Dimivision

Or is it ‘why her’? Call it poetic liberty then. It’s the essence of the question that matters because with Linda Martin’s victory we only get the confirmation that the direction the Contest has taken is irreversible. Light bubblegum pop and corny ballads have put Eurovision in a corner of its own and despite some interesting attempts the juries (as always) manage to single out the songs that are irrelevant in the ’90s music scene. Nirvana, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Massive Attack all released some legendary albums the year before and yet everyone insists on fishing in the same Eurovision pond as all years before – it’s frustrating to witness. And yet it’s part of Eurovision’s charm I guess, what a love/hate relationship this is!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1992: Why she?”

For those of you who do not know who Ian Malcolm is: shame on you! Have you no culture? He’s only part of one of the best movies EVER (Jurassic Park – you read it right) and he’s a chaotician – does your penny drop yet? Because chaos we get in the ’91 edition of the Contest. Hold on to your butts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1991: What would Ian Malcolm say?”

European unification is upon…eum…Europe and boy will we have known it. Half of the field in the ’90 Contest hints at a Europe without borders so we’re in for A LOT of messages of peace and understanding. Pity the Yugoslavian TV stations JRT/RTZ felt the need to symbolize this event with one of the dumbest ideas EVER to grace the Contest.Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1990: Unite unite Europe! But leave Eurocat out of it.”

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”