By Elizabeth Collins.
Everyone is talking about it but, what actually is the Eurovision Song Contest?
First Eurovision winner Lys Assia in 1956
The Eurovision Song Contest began in 1956 as a way to reunite Europe after the second world war. It has been broadcast every year since and is watched by an audience of millions, last year 125 million people tuned in. Considered by some as being gravely serious, others enjoy it for it’s farsical approach to music (check out Moldova’s entry this year on youtube – priceless). On the evening of the competition many people in Europe get the alcohol flowing, have a party and enjoy the 5 hour broadcast.
The history of the contest is not only interestingly but was extremely poignant at the time of the first broadcast, as it saw Europe working together to create something great, instead of fighting each other. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), based in Switzerland, was given the task of finding a ‘light entertainment programme’ that would link Europe together. The idea for the programme was based on the Sanremo Music Festival that took place each year in Italy to discover the countries’ most musically gifted people.
1967 Eurovision winner Sandie Shaw with Puppet On A String
The idea of transmitting the contest to the majority of all European countries was mind- blowing; with no such thing as satellite television, it was considered to be a great experiment into live TV.
The first ever Eurovision Song Contest (named at the time the Eurovision Grand Prix, as a compromise on the English and the French languages. Although, this name was later dropped the contest is still presented to this day in both English and French) took place in Lugano, Switzerland. Seven countries competed and Switzerland was the overall winner; although it was recorded for the handful of Europeans fortunate enough to own a television is was primarily a radio show. The entire 1956 song contest can be listened to online today from youtube.com
- ABBA were winners with Waterloo in 1974
The contest is open to any country in “Europe” (and many that fall outside the standard definition of the region); they choose a song and an artist and after the qualifying rounds the finalists take to the stage to perform live on international television. The winner is now decided by an independent panel of judges from each country and a phone vote which both carry a 50 percent weighting. No country is allowed to vote for themselves. For many years the voting was criticised as being unfair as before it was purely members of the public voting by phone for their favourite entry. Political and friendly voting therefore took place. But as the voting issue has been resolved the winners are believed to be the best entry and worthy of their title. This year Azerbaijan won…
Azerbaijan is a country in a state of Euphoria. When Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal took to the stage in May of this year, representing Azerbaijan, it provoked much national pride, honour and excitement. Azerbaijan is a country that many people throughout the world have little knowledge of, but after the duo triumphed in Düsseldorf, to become the first ever Azerbaijani winners of the song contest, they really have put Azerbaijan on the map. The pair who performed their single Running Scared were clear contenders for the title from the start and their win entitles Baku to be the host of the next contest in 2012. The whole country is waiting to see the, no doubt, spectacular event that the organisers will broadcast to the world!!!
Eldar Qasımov and Nigar Camal singing 2011 winning song Running Scared
Ell and Nikki, as the winners are affectionately are referred to, are seen now as heroes of the country and it is difficult to walk more than a few metres without seeing their faces on advertising boards, shop windows and even on buses. They will certainly be remembered by the country as breaking down barriers on Azerbaijan’s journey to the west. Both having enjoyed music and the arts from a young age; they both knew that their goal was to represent their country in the Eurovision. Now, they are simply on a whirlwind ride; publicity campaigns, a recording contract with an album deal and a European tour are due to commence in the not so distant future.
Eurovision in Azerbaijan will definitely be interesting, but it will be fabulous to see true song contest devotees descend on Azerbaijan for the next chapter in the story of the competition. It promises to be a year to remember in Azerbaijan, much celebration will undoubtedly occur and much fun will be had. At least in 2012 I will have myself prepared for the song contest and not mistake music blarring, car horns sounding and people screaming as a sign of a seige as I did this year. If Azerbaijan retain their European title then I will expect all the same celebration if not more but will be much calmer with all the comotion! They cerntainly will have a much greater chance of being triumphant than the UK ever will, but as long as the UK does not receive ‘nil points’ again they will be happy!!
