Tag Archives: returning winners

Cookie Fonster’s Viewpoints Regarding Eurovision 2011 (Final): The Most Controversial Winner Since 1991

Posted on by
2

Intro Post

< 2011 Semifinals | 2011 Final | 2012 Semifinals >

I know I released this post at an odd hour of the day (5 AM in the American east coast), that’s because I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall asleep. Sleep is for the weak anyway, we all know this. (Actually sleeping is very important, but sometimes my brain refuses to let me fall asleep.)

Also, my post schedule is going to slow down a bit because I started a new job four days ago. Probably for the best, since that means I have more time to deliberate over how I feel about each song.

Introduction

The grand final of Eurovision 2011 (in Düsseldorf, Germany) featured 25 countries: the Big Four we’ve grown to love/hate, Italy for the first time since 1997, and the 20 qualifiers from each semifinal. In third place came Sweden, who got back on their feet after an infamous non-qualification. Italy made a strong comeback with second place, and Azerbaijan had one of the most controversial victories in Eurovision history. Many fans believe Azerbaijan cheated their way to victory, not just because they don’t like the song, also because Azerbaijan has an extensive history of voting scandals.

A few facts I didn’t mention last time: The contest was hosted by German TV presenters Anke Engelke, Judith Rakers, and Stefan Raab, the last of whom composed three German entries for Eurovision and organized the national final that led to Germany’s latest victory. Also, for the first time, the voting countries were deliberately ordered so that the winner wouldn’t be obvious from the start.

I absolutely adore the jazzy rock cover of “Satellite” that Stefan Raab opened the show with, and I love the montage of the football/soccer arena being transformed into a Eurovision arena.. I’m a huge sucker for music covered in a different genre, so this arrangement is totally up my alley. It’s so full of musical creativity! Why can’t we get these kinds of covers every year, instead of the usual unedited song reprises? Maybe I should make a chiptune rendition of “Tattoo” and pester the staff of Eurovision 2024 to use it in their show. If I beg them enough times, I’m sure they’ll say yes. And if they want a chiptune cover of “Cha Cha Cha”, I already have one ready.

I watched the grand final with Graham Norton’s British commentary.

Continue reading →

Cookie Fonster Demystifies Eurovision 1979: Dschinghis Khan and Some Other Stuff

Posted on by
1

Intro Post

< 1978 Review | 1979 Review | 1980 Review >

Introduction

Eurovision 1979 was the first of four contests hosted outside Europe: three in Israel and one in Azerbaijan. The one contest hosted in Turkey was in its European portion. Both 1979 and 1999 were hosted in the Jerusalem International Convention Center, meaning they’re tied for the southernmost Eurovision contest; 2019 was a little further north, in Tel Aviv. It was also the easternmost host city until 2012, when Azerbaijan hosted. The introduction sequence gave me a feel for the enormous history of Jerusalem. It’s a holy city for three major religions, it’s been fought over by many nations and empires, and it’s the subject of a dispute today.

All countries returned from last year, except for Turkey—their Arab neighbors pressured them to skip it, even though they had a song ready. It was Monaco’s last time participating until 2004. Israel won the contest twice in a row, becoming the third country to do so after Spain and Luxembourg. However, the most famous entry is Germany’s “Dschinghis Khan”, a cult classic to this day.

This contest was hosted by two presenters, again one male and one female. The female presenter was a member of the trio that sang for Israel in 1976. As a change of pace, I watched this contest with French commentary. Before the songs began, the commentator suggested the viewer to get a pencil and paper and rate every song like the juries do. As it so happens, I am doing something similar on a strange, newfangled device called a “laptop”.

Continue reading →

Cookie Fonster Plows Through Eurovision 1974: The Most Famous Contestant Ever

Posted on by
4

Intro Post

< 1973 Review | 1974 Review | 1975 Review >

Today, Malmö was confirmed as the host city for Eurovision 2024, matching the host city after last time Loreen won. Since it’s at the southern tip of Sweden, it’s a convenient location for people in nearby countries like Denmark and Germany.

Introduction

Aside from the victory of Sweden’s ABBA, one of the most famous bands in the history of the world, what else is notable about Eurovision 1974? Quite a few things.

Because Luxembourg declined to host twice in a row, it took place in the city where I was born: Brighton, England. I have not been there since I was a baby. The contest happened to be in the year my father was born. If those coincidences weren’t crazy enough, I was born in a year where Sweden won with an upbeat pop song in swing rhythm and major key too (1999).

This contest is one of only two that France skipped, because their president Georges Pompidou had recently died. This also meant Anne-Marie David, the previous winner, couldn’t give ABBA their prize; the BBC director Charles Curran did so instead. France did have a song ready, and I’ll review it as a bonus. This is far from the only year where a country selected a song but then withdrew. I view those withdrawn songs similarly to the canceled 2020 contest—they’re the “what could have been” of Eurovision history.

Greece made its debut in this contest this year. The country has a reputation for embracing its ethnic music in Eurovision, but not quite as much in recent years. They’ve won the contest only once, in 2005, and their best results after that were three third places.

The voting system returned to each jury distributing ten points between each country, but only for one year. 1975 would bring us a system closer to what we know today. I watched the contest with commentary in German, from the non-participating Austria. Because there was no Austrian jury, the commentator offered for viewers to pick their own favorite via phone. (Also, postcards are back!)

Continue reading →