Whole of Europe singing together
THE Eurovision Song contest is not usually compulsive viewing for me: a procession of bland songs performed by uncharismatic performers, with ‘nul points’ humiliation for the UK. This year was different. The marvellous Sam ryder’s performance of his song Space Man was, indeed, stellar. In interviews, he was affable, magnanimous in his praise for other performers and the competition, and a likeable diplomat for this country. We savoured the lost pleasure of seeing the UK at the top of the leader board after the jury votes before, quite rightly, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra soared to victory thanks to the overwhelming public vote. The weight of European public opinion had delivered the expected verdict on a barbarous war. This Eurovision will go down in history for all the right reasons. a night when a relatively unknown artist wowed the continent and a modern adaptation of a traditional song celebrated Ukraine’s bravery at a time of terrible trial and tribulation. National pride rediscovered and reinforced in one night.
GRAHAM DAY, Stowmarket, Suffolk.
IT WaS still political voting at Eurovision, but for once to our advantage. Everyone knew the public would vote for Ukraine, but what was unexpected was that the former communist countries would also vote for us. and that’s because Ukraine’s president Zelensky thanked Britain for being his country’s best friend in Nato.
DAVID WHITELEY, address supplied.
I VOTED for Ukraine and am happy they won by miles. My dad was wounded in World War II and it seems this was my turn to do something. I have also donated four times to the Mail’s Ukraine refugee charity.
RAY SALTHOUSE, Chigwell, Essex.
TraDITIONaLLY, Eurovision has been won and lost on a regional and political basis more than the quality of performances. We have been pilloried by EU members because of the Brexit vote. Since the invasion of Ukraine and Britain’s response, the opinion of many countries has changed. No wonder we came second to Ukraine while France and Germany were at the bottom.
D. M. DEAMER, York.
GraHaM NOrTON has mellowed as a Eurovision commentator, but why does he think it’s clever and funny to deliver a string of sneery putdowns of the presenters from other countries and some of the acts? Eurovision is a light-hearted event, but many of the other competing countries take it seriously. It’s disrespectful to subject them to derisive comments. at least Graham seemed impressed by the thorough niceness of our entry, Sam ryder. I look forward to a different tone to the commentary next year. Miss SIERRA HUTTON-WILSON,
Evercreech, Somerset.
I OBJEcT to having to pay the licence fee when BBc1’s Saturday schedule was repeats, football and more than four hours of Eurovision.