Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
Welcome to the barmiest party on TV
Underwear malfunctions, vote-rigging, celebrity fiascos – anything can happen at Eurovision, and you can catch it live in all its glory tonight
THE DODGY DEALS
Eurovision was originally created to heal the rifts in Europe after the Second World War (this year’s slogan United By Music echoes that), but politics has often strayed into the contest. In 1974 a successful coup against the military regime in Portugal began with its entry being played on the radio as a signal to the rebels. In 2009, Russian aggression saw Georgia attempt to submit a song called We Don’t Wanna Put In (it was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union, which oversees Eurovision). This year Croatia has entered an eye-catching anti-war song with pointed references to ‘that little psychopath’ and a tractor that
Belarusian President Lukashenko gave Putin for his 70th birthday.
Voting has also been mired in accusations of dodgy dealing between some juries, whose scores account for 50 per cent of the total vote, the other 50 per cent being the public vote. Even at the sedate first contest in Lugano in 1956, the Luxembourg jury couldn’t get there, so asked their Swiss hosts to vote on their behalf. The results were never made public, but Switzerland won. In 2008 it was suggested – but later denied – that in 1968 Spanish dictator
Franco bribed juries to help Spain win (by one point over Cliff Richard’s Congratulations).
Last year the European Broadcasting Union spotted ‘unprecedented voting irregularities’ in one semi-final by juries from Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Georgia, Poland, Romania and San Marino, who put each other in the top spots. As a result this year’s semis were decided by public vote only, but juries will vote in the final. Also new this year, viewers outside Europe can vote, with their total votes counting as one country.
A BIG SURPRISE?
Celine Dion, Julio Iglesias and Olivia Newton-john are among the famous faces to have entered the contest, but one interval act eclipsed even these huge stars. Irish dance troupe Riverdance took to the stage in Dublin in
1994 and went on to become one of the most successful dance productions in the world, with more than 25 million people now having seen the show.
Four years ago Madonna was blasted for her flat singing in Tel Aviv, although she did make a political point by having her dancers display both the Palestinian and Israeli flags.
The interval acts this year will open with Sam Ryder and close with six previous contestants, including Liverpool’s perky 1993 runner-up Sonia, performing The Liverpool Songbook as a homage to the city’s musical heritage. But rumours abound there’ll be a surprise big name. Another local star perhaps (take a bow, Mr Mccartney?), or maybe Elton John could squeeze a turn at Eurovision into his farewell tour.
HOW YOU CAN PARTY TOO
If you didn’t manage to bag a ticket, stock up on Euro snacks and tipples and throw your own bash in front of the telly. Set up a sweepstake, devise daft drinking games, play Eurovision bingo. And make sure you raise a toast at the start of song nine, as Graham Norton always does in tribute to his legendary predecessor Terry Wogan, who took his first drink of the evening at that point. Cheers… or ‘Budmo!’ as they say in Ukraine.