what is eurovision?

Eurovision - or properly, The Eurovision Song Contest (Concours Eurovision de La Chanson) - is a popular song contest which has been held annually since 1956 (in March, April or May). It has screened in Australia each year since 1983.

The competition includes those nations which are part of the European Broadcasting Union - which includes most of the former Soviet Union, the Levant (inc Israel) and North Africa - along with the usual suspects.

Each nation competing selects a contestant to represent their country - most through a national competition, like a mini Eurovision only much more sad. The contestants then gather in the capital city of the country which won the preceeding year and the dag highlight of the year commences.

Eurovision can be brilliant - it gave the world ABBA and Dana International - the Israeli transsexual winner of 1998. It can be tragic - it helped launch Celine Dion (who competed for Switzerland and won in 1988 before a loophole which allowed Canadians to sing in public was closed) and its the elephant's graveyard for washed up no hopers like Katrina and the Waves and Australia's own Gina G (who competed for the UK and lost - as is de rigure for Britain).

 
Gina G isn't Australia's only connection to Eurovision - Judith and her New Seekers performed 'Beg steal or borrow' and our very own Livvy - Olivia Newton-John - performed the memorable and oft-mentioned (not) 'Long live love' at Eurovision - for Britain, of course. Three time winner for Ireland (twice singing, once writing) Johnny Logan was born in Australia. Not cool enough for you? Howzabout political importance? The broadcast of Portugal's song in 1974 was the signal for the start of the Carnation Revolution! Not James Bond enough for you? Howzabout Matt Munro - the man who gave us 'From Russia With Love' who contributed to Eurovision with a losing entry: 'I love the little things.' Improbable? Well, with Eurovision - Never Say Never Again.

It is a dag classic. Aspiring pop divas from all over Europe walk onto a stage and sing their one song maybe doing a little dance routine along with it or hoping to catch attention in revealing costumes which you'd swear you saw in last year's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney.

The best part - sometimes ironically, often times not - comes after the singing stops. THE VOTING!!

Telephone polls are conducted in most countries (you cant vote for your own nation) over 10-15 minutes and the votes are then read out during live crosses to each capital city in the EBU nation involved. The song voted most popular in one nation will get 12 points, the second song 10, third gets 8, fourth 7, fifth 6, and so on until 1 point is given to the tenth most popular song (leaving fourteen songs with no score). Its like Survivor (except its songs which get voted to stay on the island and people still watch Eurovision).

After a few rounds clear winners can be seen, and at the other end several nations sit with no votes at all. Belgium - no points. Belgique - nil point.

Above it all, Eurovision proves that internationalism has not yet proven universally successful. What goes down well in the lounge rooms of Western Europe will not get a vote from the Balkans, and what Malta produces will frequently score brilliantly to the bewilderment of northern Europe.