We’re only now learning about this long-lived exercise in fun, frivolity, and community that has been part of pop culture here in France, and all over Europe, for over 60 years.
The Eurovision Song Contest got its start in 1956 with seven countries. It was a way of unifying the countries of Europe, still devastated by the World War.
What is it, anyway? Each participating country develops an original song (encouraged, but not required, to be in their language) no more than three minutes long. The song is generally accompanied by some kind of show, with perhaps back-up singers, dancers, and pyrotechnics (consisting of lasers, flames, and perhaps an explosion or three). While the music, and sometimes the backup, is pre-recorded, the singer is required to actually sing during the performance.
There are several run-offs spread over a week before the finals. At the end, professional musicians and critics in each country vote for their favorite entries, as do the general public. All the votes are combined in some way that is obscure to me to determine the year’s winner, which will then host the next year’s event.
This year we caught the second round of semi-finals, and certainly had our favorites! But we didn’t see all 40 performances until the final event, which happened Saturday night, May 22. We were in the French city of Albi, near the end of a three-day car trip. (More on that on a soon-to-come blog.) But the TV in our rental apartment worked fine, and we were riveted for the whole three hours!
Italy won—542 points—with a hard-rock entry by some guys (and a gal) in funny pants. (No, I was not a fan.) We all would have much, much preferred if France had won. As it was it came in second, with 499 points. Barbara Pravi, the sole performer, did a fantastic job with her song “Voilà.”
And at the very bottom, with nul points, was the UK, 0 points (and not underserved, I’d say!).
One thing I found surprising: no less an American institution than the New York Times had live coverage, with a couple of reporters at the event sending out text updates after every act. (We’d subscribed to the NYT recently to keep up with the news, and we could read the updates in the app on our phones.)
I
expect we’re going to be hearing more about the Eurovision Song Contest in the
coming months, even in the far, dark wilds of the United States of America.
Words
fail me in describing these acts, so you’ll just have to see for yourselves.
Here’s some (of many) noteworthy performances. Follow the links to videos of
the three-minute performances….
Slim,
simple, elegant, beautiful—Barbara evokes “French” and the French chanson. It was no surprise that during
her performance on Saturday night "Edith Piaf" was trending heavily on Twitter.
Reportedly this singer is not well liked in parts of Russian society—she’s not Russian, and she’s singing about freedom for women. Watch that exquisite classically Russian-decorated remote-control dress she’s wearing—or rather, enclosed in. When she steps out, she’s wearing worker’s coveralls--a subtle commentary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Di9A28e5E&t=189s
One of our favorites!
Powerful, mysterious, and with a vicious cobra (or an image of one). A rich,
amazing setting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQ22S5YC7Q&t=6s
I really like these
egg-yolk yellow suits! And the dancers’ moves against the optical background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGsjtJn4aAo
Norway
Gorgeously beautiful white angle wings, chained to and surrounded by black winged demons. The angelic singer TIX has Tourette’s Syndrome, and uses the dark glasses to hide his ticks.
And
how about an American entry in the ESC? That’s unlikely, but scheduled on NBC
for summer of 2022 is the American Song Contest, in which all 50 states plus
five territories plus DC will compete for Best Original Song. Not in
competition but in parallel with the ESC. Should be interesting!
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