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NUL POINT FOR ENEMIES AND DOUZE POINTS FOR FRIENDS... EUROVISION IS PURE TV GOLD
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4337215/Nul-point-for-enemies-and-douze-points-for-friends-Eurovision-is-pure-TV-gold.html
HOW CONFLICT HAS HIT SONG CONTEST
El of a performance ... Greece's Eurovision hopeful Eleftheria
Eleftheriou El of a performance ... Greece's Eurovision hopeful
Eleftheria Eleftheriou
By JOHN KENNEDY O'CONNOR
Published: Today at 02:03
AROUND 125million viewers are set to watch the Eurovision Song Contest
from Baku, Azerbaijan tomorrow night - despite the annual fuss over
politics and dodgy voting.
Here a "Eurovisionary" tells how the contest's controversies are all
part of what makes the show unmissable telly.
FOR a show that was created simply to promote talent and songwriting
across borders, the Eurovision Song Contest has often been accused
of fostering international resentment.
In fact the voting system has always been seen as allowing nations
to loathe their neighbour on a very public scale.
This year's contest is no exception, as proved by the absence of
Armenia.
After a bloody war with Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, plus continuing
land and border disputes, the animosity between the two countries
is extreme.
Giving Brits the Hump ... Engelbert Humperdinck, the half-English,
half-German entry from the UK Giving Brits the Hump ... Engelbert
Humperdinck, the half-English, half-German entry from the UK Splash
The Armenian state broadcaster announced recently they would not send
a singer to a country where they would not be welcome.
While other nations may not be at war with their neighbours, relations
can still be frosty over Eurovision.
Most Brits believe the French don't vote for the UK - but in fact
it's usually the other way round. Since 1975 our Gallic chums have
been fairly keen on the UK's efforts, giving "douze points" four times.
But Britain has never once put France top of the list, instead giving
them "nul points" in 18 contests.
Since tele-voting was first trialled in 1997, former Eastern Bloc
countries have heavily influenced the contest. Estonia won in 2001,
Latvia in 2002, Ukraine in 2004 and Russia in 2008.
Such was Terry Wogan's disgust that in 2008 he quit as the BBC
commentator after nearly 40 years in the job.
When Moscow hosted in 2009, Georgia was banned for entering the song
We Don't Wanna Put In, a thinly disguised dig at Russian Premier
Vladimir Putin.
The first overtly political action in the contest came in 1964,
when Copenhagen hosted.
After Switzerland had performed, a man dramatically climbed on to
the stage carrying a banner stating "Boycott Franco and Salazar". It
was a protest against the dictators ruling Spain and Portugal and he
managed brief moments in front of the cameras.
Jed in the water ... Irish twins Jedward go for gold - but wear silver
Jed in the water ... Irish twins Jedward go for gold - but wear silver
The same issue reappeared in 1969, when Madrid hosted the contest
after Spain's one-point victory the previous year over Cliff Richard's
Congratulations.
Austrian TV refused to send a participant to the Spanish capital,
marking the first ever national boycott.
A mass boycott followed in 1970, when Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria,
Finland and Portugal all refused to take part in the Amsterdam contest.
However, this wasn't politics on an international scale but a combined
objection to the rulebook that had let four nations - France, Holland,
Spain and the UK - tie for first place the previous year. A tie-break
rule was introduced and they all returned happy in 1971.
When Israeli TV staged the 1979 contest in Jerusalem, there was
considerable pressure on Turkey from the North African and Middle
Eastern community not to take part.
Threats were even made to cut off Turkey's oil supplies should they
send an entry. They withdrew, but returned in 1980 with the song
Loving On Petrol - a direct jibe at those who had driven them out
the previous year.
Greece and Cyprus notoriously support each other in the competition
and first gave each other the maximum 12 points in 1987. In fact,
since popular voting replaced jury voting in 1998, the two have
exchanged 12s every time.
Not surprisingly, none of the Middle Eastern and North African nations
eligible to enter as members of the European Broadcasting Union will
take part while Israel participates.
Traditional costume? ... Netherlands entry Joan Franka looks set to
ruffle some feathers Traditional costume? ... Netherlands entry Joan
Franka looks set to ruffle some feathers
Morocco has sent just one entry to Eurovision, in 1980, as Israel was
absent. The Arabic state immediately withdrew once Israel returned
in 1981.
Lebanon was disqualified before the 2005 contest when their TV chiefs
revealed they would not broadcast the Israeli entry or allow their
viewers to vote for the song. They have not considered entering since.
While Israel's Izhar Cohen was performing A-Ba-Ni-Bi in 1978,
Jordanian TV cut to an ad break. When they returned to find him
cruising to victory, the show was abruptly ended.
The contest remains a joyous celebration of pop music and doubtless few
viewers tomorrow will even be aware that Armenia aren't taking part.
But a vast amount of the viewing pleasure is gained from the national
allegiances and hostilities on show year after year.
Britain's Engelbert Humperdinck is probably already honing his "I
was robbed by East European block voting" press release right now.
None of it will mar the sheer enjoyment of Europe's most popular TV
show, still going strong after all these years.
John Kennedy O'Connor is author of The Official History Of The
Eurovision Song Contest, Carlton Books, £14.99.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4337215/Nul-point-for-enemies-and-douze-points-for-friends-Eurovision-is-pure-TV-gold.html
HOW CONFLICT HAS HIT SONG CONTEST
El of a performance ... Greece's Eurovision hopeful Eleftheria
Eleftheriou El of a performance ... Greece's Eurovision hopeful
Eleftheria Eleftheriou
By JOHN KENNEDY O'CONNOR
Published: Today at 02:03
AROUND 125million viewers are set to watch the Eurovision Song Contest
from Baku, Azerbaijan tomorrow night - despite the annual fuss over
politics and dodgy voting.
Here a "Eurovisionary" tells how the contest's controversies are all
part of what makes the show unmissable telly.
FOR a show that was created simply to promote talent and songwriting
across borders, the Eurovision Song Contest has often been accused
of fostering international resentment.
In fact the voting system has always been seen as allowing nations
to loathe their neighbour on a very public scale.
This year's contest is no exception, as proved by the absence of
Armenia.
After a bloody war with Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, plus continuing
land and border disputes, the animosity between the two countries
is extreme.
Giving Brits the Hump ... Engelbert Humperdinck, the half-English,
half-German entry from the UK Giving Brits the Hump ... Engelbert
Humperdinck, the half-English, half-German entry from the UK Splash
The Armenian state broadcaster announced recently they would not send
a singer to a country where they would not be welcome.
While other nations may not be at war with their neighbours, relations
can still be frosty over Eurovision.
Most Brits believe the French don't vote for the UK - but in fact
it's usually the other way round. Since 1975 our Gallic chums have
been fairly keen on the UK's efforts, giving "douze points" four times.
But Britain has never once put France top of the list, instead giving
them "nul points" in 18 contests.
Since tele-voting was first trialled in 1997, former Eastern Bloc
countries have heavily influenced the contest. Estonia won in 2001,
Latvia in 2002, Ukraine in 2004 and Russia in 2008.
Such was Terry Wogan's disgust that in 2008 he quit as the BBC
commentator after nearly 40 years in the job.
When Moscow hosted in 2009, Georgia was banned for entering the song
We Don't Wanna Put In, a thinly disguised dig at Russian Premier
Vladimir Putin.
The first overtly political action in the contest came in 1964,
when Copenhagen hosted.
After Switzerland had performed, a man dramatically climbed on to
the stage carrying a banner stating "Boycott Franco and Salazar". It
was a protest against the dictators ruling Spain and Portugal and he
managed brief moments in front of the cameras.
Jed in the water ... Irish twins Jedward go for gold - but wear silver
Jed in the water ... Irish twins Jedward go for gold - but wear silver
The same issue reappeared in 1969, when Madrid hosted the contest
after Spain's one-point victory the previous year over Cliff Richard's
Congratulations.
Austrian TV refused to send a participant to the Spanish capital,
marking the first ever national boycott.
A mass boycott followed in 1970, when Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria,
Finland and Portugal all refused to take part in the Amsterdam contest.
However, this wasn't politics on an international scale but a combined
objection to the rulebook that had let four nations - France, Holland,
Spain and the UK - tie for first place the previous year. A tie-break
rule was introduced and they all returned happy in 1971.
When Israeli TV staged the 1979 contest in Jerusalem, there was
considerable pressure on Turkey from the North African and Middle
Eastern community not to take part.
Threats were even made to cut off Turkey's oil supplies should they
send an entry. They withdrew, but returned in 1980 with the song
Loving On Petrol - a direct jibe at those who had driven them out
the previous year.
Greece and Cyprus notoriously support each other in the competition
and first gave each other the maximum 12 points in 1987. In fact,
since popular voting replaced jury voting in 1998, the two have
exchanged 12s every time.
Not surprisingly, none of the Middle Eastern and North African nations
eligible to enter as members of the European Broadcasting Union will
take part while Israel participates.
Traditional costume? ... Netherlands entry Joan Franka looks set to
ruffle some feathers Traditional costume? ... Netherlands entry Joan
Franka looks set to ruffle some feathers
Morocco has sent just one entry to Eurovision, in 1980, as Israel was
absent. The Arabic state immediately withdrew once Israel returned
in 1981.
Lebanon was disqualified before the 2005 contest when their TV chiefs
revealed they would not broadcast the Israeli entry or allow their
viewers to vote for the song. They have not considered entering since.
While Israel's Izhar Cohen was performing A-Ba-Ni-Bi in 1978,
Jordanian TV cut to an ad break. When they returned to find him
cruising to victory, the show was abruptly ended.
The contest remains a joyous celebration of pop music and doubtless few
viewers tomorrow will even be aware that Armenia aren't taking part.
But a vast amount of the viewing pleasure is gained from the national
allegiances and hostilities on show year after year.
Britain's Engelbert Humperdinck is probably already honing his "I
was robbed by East European block voting" press release right now.
None of it will mar the sheer enjoyment of Europe's most popular TV
show, still going strong after all these years.
John Kennedy O'Connor is author of The Official History Of The
Eurovision Song Contest, Carlton Books, £14.99.