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In corpore sano
In corpore sano
from Wikipedia
"In corpore sano"
The official cover for "In corpore sano"
Single by Konstrakta
from the EP Triptih and the album Biti zdrava
Language
English title"In a healthy body"
Released11 February 2022
Genre
Length2:59
LabelPGP-RTS
Composers
Lyricist
  • Ana Đurić
Konstrakta singles chronology
"Neam šamana"
(2020)
"In corpore sano"
(2022)
"Mekano"
(2022)
Music video
"In corpore sano" on YouTube
Eurovision Song Contest 2022 entry
Country
Finals performance
Semi-final result
3rd
Semi-final points
237
Final result
5th
Final points
312
Entry chronology
◄ "Loco loco" (2021)
"Samo mi se spava" (2023) ►
Official performance video
"In corpore sano" (Second Semi-Final) on YouTube
"In corpore sano" (Grand Final) on YouTube

"In corpore sano" (Ecclesiastical Latin: [iŋ ˈkorpore ˈsano], Classical Latin: [ɪŋ ˈkɔrpɔrɛ ˈsaːnoː]; transl. "In a healthy body") is a single by Serbian singer-songwriter Konstrakta. It was released on 11 February 2022 through PGP-RTS as part of her three-song project Triptih.[1] It was written by the artist alongside Milovan Bošković. The song represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy, after winning Pesma za Evroviziju '22, Serbia's national final.[2] In the final of the contest, it placed fifth and broke Serbia's record for the most points received.

Entering Pesma za Evroviziju '22 as an underdog to promote Triptih, Konstrakta gained mass popularity after her performance in the first semi-final of the national final. Her avant-garde song and performance have been variably characterized as satire, irony, or critique of the Serbian healthcare system, mass media, the COVID-19 pandemic, and beauty standards,[3] and how all of these factors distract from the importance of mental health. The performance itself has also been compared to the works of Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović.

Background

[edit]

Konstrakta applied for Pesma za Evroviziju '22 with the goal of promoting her three-song project Triptih (Triptych) of which "In corpore sano" is a part, alongside "Nobl" (Noble) and "Mekano" (Soft). As she revealed, "In corpore sano" fit the Pesma za Evroviziju ’22 requirements, being three minutes long, which was the reason why this exact song was chosen to be applied with.[4] She also revealed that she did not apply for the competition herself.[5]

Triptih was released on 28 February 2022. It is a 12-minute long music video which features all three songs. Its concept was created by Konstrakta herself, alongside Ana Rodić and its director Maja Uzelac. The video and the songs illustrate modern-day life in Serbia, each of them in its own way.[1][6] On 23 June 2023, Triptih was rereleased by Gruvlend! and Virgin in form of an extended play.[7]

Composition and conception

[edit]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

"In corpore sano" was composed by Konstrakta and Milovan Bošković, with lyrics written by Konstrakta herself.[8] Sonically, it is an experimental, avant-pop and art pop song that, according to Ellie Muir of The Independent, "evokes the music of Kraftwerk".[9][10] Classic FM's Kyle Macdonald also noticed an influence of Gregorio Allegri's Miserere.[11]

The song begins with the artist wondering what the secret behind Meghan Markle's healthy hair is and suggests "deep hydration", before going on to describe in an ironic tone various medical conditions whose symptoms make skin and hair "ugly". The hook then features the artist hypnotically chanting that a female artist has to be healthy ("Umetnica mora biti zdrava!"). The second verse takes on a more positive tone and describes her walks with her dog, while trusting her heart and her autonomic nervous system to take care of her health "on their own". It features further chants, "Bože zdravlja!" (transl. "God grant us health!"),[9] which resemble Gregorian chants[12] and which are inspired by Juvenal's quote "Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano" (transl. "You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body") from his work Satire X. The third verse starts off with the statement "Nemam knjižicu" (transl. "I don't have health insurance") referencing the fact that the Serbian healthcare system does not provide free healthcare to artists. The outro, sung in Latin, depicts a deteriorating state of mind by replacing adjectives in the original Latin saying from "Healthy mind in a healthy body" to "Weak mind/sad soul/desperate mind/frightened mind in a healthy body". The song abruptly concludes with a rhetorical question "I šta ćemo sad?" (transl. "So what do we do now?").[13]

Performance

[edit]

The "In corpore sano" segment of Triptih, as well as her performance on Pesma za Evroviziju '22, featured Konstrakta obsessively washing her hands in a basin while surrounded by five backup singers, including co-writer Bošković, dressed as priests. On Pesma za Evroviziju '22, she wore the white uniform of a worker at a health spa as she sang the lyrics.[14] The performance immediately attracted comparisons to Marina Abramović and her work Art Must Be Beautiful..., originally performed in 1975 in Copenhagen, which featured Abramović repetitively combing her hair and chanting "Art must be beautiful, artist must be beautiful".[8][13] In an interview with Jutarnji list, Konstrakta revealed that the reference to Abramović was intentional, but put in a new context.[15] On a different occasion, she revealed that the song needed a "compulsive aspect", and she chose it to be hand washing. She also stated that the carnation that she wore on her uniform was a symbol of love, understanding and respect.[16] In the grand final of Eurovision, she wore sandals popularly called borosanas due to being produced exclusively in Borovo, Croatia. The shoes were a symbol of female factory workers in socialist Yugoslavia, but their popularity decreased after the country's breakup.[17] Konstrakta insisted on wearing them during the performance, so a pair was sent to her from Zagreb by Dejan Aćimović via Zrinko Ogresta.[18]

Interpretations

[edit]

"In corpore sano" has a lot of accompanying content, under the umbrella topic of attitude towards health. I can't cover everything, but I'm singling out the attitude that goes from "has to" to "can".[a] On one hand, we're living in an atmosphere [of fear] where health is represented as a life value that requires huge spending. Health is talked about as something that is fully under our control, only if we do this, buy that, follow the new trend, listen to that... One has to be healthy. That's the pressure that leaves us in fear. On the other hand, it's possible to achieve a common sense attitude in which health is under our control to some extent, and in which, accordingly, illness and ultimately death are accepted with less fear. And the systematic support is thin, unfortunately, equally in the healthcare system and the education system. Healthcare is becoming more and more inaccessible and expensive... And so on.[5]

— Konstrakta talking about why she thinks "In corpore sano" could be the right entry for Eurovision

Initially, the song was believed to be an homage to Miroslav Ničić, guitarist of the band Zemlja gruva! [sr] of which Konstrakta was a member, who had no health insurance and subsequently died from leukemia. Konstrakta denied that, claiming that the song has multiple layers and meanings other than health, and that it's open to interpretation.[13][19] When asked by Informer to explain the Meghan Markle reference, she mysteriously replied that she decided to name-drop Markle because "the newspapers say she has beautiful hair... Even more beautiful than Kate Middleton's hair, let's not lie to ourselves. Kate has beautiful hats, and Meghan has beautiful hair. Meghan is also exiled, and we support exiled people."[20] Later, she revealed that Markle is just a symbol representing the people in the media we are focused on.[16]

Serbian portal Glossy opined that the hook of "In corpore sano" refers to the pressure to be beautiful that women, especially female artists, face. Furthermore, Glossy claimed that the meaning behind the first verse is the self-diagnosing that artists are forced to do because they have no health insurance, which is something that the upper class of society doesn't have to worry about, which they thought explains name-dropping Meghan Markle. The hand washing and the Latin outro are explained as a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health, respectively. The optimism of the second verse and the abrupt ending of the song followed by a rhetorical question were explained as the artist relaxing her thoughts and trusting God with her health.[13] Tena Šarčević of the Croatian portal Glazba.hr thought that the song talks about artists being underpaid, which leaves a mark on their physical and mental health. She also thought that Konstrakta satirizes the digital age we're living in by using a computer voice in the song, and explained the reference to Meghan Markle's hair as a critique of the superficiality of mainstream media.[8] Oliver Rainbird of Wiwibloggs linked the reference to Meghan Markle's healthy hair, the hook and the Latin outro to media presuming artists are healthy as long as they look well, while completely neglecting their mental health.[21]

Portal Buka drew a comparison between Konstrakta's and Marina Abramović's performances and chants, stating that Konstrakta washes her hands over and over again while wondering what the secret behind healthy hair and skin is in the same manner Abramović combs her hair over and over again to make herself beautiful so that people would pay attention to her art.[22] Hrvoje Horvat of Večernji list thought that the costume Konstrakta wore during the performance represents the "nurse of the mass media", ironizing the culture of health and desirable appearance.[23] Rainbird interpreted the hand washing as Konstrakta doing her best to remain healthy since she, as an independent artist, cannot afford to fall ill as she does not have health insurance.[21]

Live performances

[edit]

Pesma za Evroviziju '22

[edit]

Out of two semi-finals, "In corpore sano" competed in the first semi-final with 17 other songs. In each semi-final, eighteen songs competed and the nine qualifiers for the final were decided by a combination of votes from a jury panel and the Serbian public. "In corpore sano" was chosen as one of the nine songs to qualify.[24]

The final took place on 5 March 2022, and featured all eighteen qualifying songs. The winner was decided by a 50/50 combination of votes from a jury panel and the Serbian public. "In corpore sano" won both the jury and the public televote, therefore winning the final with a maximum 24 points.[25]

Promotion

[edit]

Konstrakta performed "In corpore sano" at the Israel Calling Eurovision pre-party in Tel Aviv on 7 April 2022, to positive feedback. Due to technical issues, she performed alone on stage and used hotel towels for the performance.[26][27][28] Two days later, she performed the song on the third episode of the tenth season of Zvijezde pjevaju, the Croatian version of Just the Two of Us, on HRT 1.[29][30]

To further promote the song, Konstrakta teamed up with Metalac which produced a limited series of 500 sets of basins and jugs. The sets were identical to the set Konstrakta would eventually use for her performance at the Eurovision, costed 5,000 RSD each and all the revenue from them was donated to the National Association of Parents of Children with Cancer (NURDOR).[31][32]

At Eurovision

[edit]

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 25 January 2022, an allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.

Serbia had been placed into the second semi-final, which was held on 12 May 2022, and had been scheduled to perform in third place in the first half of the show.[33] Largely replicating her performance at Pesma za Evroviziju '22, with several altered details and added occasional English subtitles, Konstrakta qualified for the final where she performed in 24th place in the running order. In the process, she became the first act to perform in Latin at the Eurovision Song Contest.[34][35][36] In the final on 14 May 2022, Konstrakta won 87 points from the juries (including two sets of 12 points from Montenegro and Croatia) and 225 points from the public (including five sets of 12 points from Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Switzerland), amassing a total of 312 points and placing fifth (behind Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden).[37] Furthermore, she broke Serbia's record for the most absolute points received in a final, which previously was 268 and was set in 2007.

Critical reception

[edit]

Tena Šarčević of Glazba.hr described the song as an "absolute masterpiece", claiming that it "screams powerful social and political messages on so many levels, while being wonderfully entertaining".[8] Hrvoje Horvat of Večernji list thought the song was humorous and camp, stating that he preferred it to his native Croatia's Eurovision entry "Guilty Pleasure" by Mia Dimšić, and that he believed in the song's success in Turin.[23] Writing for Ravno Do Dna, Zoran Stajčić described "In corpore sano" as an "exact example of how pop has to be thought out. That is not idiotic degradation, but intelligence and originality above all, and then the ability to shape it and present it as an interesting idea".[38] Edo Plovanić of Muzika.hr thought that "it is a good thing for [ex-Yugoslavian] regional music" that authenticity, unexpectedness and desire for something new won.[39] Jack Royston of Newsweek characterized the song as "bizarre pop".[14] In her blog, Vedrana Rudan called Konstrakta "phenomenal", stating that she sent a message that "artists have a right to live, to be healthy, because art is what is important in a society."[40] However, writing for Index.hr, Ivan Tomašić opined that Konstrakta was hypocritical for criticizing the urban middle class while focusing on people in the media. He claimed that her performance wouldn't have received an equal amount of attention if it had been performed in Belgrade's Museum of Contemporary Art instead of Pesma za Evroviziju '22; therefore she profited from people's focus on the media and became what she was satirizing.[41]

"In corpore sano" was praised by fellow musicians, including Bilja Krstić, Lena Kovačević, Jelena Tomašević and Bora Đorđević. Đorđević compared it to the works of Rambo Amadeus, particularly to his Eurovision 2012 entry "Euro Neuro".[42] Marija Šerifović, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, praised Konstrakta on Twitter.[43] Croatian musician Ida Prester, in an interview with Gloria, praised the song and the artist herself calling her eccentric, cynical and a genius.[44] Sara Jo, whose song "Muškarčina" (Manly Man) finished second on Pesma za Evroviziju '22, praised Konstrakta calling her "magical", a "synonym for authenticity", an "inspiration and a reminder how beautiful it is to be uncompromisingly yourself".[45] Aca Lukas, whose song "Oskar" (Oscar) finished fifth on Pesma za Evroviziju '22, stated that he did not like the song at all and speculated that, if he had "washed his feet [on stage]", maybe he would've won.[46]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Outcome Ref.
2022 Pesma za Evroviziju '22 1st place [47]
Eurovision Song Contest 5th place [48]
Eurovision Awards Best lyrics Won [49]
Best choreography Nominated
Most Innovative Staging Won
Marcel Bezençon Awards Artistic Award Won [50]
2023 Music Awards Ceremony Alternative Pop Song of the Year Nominated [51]

Commercial performance

[edit]

A day after her victory on Pesma za Evroviziju '22, the video of Konstrakta's performance in the first semi-final reached number one on YouTube trending charts in all former Yugoslav republics apart from Slovenia, where it reached number three.[52] Apart from the said countries, it trended in nine more European countries.[53] Within the first two days, the video accumulated 3.5 million views on the platform.[54] Eventually, it reached number one on YouTube trending charts in Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland[55] and Malta.[citation needed]

Konstrakta's performance started a trend on TikTok, where users replicated the part of the choreography during the song's chorus.[56][55] On Genius, the lyrics of the song reached number two on the weekly trending charts.[55]

In the week of 19 March 2022, "In corpore sano" debuted at number one on Billboard's Croatia Songs chart, spending two weeks at the top.[57][6]

After Eurovision, the song entered the top 20 on Spotify Viral 50 in more than 30 countries,[58] reaching the top 10 in 18 of those, and entering the top 5 in 7 countries.[59] The song peaked at number 7 on Spotify's Viral 50 - Global chart.[58]

Konstrakta reached 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, thus becoming the first Serbian artist who achieved that success.[60]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "In corpore sano"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Croatia (Billboard)[57] 1
Greece (IFPI Greece)[61] 39
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[62] 15
Lithuania (AGATA)[63] 11
Netherlands (Single Tip)[64] 19
Serbia (Radiomonitor)[65] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[66] 63

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for "In corpore sano"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 11 February 2022 PGP-RTS [67]
23 June 2023
[68]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"In corpore sano" is a single by Serbian singer-songwriter Konstrakta (Ana Đurić), released on 11 February 2022 as part of a three-song project through PGP-RTS. The track, co-written with Milovan Bošković, won the national selection Pesma za Evroviziju '22, earning the right to represent Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy, where it placed fifth with 312 points, marking Serbia's strongest televote performance since its 2008 victory. Its lyrics and staging satirize societal fixations on physical health, hygiene rituals, and unattainable beauty ideals, inverting the classical Latin adage mens sana in corpore sano ("a healthy mind in a healthy body") to prioritize corporeal purity amid critiques of overburdened public health systems. The live performance featured Konstrakta ritually washing her hands at a sink onstage, a gesture amplifying themes of obsessive cleanliness amplified by the COVID-19 era, which drew both acclaim for artistic innovation and debate over its layered political undertones.

Background and Artist

Konstrakta's Career Prior to the Song

Ana Đurić, professionally known as , initiated her music career in the late 1990s with early group involvement before achieving recognition as the of the Belgrade-based and band Zemlja Gruva, established in 2007. The band cultivated a presence in Serbia's alternative scene through live performances at prominent local festivals and releases such as their 2018 Greatest Hits Collection, which compiled prior material and underscored their -infused art pop style. As a core member, contributed to the group's critically acclaimed output, fostering a dedicated following among indie audiences despite limited mainstream penetration. In 2019, Konstrakta transitioned to solo endeavors, marking her debut with the single "Žvake," which introduced more experimental vocal and compositional approaches. This shift aligned with her interest in expression, building on the band's foundations while exploring personal artistic directions unbound by group dynamics. She followed with the 2020 single "Neam," further solidifying her position in niche Serbian indie circles, where her work received praise for innovative lyricism and performance style among local critics and festival-goers. Prior to 2022, her audience remained confined primarily to alternative music enthusiasts, with performances emphasizing intimate, conceptual live sets rather than commercial broadcasts.

Initial Conception and Inspirations

The song "In corpore sano" originated in early 2022 during Konstrakta's preparation for Pesma za Evroviziju '22, Serbia's national contest to select its Eurovision entry, as part of her multimedia project Triptych addressing societal vulnerabilities. This conception was grounded in observations of systemic healthcare inefficiencies, including protracted waiting lists for essential procedures that had intensified amid the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions to non-emergency care. A key inspiration stemmed from personal and family experiences with Serbia's system, where delays in accessing timely treatment highlighted disparities in , particularly the deprioritization of relative to physical ailments. These anecdotes reflected broader realities, such as public complaints about extended wait times, inadequate facilities, and uneven specialist availability, despite universal coverage under the Fund financed at approximately 6.1% of GDP. Serbia's post-2010 healthcare reforms, which stabilized spending at around $545 (PPP $1,218) by 2010 and pursued and community-based expansions, increased overall funding but failed to fully bridge gaps in services, where institutional care dominated expenditure patterns akin to those in middle-income countries (over 70% on hospitals). This causal persistence of inefficiencies—driven by trends absorbing up to 40% of total costs privately and regulatory limits on waiting times often unmet—underscored the song's roots in critiquing a system where physical imperatives overwhelmed preventive mental care integration.

Composition and Themes

Musical Structure and Production

"In Corpore Sano" employs a minimalist electronic production style, dominated by sparse synth layers and subtle percussion that underscore its experimental ethos. The verses adopt a spoken-word delivery, eschewing melodic for rhythmic , while the chorus revolves around a repetitive, chant-like motif of the title phrase, building tension through layered vocals and echoing effects. This structure culminates in breakdowns featuring near-acapella vocal harmonies over ambient drones, creating moments of stripped-back intensity that prioritize texture over bombast. The song's total runtime measures 2:59, adhering closely to Eurovision's three-minute limit while allowing space for its deliberate pacing. Production was handled by Milovan Bošković, who also contributed guitar, programming, and co-writing duties, infusing the track with analog warmth amid digital elements reminiscent of early electronic pioneers. Recording occurred in studios in early 2022, with the single released on February 11 via PGP-RTS as the central piece of Konstrakta's "Triptih" . Bošković's involvement emphasized clean, uncluttered mixes that highlight vocal nuances and subtle field recordings, diverging from the high-energy, hook-driven formulas prevalent in mainstream Eurovision pop entries. This technical restraint amplifies the composition's focus on repetition and , fostering an auditory experience geared toward contemplation rather than immediate catchiness.

Lyrics and Core Messages

The lyrics of "In corpore sano," performed by Konstrakta, explicitly invert the classical Latin proverb "mens sana in corpore sano" to emphasize a "sick mind in a healthy body," critiquing Serbia's healthcare system's prioritization of physical examinations over mental health diagnostics. In the verse, the narrator describes bureaucratic delays in accessing psychiatric care, stating, "I don't have the little book" (referring to the zdravstvena knjižica, or health insurance card required for appointments), and notes waiting months for a psychiatrist while routine physical checkups like ultrasounds occur within days. This highlights empirical disparities in service allocation, where mental health consultations face longer queues due to limited specialists and administrative requirements, contrasting with faster processing for somatic procedures. Key lines reference misdiagnosis risks, such as physicians dismissing psychological symptoms as physical ailments without thorough evaluation, exemplified by the plea, "Examine my , the body is healthy." These elements draw from observable healthcare patterns in during 2020-2022, when surges strained psychiatric services, exacerbating wait times and resource shortages for non-emergency needs amid a pre-existing deficit of about 20% in healthcare personnel. The core message underscores how overreliance on physical diagnostics—such as blood tests or imaging—can overlook underlying mental conditions, contributing to untreated cases in a context where Serbia's age-standardized rate stood at 15.14 per 100,000 population in 2021, above the global average. While the lyrics portray persistent neglect, they align with documented bottlenecks like overburdened facilities referring issues inadequately, though national efforts post-2014 included policy reforms expanding community-based services to address such gaps. The song's refrain reinforces this inversion, repeating "In a healthy body" to argue that physical wellness alone fails to ensure overall health when mental diagnostics lag, reflecting data on elevated depression and anxiety prevalence during the period.

Interpretations and Symbolism

The ritualistic hand washing in Konstrakta's performance symbolizes obsessive personal rituals employed to preserve mental equilibrium during prolonged healthcare delays, drawing explicitly from Marina Abramović's endurance-based works like Balkan Baroque, where repetitive cleansing confronts trauma and impurity. Konstrakta has confirmed this reference, adapting Abramović's motifs of beauty compulsion and ritualistic persistence to underscore the psychological toll of systemic inefficiencies, such as artists' exclusion from state insurance due to informal employment status. The partial nudity further evokes corporeal exposure, metaphorically representing patients' diminished dignity and raw vulnerability in environments where physical health hinges on bureaucratic access rather than individual merit or need. From a causal standpoint, these elements highlight how state-monopolized healthcare—intended as universal yet rationed by prerequisites and privatization pressures—constrains personal agency, manifesting in empirical delays that necessitate adaptive mental strategies like ritualistic focus on superficial vitality (e.g., and as proxies for unseen ailments). This counters absolutist views of institutional by evidencing individual coping efficacy, where mental resilience mitigates but does not erase structural frictions in . Alternative lenses frame the work as apolitical on familial anxieties, prioritizing release through artistic enactment over systemic , as seen in depictions of awaiting diagnostic results while sustaining psychological composure. Others discern a nuanced reproach to collectivist idioms—prevalent in Serbian , where communal slogans eclipse practical support for personal psychic endurance amid service gaps.

Selection for Eurovision

Participation in Pesma za Evroviziju '22

Pesma za Evroviziju '22, organized by Serbian broadcaster RTS, involved 36 competing entries divided across two semi-finals held on 3 and 4 March 2022, with 18 songs performing in each. Advancement to the final on 5 March 2022 was determined by the top nine songs per semi-final, based on points awarded separately by a professional jury and public televoting; each component provided one set of 12, 10, and 8 to 1 points to their ten preferred entries, emphasizing televote influence in reflecting broad audience engagement. Konstrakta entered "In corpore sano" in the first semi-final on 3 March , securing qualification to the final through the combined and televote results, where voting placed her third but scores ensured progression amid competitive dynamics. The competition's structure prioritized entries with strong dual support, highlighting how televote momentum could override initial preferences in a field dominated by established artists and newer submissions. In the final on 5 March 2022, won outright, receiving the maximum 12 points from both the jury and televote, totaling a decisive lead that underscored the entry's rapid ascent driven by pre-competition online traction and viewer resonance. This outcome demonstrated televote's pivotal role in mechanics, as the public vote aligned closely with the song's viral pre-release buzz, propelling it past favorites in a 18-entry showdown.

Victory and Selection as Serbia's Entry

Konstrakta's performance of "In corpore sano" secured victory in the grand final of Pesma za Evroviziju '22 on March 5, 2022, earning her the right to represent at the in , . The competition, organized by the public broadcaster (RTS), combined scores from a professional jury and public televoting to determine the winner, with Konstrakta accumulating the highest points from both. The final drew an average audience of 1,169,473 viewers on RTS1, reflecting significant domestic engagement and anticipation for 's entry. RTS promptly confirmed and her song as Serbia's official submission to the (EBU), initiating preparations for the contest under the broadcaster's responsibility for staging and . The EBU approved the entry without requiring changes, despite the ' references to Serbia's healthcare system, which some interpreted as implicit ; Eurovision rules bar overt political or commercial messages, but artistic content addressing personal and societal issues like health access was deemed compliant. opted to retain the song in Serbian, a decision aligned with EBU allowances for non-English languages following rule updates. This selection marked a shift toward experimental and introspective entries for , with initial EBU communications focusing on logistical coordination for Turin's semi-final allocation rather than content disputes. RTS handled early promotional alignments, ensuring the entry met technical and thematic standards for the May event.

Promotion and Performances

Pre-Eurovision Promotion

The official for "In corpore sano", directed by Maja Uzelac, premiered on March 11, 2022, shortly after Konstrakta's victory in Serbia's national selection, and rapidly accumulated millions of views through online sharing. To support outreach efforts, released variant recordings, including an acoustic "Banquet Version" on April 29, 2022, tailored for virtual promotional formats like the Eurovision House Party event. engaged in strategic appearances at Eurovision pre-parties across , including Pre-Party ES in on April 16, 2022, and Israel Calling in on April 7, 2022, to build anticipation among international audiences. In contemporaneous interviews, she framed the song's content as a reflection on priorities in contemporary society rather than explicit political critique, stating it concerns " and the atmosphere in which we're living, which has put as the highest value." Social media campaigns amplified visibility in , with the track inspiring over 11,000 videos by mid-March 2022 and spreading virally through shares that highlighted its unconventional style.

Live Performances Leading Up to Eurovision

debuted "In corpore sano" live during the first semi-final of Pesma za Evroviziju '22 on 3 March 2022, performing solo on a stark stage with hand-washing gestures symbolizing themes, which quickly amassed over 1 million views on official footage within days. She qualified for the grand final on 5 March 2022, where she replicated the core staging elements including minimalist lighting and spoken-word interludes, securing with 269 points from combined jury and public votes to represent . Following the national selection, undertook international pre-Eurovision appearances to refine delivery, performing at the Israel Calling event in on 7 April 2022 despite technical glitches that affected audio, maintaining the song's intimate, narrative-driven centered on her isolated figure. On 16 April 2022, she presented an evolved version at PrePartyES in , emphasizing smoother transitions in the rhythmic spoken sections and subtle enhancements to gestural precision for broader audience engagement. A specialized acoustic rendition, dubbed the "banquet version," was recorded and premiered on 29 2022 for the online event, stripping instrumentation to and vocals while preserving lyrical on disparities, highlighting vocal nuances without visual theatrics. These outings allowed iterative adjustments to post-national final, such as tightened timing in the "data" and reinforced solo emphasis, preparing for minimalism amid ongoing rehearsals.

Staging and Performance at Eurovision 2022

competed in the first semi-final of the , held on May 10 at the PalaOlimpico arena in , , where "In corpore sano" qualified for the grand final by placing third with 237 points. In the grand final on May 14, delivered the performance, securing fifth place overall with 312 points, comprising 225 from televoting and 87 from national juries. The staging emphasized a minimalist, performance-art aesthetic, with appearing solo in a white dress on a circular platform against a white backdrop. She executed ritualistic poses, including spinning, kneeling, and a central hand-washing sequence at a during the spoken-word rap segment, symbolizing and rituals. LED screens projected thematic visuals such as brain scans, bureaucratic text overlays like "In the ," flowers, and hands, supported by mood lighting to create a meditative, introspective environment despite occasional technical challenges in rehearsals. The absence of visible backing vocalists or dancers—relying instead on dynamic solo movements and pre-recorded audio elements—highlighted the entry's focus on individual expression amid projections evoking medical and administrative . This setup contributed to a televote-heavy score, with public voters awarding over 2.5 times the points given by juries, reflecting the staging's resonance with broader audiences through its unconventional, ritualistic delivery.

Reception

International Critical Response

International reviewers praised "In Corpore Sano" for its artistic innovation and bold departure from conventional Eurovision entries, often highlighting Konstrakta's integration of spoken-word elements, on and standards, and layered performance style as elevating it to art-pop territory. The Wiwi Jury at , comprising multiple contributors, awarded an average score of 7.28 out of 10, commending the song's clear vision, hypnotic quality, and critique of , with individual scores ranging from 5.5 to 9.5 after outlier removal. Similarly, Eurovision Union's team averaged 7.3 out of 10, noting its striking visuals and modern beat despite unconventional structure. The song's fifth-place finish in the Eurovision final, with 312 points including strong support (237 points), underscored its broad critical and professional appeal among international juries, who favored its experimental risks akin to past successes like Ukraine's in 2007, which triumphed with similarly eccentric staging and satire. ESCXtra's rehearsal coverage emphasized the effective use of to convey its message, enhancing accessibility for non-Serbian speakers and amplifying its thematic depth on artist welfare. Critics, however, pointed to its niche appeal as a potential drawback for mass televoting, where it garnered only 75 points (13th place), attributing lower public scores to perceived repetitiveness and abstract delivery that might alienate casual viewers seeking more straightforward pop hooks. Some jurors described it as "confusing" or overly reliant on performance over melody, suggesting it risked limited mainstream traction despite artistic merits. Aggregated fan site scores hovered in the high 7s out of 10, reflecting enthusiasm among Eurovision enthusiasts but highlighting a divide between expert appreciation and broader voter engagement.

Domestic Reception in Serbia

Public reactions to "In corpore sano" in Serbia were notably divided following its selection and Eurovision performance on March 5, 2022, and May 14, 2022, respectively. Younger urban audiences and online communities largely embraced the song as a bold cultural statement critiquing healthcare access and societal pressures on , with platforms filled with praise for its originality and Konstrakta's artistry. Comments such as "Pobeda zdravog duha uprkos nezdravim vremenima!" and "Jedinstvena i drugačija" reflected enthusiasm among supporters who viewed it as a refreshing departure from conventional pop entries. In contrast, conservative and rural-leaning segments of the public, along with some older demographics, dismissed the track as elitist and lyrically obscure, arguing that phrases like "nemam knjižicu" (I don't have a health booklet) and references to private insurance were either too or politically pointed without broad appeal. Critics contended the song prioritized artistic experimentation over relatable themes, with forums and comments decrying it as incomprehensible or irrelevant to average citizens' concerns. Serbian media coverage amplified this polarization, with outlets like Telegraf and focusing on the viral success and international buzz, framing Konstrakta's win at Pesma za Evroviziju '22 as proof that authenticity triumphs over formulaic entries. Tabloid-style commentary in some reports questioned its mass-market viability, echoing public divides by highlighting debates over whether the song's healthcare critique resonated beyond niche circles. Overall, while televoting placed it fourth in a hypothetical public-only tally at the national selection, the song galvanized discourse on artistic merit versus populist expectations.

Awards and Recognitions

"In corpore sano" earned the Artistic Award at the 2022 , bestowed by the Eurovision Song Contest's founders and international journalists for the most compelling artistic performance of the year. The entry secured fifth place in the Eurovision grand final on May 14, 2022, accumulating 312 points, including 225 from national juries across 40 countries, which underscored professional acclaim for its innovative composition and staging. At the Music Awards Ceremony (MAC) 2023, held January 25–26 in , , received the Golden MAC statuette and the award for international contribution to Serbia's global image through music, specifically citing her Eurovision representation. On December 27, 2022, the song was honored with the best lyrics award for Eurovision entries by the international jury of the Sloboden Pečat media outlet. While submitted for 2023 Grammy consideration in Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance categories, it received no nominations, and no further major international music industry accolades followed.

Controversies and Debates

Political Allegations and Government Response

Some pro-government commentators in interpreted the lyrics of "In corpore sano" as an indirect attack on healthcare reforms pursued by the (SNS) under President , accusing the song of amplifying systemic shortcomings to align with opposition narratives. Supporters of Vučić contended that the portrayal overlooked advancements in medical infrastructure during the 2014–2022 period, framing it as politically motivated rather than objective commentary. Konstrakta (Ana Đurić) denied any political intent, emphasizing that the song drew from her personal experiences, including her friend's struggle with cancer and the absence of covered in the system, positioning it as a call for prioritization over partisan critique. The Serbian government issued no formal rebuttal, but outlets aligned with the dismissed the content as artistic intended for dramatic effect, urging focus on the song's Eurovision performance rather than implications. Right-leaning analysts echoed this by highlighting the song's selective narrative, which they argued neglected evidence of expanded healthcare access under SNS governance, while left-leaning voices commended it for spotlighting persistent vulnerabilities in public services.

Factual Accuracy of Healthcare Claims

The lyrics of "In corpore sano" portray systemic barriers in Serbia's healthcare, including extended waiting times for cancer treatments and therapies, lack of coverage, and neglect of needs, drawing from personal anecdotes such as a family member's prolonged wait for medical intervention. These depictions highlight genuine disparities, notably in , where community-based support remains limited and the system relies predominantly on institutional models. Empirical data confirms persistent challenges with waiting lists, particularly for elective procedures like and replacements, where delays often surpass regulatory maxima of 6-12 months and can extend beyond three years for degenerative conditions. Serbia's "Regulation on Waiting Lists," in effect since around 2015, sets time limits and prioritizes urgent cases, yet enforcement gaps contribute to approximately 57,000 individuals on official lists as of late 2024. Psychiatrist shortages, acute in 2021 amid the aftermath, stem partly from , with nearly 6,000 doctors departing over the prior decade due to low salaries and working conditions. Countering narratives of total collapse, broader indicators show progress: spending reached $2,155 PPP per capita in 2021, surpassing upper-middle-income country averages in the WHO European Region, though allocations in lag behind EU norms with low overall investment relative to disorder burdens. at birth increased to 76.22 years in 2023, up from 75.24 in 2022 and reflecting a decade-long upward trend despite demographic pressures. The private sector has expanded rapidly, with major providers like MediGroup and BelMedik reporting revenue growth of 47-143% over five years ending around 2023, offering alternatives to public bottlenecks. Such lyrical assertions, while rooted in valid individual experiences, overemphasize acute failures without accounting for as a primary driver of specialist gaps or compensatory private growth, which mitigates some access issues for those able to pay. Anecdotes, though poignant, do not represent aggregate outcomes, as evidenced by rising systemic metrics amid ongoing reforms.

Broader Viewpoints on Artistic Merit

Critics supportive of the song's artistic approach emphasized its departure from conventional Eurovision pop, praising the integration of spoken-word recitation, repetitive motifs, and minimalist electronica as a form of boundary-pushing performance art that enriched the contest's experimental tradition. Independent reviewers described it as elevating the entry to an art-pop level through Konstrakta's deliberate staging and vocal delivery, which transformed abstract health themes into a meditative, visually compelling piece. This perspective positioned the work as avant-garde, capable of embedding layered critique within accessible musical structures without sacrificing aesthetic innovation. In contrast, detractors contended that the track's heavy reliance on declarative spoken elements and thematic exposition subordinated musicality to , resulting in a composition that felt more like illustrated than melody-driven songcraft. The rap-inflected verses and absence of a prominent chorus were criticized for alienating listeners accustomed to Eurovision's pop hooks, with some viewing the format as divisive and potentially preachy in its foregrounding of message over harmonic engagement. This viewpoint highlighted a where artistic ambition risked incoherence for traditional audiences, prioritizing conceptual delivery over broad sonic appeal. These debates underscore a tension between the song's conceptual boldness—lauded by niche and indie outlets for advancing on hybrid genres—and its perceived limitations in melodic , which some argued confined its impact to performative rather than purely musical registers.

Commercial Performance

Chart Performance

"In corpore sano" topped the , , and charts in following its win at the national selection Pesma za Evroviziju '22 on March 5, 2022. The track also reached number one on YouTube's Trending chart in , as well as in neighboring Balkan countries including Bosnia-Herzegovina, , and , alongside and . These peaks reflected strong initial domestic and regional interest driven by the song's selection for the . Internationally, the song entered the Global Viral 50 at number 23 in May 2022, the highest position achieved by any Serbian entry on that chart to date. It did not register notable peaks on major global charts such as Billboard's or official singles charts in markets outside the . Streaming metrics underscored a viral but regionally concentrated performance, with the Eurovision semi-final video accumulating over 6.6 million views by September 2022. data showed sustained plays in Balkan countries but limited broader global traction post-Eurovision.

Streaming and Sales Data

"In corpore sano" achieved its commercial outcomes predominantly through digital streaming, with no significant physical releases reported and limited publicly available data on direct digital downloads or purchases. The song's distribution focused on platforms like and , reflecting broader trends in post-Eurovision music consumption for non-winning entries. As of February 2025, the track had amassed approximately 14 million streams on , contributing to Konstrakta's artist profile reaching 32,000 monthly listeners by late 2025. YouTube performances, including the official Eurovision live tape and acoustic versions, collectively exceeded 5 million views by mid-2022, with sustained plays on totaling around 4.9 million for the primary audio track. Early virality on , where related sounds appeared in over 8,000 videos garnering more than 100 million views by March 2022, bolstered initial streaming momentum, particularly in and neighboring Balkan countries. Post-2022, the song maintained a long-tail presence with steady streams in the , driven by domestic chart dominance on platforms like Viral 50 and in early 2022, but showed no notable resurgence in 2024 or 2025. Compared to prior Serbian Eurovision entries, it marked a commercial high, as the first to enter 's Global Viral 50 at number 23 in May 2022. However, it trailed far behind 2022 winner Kalush Orchestra's "Stefania," which exceeded 72 million by 2025, underscoring the disparity in global post-contest traction for top-placing versus mid-tier entries.

Legacy and Impact

Cultural and Social Influence

The release of "In Corpore Sano" in February 2022 prompted public discourse in on the prioritization of physical health over mental well-being, particularly in the aftermath of restrictions that emphasized hygiene and bodily fitness while sidelining psychological strain. Konstrakta described the track as critiquing an societal atmosphere where health became the "highest value," often manifesting in obsessive behaviors like ritualistic hand-washing, which mirrored real-world protocols but highlighted their mental toll. This resonated locally, with the song's themes cited in Balkan media as exemplifying cultural heroes who elevated neglect amid policy-driven physical health campaigns. Internationally, the song's inversion of the Latin —implying a "sick mind in a healthy body"—fueled memes and fan adaptations that satirized fixations, such as parodies of its chanting and performative rituals during Eurovision broadcasts. Covers and mashups, including blends with prior entries like Ukraine's "Shum," proliferated on platforms like , extending the 's critique to broader audiences and amplifying discussions on unbalanced narratives. These viral elements underscored a shift toward examining verifiable indicators, such as Serbia's reported 20-30% rise in anxiety and depression cases post-2020, rather than relying on anecdotal or ideologically driven advocacy. The track's artistic approach, drawing parallels to performance art like Marina Abramović's endurance pieces, influenced perceptions of Eurovision as a venue for conceptual entries, encouraging indie and experimental submissions in subsequent years that prioritized thematic depth over conventional pop structures. This cultural ripple promoted causal analyses of health disparities, linking empirical data on prevalence—e.g., WHO estimates of 1 in 8 people globally affected—to critiques of policy overreach, fostering skepticism toward unsubstantiated activism.

Long-Term Effects on Mental Health Discourse

The song "In corpore sano" initially spotlighted Serbia's healthcare shortcomings, including delays in diagnostics and treatment access that could encompass mental health services, but its influence on broader mental health discourse has proven limited beyond 2022. Post-performance analyses noted its satirical critique of systemic inefficiencies, yet no direct causal links emerged to sustained policy reforms specifically targeting mental health. Community-based mental health centers in Serbia expanded modestly to six by 2023, continuing a trajectory from earlier initiatives dating back to 2003 rather than representing a novel response to the entry. Mental health funding and programmatic implementation showed no attributable surges; the national 2019-2026 protection remained uncosted and partially unrealized as of 2024, with ongoing emphasis on stigma reduction and community care predating the song. UNICEF's 2023-2024 campaign, "You're not bad, you're just feeling bad," addressed adolescent distress amid events like the 2023 , but operated independently of cultural references to 's work. Concert performances by in subsequent years, including festival appearances, reiterated the song's themes without evidencing deepened policy dialogue or shifts in priorities. Academic citations of the song in scholarship are minor and tangential, often embedding it within discussions of socio-cultural or Eurovision's apolitical facade rather than as a catalyst for . By 2025, outcome metrics indicated persistent challenges, including elevated psychological distress (5.2% high, 15.2% moderate in adult populations) and rising , with no measurable improvements tied to the entry's . Critics have contended that such artistic critiques amplifying narratives of institutional victimhood at the expense of promoting individual agency and , though empirical data underscores the absence of transformative legacy in funding allocations or service uptake.

References

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