Rule 101 in blog world is apparently not to confuse your readers by blogging about random things. But I would hope that all the lovely people who do read my blog will not freak out. This is a blog about sewing and music, and today this is about music…well almost.
Loved around Europe but ridiculed in the UK , the Eurovision song contest turns 60 this year.
For those unaware of what the Eurovision song contest is, it is a competition for the best song in “Europe” in which 40 countries compete. After two semi finals participating countries are knocked out of the competition via public vote to the final, where they are joined by the winning country of last year and the big 5 (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) who are the main sponsors of the competition so instantly qualify .Each song is then voted for by each participating country who can score 12 entries a maximum of 12 points descending in order to a minimum of 1. This year will be different as Australia will also join them in the final as an extra country..as a one-off 60 year special. (No you havent lost your mind the geographical map is still the same)
I stated watching the competition properly with parties in 2003. I’ve been devoted ever since. It is a thing of strange beauty, it’s full of farce, strange gimmicks, bizarre dance routines, block voting controversies and really odd intervals.
The UK has done poorly in most years since they last won in 1997. Considering the UK’s rich tapestry of musical input past and present, to the novice they should walk it. But they generally don’t send good representation. They send the likes of Daz Sampson (creepy & pervy ), Scooch (they thought camp would do well), Jemini (the uk’s only nil points result) , Bonnie Tyler (love her, bad song) and in my opinion the worse entry Josh Dubovie meets Pete Waterman. Someone forgot to tell the selection panel that it wasn’t 1988 anymore. There have been decent attempts with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jade Ewen in 2009 but it was against Fairytale (see below) it really didn’t have a chance making it to a decent 5th.
There concludes this history bit, I could write a book on the bloody thing. I can go on.
So as I started, Mr CM was incredibly lucky to get tickets to the Greatest Hits show on Tuesday at the Hammersmith Apollo in London (but not in the west end, as it may be broadcast as). I was thrilled and to be honest I can’t remember the last time I genuinely had a really great joyful time at a show.
I’ll say now that we were prohibited by the BBC to take any photographs or videos so I’m going to have to use the promotional ones from the Eurovision website.
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline Thomas Hanses (EBU), Guy Levy / © BBC 2015
Hosted by the very funny Graham Norton and Petra Mede, It was a show of winners and then some. Quite a few were before my Eurovision time such as Bobby sox, The Herreys and Anne-Marie David but they were still entertaining.
The atmosphere was pretty festival like, full of devoted enthusiastic fans which made it so much more fun.These fans were hard-core who put me to shame. They had been to most of the finals night in past years around Europe and had travelled quite a distance to be at the London performance. It made quite a difference from watching it at home with people who really are not bothered about it.
They all did sound amazing, even acts like the Brotherhood of Man who appeared in 1976, still sounded the same. Other amazing performances were some of my favourites such as Loreen and Lordi who probably got the biggest applauses of the evening.
I didn’t realise that the lyrics to 3 time winner Ireland’s Johnny Logan’s “Hold me now”had lay dormant in my head since 1987 (It was massive in OZ, I think I had it on some now ’87 compilation) and magically all spouted out of my mouth like a spring. You see I can’t remember how to do long division but random lyrics, this I know.
What you won’t see in tonight’s broadcast is the what is becoming mandatory booing (not from me) poor Dima Bilan received because he is Russian. This happens every year at the Eurovision shows due to Russia’s political stance. I did feel sorry for Dima, it’s really not his fault (unless his involved somehow that I’m not aware of).
Graham Norton got (rightly) quite cross with the audience and reminded them where they were and to behave. After that scolding the audience behaved and Dima took it in very good grace. In the end he did a great performance and was appreciated by the audience. They made us re-record the clapping to dub the introduction.
The highlight of the evening was Conchita, she sounded even more amazing live. But the bigger highlight was Dana International and Conchita performing Waterloo together. Amazeballs.
I just hope I wasn’t filmed shamelessly singing like a nerd in the second row..(on the side).
With over 1,400 songs ever entered into the contest I have picked up my top 14 favourites over the past years making this 1% of all entries. I could have written the top worse but that would just make me no better than the cynics who think Eurovision is pathetic. I suppose I could do the most strangest entries which would included singing pirates, boastful bands, bad rapping, the elderly, and DJ Bobo letting us know vampires are alive. Not today tho.
Bar 2 all of these are after 2003, and there’s not a “Waterloo” or “Making your mind up” to be seen.
14. 1979-(West) Germany – Dschinghis Khan-
This did not win, but its a good introduction to what to expect from Eurovision. A German group performing a disco pop number about a 13th century invader. The dancing Genghis is what makes this, his really a bit scary.
13 1982- United Kingdom – Bardo- One Step Further
I’ve just added this, to be honest I forgot about this until last night, it was bugging me that I had excluded it. Not sure what happened to this on the night because the recorded version of this sounds a lot better. Whats with that crazy on all fours dance? I think she over exerted herself. Tipped to win, came 7th. John Peel quoted at the time that this was his favourite Eurovision song of all time.
12.2011 -SWEDEN – ERIC SAADE-POPULAR
Almost but not quite, coming in third. Love a bit of smashing glass. Not to worry, Sweden won it the following year.
11. 2003- TURKEY-SERTAB ERENER- EVERYWAY THAT I CAN
Since this won you will now find that in most years there will be a song that sounds like it from any number of random countries. The singing is a bit off, and I’m not sure about the rapping/talking bit. Nonetheless, winner.
10. 2007- MALTA- OLIVIA LEWIS-VERTIGO
I said this at the time and I still stand by it…how did this not even make it through the semi-finals? It scored pathetically low. There was a lot of blame of block voting in 2007 stopping quite a few western european countries getting through to the final.
When I was visiting my grandfather in hospital about 6 months after the event ,a loud debate broke out in the next room which included most of the ward patients, visitors and staff (this is Malta after all) as to why Malta didn’t get into the final. The general consensus was that Europe was racist and that going with a Japanese theme was her big mistake…, that is that.
9. 2006 -GREECE- ANNA VISSI- EVERYTHING
Rock ballads away! Bit Bonnie Tyler a bit Meatloaf. It never had a chance against Lordi but some years are just better than others. If this was entered in 2010 it may have done a lot better. (I say this just becuase I though 2010 was a poor year)
8.2004-GREECE-SAKIS ROUVAS-SHAKE IT
Eurovision is full of pretty boys, but none of them are Sakis I have a little crush on Sakis.
7. 2011-IRELAND- JEDWARD-LIPSTICK
This is the kind of stuff people watch Eurovision for. Poor Jedward should have done better but 11th isn’t bad. If that wasn’t enough they returned with the pretty unforgettable Waterline in 2012.
6. 2008- BONSNIA & HERZEGOVINA-LAKA-POKUSAJ
It’s so quirky, it’s not in english. Something about the sea and love. This song doesn’t require translation for me I just love the song.
5. 2009 – NORWAY- ALEXANDER RYBAK – FAIRYTALE
Norway are better known for receiving more nil points than any other country in history. But that was changed with fairytale. Isn’t he sweet? Having the ability to play a violin also helped this win by the biggest points difference in Eurovision history with 387 points.
4.2006-FINLAND- LORDI- HARD ROCK HALLELUJAH
It was loud, there were costumes involved, and axes and fire. It’s novel but the song is also great. Possibly the first rock track to be crowned victors. Dont know how much it harmed their “metal” reputation.
3. 2014-AUSTRIA-CONCHITA WURST- RISE LIKE A PHOENIX
Austria has had a bad run in the past, so bad that they left for a few years. Like a phoenix they came with this song .It’s all class, you forget about the beard or if it’s a man or woman. Should be a Bond theme. 2015 is probably going to be full of copies.
2. 2013-SWEDEN-LOREEN-EUPHORIA
The beauty of this performance was there was no gimmicks. There was nothing to distract you from the song other than the shadow lightning. Wonderful dance track, It won deservedly.
1. 2008-FRANCE-SEBASTIEN TELLIER-DIVINE
We all know I love Tellier, and its something that must happen once or twice in a lifetime where your real life music loves crosses into the world of Eurovision. Its bizarre, and so was this performance. It had everything , a drunk Frenchman, women with beards before Conchita, a golf buggy and helium filled globe . Sadly the rest of Europe didn’t feel the same (including the French who weren’t happy that it was sung in english, hence the one line sung in french “why must I sing in french?”) and it finished 19th.
While were on the Subject of Eurovision I have to mention the greatest episode of Father Ted ever made. In “A song for Europe” , egged on by father Dick Burn Ted and Dougal enter the song “My Lovely Horse” into the contest representing Ireland. It makes the final chosen because it’s so bad that Ireland can guarantee they wont win (and therefore not need to host ) it again.
There are calls from fans every year for Ireland to enter ‘My Lovely Horse’ (written by the Divine Comedy), it was put for consideration to the Irish government for this year’s contest. It was turned down… maybe they don’t want to win.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28066759
*Eurovision Greatest Hits is on the BBC 1 tonight at 9pm.
the crafty mastermind 