International News

[chinchilla]

Great article.

[Steph]

From The Times
May 14, 2007
Of course it’s all a joke – but do they know that in Sarajevo?
Robbie Millen: Commentary

Ukraine was robbed. Any fool who follows the Eurovision Song Contest must know that Verka Serduchka’s song Dancing Lasha Tumbai should have won.

Silver tinfoil costumes, a meaningless catchy tune warbled in four languages, a transvestite front-erm-person — what could more encapsulate the glorious naffness of the competition? Yes, Ukraine was truly robbed by Balkan chicanery, and I’m as sick as a parrot.

The Eurovision Song Contest is the gay world’s FA Cup. It is the only time that the BBC gives over three hours of primetime just so that the bars of Old Compton Street can fill up with gay boys and girls who want to shout derision and encouragement at big TV screens.

What’s not to like about an event that is camper than a row of sequinned tents? On what other occasion could you thrill to Dmitry Koldun from Belarus, whose vivid spray-on tan left an orange fuzz on my TV set for more than an hour? And was there not fun to be had watching Kenan Dogulu who, despite the evidence of his own mirror, hip-wiggled and cavorted under the misapprehension that he was Turkey’s answer to Ricky Martin? (If he was the answer, the Turks misheard the question.)




Did you not find yourself in awe of the curling tongs that created the iron-clad hairdos of the Serbian backing singers? Where else could you see such style as Germany’s Roger Cicero, who dressed like Frank Sinatra trapped in a snowstorm? And did you guess how many seconds before the Irish entry would go all Riverdancy? Let us honour Scooch too, who understood the spirit of the competition and sung appropriately off-key double-entendres about “blowing”. These moments — the time when taste runs for the hills — deserve to be televised.

Of course, the event reveals some terrible regional backscratching. But who cares? We don’t want to win a contest in which Serbian hairdressers or the legions of continental David Hasselhoff fans have a vote. Eurovision isn’t about winning; it’s about the absurdity of our great continent set to tinny music and decked out in fabulous costumes.

But one sobering thought. We in Britain regard it as a celebration of silliness, but does the rest of Europe? Nations unblessed with Woganian irony might regard Eurovision as a serious pop-cultural highlight. I have this terrible feeling that this year’s winner, Marija Šerifovic, is going to be the biggest thing in Sarajevo since Gavrilo Princip let loose his bullet on Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Perhaps that’s a good thing. The best jokes are the ones that not everyone is in on.

[chinchilla]

The majority of those who are upset with Serbia's victory seem to think that Ukraine deserved to win. I'm sorry, but if there are people who think that flamboyant and ridiculous piece of crap was worth voting for then there is no hope left for Eurovision. And the Armenian song was downright awful. I imagine its only support came from diaspora Armenians in various European countries.

Why don't the Western European countries send more talented performers? Maybe it would get them out of their slump. For example, the United Kingdom could send Kate Bush. Though requesting for her to perform at that celebration of mediocrity known as Eurovision might be perceived as an insult nowadays.

[Steph]

Ps: we watched it on BBC and the commentator would occasionally comment with the usual British sarcasm on the outfits or the quality of the songs etc, which made it all the more enjoyable!)

The BBC commentator is Terry Wogan, an Irish DJ from BBC 2 Radio, famous now for 30 odd years, definitely the only reason the show is watched in the UK and he's completely unbiased as he is equally caustic in his comments about everyone and everything, but always with a smile !

[bell-the-cat]

But we laughed a lot, me and my friends Can't wait for the next year's:P
Ps: we watched it on BBC and the commentator would occasionally comment with the usual British sarcasm on the outfits or the quality of the songs etc, which made it all the more enjoyable!)

The only reason to watch it is for a laugh! Eurotrash at its worst.

Am I right in thinking that in Turkey the competition is considered to be just a big joke? BTW, that's not the first time I have heard Turks' say they prefer watching the BBC version.

I only saw the last 5 minutes, starting when someone in a Santaclaus outfit ( why - its May!??) was molesting (as the BBC put it) someone who looked like a little boy - then the "little boy" turned out to be the female lead singer of the winning entry.

[Jade]

Jade, I'm surprised your heads not fried watching that, yeah, I watched it too under instructions from wife and daughter!
Each year regions vote en bloc for their neighbours : Scandinavia, the Balkans and so on........just a laugh really.

Did you enjoy Hayko's song?

Its true! The quality of the music was really baffling I especially enjoyed France's song...the outfits truly were amazing:P especially loved the fake cat/ferret(?) perched on the shoulder of one of the singers...It made me laugh so much! Hayko's song was one of the nicer ones, definitely, but the prop was a bit too red for my liking I still don't understand how Serbia won...Apparently it was because of the homosexual support (atleast that's what I read on the internet) I don't have anything against the country, but I liked some of the other songs better...It is sad that most people can't stay objective where their countries, or their friendly neighbours are involved...Such a pity. But we laughed a lot, me and my friends Can't wait for the next year's:P
Ps: we watched it on BBC and the commentator would occasionally comment with the usual British sarcasm on the outfits or the quality of the songs etc, which made it all the more enjoyable!)

[Steph]

Just finished watching the Eurovision about an hour ago; interesting outcome wouldn't anyone agree?
ps: Turkey gave 12 points to Armenia On a pessimistic note, the majority of these twelve pts. were probably from the Armenians living in Turkey but still

Jade, I'm surprised your heads not fried watching that, yeah, I watched it too under instructions from wife and daughter!
Each year regions vote en bloc for their neighbours : Scandinavia, the Balkans and so on........just a laugh really.

Did you enjoy Hayko's song?

[Jade]

Just finished watching the Eurovision about an hour ago; interesting outcome wouldn't anyone agree?
ps: Turkey gave 12 points to Armenia On a pessimistic note, the majority of these twelve pts. were probably from the Armenians living in Turkey but still

[Jade]

Sarkozy or Royal not much of a issue in the interests of Turkey. France, as a country and its people, surely stand against admission of Turkey into EU. Don't misunderstand if I were French, I would also stand against it.

But within the scope of France, I believe the guy, with his balanced and sensible standing on several issues, is an opportunity for France itself.

We will see the stuff he's made of in the coming months...From what I've read of him, Sarkozy had had a very tough childhood (this is confirmed by his mother, she was a single parent who raised all her three sons alone)...I also read that the absence of a father was as Sarkozy puts it "what defined him"...from his speeches etc, I make out the impression that he is a very tough man who has big plans for France, and seems to be intent on speaking his mind...I will make no comments on Turkey

[elendil]

Sarkozy or Royal not much of a issue in the interests of Turkey. France, as a country and its people, surely stand against admission of Turkey into EU. Don't misunderstand if I were French, I would also stand against it.

But within the scope of France, I believe the guy, with his balanced and sensible standing on several issues, is an opportunity for France itself.