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:: NEWS before TALLINN ::
< return to current news > 2003 is in RigaLatvia wants to do ESC on the cheap.
Andris Berzin, Latvia's Prime Minister, cried the mantra of all cheap-skates by saying he wishes to use private funding, as well as support from the city of Riga for the Eurovision Song Contest next year.
Private companies are expected to participate in funding the song contest, and also earn from the event. (Sounds like someone doesnt understand the economy isnt state run anymore!) Berzin whined: "it is not correct to leave all the expenses of the contest only on the state or the city, as they are too big."
ESC 2003 will take place in Riga, as the city has well developed infrastructures, and has previous experience in organising big events. Examples quoted included an EBRD convention and the celebration of the eight hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city.
Macedonia wins Eurovision(.tv)90,000 separate votes were lodged at www.eurovision.tv (one of the official sites) for the winning song. Spain's Rosa (final vote: 14,367) had led most of the way, but was overtaken near the end by Macedonia's Karolina (14,622 votes). Estonia came third as they did in the real vote (7016 votes).
166,000,000 EurovisionistsThe ratings for Eurovision 2002 were recorded as 166 million viewers. Eurovision secured 40.4% of the audience in Denmark (about 2.1 million people). Sweden was a close second with 39.1% (about 3.3 million viewers).
In Spain 12.8 million people had nothing better to do on a Saturday night (32.5% of the viewing audeince). Other countries included: Finland 28 per cent, Norway 24%, in Latvia 23% & Lithuania 21%.
Lithuania disqualifiedB'Avaria has been disqualified as Lithuania's representative for ESC in 2002. Their song 'We All' was released in a similar format by B'Avaria prior to entry in the Contest (thus breaking the rules and earning a disqualification). 'Happy You' by Aivaras Stepukonis was called in at last minute's notice to fill in. Wool, berets and music suffered as a result (in that order).
Strange accusations of plagiarism against Afro-diteListening to the entrants for 2002 one can be excused for noticing a few similarities with popular songs. 'I Wanna' by Marie N. sounds a bit like 'She Bangs' by Ricky Martin, all the boy bands sound a bit like all the other boy bands in the world but pre-contest favourite with the bookies (Afro-dite's 'Never Let it Go') actually faced a late risk of disqualification over plagarism.
Sweden "received an official protest against the Swedish entry" from an unnamed national delegation (so how was it official!?) that Afro-dite ripped off Melina Mercouri's 'Never on a Sunday' which was a Zorba-like piece of dag pop from the 1970s.
Music experts (how do you apply for that job?) listened to both songs and confirmed they both include the word 'never.' The challenge was dismissed and seen by most tactics by other nations to put Afro-Dite off. If they really wanted to ensure Afro-Dite didn't win they only needed to make sure the one who sings off-key made it on to stage.
Televoting Loses its AppealA number of countries are opting to do away with the televoting system favoured in recent years. Instead they are going for jury only systems or combining the two (the 50/50 system). Catalysts of change reckon televoting favours the last entries as the public has the attention span of gnats. Instead, over-priced bureaucrats will make up their minds after the first 5 songs are sung. Much better!!
Here are the ways each country will decide its votes in 2002:
Austria: Televoting
Belgium: Televoting/SMS
Bosnia H: Jury
Croatia: 50/50
Cyprus: 50/50 (before giving 12 points to Greece)
Denmark: Televoting/SMS
Estonia: Televoting/SMS
Finland: 50/50
France: Televoting
FYROM: Jury
Germany: Televoting/SMS
Greece: 50/50
Israel: Televoting
Latvia: Televoting
Lithuania: 50/50
Malta: 50/50
Romania: Jury
Russia: Jury
Slovenia: 50/50
Spain: 50/50
Sweden: Televoting
Switzerland: Televoting
Turkey: Jury
UK: Televoting
Who's Wogan Betting On?The odds on Eurovision 2002 from Eurobet have Germany as the favourite - 3/1. The bookies are offering odds of 15/2 on the UK and Sweden and 6/1 on Estonia. Fan favourite Spain is currently mid field, being offered 18/1.
Quote of the ContestJohnny Logan, may be the only person to win Eurovision more than once, but he has also become a defender of the Contest. He recently described critics who say ESC is a celebration of pop kitsch as, "A lot of people who run Eurovision down are like eunuchs in a harem. They see it done every night, but they can't do it themselves."
And then there were 24Straight out of a Euroskeptic's wet dream. That's how a vile person might describe the inclusion of two extra nations in the 2002 competition. After setting formulae so complex only geniuses like you and me could understand it, Eurovision invited the best two losers of 2001 to not be relegated anymore.
What was even more strange was that when ESC offered the spots to Israel (16th in 2001) and Portugal (17th) - Portugal said 'non.' They do not merit the token shag on the fringes of Iberia! So ESC had to go back to the numbers and work out which of the two nations tied for 18th spot in 2001 (Netherlands and Latvia) would get the nod.
Now using formulae so complex not even geniuses like you and me could understand it - they invited Latvia to join in the Baltic night of nights. (Coz Latvia got 8 points from Lithuania and Estonia they are in - coz the Netherlands actually got real scores of 2 from eight different countries they miss out). That's not suspicious at all! Nice job there, ESC.
Big Brother Meets Eurovision - Only in Spain!Spanish broadcaster TVE has announced a radical new format for the selection of their performer in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest - Operatión Triunfo.
The Spanish viewing public will select three finalists from sixteen hopefuls who will then spend three months perfecting their crafts at an institute for the performing arts, the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Artístico. Their progress will be followed every step of the way by television crews and their performances will be broadcast week by week, warts and all starting October 2001.
The new format for the final is the brainchild of Gestimusic, who created the Spanish version of Big Brother. After open auditions, sixteen hopefuls will be given three months to learn their crafts in a specially designed musical academy, equipped with rehearsal rooms, recording and television studios along with all the necessary back up facilities such as make up, hairstyling, dance studios and everything that should go together to produce a world class performance.
Three performers will emerge as the finalists following a public vote and from amongst these the representative who will take to the stage in Tallinn in May 2002 will be chosen. The details of how the song will be chosen will be revealed along the way.