Eurovision Review 2009

Many of us have been discussing our thoughts on this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. Here are my honest views of the contest. I'll also discuss my views of the contest in general.Many people understandably ask why Australians should care about a contest in which they are not taking part. There are two main resons. First, there are many European immigrants and the children and grandchildren living in Australia who still follow what is going on in the 'Mother land'. Second, many Aussies love the campness and kitsch apect of it. It can be great fun.

I have watched it every year since I first saw it in 1990 when Italian Toto Cutugno won with the very catchy Insieme 92. The following year Swede Carola won with an equally wonderful song Captured By A Lovestorm. From then on I was hooked recording the BBC's television and radio coverage each year for several years. There were some memorable favourite songs of mine including Ireland's Rock and Roll Kids, Charlotte Nilsson's Take Me To Your Heaven and Gina G's Ooh Ah Just A Little Bit to name a few.

Often for me it was not so much about the songs as it was the dreadful presentation from the host countries as well as some of the terrible fashion faux pas of the contestants. I remember cringing many a time when a Swedish or Italian host would try and make jokes in English before falling flat on their face and causing my friends and I to groan. Ouch!

The best bit for me was Terry Wogan's commentary which for me and many others made the contest. He may have been a bit mean at times but he was only saying what many of us were thinking and it was all in jest. You can't really take Eurovision too seriously. Come to think of it you can't take it seriously at all.

Sadly over the past few years I have found the contest become blander with pretty awful songs and increased block voting. Thankfull this year much of that changed though not absolutely.Ok to this year's contest. I can't fault the Russians with their presentation. I thought they did a great job. The presenters got into the spirit of things and the stage was magnificent. However, I could not work out whether I should have been amazed at the interval act or not. I often get the same reaction when looking at a piece of modern art. Not quite sure how I am expected to react. The act looked spectacular in terms of choreography and how it was done with all the water but after 20 seconds I was thoroughly bored. Not much of a lasting impression but hey they tried.

Eurovision, of course needs more than great presentation and a spectacular stage. It needs songs. Sadly, this year I found the songs terribly bland and forgettable. Not one registered with me. I am happy for Norway that they won but as I found every song as terrible as the previous one I could not say whether it was deserved or not. So in terms of songs nul points. Interestingly my main memory will be of the United Kingdom's Jade being butted in the head accidentally by her violinist. I am sure that one will be played on many a blooper show. Not a great way to be remembered.

As I wrote earlier my highligh is often Terry Wogan's biting but honest commentary. I sad he retired but understood and completely sympathised with his reasons. There was though a silver lining. Yes the very funny and quick witted Graham Norton would take over. I knew he would be good and would take even less prisoners than Terry. However, on the day of Eurovision I discovered that in Australia where I live SBS Television would do their own commentary instead of taking the BBC's coverage. It was tried once before and it went down like a led balloon with them reinstating Terry Wogan. In fact the two SBS presenters had teeshirts saying "Yes we miss Terry Wogan too". They were so right. The SBS coverage took dull to another level. I hope they use the BBC again next year.

Finally the voting. Definitely much fairer this year though some block voting still took place but really I have few complaints about the voting this year apart from the fact I did not think any of the songs were worth voting for.For me, though, the best part was spending the evening watching it in a bar with my friends. For me that was what made Eurovision and I would far rather be doing that than watching Eurovision alone at home. Well done on Russia for the presentation and well done to Norway for winning but could someone please make Eurovision interesting and fun again. Russia did their best but it is hard to polish a turd. Result: nul points. Here is to 2010.

Here is this year's winner Norwegian Alexander Rybak with Fairytale.