The Tower: Unveiling Symbolism and Storytelling in Luna's Eurovision Masterpiece

At the heart of this song lies a narrative of self-discovery and empowerment while the lyrics weave a tale of seeking freedom, chasing dreams, and ultimately, finding strength within oneself.

In the captivating world of music, where melodies intertwine with emotions, few songs manage to strike a chord as deeply as "The Tower" by Luna, selected to represent Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2024.

Through the lens of this compelling track, we embark on a journey that not only showcases Luna's exceptional talent but also explores the profound symbolism of politics and the Tarot card—The Tower—creating an unforgettable narrative of resilience, transformation, and empowerment.

Luna, born Aleksandra Katarzyna "Ola" Wielgomas, has carved a niche in the electropop scene with her enchanting voice and the enigmatic persona of her alter ego, Luna. Her music, a blend of cosmic pop and mysterious vibes, mirrors the profound impact of celestial bodies on her creative process and her fascination with astrology, art, and philosophy permeates her work, infusing it with a unique depth that resonates with a wide audience. Luna's voice, reminiscent of the ethereal Bjork, carries the Eurovision song's powerful message with an infectious energy that is both haunting and uplifting.

Symbolism in the Music Video

Setting

The music video for "The Tower" is a visual feast, set in a lavish mansion that symbolizes both luxury and confinement. The setting interchanges between sitting down to several chess matches and standing in a circle confined by our looks and society dancing around us. The final setting unfolds into a scene of ultimate liberation, where we elevate ourselves onto our own platform of empowerment (literally putting ourselves on our own pedestal).  

Use of colors: Black and white

In the initial verses of "The Tower," Luna is poised at a chess table, cloaked in a black dress with striking, angular shoulder pads, anticipating the first opponent's move. As the song's energy and message amplify into the pre-chorus and chorus, Luna transitions into various white outfits. This oscillation between black and white cleverly mirrors the chessboard's checkered pattern and its pieces. Notably, while traditional chess etiquette dictates that white moves first, Luna, in her black attire, defies convention by initiating the game.

Amidst the chorus, Luna, now in white, finds herself physically constrained by a layered dress that evokes the Tower of Babel's imagery. This attire limits her mobility, yet her spirit and message remain unbounded, as underscored by her rallying cry, “Rise up, shout it louder - I'm the one who built the tower!”

As the melody inspires a stance of defiance and empowerment, similar to Luna's, she is encircled by dancers whose movements are hindered by the ill-fitted, elastic nature of their costumes, a metaphor for societal constraints. The narrative evolves as Luna liberates herself from the tower-like confines of her dress, aided by her dancers who elevate her in a gesture of unity. After this, unrestrained dancing ensues, symbolizing the breaking free from societal norms.

The transformation stresses a poignant message: Just as one can change attire, so too can we dismantle or uphold a system, depending on our mindset, choices and actions.

Chessboard and Players

In the music video, the chessboard emerges as a profound symbol, highlighting the strategic decisions we navigate through life and the inherent challenges of contesting a system. Luna engages in the opening games with unwavering composure and opaque chess pieces, embodying a tactician reluctant to unveil her strategies.

The presence of the rook, or the tower, on the chessboard echoes the song's title, reinforcing the motif of strategic maneuvering. The rook's ability to move freely across the board without obstruction mirrors Luna's calculated strides in the metaphorical chess game of existence, as she navigates through various adversaries:

♖ The First Player: Luna encounters a man in white, who, with a seductive demeanor, manipulates the King chess piece right from the start. This figure represents dominance and patriarchal control, standing in stark contrast to Luna's empowered refrain, “Rise up, shout it louder - I'm the one who built the tower.”

♖ The Second Player: A woman, also dressed in black, smiles politely and opts for a non-confrontational approach, pushing all her pieces towards Luna in a symbolic gesture of surrendering power. This act reflects the reluctance of some women to challenge the status quo, thereby inadvertently reinforcing patriarchal structures. A pivotal moment occurs when the second player inadvertently topples the King piece, hinting at the unintentional yet potential impact on the system's hierarchy.

♖ The Third Player: Next, a man adorned in shades of dark purple and black challenges Luna, manipulating the passage of time rather than engaging in direct gameplay. In this pivotal scene, Luna strategically makes her move on the chessboard and promptly hits her clock, signaling the end of her turn. The ensuing action by the male player is shrouded in ambiguity, as the camera strategically avoids showing the chessboard. Instead, the focus is on his sleight of hand and manipulation of Luna’s clock, artificially extending her time without making a visible move on the chessboard. This act of deceit, as Luna rushes to press the stop button in response to her unfairly dwindling time while the opponent attempts to thwart her efforts, is laden with symbolism. His choice to manipulate time instead of participating in an honest exchange on the chessboard points out the deep-seated corruption within institutions of power. This manipulation represents more than just an unfair advantage in the game; it’s a metaphor for the way political and religious entities engage with individuals, enticing them into discussions or negotiations only to subvert the rules for their gain. This scene illustrates the challenges of navigating systems rife with dishonesty, highlighting the resilience required to confront and counteract such deceit.

♖ The Fourth Player: With her eyes closed, Luna sings of personal and collective struggles with the lyrics, “Broken bodies - Scattered through my history, Lonely hours - Leading to my destiny”, only to confront an elderly woman at the chess table upon opening them. This figure, dressed in red, symbolizes the lineage of women who have contended with societal and political barriers, offering a moment of connection and legacy. Near the end of the music video, the chessboard transforms, with all pieces turning red. Luna and the elder player look at each other and ceremoniously position four pawns into a central square on the board, symbolizing a departure from conventional gameplay towards a more equitable and symbolic contest. This act pays tribute to the struggles and sacrifices of preceding generations of women, leading up to Luna's era, acknowledging the journey and resilience shared across time.

As Luna faces these opponents, the dynamics shift—revealing the complexity of alliances and oppositions:

♖ The first player nonchalantly twirls the King piece, signaling a futile grasp on power.

♖ The second player's impatient hair flip, coupled with Luna's visible frustration as she pounds the chess timer with her fist, highlights the need for unity rather than division among women.

♖ The third player strategically moves his chess piece of the bishop backwards, highlighting the role of strategies within politics and organized religion. The bishop is also unique in its movement in chess as it is confined to advancing or retreating diagonally across the chess board. His calculated move backwards, accompanied by a sly raise of his eyebrows, sparks curiosity about his intentions: Is this retreat a cunning invitation for Luna to advance, or is it setting the stage for a more deceptive play? 

♖ In the final scene featuring the fourth player, the chessboard is reset with all uniformly colored red pieces back at their starting places, symbolizing a fresh start. This setup suggests a new paradigm where, regardless of the moves made, the outcome is universally positive, implying a scenario where everyone emerges victorious.

The pedestal

Near the end of the music video, Luna ascends a pedestal, her attire now a white and red dress cut into long strips, similar to the idea of a maypole. Her dress also flows freely, offering a stark contrast to her previous constraints and evoking the image of the Polish flag. Luna is ensnared by red ribbons stretching and hooking her in various directions, symbolizing the pull of conflicting forces. As the tempo of the music heightens, these ribbons are released, signifying liberation. This powerful imagery reflects the global struggle for women's rights and mirrors Poland's own turbulent journey navigating the rise of far right-wing politics.

Through "The Tower" music video, Luna not only delivers an electrifying musical piece but also crafts a narrative rich with symbolic depth. The chessboard becomes a battleground for autonomy, the characters embody societal roles and restrictions, and the journey from confinement to liberation speaks to a universal desire for self-determination and equality. Luna's message is clear: we have the power to dismantle the towers we build around ourselves, brick by brick, move by move. As Luna takes her place on the Eurovision stage, "The Tower" promises to be a rallying cry for all who dare to dream, to fall, and to rise again, louder and stronger than ever before.

The Tower Tarot Card: A symbol of sudden change and awakening

The Tower Tarot card, part of the Major Arcana in traditional Tarot decks, is often met with apprehension due to its powerful imagery and the themes it represents. The Tower symbolizes sudden upheaval, chaos, and revelation. It represents the destruction of the familiar, making way for new growth and understanding.  

The Tower card typically depicts a tall tower struck by lightning, with flames emerging from the windows and people jumping out in desperation. This imagery symbolizes the suddenness of the upheaval and the unavoidable nature of the change it brings.

The Tower card in the Tarot also has symbolism with the following:

⚡Numerology: The Tower is the sixteenth card of the Major Arcana, a number that can symbolize the breakdown of existing structures to make room for something new and more authentic.

⚡Elemental association: The Tower is associated with the element of fire, representing cleansing, transformation, and sometimes, destruction necessary for renewal.

⚡Astrological/Planet association: The card is often linked to the planet Mars, emphasizing aggressive or sudden change, conflict, and the breaking down of barriers.

⚡Spiritual and personal growth: While the Tower card can signal disruption, it also points to the liberation from previous limitations. It suggests that through the destruction of illusion and falsehood, one can find truth and clarity.

⚡Historical context: Historically, the Tower card's imagery has been associated with the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, where human pride and ambition led God to scatter humanity by confusing their languages. This context underscores themes of hubris, divine intervention, and the humbling of human endeavors.

The Tower Card in connection to “The Tower” by Luna

Luna's "The Tower" parallels this symbolism, portraying the artist as the architect of her destiny, tearing down barriers to unleash her true power. The recurring motif of "I'm the one who built the tower" emphasizes self-accountability and the strength to rise from one's ruins.

"The Tower" transcends the boundaries of music to become an anthem of resilience. Just as the Tarot card suggests the necessity of destruction for rebirth, the song celebrates the beauty of breaking free from self-imposed limitations to embrace one's full potential. Luna, through her music, encourages listeners to construct their towers of dreams, only to have the courage to tear them down and rebuild on their own terms.