Dimivision

And a couple of Ave Maria’s perhaps? We’re in the center of the religious world – well, a firm percentage of it anyway – and by Zeus will we have known it. That introduction movie is just a bit too much if you ask me, and we haven’t even heard the winner yet – boy did they fit the theme. But other than that, let’s see what Jerusalem had in store for us!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1979: Hallelujah, hosannah, amen”

After the disappointment that was 1977 we at least got the consolidation of being welcomed in Paris in the spring of 1978. Paris has to be my favourite city in the world (of those I’ve already visited) and the introduction movie, filled with the most beautiful buildings and places in the city, filled my heart with joy. Not an easy challenge, as I was in a really foul mood due to a situation at work. Contestants beware!!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1978: The best seat in the house”

After the brilliant 1976 edition the organisation of the Contest fell back into the capable hands of Auntie Beeb, who’d treat us without a shadow of a doubt to a wonderful show. That was at least the intention, but a couple of external and internal factors shattered that fluffy dream. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1977: The butterflies, the vaseline and the kettle”

Browsing through my iTunes on a quest for inspiration I spotted the title above by the fabulous The Pipettes and couldn’t think of anything more appropriate to kick off this review. A bit negative perhaps while I don’t mean to be negative at all as I simply ADORED the 1976 Contest. The winner on the other hand…Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1976: Your kisses are wasted on me”

And finally, twelve points go to… Nah, I’ll save that one for the end of this article if you don’t mind but I just wanted to emphasise the biggest change ever to the Contest – and in the meantime one of its main trademarks. Twelve points, douze points, tolv poäng: thàt’s what you want to hear during the voting, is it not? So that’s the voting procedure finally sorted. Now let’s see what damage ABBA has done, if any!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1975: Det som belönas med tolv poäng är en fläskig refräng”

Quite the statement, especially with thàt logo, but not to worry: I’m keeping it peaceful (enough). I’m rather talking about the revolutionary changes we’re witnessing in Eurovision – all for the better as of yet, so all lights are green! Not a statement I’d use for every contestant to grace the stage in Brighton though, and certainly NOT for the juries on duty that night!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1974: Viva la revolución!”

Uh. Oh. Unlike tiny Monaco, the somewhat less tiny but still not very large Luxembourg (2m² squeezed between Belgium, Germany and France) did not pass on the organisation of the contest. Danger! Even though there was no tradition of holding Eurovision in big halls in those days it was sad to see the whole thing cramped into the CLT Nouveau Théâtre, the equivalent of having a family picnic on a handkerchief. Far be it from me to lobby for Parken Stadium, but when you have to stack the orchestra you know something’s not right. Now let’s hope the songs will make us forget the setting.Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1973: Die Fledermaus in der Turnhalle”

Quite the bunch, the line-up Edinburgh had in stall for us. By the time we got to 1972 Europe had clearly realised  they needed something to stand out of the crowd but when everybody’s trying to do the same the result is one gigantic mess. And that is of course the main reason why we love Eurovision: nothing’s crazy enough.Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1972: A night at the mental institution”

With the dawn of a new decade we can’t seem to shake the ghost of the old one and we’ve mainly got Massiel to blame – although many tried to universal language of sheer nothingness before her. The lalala’s and papapa’s were present aplenty that spring evening in Ireland, but luckily they got balanced out occasionally by some genuine poetry. Who’d have thought?!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1971: A bit of poetry and a lot of lala’s”

After the disaster that turned out to be 1969 the Contest found itself in a crisis situation. Things needed to be turned around and measures had to be taken.The number of participating countries fell back dramatically and with a bit of bad luck this would be the last edition. Somebody call the fire department, this thing’s about to explode!Continue reading “Eurovision Review – 1970: Make or break”