Haha! Such is the modern world: if your competition hasn't been targeted for mass-shooting or a car bomb then it must be pretty second-rate.

Bad luck then, Gloustershire Cheese Rolling Competition :( But at least you scored "mutiple injuries" this year, so you're on the right track and may get more attention in 2023:-

What can I say but "hard cheese"? :D

If you're saying it's a case of the countries who are friendly with each other (or have something to gain/lose from their relationship) vote along those lines, then yes, you're right. This has been proven many times, where we as Irish wouldn't give votes to the English song, and vice versa. Can be petty, but can also be good, as in Ukraine winning this year - and that surely wasn't because their song was the best.

Ah, I'm a little depressed. Nothing to blow away the blues like laughing at someone else's misfortune though, is there? And when we think of that, where do we automatically turn? Yes, that's right: it's time to once again descend the slippery steps into Eurovision Hell! Bwa hahaha! Today we're looking north, to the cold icy lands of Scandinavia, where you'd have to wonder how these girls keep warm!

Seriously, the only good thing about Finland's 1994 entry was the two singers, who look very pretty but aren't anything special. The dancers are really annoying and distracting - what is that guy up to at 1:32? - and in fact their routine reminds me of the dance Rimmer and Lister did for “Tongue Tied” (only Red Dwarf fans will get that reference). The song itself seems not to be able to make up its mind whether it's a pop, hip-hop number, a ballad or a big orchestral thing, but turns out to be fairly generic pop pap. The fact that the chorus (such as it is) is in English while the rest is in Finnish is just silly.

The group, whom I guess to include the dancers as they're in the pre-song promo, are called CatCat - which is not a bad name - and the girls look well even if they're not the world's greatest singers, but really, what is the deal with those long coats? Makes no sense.

Which just about sums up Eurovision I guess. Oh yeah, this was the year we won. Again. This is transmitted from Ireland, as we had also won the previous year, and the year before that. This would be our third, and thankfully last, for a while. It's a great feeling, no doubt, to win, but victory just places extra financial strain on the country that has to host the next year's competition, so I'm sure many Irish heads were shaking, the initial euphoria at winning having by now long worn off, and I think we were just hoping we wouldn't be saddled with the huge cost of hosting the show again. Fat chance. Still, at least we showed we could put on an event to rival any of the bigger countries! Go Ireland!

Just, you know, don't win again, ok? (Flash forward to 1996 - D'oh!)
https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/im...1Xnzos_twjo0gN
1994 - Finland - “Bye Bye Baby” by CatCat

Eurovision here is kind of an embarrassment. A lot of people love it, but usually with a obvious sense of irony and acknowledgement of the silliness of it all.

There was a time when people took it seriously and well established artists were proud to join in the competition.. But that was a long time ago. Now, every year it's someone new I haven't heard of and I don't think it counts as a positive in most Norwegians' minds if you have Eurovision participation on your artist CV.

I almost feel bad for Ukraine getting the political win this year. People obviously voted for support / out of pity, but I'm like.. First they got the war, now they also have to arrange next year's Eurovision? Give Ukraine a break, will ya?

Well they're playing their UEFA Nations League "home" matches in Poland, so maybe they'll stage the Eurovision there too.

A relic from the days when an artist of Serge Gainsbourg's caliber could pen a song especially for the contest


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5aeeSmkPwQ

I asked my dressmaker to run up copies of these gorgeous outfits but for some reason she told me she’d rather commit suicide.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XRenAqqCZk

Eurovision has gone on for that long? Wow, impressive. Here I thought it was born along with the other talent shows of the past twenty years. I see a few familiar names among the winners.

Just saw on the news now, seems they're negotiating about holding next years event in England (who came second place).