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(c) NRK/EBU

A contemporary of the European Community, this half-century-old mass cultural phenomenon emerged in the 1950s from an old and ruined continent as a post-war pull Europe together project, an idea to bring countries together in an international broadcasting network. Thus, every year the active member states of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) send their “best song” to participate in one common television programme. Citizens of all EBU member states can enjoy its live broadcast and vote for their favourite song. As well as in Europe, the Eurovision Song Contest is watched on all the continents. 

The Eurovision’s popularity in Western Europe since its very start and until the late 1980s has been steadily decreasing over the last two decades, as the numbers of contest participants has grown. The 1990s brought important geopolitical change and new countries emerged on the European map and the Eurovision stage. With 7 participants in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has seen its enlargement year after year, 18 countries joined by the end of 1980s and it welcomed a further 26 members after the “iron curtain” drove into Europe. The latter has seriously shifted the Eurovision results. 

Vote-for-neighbour principle
Observations prove a special voting manner. It’s not about the song; it’s about politics and about good neighbourhood policy. The population of one Balkan state would vote for another Balkan participant on Eurovision, Slavic countries would support one of their own, the former Soviet bloc countries would demonstrate solidarity, the same for the Baltic States, the Scandinavians would show complicity. From the early 1990s, France and its old European neighbours saw their score fall – except for last year when France finished 8th! Guess why? It was a smart choice of Patricia Kaas, somehow forgotten here, but extremely popular in the former Soviet countries, who, like Mireille Mathieu, entertains the rich men in private parties there. All in all, Western Europe lost its interest in the Eurovision Song Contest, while even greater importance then ever would be awarded to the song contest in the countries new to Eurovision. Well, I know few French friends who would follow Eurovision, for instance. With no will to compare the incomparable, let’s say the “fatigue” and decreasing interest in the European Union project in some older member states became evident, once the centre of gravity shifted in the enlarged Europe. However, the reasons for it might lay in the contest itself. 

So where’s the song?
The principle of choosing the best representative and his/her song varies from country to country and from year to year. It could be either a famous singer or a band, or a fresh Star Academy product. Most participants would compose or translate their song into English, which can’t but render uniform the already standardised character of the competition. This tendency is somewhat criticised. If “l’accent donne du charme” (“the accent lends charm”), it’s definitely not the case for a song; already euro-standardised in genre, its original charm and authenticity is definitely lost in translation. Already used to the Eurovision Top 5 group, several Balkan countries are, however, proud to sing in their native languages. Watch the 2004 Eurovision number 2 – Serbia and Montenegro’s “Lane moje” – or the 2007 winner’s “Molitva”, for example. 

The main criticism is actually about the Eurovision entry’s level. We do know celebrities who first appeared in public at the Eurovision Song Contest. ABBA conquered the world with Waterloo, Celine Dion took the most romantic hearts and Dana International’s star rose thanks to the Eurovision network broadcasts. On the other hand, some notorious national bands would even refuse to participate in the national selection, claiming the Eurovision to be below their level. 

In fact, the genre of songs is quite common, a uniform and simple melody of the so-called “middle-of-the-road” Eurovision mainstream – or “pop de base” as one would say in French, or “popsa” (попса) as one would say it in Ukrainian – is supposed to suit the wide majority of international spectators. The pop-dance entries are regularly served with some ethnic spices. It’s been very trendy since the “Eurovision enlargement”. 

A song is to be distinguished by a spectacular show. (c) Indrek Galetin (EBU), Alain Douit (EBU)

The contest winners and well-rated singers become famous, but most of the Eurovision songs are not remarkable enough. Once you’ve heard it, you forget it. So another stronger impact on a spectator is required: everything but the song, a visual storm. Splashes of colour, dance and acrobat tricks, boys and girls, drums and pianos, orchestras, actors and clowns. A song is to be distinguished by a spectacular show. 

So here it is, the perfect Eurovision-appealing, winning song: very pop, better ethnic, rather in English but “VO” (original language) is OK too, and yes – the mere song is not enough! It’s about the show, the “entourage”, it’s about what goes with it on the stage, and the more the better! 

Being different on Eurovision
It works sometimes! Turkey dared rock in 2004 and the band went Top 5. How about the Lithuanians laughing at themselves and at Eurovision in 2006? Who’d have thought that a team of national, non-singing celebrities (TV journalists etc) would step up with a song “We are the winners of Eurovision” and be well-scored. And of course, you remember Lordi from Finland, rock band in horrifying masks and costumes… A lot of people would give them a vote “just for fun”. 

So, what does Eurovision mean to you? Is it some kind of secondary song contest or an important event to promote your country, its tourist facilities and attractions? Is it like a soccer game to share with your friends in a pub, in a screaming and challenging ambience, well, just for fun? 

Ivanna is a freelance journalist, now living in Strasbourg after growing up in the Ukraine. She speaks Ukrainian, English, French, Polish and German. Her specific areas of interest are Human Rights and Europe. Look out for more articles from her in the near future!