So, Jason and I had completely forgotten about this bit of European culture until mention began popping up on Ranok, our Ukrainian morning show: The Eurovision Song Contest is under way!
We watched the first night semi-finals as a replay from Russian channel one. It came on here in Ukraine at 11pm the night before, and, let's face it, we're not such great fans that we wanted to stay up past midnight for it. So, the re-broadcast won hands down.
As expected, it was a series of sopranos singing ballads, so anything not in a ball gown with background dancers waiving jazz hands got our notice. I had to walk away from a couple. The woman from Cyprus sounded like me up there- granted I can and have sung some in the far reaching past, but my comment was that in all of Cyprus they should be able to find someone better. The Russian woman sang a song so derivative of "Imagine" that I wish she'd just sang the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3dT2QpteWI
The most interesting (to us) were the Croats who sent a group of men, who sang a catchy piece of popera (with two tenors at the fore):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdESBf3UFQI
The guys from Montenegro won our vote (or, would have, had it been live). They marched out in space suits and did a nice rap song that would've made the Beastie Boys proud. It was kind-of awesome and by far the most industrial, post-modern piece in the mix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_iXcj3YE3k
The only female that stood out (let's go with: for a good reason) was the young woman from Denmark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et4nd8XFTgo
Oh! Oh! and before I forget- Ireland made it into the finals. They've apparently won more than any other country. In any case, their young man came out and started singing his dance tune, when Jason turned to me and said, "It must be hard to be gay in Ireland." Let's just say there were a lot of well built, clean shaven, shirtless men in leather pants with celtic symbols painted on their bodies beating bodhrans around the guy, who himself was clad in snug fitting black leather. No stereotypes there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QezVpfDibw
Oh my... another reason we don't own a TV...
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, thanks for the highlights. I liked the fact that not everyone was singing in English and the irish dancers were easy on the eyes.
"It must be hard to be gay in Ireland" caused me to spit tea on the keyboard this morning!
ReplyDeleteFinally managed to get a descent log in to comment on your fantastic posts (it's Stacy)
Well, I hate to stereotype anyone, but it was sort of over the top.....even for Eurovision. (It's Jason masquerading as Holly).
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