Although Thacks Awards is mostly about food, drink and travel, herewith a beginners guide to something different: Eurovision. Panelist John had a look at some of the 2023 entry videos on YouTube and brings you this guide and intro. Just in case you need a random happy distraction from anything traumatic.
Sometimes you need a happy or random distraction from every day life.
This is it:
The Eurovision Song Contest, mostly known simply as Eurovision, is a huge annual song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union, featuring participants representing mostly European countries. It’s on a scale similar to The Super Bowl or rather The Grammy’s for Americans. This year the final takes place in the UK in Liverpool on Saturday 13 May. Normally the winning country hosts the competition the following year, but since Ukraine won in 2022 (with the UK 2nd and Spain a close 3rd) and the ongoing conflict with Russia makes it unsafe for all the international delegates to travel there, the competition was moved to the UK. And crazily accommodation prices in host cities around the competition dates tend to soar.
History
ABBA was one of the biggest products of the competition winning it with ‘Waterloo’ in 1974, but Celine Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Julio Iglesias (Enrique’s dad) and Katrina & The Waves all had a stint at the competition, with Celine winning in 1988, Olivia coming 4th in the year that ABBA won, Julio coming in 4th in 1970, and Katrina and The Waves winning in 1997 long after their 1985 hit ‘Walking on Sunshine’!
The first time I followed Eurovision was when I was on holiday in Spain in 2010 when Germany won the competition.
Although Spain ended 3rd last year (just 5 points after the UK runner-up) I really felt they deserved the win in 2022 which went to Ukraine who won in a political year when Russia were not allowed to participate.
This year I secretly wished Portugal’s 2023 entry was Spain’s as it’s more fun and Eurovision-worthy than Spain’s entry and would be a better follow-up for Spain than their entry this year… in my opinion.
Eurovision is all about opinions and quite often: first opinions and how much radio playtime you’d think a song would get.
Worth a Mention
Spain’s entry isn’t bad – it’s brilliant!… But perhaps just an acquired taste which might not swing enough votes and might not make it into many radio playlists.
Strangest song award in 2023 may go to Austria: who IS Edgar? But yes – this IS Eurovision. If you have a weird catchy song, you might just win!!
So, will Moldova retain the drummers and the flute player for their live performances? Belgium feels like a catchy, fun ‘M People meets Drag Race’ cross.
Croatia is also a deliciously weird entry. But do you want to watch more bearded men in dresses – with war scenes? Of course you do.
Not quite a Spanish ‘Slomo’ but this year Poland’s ‘Solo’ delivers possibly the prettiest singer – but perhaps not the strongest vocals.
Cyprus and Italy each have a pretty boy (with better vocals for very different entries), but can they take on the crown?
Denmark is possibly a bit too Mika wannabe: but strangely nice – and similar to Ireland’s genre.
Finland reminds me of a male Barbie girl (? in a fun way if you get past the most annoying part of the song); and the vocals on Germany’s entry this year are similar to Finland’s Hard Rock Hallelujah win a few years ago – but not quite the winner?
France’s entry is promising – but it’s even better when you watch it a 2nd time and read the subtitles.
Serious contenders: Top 5?
I really like Greece’s voice and the simplicity (but depth) of the song. Although not very Greek it reminds me of a huge US hit. It just has something?
Liverpool is the birthplace of the Beatles… so, is Azerbaijan’s song just coincidentally and cleverly Beatle-esque this year?! I like it. Understated and maybe a bit of a dark horse contender? If it wins the ‘Tell me more about me, you, us’ chorus could certainly become a classic Liverpool-winning karaoke song by 2035… watch for how the guitar and harmonies combine by the end.
Sweden is a very ‘international hit’ contender too.
Australia might win the electro-to-rock fans over but not likely everyone.
After bombing out repeatedly for many years and failing to win some votes until 2022, I do actually think that the UK have a very strong contender to host the competition in 2024 again…
Do you notice any of the Beatles sound in Azerbaijan’s “Tell me more about me, you, us” here:
Watch Greece’s ‘American/Brit sounding’ entry here:
Watch the UK’s impressive entry which is a probable and obvious radio hit here:
Eurovision 2023 Predictions… written by John T – one of the international Thacks Awards panelists, living in Spain. When not traveling and wine-tasting, John is an iGaming specialist reporting into director level in the sports betting industry with a degree in Information Technology.
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