Tags
Civilisation, Coffee, Defend the modern world, EU, Europe, European Union, eurovision, Eurovision 2015, Eurovision song contest, Eurovision Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, politics, Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, Swedish entry
Yesterday in Vienna the Eurovision song contest was held for the 60th time. Sweden won this year, with Russia second and Italy third. The UK came a pathetic 22nd.
Most educated people view Eurovision with a ticklish sense of irony. The contest is camp, loud, colourful and – in its founding vision – hopelessly idealistic. The stated goal of ‘uniting Europe through the power of music’ is dreamy. The songs are often ludicrous ballads with ludicrous dancers and ludicrous lyrics. In Britain, there is a well-established tradition of having a comedian drily commentate over the proceedings in order to make the event tolerable for a snobby, postmodern British audience.
I actually enjoy Eurovision. I rather like the idea of a united Europe, of a European ‘community’ or extended family. Nobody is forced to enter Eurovision or to take it seriously. We all laugh politely at each others eccentricities. We work together for the sake of friendship and to celebrate our differences and similarities.
Perhaps this was what the EU was supposed to be like in everyday practice. Though it hasn’t worked out that way, Eurovision reminds us that the idea of a united Europe isn’t as unpleasant or infeasible as its current implementation would suggest.
D, LDN.
Defend the Modern World 
Interesting thought. I’m not sure the European Union actually has not worked out this way. Like the Eurovision it has its fallacies and quirky sides but everyone still wants to be a part of it.
LikeLike
Most countries but not all. A slim majority in England wish to leave. I’m actually sad to see the European project fall apart. It’s a nice idea. Just very clumsily executed.
LikeLike
It remains to be seen what will happen in England. The British are free to leave. Not the end of the Union by all means. I do hope the threat of Brexit will be the push for necessary reforms.
LikeLike
We need control over immigration. That’s the most important and valid concern people have here. The stuff about bendy bananas and ‘red tape’ is often exaggerated.
LikeLike
I agree with your sentiment. This year was fun and Måns was well-deserving of his victory, Most other acts were quite boring though and the whole show wasn’t as ´wacky´ as usual.
I am surprised you didn’t seem to get that strange feeling of relative unpleasantness when Russia started to get more and more points (and the Russian hosts’s most awkward commentary). In Scandinavia at least, it was quite a tense night.
LikeLike
I did. Did you hear the boos whenever Russia scored points? It was very telling. Russia needs to back off Europe. People are rightly losing patience with Putin.
LikeLike
With all the respect, people can lose as much patience they want with Putin, its not like he cares a tiny bit.
LikeLike
True, but I do think the Russians themselves care about their reputation in Europe. Russia should be a part of Europe, not an enemy of it – as Putin seems to want.
LikeLike
That’s up to the Russians to decide, the problem now is that Putin is the one doing the decisions and the Russians seem happy with it.
LikeLike
I did not hear the booing, but the Russian singer seemed quite sad. I felt bad for her, but hell, sometimes you gotta assume what you’re supposed to stand for.
LikeLike