11:11 (Megara song) explained

11:11
Cover:11,11 (Megara song).png
Alt:The cover artwork for "11:11". The cover features a watch with the time "11:11" printed on it amongst a background of pink with black splotches. Above the watch, the words "Megara" are printed in white.
Type:single
Artist:Megara
Genre:Electro-rock[1]
Length:3:00
Label:Indica
Producer:Isra Dante Ramos Solomando
Prev Title:Arcadia
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Dancing Queen
Next Year:2024
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "11:11"
Year:2024
Country:San Marino
Artist:Megara
Language:Spanish
Place Semi:14th
Points Semi:16
Prev:Like an Animal
Prev Link:Like an Animal (Piqued Jacks song)
Prev Year:2023

"11:11" (pronounced as /es/) is a song by Spanish alternative rock band Megara, written and produced by Issa Dante Ramos Solomando, Roberto la Lueta Ruiz, and Sara Jiménez Moral, and released on 15 February 2024 by Indica Entertainment. "11:11" was the Sammarinese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, held in Malmö.

Background and composition

"11:11" was produced by Issa Dante Ramos Solomando, and written and composed by Roberto la Lueta Ruiz and Sara Jiménez Moral.[2] In a press release, the band stated that the song was written over the course of a "few days" with the intent of doing something that the band had never musically composed before.[3] The song's title itself relates to an "angel number" tied to "spiritual awakening, self-awareness, and personal growth".[4] In analyses by ESC Kompakt and Wiwibloggs, it is described as a rock song that has "hints" of flamenco guitar. The song itself is inspired by the band's experiences, telling its detractors in a "fuck off message", particularly by including the phrase "me la pela", that despite trying to break their hearts, they will still be loved by others.[5]

The band previously made bids to enter the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 and 2023 to represent Spain; both were unsuccessful.[6] According to the band, the band initially entered Benidorm Fest 2024 but weren't chosen. In a last-ditch attempt, the band decided to enter Una Voce per San Marino 2024 for a chance to win a bid for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[7]

Music video and promotion

An accompanying music video for the song was released on 21 February 2024, with the video being directed by Javier Bragada. The video features the group in an office space perform in front of two executives, with the band eventually tying and gagging the executives.[8]

To further promote the song, the band announced their intentions to participate in various Eurovision pre-parties, including the Nordic Eurovision Party 2024,[9] the London Eurovision Party 2024,[10] the Barcelona Eurovision Party 2024,[11] and Pre-Party ES 2024.[12]

Eurovision Song Contest

See main article: San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Una voce per San Marino 2024

San Marino's broadcaster San Marino RTV (SMRTV) organized a 129-entry competition, Una voce per San Marino 2024, to select its entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The competition consisted of four 30 or 31-song semi-finals for foreign artists, a separate semi-final for Sanmarinese artists, and another separate semi-final composed entirely of AI-generated songs. In each of the six semi-finals, one entry qualified directly to the grand final. In the four foreign entry semi-finals, four songs advanced to a second chance round. In the second chance round, four songs directly advanced to a 17-song grand final, where a further eight entries that qualified automatically to the grand final were added. In the final, the winner was chosen solely by juries.[13] [14]

Megara were officially announced as participants in the competition on 30 January 2024. They were drawn to perform 23rd in the second foreign entry semi-final, and qualified to the second chance round.[15] They were able to qualify to the grand final from the second chance round,[16] and were later drawn to perform 17th in the grand final.[17] When the results were announced at the end of the competition, the song was announced to have won, therefore giving the song the rights to represent San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[18]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. During the allocation draw on 30 January 2024, San Marino was drawn to compete in the second semi-final, performing in the second half of the show.[19] Megara was later drawn to perform tenth in the semi-final, ahead of Latvia's Dons and behind Georgia's Nutsa Buzaladze.[20]

Megara competed with a revamped version of "11:11", created in collaboration with producer Jose Pablo Polo, which premiered directly at the contest.[21]

Release history

Country! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel
Various15 February 2024OriginalIndica Entertainment
23 April 2024Brais remix
28 June 2024Eurovision version

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eurovision 2024: Your guide to all 37 songs. 5 May 2024. Mark. Savage. BBC. 11 May 2024.
  2. Web site: Helgeson . Justina . 24 February 2024 . San Marino: Megara to Eurovision 2024 with "11:11" . 26 February 2024 . Eurovision World . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225070317/https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/san-marino-megara-to-eurovision-2024-with-1111 . live .
  3. Web site: 16 February 2024 . Nuevo single de Megara "11:11" . Megara's new single "11:11" . 26 February 2024 . Insonoro . es . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226223743/https://www.insonoro.com/noticia/108287/nuevo-single-de-megara-_11:11_ . live .
  4. Web site: Nava . Pablo . 2 April 2024 . "I won't take one step back": Megara dismiss their haters and embrace personal growth in the "11:11" lyrics . 6 April 2024 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: 25 February 2024 . San Marinos Beitrag für den ESC 2024: "11:11" von Megara . San Marino's contribution to the ESC 2024: “11:11” by Megara . 26 February 2024 . ESC Kompakt . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226110302/https://esc-kompakt.de/san-marinos-beitrag-fuer-den-esc-2024-1111-von-megara/ . live .
  6. Web site: Ntinos . Fotios . 1 January 2024 . San Marino: Megara are contenders for Una Voce per San Marino 2024! . 26 February 2024 . Eurovision Fun . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226223743/https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2024/01/san-marino-megara-are-contenders-for-una-voce-per-san-marino-2024/ . live .
  7. Web site: 24 February 2024 . Megara - "11:11" Interview Una Voce per San Marino 2024 . live . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/NZe_M1OeJdI . 26 February 2024 . 26 February 2024 . YouTube.
  8. Web site: 26 February 2024 . Letra y vídeo de 11:11, la canción con la que Megara va a representar a San Marino en Eurovisión 2024 . Lyrics and video of 11:11, the song with which Megara is going to represent San Marino at Eurovision 2024 . 26 February 2024 . . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226140805/https://www.elmundo.es/television/2024/02/26/65dc736121efa0d7418b458c.html . live .
  9. Web site: Granger . Anthony . 6 March 2024 . Sweden: Megara & Nebulossa Join the Nordic Eurovision Party Line-Up . 6 April 2024 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 7 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407051619/https://eurovoix.com/2024/03/06/megara-nebulossa-nordic-eurovision-party-line-up/ . live .
  10. Web site: Wilson . Katie . 14 March 2024 . San Marino's Megara are the next act confirmed for London Eurovision Party! . 6 April 2024 . . en-US.
  11. Web site: Dibben . Jazzi . 6 March 2024 . Megara to perform at Barcelona Eurovision Party 2024 . 6 April 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB . 7 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407051620/https://thateurovisionsite.com/2024/03/06/megara-barcelona-eurovision-party-2024/ . live .
  12. Web site: Granger . Anthony . 30 March 2024 . Tonight: PrePartyES 2024 in Madrid . 6 April 2024 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 7 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407051621/https://eurovoix.com/2024/03/30/tonight-prepartyes-2024-in-madrid/ . live .
  13. Web site: 29 November 2023 . Festival 'Una Voce Per San Marino' – The music contest linked to the Eurovision Song Contest 2023/2024 . 26 February 2024 . Una Voce per San Marino . State Secretariat of the Republic of San Marino for Tourism, Mail, Cooperation and Expo; San Marino RTV; Media Evolution S.r.l. . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205183328/https://www.unavocepersanmarino.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SET-OF-RULES-FOR-UNA-VOCE-PER-SAN-MARINO-2024_rev2.pdf . live .
  14. Web site: Granger . Anthony . 30 January 2024 . San Marino: 129 Una Voce per San Marino 2024 Semi-Finalists Announced . 26 February 2024 . Eurovoix . 30 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130173617/https://eurovoix.com/2024/01/30/129-una-voce-per-san-marino-2024-semi-finalists/ . live .
  15. Web site: Farren . Neil . 21 February 2024 . San Marino: Una Voce per San Marino Semi-Final Two Results . 26 February 2024 . Eurovoix . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225100922/https://eurovoix.com/2024/02/21/san-marino-una-voce-per-san-marino-semi-final-two-results/ . live .
  16. Web site: Youyou . 23 February 2024 . San Marino: Megara among 8 "emergent acts" to Una Voce per San Marino final . 26 February 2024 . Wiwibloggs.
  17. Web site: Farren . Neil . 24 February 2024 . San Marino: Una Voce per San Marino Final Running Order and Jury Revealed . 26 February 2024 . Eurovoix . 24 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224210753/https://eurovoix.com/2024/02/24/san-marino-una-voce-per-san-marino-final-running-order-jury-revealed/ . live .
  18. Web site: ten Veen . Renske . 24 February 2024 . Megara will represent San Marino at Eurovision 2024 with "11:11" . 26 February 2024 . Wiwibloggs.
  19. Web site: 30 January 2024 . Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results . 25 February 2024 . . . en . 30 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130182906/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2024-semi-final-draw-results . live .
  20. Web site: Adams . William Lee . 26 March 2024 . Eurovision 2024 Semi-Final Running Order Revealed . 6 April 2024 . . en-US . 27 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240427034238/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/03/26/eurovision-2024-semi-final-running-order-revealed-tonight-from-1800-cet/280818/ . live .
  21. Web site: San Marino: Jose Pablo Polo Revealed to have Created Eurovision Version of '11:11'. Washak. James. Eurovoix. 25 April 2024. 25 April 2024. 25 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240425212433/https://eurovoix.com/2024/04/25/san-marino-revamp-1111/. live.