That annual ‘delight’?
Yes, the calendar has crept around again to that annual music fest known as the Eurovision Song Contest. In truth, I’m old enough to remember the days when there waas one show, consisting of just over a dozen countries, from Western Europe, and that was it. Nowadays we have 2 semi finals, and then a final to survive, as the breaking down on the Iron Curtain, and the breaking down of the Soviet Union, and other assorted East European countries means there are over 40 entries nowadays! And yes, a couple of them arent even in Europe!
Politics have ensured that Israel counts as European for so many things, and Eurovision is definitely one of them. Of course, the first Trans winner of Eurovision came from Israel, Dana International! Pretty sure there have been a few more trans entries since, but as I havent watched it in years, I have no idea. Oh, and when Australia became part of Europe, no idea!
The one thing that always amuses me is how people talk about how ‘political’ the voting is nowadays, but in truth, thats always been the case! Though to be fair, there probably wasnt quite the block of voting that there is nowadays with Eastern Europe, but yes, it did happen. Greece and Turkey, UK and Ireland, of course they voted for each other happily, not! The one thing people dont realize nowadays, is that it was only in the 1970’s that songs didnt have to be sung in the national language. Clearly that was the rule in 1974, when some unknown group called Abba won it, but I have a funny feeling that may have been the first?
No, I wont be watching any of it next weekend (9th – 13th), but I’m sure millions will, if only for the sheer kitsch of the event. I wonder, if when the first one was held in the 1950’s, with a handful of entries if they ever imagined it would be like this now?
Right, video. I’ve gone back to my own personal glory days of Eurovision, from the 1970’s, though not Abba. This one won it a year later, and the resemblance, I’m sure, is purely coincidental, lol!
Its time to make your mind up
And to think, at one point I was working out what I was going to blog today, and then I realised what was happening later today, Eurovision! Apologies to any North American readers seeing this, you wont have a clue what you’re missing out on. Mind, nowadays, thats probably for the best. Or is that just because I’m getting old lol?
At this point in time, I have no idea what year I first saw Eurovision. I’m guessing somewhere mid 60’s, but its the old story of, did I see that live, or just years later, and I cant be sure. What I do know, is that by the early 70’s, I was hooked! Whereas nowadays, half the world seemingly takes part in it, including Australia in the last 2 years, but back then, entries were pretty much limited to Western Europe, not how it is now, with just about every possible East European country taking part eagerly.
What I, and just about everyone around at the time remember, is 1974! Yes, some Swedish group that most of Europe had never heard about, called Abba! And yes, the rest of that story is history! In fact, that was probably the height of Eurovision, as about half a dozen entries from that contest went on to find fame. Nowadays, most acts are forgotten in weeks! It could also be said that in a few hours, on a Saturday night, and that was it! Nowadays, we have to have 2 semi finals, and a final, just to include everyone that wants to take part! Yes, the collapse of the Iron Curtain, and even more so, the break up of the Soviet Union has led to that.
Ah, the voting! Well, that has always been amusingly political, but even more so nowadays, given the large clump of ex Soviet countries supporting each other. Oh, and the Scandinavians, and…say no more!
One sad fact this year, for us Brits, even if he hasnt presented it for years, no Terry Wogan! Graham Norton has continued to present it, in a similarly irreverent style, and in truth, thats the best bit nowadays, at least for me. No, I havent see it in years, just tending to watch You Tube on Sunday, for the collection of commentary funny bits, and thats it.
Yes, the UK hasnt won it in a long time. Hardly surprising given the lack of friends in Europe that we have. Oh, and the fact that most of our songs are awful too, in all probability! But yes, its that night when camp fun rules all!
OK, the video. Yes, its a UK winner, and fine, the clue is in the title. Interestingly enough, this was the first time any one heard it, as its the performance from when the UK was deciding its entry for that year.
Various Transgender matters
I know, its been a while, sorry about that, but work is just an issue that gets in the way when my days off work like they have the last 2 weeks. Monday/Tuesday last week, today and tomorrow this, you get the gist? Which means that there is probably plenty to catch up on with me, but here are 3 interesting issues that have come up since I last posted.
Firstly, care of the RSS feed at work, I discovered that the US armed forces are reconsidering their stance towards transgender people serving with them…for the better! Currently, if you are trans, you’re not serving the country, but maybe soon…Mind, over there, until recently in the forces, gay folk either didnt join, or didnt admit it. Given I’m not American, too old to serve, and everything else, it doesnt actually affect me, but I thought it worth mentioning.
Next, to a subject matter that is rarely seen for me, football, aka soccer, discovered by one of my Facebook friends. Let me take you to one of the weaker (alright, currently the weakest) football nations in the whole world, American Samoa. It seems that in a number of the Pacific Islands, that third gender exists legally. No, I’m not going to tell you what it is, google the story if you must know! But what has happened, one of those ‘ladies’ is now playing for the national men’s football team!
Oh, and lastly, but not least, I take you to another subject matter that I have no interest in, the Eurovision song contest! Now, to be honest, I have no details on whether this guy is actually transgender, or just dresses as a woman to evoke hate in some? It certainly worked with many Russian folk at the weekend, but given the Ukraine situation at present, isnt it good to annoy them? Despite that, he/she ran away with victory at the song contest.
This is the song, if its painful to your ears, dont blame me!
stevielounicks 
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