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| AP photo - BBC |
For the first
time in history, the Eurovision Song Contest Finals were broadcast in the
US….and I nearly missed it. Had I not seen a piece on BBC yesterday, I wouldn’t
have known that the competition was even on. (it’s another minor miracle that
one can now get BBC World in the USofA.)
Most Americans have never heard of
Eurovision. Saying it’s a song contest
simply does not convey the enormity of an event that keeps half the world glued
to their TV sets.There is nothing to compare it to. Sporting events attract a
certain type; reality shows – another. But it seems everyone, across all
sectors of society watch and, more importantly, vote for the Eurovision
contestants.
At first I didn’t even try to see if I
could get it on TV or the internet since past years have proven to be a waste
of time. However, I finally did go on the Eurovision site, clicked on Watch the Finals Live, and then was
quickly flashed the “You cannot watch
from your part of the globe”.
I thought I might as well see if it was on
TV. And low and behold, it was on LOGO TV. The channel description on DirecTV
states: MTV Networks’ LOGO is for gay and
lesbian viewers. I found this rather funny – Eurovision is watched by everyone on the other side of the planet,
and now also Australia, but it appears only LOGO had the sense to get the
rights.
I believe the first time I ever watched
the competition live was in Israel. I know for sure that I watched Dana
International win for Israel in 1998. Back then, it seemed entrants sang mostly
in their native languages. The rules changed back and forth regarding the use
of English and I think this year everyone sang in English or in a combination
with their country’s language.
In years past, I well remember the kitschy
costumes and staging and bubble-gum-pop-y tunes. But I adored it, as did the
millions watching. Although I missed the first two hours of the live broadcast
today, I simply went online to watch a few of the entrants. (That, one can
do.) Catchy tunes, beautiful voices,
even if the ones I saw were of that bubble-gummy-love genre. And that’s just how
I remembered Eurovision. What I hadn’t expected was the winning entry from
Ukraine.
“1994”, sung by the Ukrainian singer
Jamala, is beautiful in every way. The lyrics refer to the deportation of
Crimean Tatars under Stalin. It is based on her family’s personal history. The
words and her performance were both haunting and moving.
Right now I am going back on the
Eurovision site to take a look at the other entrants. It is truly a marvelous
spectacle. If I happen to be stuck here next year, rather than in a country
that joins in with the Eurovision fever, I will be tuning into LOGO TV once
more.
