Eurovision Song Contest. The original TV talent show

To say that the Eurovision Song Contest is still going strong is a bit of an over exaggeration, but it is still running and still watched by millions. It’s easy to be critical of the longest running TV talent show with its traditionally bad acts, rigged voting and legendary Terry Wogan/Graham Norton, but does anyone take it seriously?

NO, but this year’s Eurovision is the 60th annual show with a staggering 39 countries still taking part. Even more impressive is the fact that over the years 52 countries have had at least one entry into the competition. AND there are still countries joining in, with Australia being the latest country to enter the show. Before we had proper TV, up to a 600 million viewers world-wide tuned in to watch the show. The X Factor would kill for those ratings!!

Controversy is never far from the show with last year’s winner topping a long list of “unusual” acts. Austria’s bearded lady and drag act Conchita Wurst was a massive internet sensation after the show was aired, but not for the talent of the singer or the winning song. This year there is more funny business from Germany with their elected winner of the preliminary rounds actually turning down the chance to represent his country live on the final show. England’s entry Electro Velvet has been voted the worst entry we have ever put through.

The Good 
Although the show isn’t what it used to be, there have been some legendary hits come from the Eurovision Song Contest with some of the world’s biggest artists taking part. 1967 Sandie Shaw with Puppet on a String 1969 Lulu with Boom Bang-a-bang 1970 Dana with All kinds of everything 1974 Abba with Waterloo 1976 Botherhood of man with Save your kisses for me 1981 Bucks Fizz with Making your Mind up 1988 Céline Dion with Ne partez pas sans moi 1997Katerina and the waves with Love shine a light

The Bad 
Well were to start?? In the beginning it was a stepping stone to success with most acts going on to some sort of singing career, but over the past 10 years that has been the opposite. Can anyone remember our last three entries?? Didn’t think so. We can all remember singing grannies from Russia and the Klingon winner Lordi back in 2006, but last year’s winner was a singer with a difference. Conchita Wurst was the first drag act to win, or take part. As far as we know that is??

The Ugly 
Sorry Conchita, it’s you, oh and you Lordi.

Will there be a 61st show? We hope so. With other talent shows taking the lime light such as the Voice, X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, it’s hard to see how the Eurovision Song Contest can compete, but it’s the show that no one ever thinks of until it’s here, then we all watch it. Go figure.