It means 'singing'.

February 22, 2025 1:16 PM

In further entries for Eurovision Song Contest #69 (previously Finland and Estonia), Malta is represented by Miriana Conte, singing the song “Kant”. Radio Times: Kant, which translates to 'singing' in English, sees Miriana sing: "Serving kant... Do-re-mi-fa-s-s-serving kant." Eurovoix: “Kant” has drawn significant attention for its chorus, in which the singer proclaims that they are “serving Kant”. Kant is a Maltese word meaning ‘singing’, but its similarity to an expletive in the English language had led many to speculate that it could be banned at Eurovision. The EBU, which coordinates the Eurovision Song Contest, appears to have approved the lyrics as they are. [Lyrics]
posted by Wordshore (12 comments total)

I don't follow Eurovision closely, although I adore its blend of silly and self-seriousness - surely this is the height that all civilizations should aspire to. But it seems to me just from the coverage here this year that a lot of the drama is around what will be banned, and perhaps the game from the artist's point of view is to go right up to that line with maybe just a toe across it, presumably to generate controversy and thus buzz ahead of time. Perhaps someone who follows it all a little more closely than I could confirm if I am reading this correctly?

In any case, keep the posts coming. Eurovision is just the ridiculousness I need right now.
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 1:24 PM on February 22 [5 favorites]

I loved how they solved the problem of the title by just adding (singing) after Kant so it reads Kant (singing). Don't know why, just find it great.
posted by Art_Pot at 1:47 PM on February 22 [1 favorite]

... the coverage here this year that a lot of the drama is around what will be banned ...

It's not a new thing. For decades there have been songs, or performances, which are ambiguous or could be interpreted as sexual, or demonic, or something else which someone will object to. Some Orthodox Christians complained about Lordi, who then won. And the more recent 2014 entry from Poland was misinterpreted by a lot of people and media (but was still popular with many public voters).
posted by Wordshore at 2:19 PM on February 22 [1 favorite]

Wonderful! I recently learned what "serving c__t" means and I love this artistic subversion of the authortarian and oligarchic w__kers that plague, well, us but moreso the people who came up with the term.
posted by k3ninho at 2:42 PM on February 22 [1 favorite]

Wow, I am so postmenopause that were it not for this thread I would have assumed it was about philosophy.
posted by JanetLand at 3:26 PM on February 22 [9 favorites]

It is quite a phenomenon (sorry).
posted by chmmr at 3:36 PM on February 22 [4 favorites]

It's imperative this song win in its category.

What if everyone else wrote lyrics like that?
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 4:17 PM on February 22 [7 favorites]

This song appears to be a critique of pure reason.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 4:26 PM on February 22 [13 favorites]

This song appears to be a critique of pure reason.

Or, alternatively, breaking rules.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 6:15 PM on February 22 [3 favorites]

Being "outraged" by a Eurovision song or treating it as "controversial" has been part of the circus for decades. It is part of the media product.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 3:12 AM on February 23 [1 favorite]

Always sing in such a way that you can also will that the maxim of your song should become a universal law.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:39 AM on February 23 [7 favorites]

Update: EBU censors Malta’s Eurovision song. The word “kant” has to be removed from the title and lyrics. Boo!
posted by dnash at 11:56 AM on March 10