Overheard: Vienna

I recently visited Vienna - my fifth time there. As it was Eurovision Song Contest season, I kept my ears open and overheard the following.

• The lighting is on point, the drinks are very good.
  
  
• You can fly very cheaply, and you can stay at my place!
  
  
• He's good on the bass i'n't he? He's got his own sound, yeah.
  
  
• So many people find her empowering!
  
  
• Every time I drink and try to study, it doesn't work.
  
  
• I prefer the Danube because I'm a water person.
  
  
• Rudolf was very sensitive and intellectual.
  
  
• I need to charge my phone, and then I can relax.
  
  
• You look so fucking disappointed!
  
  
• It's a bangarangadrama!
  
  
• When all that was going on, I stayed out of it.
  

70 years of Eurovision - new flag design

This year, Eurovision turns 70. So to mark this anniversary, I've made an update to my flags of Eurovision winners design.

I originally made this design as a bored-in-lockdown project in 2020, and I thought it was worthy of an update to mark the Contest's big birthday. I've now made two versions - one that keeps the circular, abstract design, based on flag colours, and one that is more flag-accurate.

Both are available on Redbubble, where the designs can be bought as prints or on t-shirts, stickers, notebooks, coasters, clocks, cushions, and lots more. It can be bought against a navy, grey or white background - leave a comment here if you would like another colour, as that can easily be added.

➡️➡️ Go to Redbubble to buy

My 2020 design is easily the best-selling item from my Redbubble store. I was delighted to see it recently in the profile picture of the new OGAE UK president John Bennett! Below you can also see some ideas how the design will look, thanks to Redbubble.

OGAE UK president John Bennett

Eurovision heats in London

I hit on a notion this year to try to watch Eurovision selections from around Europe in bars in London, in much the same way that I watch football.

But whereas football is popular with pub-goers, Eurovision, it seems, is not. There was nothing on show at Norwegian, Danish and Finnish venues. Similarly, an Armenian cultural centre was all closed up, and the Greeks and Portuguese preferred football.

A Bulgarian bar was playing Balkan music on its TV, but videos not Eurovision.

My one happy constant was the Swedish Church in Marylebone which week after week showed Melodifestivalen heats. Even the priest there got in on the excitement! If only every other nation could be the same...

Guess the Eurovision vote competition!

The annual festival of Eurovision is nearly upon us - with the first semi-final tonight, the second semi-final on Thursday and le grand finale on Saturday.

So, to celebrate, dear reader, you have a chance to win a wonderful pair of Sennheiser Wireless Headphones.

All you have to do in this competition is pick a number: the number of points you think the winning song will receive. 

Feel free also, if you like, to predict which country will win, but the competition is just on the numbers. 

The person with the nearest amount wins the lovely prize, which is supplied to me by the nice people at VoucherCodes.co.uk 

For some help on your number crunching, the highest amount a song can get is 38 x 12 = 456 and the winning points from the last few years were: 

2009 - Norway - 387

2008 - Russia - 272

2007 - Serbia - 268

2006 - Finland - 292

2005 - Greece - 230

So come on, come all and have a guess. Leave a comment here or on facebook. Entries close by 7.30 PM (UK time) on Saturday.

Good luck! I'll let you know the winner on Monday next. And, for the record, I really don't know who'll win this year. My heart says Germany, my head says Azerbaijan, my bets say Romania and I have a sneaky suspicion Sweden will do well too.

But who knows? The mystery and suspense is what makes this year's show from Oslo so exciting.

Let's all speak Norwegian.

There are only two weeks to go to Eurovision. How exciting! I've decided to embrace all things Norwegian. So for the next few weeks, I'll be tweeting a lovely Norwegian word every day (stealing an idea from the wonderful World of Chig's Serbian countdown), and compiling them all here.

tausheten
meaning the silence
fjellet
meaning mountain 
jubileum
meaning anniversary
strømme
meaning flow
sønninger
meaning waves
strålende
meaning brilliant
lykkerus
meaning drunk with happiness
skog
meaning forest

kjekk
meaning handsome
solstreif
meaning sunlight
moteriktig
meaning fashionable

kjærlighet

meaning love

ballongen
meaning balloon

Vania Fernandes at Cafe Madeira, Vauxhall

I went tonight to see 2008 Portuguese Eurovision singer Vânia Fernandes singing at a cafe in Vauxhall.



Cafe Madeira is one of Lambeth's many Portuguese restaurants and cafes - some of which I've visited before - with Vania performing to help raise funds for her native Madeira following recent flooding.

A baby christening party was in full swing at the cafe, so spirits were high when Vania took to the mike.

She performed several fado songs in a typical fado style, looking very fetching all in black, and entertained the crowd who were singing, dancing and clapping along.

I'm happy to report that Vania also took the time to coo at the baby who was being christened.

Sadly, she didn't perform her Eurovision song, Senhora do Mar - despite a middle-aged lady shouting at her to do so.




Vania happily posed for photographs after her performance, and minutes later left the building, while we were being entertained by Alexys and his accordion and his fun dancing songs.

Click here to donate to flood relief in Madeira

Eurovision in Italy...

They say there's no interest in Italy for Eurovision, but I spied:

• This year's Hungarian entry blaring out of a car stereo
• A full page article about Eurovision including a picture of Svetlana wearing Fuck The Crisis t-shirt
• Lulu's Boom Bang a Bang being used to advertise fruit juice.

It's Eurovision week

Eurovision week has arrived, and all the joy it brings. This year, I've decided to skip watching the semi-finals, and just watch the final live (I'll watch them afterwards, obviously). By doing this, all the acts are a surprise, just like when I first starting getting into Eurovision (the 1990s).

So, to achieve this, I'm on holidays in a Eurovision-free zone: Italy. Anyway, without further ado, here's my Eurovision ru-down for 2009.

Semi-Final 1

• Montenegro
  Utterly silly, camp nonsense, and a magical way to open to the show. In a word: fun
• Czech Republic
  Gypsy rap that's much more ridiculous than it should be - Gypsy.cz is good enough in his own right. In a word: disheartening
• Belgium
  Elvis look-a-like claiming Elvis is stealing his act. In a word: genius.
• Belarus
  Dull rock ballad. In a word: boring.
• Sweden
  The first of this year's opera-pop entries, with added camp. Malena is brilliant, but this is like asking Judi Dench to do an Iceland advert. In a word: kitsch.
• Armenia
  Novelty tune, novelty dance routine, fabulous novelty costumes & hats. In a word: routine.
• Andorra
  Catchy guitar pop tune that bounces merrily along. In a word: Nice.
• Switzerland
  Pet Shop Boys, with guitars. In a word: unsung.
• Turkey
  Likeable ethnopop dancing fluff, and hurrah for it. In a word: pulsey
• Israel
  With singers from both sides of Israel, this could be corny. But it will be alive on stage. In a word: heartfelt.
• Bulgaria
  The second of the opera-pops, with added ethno-warbling. In a word: desperate
• Iceland
  Is it true? A moving ballad about loss and ending? How very Iceland in 2008/2009 financial year. In a word: moving
• FYRO Macedonia
  Not memorable in the least. In a word: forgettable.
• Finland
  A happy poppy dance song. About failure. Brilliantly Finnish. In a word: misanthropic
• Romania
  Pop poppy about Bucharest's banging babes. In a word: tonic&lime.
• Portugal
  Sweet, lovely, Portuguese ditty. In a word: obrigado.
• Malta
  Third time lucky for Chiara with this ballad? In a word: handjabs
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Delightfully rousing Balkan ethno-rock ballad. In a word: revolutionary

Semi-Final 2

• Croatia
  An Aegean-esque folk song supplanted to Dalmatia. Nice, but nothing new. In a word: lully
• Ireland
  I say it's Ireland's best entry in years. Girlband rockpop with nice line in shimmying. In a word: etc
• Latvia
  Russia kraut-rock. Big in the hall, undoubtedly. In a word: null
• Serbia
  Big-haired bloke and his old mate singing a daft song about shoes. In a word: overdone
• Poland
  Nice ballad, delivered well. I'd like to like it more than I actually do. In a word: true
• Norway
  Sweet love song hidden within some muscular Vikings-in-the-Urals fiddling. Great. In a word: winner?
• Cyprus
  Sweet, swooshing story song. Maybe too big for its performer, sadly. In a word: fleeting
• Slovakia
  A dull, plodding duet. In a word: snoozy
• Denmark
  It is Ronan Keating, in disguise. Good, if you like that kind of thing. (And plenty do). In a word: commercial
• Slovenia
  Violins ahoy, and a singer trilling behind a screen. Did you expect her to be blonde? I didn't! In a word: crescendo
• Hungary
  It's called Dance With Me, but should be Camp Like Me. In a word: gay
• Azerbaijan
  A catchy dirge. In a word: infectious
• Greece
  Gym-toned Sakis leads an aerobics class, while singing a song. Olivia Newton-John for the naughties. In a word: flex
• Lithuania
  It's sweeping, impressive, and he wears a nice hat. The hat is the thing I like best. In a word: sweet
• Moldova
  Great red boots for Nelly, the singer of this Slavic-ethno-pop dancing riot. Nelly! In a word: bonkers
• Albania
  A pseudo-thumping dance tune with nobody dancing. In a word: hopeful. Sadly, it may be forgotten because here comes...
• Ukraine
  Riotious, surreal, almost nasty. And all the more amazing for it. BOM! This will have a huge performance. In a word: bumpy
• Estonia
  Delightfully ethereal song, good contrast to what comes before. All it needs is some Kate Bush-esque hand waving. In a word: mystical
• Netherlands
  Three camp old dears in shiny suits belt out a shiny song called Shine. In a word: shiny

The Final

• France
  Wonderfully dramatic, brooding chanson ballad. Classy. In a word: superb
• Russia
  Some lady warbling about her mother, or is it Russia? Who knows, who cares? In a word: orphan
• Germany
  Novely song, sounding like Mambo No 5, with Dita Von Teese in the background. In a word: Inexplicable.
• United Kingdom
  She's been down, down so long. And now the song's in your heard for the rest of the day. Strong performance expected. In a word: classy.
• Spain
  The super sound of a fun night in Fuengirola! In a word: fiesta

And that's it. Who will win? My money's on Norway, and I'd love to see UK, Spain, Estonia, Ukraine, Belgium and Ireland do well.

UK Eurovision Preview Party

Last night's Eurovision Preview Party was a great success. There was a real fun, friendly, positive and enjoyable atmosphere. Here's a run-down:

Great vintage performances from previous entrants Nicki French, Friðrik Ómar, Jessica Garlick and Imaani.

Imaani is 8 months' pregnant, well done to her for coming along to perform! Jessica Garlick still sounds stunning, and Friðrik is a great fun performer giving us an acapella This is My Life which happily became disco-dance-tastic in the final chorus. (Jade Ewan - take note).

Nicki French is a national treasure, and should be preserved in aspic.

Polish singer Lidia sung well with two nice songs. Bulgarian Krassimir seemed like a nice, sweet guy, but a little uncomfortable on stage.

Romanian Elena really sells her song well and she spins around a lot. Awesome hair extensions from her. A troupe of dancing Balkan girls strutting around stage on Moscow will be a treat from her.

Icelandic Johanna was great - very strong singer and she delivers her song well.

Cypriot Christina proved she can sing - and sing well. Her Eurovision song is a little too big for her, as she seems quite timid and nervous. Hopefully the supportive and excellent reaction she received will help boost her confidence.

Ireland were great - they performed their song with great energy and enthusiasm. They just played one song, which I felt was a shame as the crowd were really loving them. Watch:




And then: Ukraine

Svetlana Loboda came on stage aloft on the shoulders of one of her 4 very hunky, very fit dancers. They all then proceeded to give a performance which beggared belief - muscular, powerful, dynamic, energetic and frenetic.

The dancers - chests and arms bared - were a surreal mix of rabid thuggish soldiers and gay boy harlequin marionettes. They performed Be My Valentine with such gusto, it will surely figure high in the placings in Moscow. They then performed another song with Soviet-style marching and flags depicted the mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

And then the dancers donned t-shirts and then took them off again. And then I got one (a t-shirt, that is). And then they proceeded to climb about the stage. And then writhed about. And then flexed their muscles. And then started to take bits of clothing off. And then we all fainted...

Watch for yourself - this is Svetlana's encore performance of Be My Valentine

Sounds Like Teen Spirit - Junior Eurovision film

I went to a screening of Sounds like Teen Spirit tonight, the documentary about Junior Eurovision. And it's about so much more than Eurovision: it's about being a kid, becoming a teenager, learning about life and love and losing.

We meet 4 of the contestants in the 2007 Junior Eurovision - Giorgios from Cyprus, Marina from Bulgaria, Mariam from Georgia and band Trust from Belgium - and follow their preparations to go to Rotterdam and their time at the Contest.

These kids are a world away from what you expect - not precocious stage school brats, they're warm, funny, innocent, disarming, chatty, shy, lovely kids.

10 year old Yiorgios from Cyprus is a chatty, funny guy who gets teased at school, but loves to sing and dance and be in the moment.

Marina, from Bulgaria, lives in a good home, but misses her father who is divorcing her mother. At one point, she wonders whether it's better to have no feelings, as then you never feel pain.

Mariam, from Georgia, is delighted to represent her country and have its flag among Europe's others, even if her family's TV only works long enough to see her perform.

And Trust, from Belgium - three guys and 1 girl - are teenagers learning about love and being endearingly awkward adoloscents.

I loved this film - it was warm, funny, sad and absolutely delightful. Director Jamie J Johnstone does a wonderful job, bringing the kids' personalities out with a warmth and honesty which shines through. He approaches the show without any cynicism which gives the film real heart and affection.

Go see this - it is life-affirming and heart-warming. It will leave you smiling, and thinking, for hours, and whether you like Eurovision or not, you'll come with a sense of joy in performing, music and youth.

Junior Eurovision: the movie

Someone has made a film about Junior Eurovision - long since forgotten in the UK, but alive and kicking out East - and called it Sounds Like Teen Spirit. Goodness - it all looks rather jaunty. I've been invited to a preview screening next week so I shall report back.

Rebeca for Eurovision, again

Eurovision-watching is tough. Nevermind a three-hour contest, in the early months of the year, there are hundreds of songs to listen too.

Sadly, I've not heard many great songs lately. Spain, in particular, has been a mammoth task, with nearly 500 submitted songs.

One such song starts slow, like many of the others, and it's just another ballad amongst many.

BUT THEN

Disco beats kick in, and it's Rebeca with her umpteenth attempt at Eurovision, Se Me Olvído. I can just imagine the strutting, heels and hair. Ooh, there's a video - She's flouncing about with some sheets, and romping in a bed with two blokes. (although one of them doesn't seem bother'd).

Actually, I'm not sure this is her Eurovision song... but whatever, it's fabulous.

Viva Espana

Hurrah for Spain winning Euro 2008, their first big tournament win for yonks. In celebration, and as the sun is shining, here's some of the best Spanish pop tunes.

Rosa, from 2002 Eurovision, and soon to represent Spain at the Eurovision Dancing Contest, singing her ace Más. Look at her go! High-kick-tastic!

Next, partly inspired by the lovely Spanish players Casillas and Fabregas, here are Nash with their two beautiful members.

Spanish pop classic Hijo de la Luna by Mecano given an even more latin twist.

Chenoa, who came third to Rosa in Spain's Eurovision selection, had the last laugh with Cuando Tu Vas, the Spanish summer song of 2002.

And finally, La Casa Azul with La Revolucion Sexual, one of the runner-up songs from this year's Spanish Eurovision selection.

We have a winner!

And, lo, the most popular Irish Eurovision Song is: Linda Martin with Terminal 3.

Hurrah to her.

Oh, and Dima Bilan for Russia won Eurovision. My observations:

• Marija and her Frankenstein brides would have completed LaGaylia Frazier's Dr Frankenstein from this year's Romanian preselection so well.
  
  
• Vlad from Romania is still doing that odd left-leg lift he does. Watch it - once you see it, you can't ignore it.
  
  
• Why was Sirusho wearing black, white and grey? Wear something colourful!
  
  
• Bosnia's knitting brides were the aces.
  
  
• The plucky Icelandic duo worked the cameras so well.
  
  
• I still think Ani Lorak + her men in illuminated boxes were robbed.
  
  
• I was very impressed that Sebastian Tellier had a globe on stage. Pity he didn't do much with it.
  
  
• Spain's falling down dancer was the comedy highlight of the evening for me.
  

More to come soon on Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia - on my trip, I only spotted one Eurovision star: Boaz from Israel. His arms are very impressive, but he's teeny tiny! Bless little Boaz.

Eurovision 2008

Welcome to Eurovision Week! 

Bloggers and news site are agog with the idea that the 2008 top 3 may well be the same as the 2007 top 3: namely, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia. 

So, let's look at last year, and see what we can learn for this year...

• The name Maria - or variants of - is a success symbol with Marija Serivofic winning, and Greece's Yassou Maria in the Top 10.

So, for 2008, step forward this year's only Maria from Norway!

• Turkey came in 4th with a song all about having candy.

Step up Greece's Kalomira who's come as a Quality Street.

• Both Russia and Serbia swathed their stages in red last year - will red be the colour to watch this year?
• Bulgaria came fifth with some dated dance music - good news for this year's lovely Icelandic entry.

• And lastly, 2007 was the year of baco-foil clad drag queen Verka Serduchka. Who will take on that mantle this year? Step forward one Charlotte Perrelli!

Enjoy Eurovision!

Vote for your favourite Irish Eurovision song!

It's the final, and here are our finalists. We've whittled down the 40-odd entries to these five. Earlier, I held a semi-final which pitted the ten round winners against each other. It was dramatic: Liam Reilly -v- Dawn Martin, Sheeba -v- Maria Christian, Chris Doran -v- Linda Martin (T3), Sean Dunphy -v- Muriel Day & Butch Moore -v- Eimear Quinn.

And thus, here are the finalists - so what do you think? Which is your favourite? Vote!

First up, Dawn Martin with Is Always Over Now? from 1998.

Next, from 1969, it's bopping Muriel Day singing about The Wages of Love.

And now, Ireland's only winner in the final - Eimear Quinn from 1996 with The Voice.

And the penultimate entry: from 1984 - Linda Martin with Terminal 3.

And finally, the immensely amazing Sheeba from 1981 with Horoscopes.

So, vote vote vote for the winner!

Vote! Your favourite Eurovision song from Ireland - Round 10

Phew! Finally we reach the last round of Irish Eurovision songs - and this time, we've got some likely lads. Thanks to all who have voted thus far - and please leave your votes in the comments.

By Thursday, I will whittle all the votes down to a 5 song final - which will stay open until Eurovision Day on 24 May. And then we'll know the most popular Irish Eurovision song.

First up, a video of Ireland's 1995 entry - Dreamin' by Eddie Friel. Ireland had won for the 3 years previous to this entry - thankfully this wasn't as successful.

Let's jump back 30 years now to 1965, and Ireland's very first entry, Walking the Streets in the Rain by the greatly-named Butch Moore. (No direct video, I'm afraid - but you get to enjoy Poupée de Cire, Poupée du Son so everyone wins)

Next, from the following year, the ever-better-named Dickie Rock with Come Back to Stay.

And, finally, the last Irish Eurovision entry for our selection: 1976's When by Red Hurley.

Vote! Your favourite Eurovision song from Ireland - Round 9!

Nearly there! Everytime Ireland hosts the Eurovision, we're always told that the Irish are a nation of singers. These songs are all about singing and song.

First up, another Irish winner - this time from 1994 - Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan with Rock 'n' Roll Kids.

Now, from 1978, here's legendary Irish singer Colm CT Wilkinson with his entry Born to Sing. This is fantastically pompous.

From one Irish troubadour to another, here is 2006's entry: Every Song is a Cry for Love by Brian Kennedy. Days before this Contest there was a debate on Irish national radio about whether Brian should kneel or not. Brilliant.

And, finally, Ireland's frankly ridiculous 4th win in 5 years - here is the very talented Eimear Quinn with The Voice.

So: which is your favourite? Vote in the comments!

Vote! Your favourite Eurovision song from Ireland - Round 8!

Ireland: we're a generous, loving nation. We love the world and all its peoples - or so you'd think from this lot of Irish Eurovision songs which have the theme of love or the world. Which is your favourite? Vote below by leaving a comment!

First up, from 1990, is Liam Reilly with Somewhere in Europe. Fans of geography pop will love this place-name-dropping number.

Next, from 1971, when Ireland hosted the Eurovision for the first time, is Angela Farrell with One Day Love. What a lovely pink frock she had!


Next up, from 1972, is Ireland's only song in Irish. Here's Sandie Jones singing Ceol an Ghrá, which means Song of Love. I love this - the only pop song in Irish that I know.



And , last but not least, from 2003, the first winner of You're A Star, Mickey Joe Harte with We've Got the World Tonight.

So: Vote for your favourite!

Vote! Your favourite Eurovision song from Ireland - Round 7

Right, this vote needs to get a move on tout suite. So, over the next 4 days, we'll have a rapid vote round. Then I'll whittle the songs down to a 5 song final, and we'll choose our Favourite Irish Eurovision Song.

This round is all about Questions.

First up, 2005's tykes Donna & Joe with their ridiculously question-marked Love? I loved Donna & Joe - finally a decent pop song from Ireland. Hurrah and huzzah for them.

On to 1973, and it's Maxi again who we last saw back in Round 1. Here she in - resplendent in a flouncy 70s smock-frock with Do I Dream?

Yet another of Ireland's winners: this time, from 1992, Linda Martin with Why Me? It's not a patch on Terminal 3, but a classy song none the less.

The year before, 1991, Ireland send Kim Jackson who asked the question Could it be that I'm in love? She really ought to know, I would say. Could it be your winner?

And, finally, from 1998, Dawn Martin with Is Always Over Now? I bet you're thinking the same thing about this vote.

So, tell me what you think. And if you want to vote in any other round, click or scroll down.