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IT'S THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST, NOT THE EUROPEAN SONG CONTEST
By Caroline Westbrook
Metro
http://blogs.metro.co.uk/music/its-the-eurovision-song-contest-not-the-european-song-contest/
May 24 2012
UK
Metro.co.uk freelance contributor
It's the age-old question that Terry Wogan used to ask every single
year during his Eurovision Song Contest commentary - what were Israel
doing taking part, exactly, when they're not actually in Europe?
Sir Terry may long since have departed the Eurovision arena, but even
now, with the Song Contest just days away, people continue to ask -
how indeed can Israel take part, not to mention the likes of Georgia,
Armenia, and even our host nation Azerbaijan? Should they not be part
of some Asiavision spectacle instead?
Actually this is not strictly true - for they are as eligible to take
part as everybody else in spite of their geographical status. And
given that however many times a fan of the contest is asked this
question, somehow the answer never seems to sink in and is met with
a blank stare and a cry of 'But they're not in Europe....!' perhaps
the time has come to explain this once and for all.
It's membership of [the European Broadcasting Union] which allows you
to take part in Eurovision, rather than where your borders happen to be
The fact is, Israel, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia (when they take
part, for they are notable by their absence this year) are not in
Europe. They are, however, all members of an organisation called the
European Broadcasting Union, which has members all across the continent
as well as in several North African and Middle Eastern states. And
it's membership of this which allows you to take part in Eurovision,
rather than where your borders happen to be.
And they're not the only ones who belong to the EBU outside of Europe
and could therefore shimmy a sequin or two on the Eurovision stage.
Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt are all EBU
members and hence, eligible, along with Vatican City, who remain one
of the sole EBU members actually in Europe never to have taken part
(and who wouldn't want to see some papal chanting in Eurovision?).
However the other nations have by and large all stayed steadfastly away
from Eurovision - mainly because of the presence of Israel, the nation
who started all this 'are they in Europe?' debate in the first place.
Of those mentioned, Lebanon did dabble in Eurovision waters in 2005
and had even selected a song for that year's contest in Kiev - only
to pull out at the last minute when it became apparent that, under
contest rules, they would have to broadcast the Israeli entry. Jordan,
who have never taken part, famously pulled transmission of the contest
in 1978 when it became apparent that Israel's winning 'classic'
A Ba Ni Bi was going to win (reports that they cut to a static shot
of daffodils instead remain unfounded).
Morocco, meanwhile, did actually take part in the contest in 1980
when Israel pulled out, although their entry - Bitaqat Hob by Samira
Bensaid - scored just seven points, making them potentially the least
successful country in Eurovision history.
One notable exception to this rule however is Qatar, who have applied
for EBU membership and indicated that if they were to join they would
be keen to hear the merry cry of 'douze points' - and would have no
qualms about broadcasting the Israeli entry. All of which could create
even further scratching of heads for those still convinced that it
is in fact the European Song Contest, not the Eurovision Song Contest.
So here ends your Eurovision geography lesson. And you thought it
was just the voting that could be deemed political...
By Caroline Westbrook
Metro
http://blogs.metro.co.uk/music/its-the-eurovision-song-contest-not-the-european-song-contest/
May 24 2012
UK
Metro.co.uk freelance contributor
It's the age-old question that Terry Wogan used to ask every single
year during his Eurovision Song Contest commentary - what were Israel
doing taking part, exactly, when they're not actually in Europe?
Sir Terry may long since have departed the Eurovision arena, but even
now, with the Song Contest just days away, people continue to ask -
how indeed can Israel take part, not to mention the likes of Georgia,
Armenia, and even our host nation Azerbaijan? Should they not be part
of some Asiavision spectacle instead?
Actually this is not strictly true - for they are as eligible to take
part as everybody else in spite of their geographical status. And
given that however many times a fan of the contest is asked this
question, somehow the answer never seems to sink in and is met with
a blank stare and a cry of 'But they're not in Europe....!' perhaps
the time has come to explain this once and for all.
It's membership of [the European Broadcasting Union] which allows you
to take part in Eurovision, rather than where your borders happen to be
The fact is, Israel, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia (when they take
part, for they are notable by their absence this year) are not in
Europe. They are, however, all members of an organisation called the
European Broadcasting Union, which has members all across the continent
as well as in several North African and Middle Eastern states. And
it's membership of this which allows you to take part in Eurovision,
rather than where your borders happen to be.
And they're not the only ones who belong to the EBU outside of Europe
and could therefore shimmy a sequin or two on the Eurovision stage.
Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt are all EBU
members and hence, eligible, along with Vatican City, who remain one
of the sole EBU members actually in Europe never to have taken part
(and who wouldn't want to see some papal chanting in Eurovision?).
However the other nations have by and large all stayed steadfastly away
from Eurovision - mainly because of the presence of Israel, the nation
who started all this 'are they in Europe?' debate in the first place.
Of those mentioned, Lebanon did dabble in Eurovision waters in 2005
and had even selected a song for that year's contest in Kiev - only
to pull out at the last minute when it became apparent that, under
contest rules, they would have to broadcast the Israeli entry. Jordan,
who have never taken part, famously pulled transmission of the contest
in 1978 when it became apparent that Israel's winning 'classic'
A Ba Ni Bi was going to win (reports that they cut to a static shot
of daffodils instead remain unfounded).
Morocco, meanwhile, did actually take part in the contest in 1980
when Israel pulled out, although their entry - Bitaqat Hob by Samira
Bensaid - scored just seven points, making them potentially the least
successful country in Eurovision history.
One notable exception to this rule however is Qatar, who have applied
for EBU membership and indicated that if they were to join they would
be keen to hear the merry cry of 'douze points' - and would have no
qualms about broadcasting the Israeli entry. All of which could create
even further scratching of heads for those still convinced that it
is in fact the European Song Contest, not the Eurovision Song Contest.
So here ends your Eurovision geography lesson. And you thought it
was just the voting that could be deemed political...