2006 Was Not A Good Vintage

I actually cant quite believe I'm about to publish this post. Those of you who know me will be aware that I will never usually hear a bad word said against the great Eurovision Song Contest...

On Sunday Evening I was home alone and took the chance to indulge myself in a little vintage euro-viewing. I picked the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest DVD from the bookcase, popped the disc into the player, opened the red wine and got comfortable ready to let the sequins, schlager and european partiality to wash over me.

I was so disappointed.

It must be a good year since I have played the 2006 contest which was held in Athens. I could not believe how dated and frankly cheap-looking not only the production was but also the quality of the songs was far worse than I had remembered. Fair enough this was broadcast almost eight years ago, but you would be forgiven for thinking it was more like eighteen.

Take this entry for example,"Arsenium feat. Natalia Gordienko & Connect-R" singing "Loca" for Moldova. 
It is, for want of a better word,  DIABOLICAL!!

At least the artists' name brought a smile to my face - 'ARSEnium!'

If your ears are in pain after hearing that song, then I shall afford you some sanctuary by not even posting the clip of Latvia's entry. "Vocal Group Cosmos" manage to stumble their way through an astronomically-atrocious A Cappella number wearing ill-fitting ivory suits and constantly faffing around with the most ridiculous prop in Eurovision history (of which there have been many). A song book is transformed firstly into a lectern before being walked around the stage in the finale as a robot-puppet complete with what appears to be a head made from a paper plate and horror-film-esque glowing eyes. If you are feeling adventurous however, here is a link to the youtube clip which is to be viewed at your own risk...

One saving grace did come, as to be expected, from Sweden with the mighty Carola belting out "Invincible" in front of lame-clad dancers complete with huge silver flags and the obligatory scandinavian wind machine.

Careful Carola, you'll pull a muscle if you're not careful!

For all those Brits who bang on about the contest being a corny, old fashioned, out-of-date bore-fest... I now excuse you if your opinion is based on this poor showing. Three years later the competition was held in Moscow and I genuinely think that whilst this might not have been the most popular host city for many euro-fans, the Russians pulled the competition forward a good 10 years and since then the standard of the TV production as well as the entries (with a few exceptions!) has been infinitely more credible.

I do hope it stays that way...

Dusseldorf: FEEL YOUR HEART BEAT

Here I am in sunny Dusseldorf getting ready for the Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final... I cant express in words how excited both I and the rest of Dusseldorf is for the show tonight.... Just look at the photos - you cant escape it here! = Heaven!!

The Dutch broadcaster TROS have sailed into town along the Rhine with a full on NEDERBOAT! - They obviously mean business!

The 3J's being interviewed for Dutch TV on board the Nederboat. As you can imagine, this made me smile so much I almost put my jaw out. 

The Croatian delegation make their way to the arena ready for the show tonight!!!!

Dana International's less popular Israeli Garden Party...

Eurovision LIVE 2010

There isn't really much explanation needed when it comes to the Eurovision, or maybe its just that most of it CAN'T be explained!

Anyway, I think you can tell from my face that I enjoyed it. A picture speaks a thousand words eh?

On a (if you can call it) more serious note, there's a lot to be said about 100 million people all sharing in the same moment right across the world. The atmosphere in and around the arena was as friendly as it was exciting - something which led me to write my dissertation on the contest....