Dimivision

And I am obviously nót talking about the logo where one of the most well known mountains in Europe slash The World is depicted quite well. No, I’m talking about that pathetic excuse for a molehill there center stage. An omen if ever there was one!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1989: Is that really supposed to be the Matterhorn?”

Back to the green island it is, thanks to mister Seán Sherrard, and I can picture worse places to be as the Irish seem to have a knack for organising the Contest – an advantage they’d need more than they’d want in the near future. The stage design is representative for the day and age this edition is held: the ’80s are roaring more loudly than ever!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1988: The fanciest chessboard ever”

Welkom in Brussel – Bienvenue à Bruxelles – Welcome to Brussels! In one of the most dynamic introductions up to this point, with a bit of thanks to Hergé and Co, viewers all over Europe finally get to see there’s more to Belgium than Manneken Pis, chocolate and beer. There’s no mistake here: Belgium has taken the opportunity to market itself seriously and is pulling out all stops. Hopefully the rest of Europe will hold up their end of the bargain by filling the show with decent songs!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1987: Breathless”

Right, bring it on! In 1986 I was just 5, going on 6 when the mere 7 years older Sandra Kim assured herself of  the status of Immortal by bringing home the trophee for our tiny country, the first time since Eurovision began 30 years before. The last of the Original Seven to take the crown! Such a shame there’s not much honour in winning in such a terribly weak year…Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1986: It’s LA vie, biatch”

Off to Sweden then for the biggest Contest until now, with no less than 8000 people  witnessing the event live in the Scandinavium (quite the modest name) in the lovely Göteborg. The Swedes love Eurovision but they love their own Melodifestivalen and music scene more, a feeling that is emphasised by the host of the evening…Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1985: The Great Lill Lindfors Show”

By the time we get to 1984 Eurovision is clearly on a crossroad. The world around it is changing rapidly and the contest seems to struggle to keep up. There’s no real musical relevance vs. the real world and the Eurovision bubble is growing. Gimmicks and generic ballads are taking over the Contest while the likes of Madonna, U2, Eurythmics, Duran Duran and lots of others are taking the world by storm. What’s wrong with this picture? The 1984 edition sums it up nicely.Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1984: Diggiloo Diggiley, hey whatever you say”

It took them over 25 years but finally Germany managed to give us a herzlich willkommen from the metropole that is München. Eurovision was becoming slightly less of an influence on the contemporary music scene and started to exist in a bubble of its own so it seemed a bit of a crucial time for the evolution of the Contest. A date with destiny it seems, for the Contest ànd for some of the contestants…Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1983: Rendez-vous with eternity”

Where’s Harrogate indeed! Wrapped in that typical fantastic British humor lies a very to the point question: what the hell? Surely there must be more attractive places in a wonderful country like the UK? Or at least one with a big enough location to provide a stage that’s provides sufficiant space? Not a patch on the Irish the year before I’m afraid, and a lot of countries were clearly counting on a bit of room for movement!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1982: Ein bisschen world peace und ein bisschen tanzen!”

Let’s get straight to the point (not The Point, sillies, we’ll have to wait for another decade) shall we: Worst winner ever. Ever. Yes, even before Riva. And in such a great year! An absolute outrage.Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1981: Well, I for one have made up my mind.”

Well they hardly ever do, right? As we are entering the ’80s a crisscross of genres populates our beloved Contest so it gets even trickier to find the best one. Or easier, depends on what gets your juices flowing. I don’t think any field has been this diverse and the differences make for high highs and very low lows. It’s madness, madness I’m tellin’ ya!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1980: Que le meilleur gagne”