By Zion del Rosario

PHOTO: VIENNA

Filipino singer Vincent Bueno, has released “Amen,” which will be his entry to the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2021, representing Austria. 

According to the former ASAP performer, the song bespeaks of an internal battle within oneself.

“At first glance it’s about a dramatic relationship story, but for me it’s primarily about this inner struggle with your own strengths and weaknesses, that everyone knows, which leads to a bright future,” he says based from the ESC official website.

He also added that the song perfectly fits at both national and international level while also having “found” his own vocal identity. 

“We have used the past year professionally to find the perfect song at national and international level and among my own songs. In the end, we were sure that Amen is exactly that song. The song has found me,” says Bueno. 

The song was unveiled on 9 March on the Contest’s official YouTube channel, right after its premiere on Austrian radio.

“It is his powerful empathy that makes Vincent Bueno so special—he will touch Europe in May with his song ‘Amen,’ and with his charisma and his incredible abilities,” as Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) program director Kathrin Zechner quoted on the Contest’s website. 

“He will ensure moments that are as moving as they are unforgettable at the Eurovision Song Contest, she added.

Bueno is scheduled to perform “Amen” at the first half of the second semi-final on 20 May.

The song was composed by Jonas Thander, Bright Sparks and Tobias Carshey and  produced by Thander, Pele Loriano and Mikolaj Trybulec.

ORF has already selected Bueno as the 2020 entrant with the piece “Alive,” but due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the contest has been cancelled for the first time.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 18, 20, and 22 May (19, 21, 23 May in the Philippines). Forty countries from Europe, as well as Southwest Asia and Australia are expected to participate.