posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 4:08 AM
by
Endie
And now for something completely different
From the sublime to the ridiculous. I'm not a fan of the Eurovision song contest, and haven't watched it since 1999 (having realised, yesterday, that my entire dating system for the late 90's was a whole year out, I am not confident of this) or so. Well, to be honest I didn't watch it then, either. I was just in the company of those who did. I seem to remember spending the evening playing pool badly and speaking to a variety of complete strangers in a provincial pub, while frequently being told to shut up throughout by my companion for the evening (why do so many posts start with me dissassociating myself from subject matter?).
Anyway, I am delighted that some Finnish band who look like a cross between Gwar and a glam version of Slipknot won it. When it comes to metal, nobody does ridiculous with a straight face like the Scandinavians - just look at the Norwegian death metal scene - and although I haven't heard Lordi's song, I am sure that it follows in this great tradition. In any case, presumably there will be some more variation for the next few years, as people realise that bucolic, local ballads (nil point magnets) and over-produced, gay-friendly, europop dance tracks are not the best way to win. The music still won't be good, but I look forward to equally sanitised, unconsciously comedic pastiches of supposedly edgy genres. Perhaps next time will see some Kraftwerk-esque minimalists from Germany competing with the finest Maltese exponents of the emo genre and a peerless pack of polished, polite Polish punks.
I had high hopes for Croatia's internet-friendly Severina, and I am sure that her discardng her dress in true Bucks Fizz fashion was appreciated on a certain ironic level by those with usenet access. But Britain, despite a laudibly brave effort from the backing dancers in the costume stakes, was as awful as ever.
And no, I didn't watch it.