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Eurovision
May. 11th, 2014 07:47 amSo, we go to Vienna next year. Can't say I'm that surprised - remember Dana International? Did like the song though. Definitely the year of the beard.
But...
There will be the usual wringing of hands over the UK entry, which was OK, nothing special, but didn't deserve to be as low down the voting as it was. The spectre of political voting will invariably raise its head (let's vote for Russia, then they might not invade us...!!!) but it has always been thus. It's only in the last 15 years or so since more of the former Soviet republics have entered the contest that the playing field has widened considerably. The UK, because of it's contribution to Eurovision is guaranteed a place in the final along with Germany, France, Spain and Italy. But, we seem to rely on merit alone; there are few allies we can rely upon for those coveted "douze points"!
And it amused me greatly that Russia gave Austria 5 points.
But...
There will be the usual wringing of hands over the UK entry, which was OK, nothing special, but didn't deserve to be as low down the voting as it was. The spectre of political voting will invariably raise its head (let's vote for Russia, then they might not invade us...!!!) but it has always been thus. It's only in the last 15 years or so since more of the former Soviet republics have entered the contest that the playing field has widened considerably. The UK, because of it's contribution to Eurovision is guaranteed a place in the final along with Germany, France, Spain and Italy. But, we seem to rely on merit alone; there are few allies we can rely upon for those coveted "douze points"!
And it amused me greatly that Russia gave Austria 5 points.
