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“Strangely enough, Eurovision grows in popularity year on year. There was a period in the mid-1980s when I thought it was definitely losing some popularity. Then the penny dropped and people realized it was post-modern irony at its most effective.”
BBC’s famed Eurovision commentator Terry Wogan.
From
Jonathan King, a correspondent for Britain's Guardian, about the 2000
Song Contest in Stockholm:
“I’ve covered presidential conventions and charity concerts. I've been to key sporting events and vast festivals. But
Eurovision is the one event that constantly astonishes me by the size and spread of intense interest....
So why is it that the ancient, non-credible, localized phenomenon of
Eurovision has become the global magnet for virtually every media representative?
I think it's because it's so good- hearted. There really is a terrific feeling of bonhomie. Nobody can take pop music that seriously. By definition it's fun, superficial, transitory and frothy. Nobody's dying. There are no wars or famines. It doesn't elect leaders or praise greatness. It's an evening of laughter and joy and frivolity. Which, after all, incorporates the essence of humanity.
Eurovision attracts the media people for exactly the same reasons that viewers love it. We all love a trip to somewhere different, a few days not having to concentrate on heavy issues, an excuse to giggle and gossip and laugh. I reckon that if you polled the greatest news gatherers in the world on their favorite event of the year,
Eurovision would come out on top. And quite right too.”
“We didn’t even know before we entered the national contest what
Eurovision was. But when we learned it meant playing for some 300 million people, we knew it was a good idea.”
Lead singer of Latvia’s 2000 Eurovision entrant, Renars
Kaupers. His critically acclaimed group, BrainStorm, came in third that year, and went on to significant commercial
success.
“Eurovision in Estonia—A Billion-Dollar Advertisement for a Tiny State.”
A headline in an Estonian Foreign Ministry press release after the country won the
Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 and the right to stage the 2002
event.
“I think for the first
time in my life, I will get really drunk tonight.”
Dave Benton, the other half
of the Estonian duo just after
winning the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest.
“99 percent of the people you
ask about it will profess to hate it, but they all love it
really.”
Katy Boyle,
from a BBC online discussion .
“I am of the opinion
that it's OK to watch and even possibly enjoy Eurovision as
long as you don't take it too seriously.”
Eurovision observer Mike Taylor.
“It's popular because it's a
genuine event... Each one is different to the last, not necessarily
better, but different... and there's always something to
surprise you.”
Ken Bruce, BBC.
“There's
not enough silliness in the world. Eurovision helps to keep it
balanced.”
Terry Wogan, BBC.
“Each year, our fine continent's cultural trouts and tiddlers wriggle together to suck at the very Euroteat of
Eurodiversity. They wear Euroshoes, drink Eurobooze, and then they sing some songs and invite each other to pick the least worst
one.”
from Bubblegun.com
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