste? Don’t be surprised if their votes are all over the place lol.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

That is part of the problem. You know the saying, “shoot for the moon so you land among the stars”. Eurovision and the juries should aim to make the show *influence* and *help shape* the music industry, not copy it. That’s how you get all the fast food/corporate/sterile music both in and outside the contest.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc

No No No.
When you’re talking about Sweden or Australia, the songs are always “radiofriendly” never “cheesy” or “disposable”.
Russia 2016 is cheesy, Italy 2017 is cheesy. Sweden 2017 is “potencial hit”, “created for the markets”.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Too bad the market was unbothered by Sweden’s cheesy and disposable attempt.

Kitty
Kitty
6 years ago

Well, the market has been bothered enough to stream “I can’t go on” 17 million times om Spotify so far. Maybe not “If I were sorry”-proportions, but we all know that one was exceptional talking ESC-standards.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc

I wouldn’t call “Hey Mamma” fast food music tho. Fast food music =/= party music or upbeat music.

Thiefoworld
6 years ago

Just like fast food itself, “disposable” pop music is tasty, catchy and enjoyable with moderation, it also depends on the mood. There’s also a time for gourmet music and it’s great when people appreciate it as well, like in this case, winning a contest like ESC. So there is a time and a mood for both, both are good and people shouldn’t be judged for liking either of them.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Thiefoworld

As Katy Perry says, Bon Appétit, baby (buy it on iTunes).