European Philosophical Song Contest Blends Pop and Thought

Massimo Furlan and Claire de Ribaupierre created the European Philosophical Song Contest, a live show merging commercial pop music with philosophical concepts. Ten European philosophers, historians, and anthropologists each synthesized an idea into a song with verses and a chorus, set to music by the Haute École de musique de Lausanne. The songs, performed in original languages with surtitles, ranged from tango to rock, and were sung by two vocalists. The contest featured a kitsch TV-show atmosphere with LED screens, a glittering hostess (Nina Negri), and a presenter (Massimo Furlan) mimicking Nikos Aliagas. A jury of three experts—historian Ludivine Bantigny, philosopher Joëlle Zask, and historian Antoine de Baecque—deliberated and highlighted ideas from the songs. Notable entries included Santiago Alba Rico's "Romance of Being and Non-Being" based on Luis de Góngora, Kristupas Sabolius's "Robot Myxomycètes" addressing Bruno Latour, Philippe Artières's "Ballad of Infamous Men," Leon Engler's "Jesus is a Soccer Match," and Michela Marzano's "Fragility of Existence," which won audience applause. The show toured from February to May 2020 at MC93 in Bobigny, TLH-Sierre, Scène nationale de Bayonne, Vilnius Festival, and Theater der Welt in Düsseldorf. Furlan stated, "A society that does not think for itself is a sick society." The event aimed to reintegrate thought into public space and entertainment, countering populist disdain for intellectuals.