Joyous entertainment. An ever-flashier lighted spectacle. Comic, dramatic, eccentric. It’s all of these and more besides. That’s Eurovision.
This year’s crop has variety. There’s peculiar voices that make me cringe. There’s pop with extra added pop. There’s retro seriousness with genuine heart. There’s dressy comic fun. There’s the music equivalent to adrenalin filled energy drinks. There’s sexy costumed excess.
Thank God for public service broadcasting. Hats-off to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)[1]. Every year they come up with a bright spot in a troubled world. The biggest music show in the world. This year, Switzerland is doing a banging job.
The Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, takes place in Basel on Saturday evening. Worldwide people will be glued to their screens. Here’s an event that bring the world together. Yes, a smidgen of politics creeps into the arena. Thankfully it’s not the dominant force. Clearly, the theme here is unity through music. Celebrating what we have in common.
Sweeden (KAJ – Bara Bada Bastuare) are highly rated for a win. Personally, although I like these jokers and their act, it reminds me too much of a Monty Python sketch. He seems to be popular with the audience but I’m not a fan of Tommy Cash. Estonia is going to do well. For me, Espresso Macchiato is just too blatantly silly.
Granted it’s not the most spectacular single act, I like Armenia. The man is full of raw energy. PARG should be high on the evening’s final list. There’s something devilish about Miriana Conte of Malta. Colourful in excess. She should get a lot of votes for her well executed exuberant spectacle. Looking away is impossible.
I maybe a mild-mannered prude but please let’s not have Finland and Erika Vikman win the night. The act is too contrived to be edgy and get noticed. And sorry Mr JJ. Wasted Love is more like wasted painful screeching in my book. Austria nil points.
In a more traditional style, Klavdia from Greece has a simple honesty that shines through. That should be rewarded with votes. What The Hell Just Happened? Could be applied to the Saturday night result when the time comes. It’s the title of the United Kingdom entry. I wish the group Remember Monday good luck.
Eurovision is going from strength to strength. This inheritance is to be treasured.
POST: In my mind an unexpected result. Regardless of the political element of large-scale public voting, I didn’t think the Austrian entry had much going for it. Same with Israel. 2025 has been a bumper year for choice, in terms of the variety of acts, but the winners are run of the mill. Good luck to Austria in hosting the competition next year. I’m sure they will do a fine job.
John Vincent 