Not that anybody really cares apart from me (and a few other fans), but Eurovision is dead, as far as I'm concerned.
It used to be something unique, drifting merrily along in its own musical genre, seeming oblivious and immune to the forces of Americanisation, globalisation and homogenisation which are turning the rest of Europe into the same place, where they sell the same Wall's Magnums everywhere, but the only way of telling you've crossed a border is that Wall's has changed to Ola, or Lagnese, or Iglo.
But no - the Eurovision Song Contest couldn't resist forever, and where a few years ago you had 24 songs each in the language of the country it represented, quaintly accompanied by an orchestra in some converted conference centre somewhere, it's now become some bloated version of Pop-Idol goes Europe.
If all the songs are in English, how can you tell what country they're from? Why label them at all? Why not just say 'song 1', 'song 2' and so on? Why try to turn the event into some sort of stadium-based MTV awards? If that was what I wanted to watch, I would turn over to MTV. At least then I could see Kylie rather than some sort of ersatz Avril Lavigne with no money (as Boyz so aptly put it).
And as for the 'political' voting... It's time to bring back juries. Televoting turns the whole thing into a circus - a desperate attempt to do anything - anything to attract/distract the attention of the listless viewer. In this karaoke/gong-show atmosphere, whoever can-cans the highest wins.
No... all good things must come to an end. It's just a pity I didn't see this one coming. Ah well...
Posted by Eurodan at May 20, 2004 7:36 PMYou didn't see this one coming? Oh no! All my illusions about your infallibility are shattered!
I never had any interest in Eurovision one way or the other, but what you describe certainly does seem rather sad :(
Posted by: matt at May 21, 2004 12:44 AM
Oh Dan, it made me so sad to read this entry. Like Matt, I was never terribly interested in Eurovsion either, but your enthusiasm for it was infectious.
It's like the day you find out the truth about Father Christmas!
Posted by: Leah at May 21, 2004 7:42 AMDon't give up hope. The plans for the EBU coup are well under way ;-)
[Leah] FYI, Father Christmas DOES exist. I saw a lone footprint of his in the middle of my snow covered garden when I was a kid. He obviously made it whilst pushing off on his sleigh. There were no other prints or marks in the snow for tens of metres either side.
Although I could see Eurovision's miserable slide into globalised, commercial homogeneity, it was nonetheless extremely sad to see it reach such a low point.
I've followed it since I was a kid, though my entusiasm was greatly increased when I was fortunate enough for my path to cross with Dan's.
The good natured celebration of the diversity of our continent, and the possibility that people can share something despite differences in language and culture was inspiring.
One of my fondest memories is of attending the after-contest party with Dan at the 1996 contest in Oslo. To be surrounded by so many talented and passionate people, many of whom shared music as their only common language, and to see them getting along together and having so much fun was an experience I shall never forget.
Posted by: Shyboy at May 21, 2004 2:25 PM