Whether you watch it with your family, with your friends or with The AEGEEan, it doesn’t matter if some songs are “ unlisteneable” or just awesome, if some performances are genious or lame, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is always a unique experience, that keeps fascinating Europeans year after year, and is always the subject of discussions and emotions.
Watching ESC with the AEGEEan
There’s no doubt that the Eurovision unites people. That’s why this year the AEGEEan decided to try to watch it with as many people as possible and created a very successful Facebook group. The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most long-lasting television shows. It was launched for the first time in 1956 and every year the competition was a great success, whether you liked the winner or not. The Eurovision has become the symbol of a united Europe, something that goes beyond the border of the European Union as well as a tradition within families or between friends.
Should the Eurovision be free of political statements?
Some things that took place in Malmö touched upon big political discussions, and some of those opinions were shared on our Facebook group as well. One example was the debate following the Finnish kiss: should the Eurovision be free of political statements?
Some of you would says yes, others no. In my personal opinion politics are part of our everyday life, even though we don’t pay attention to it. Art, and therefore music, is a means of expression, it’s a way to make your voice heard and if your feelings are about changes in your society, then you are more than empowered to do it. Of course nothing on earth would authorize someone to make an electoral campaign, to insult someone or to support any form of non-democratic government that harm human rights. Political messages are always incidental to music. ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ by U2, ‘A great day for freedom’ by Pink Floyd, ‘Hammer to fal’l by Queen, ‘London Calling’ by The Clash, ‘Blowin’ in the wind’ by Bob Dylan, and ‘Civil War’ by Guns ‘n Roses are only a few examples.
How about Finland’s performance? I think that it’s more than a political issue; gay marriage is a social and natural fact which still has to be legalized in Finland by law. Miss Siegfrids was only trying to attire the attention upon a social need that hasn’t yet been solved so she was fighting for a cause for all 107.000 Finnish people that signed the petition in favour of same-sex marriage. The more conservative part of Europe complained about the lesbian kiss, especially Turkey who refused to broadcast the ESC final.
Quotes from the facebook group
“At least Eurovision is being useful to raise awareness!” -Miguel Gallardo Albajar
“By not broadcasting they admit that it is a political statement for them, while it could have been just some people kissing, which their peoples can disapprove of by not voting for them…” – Paul Smits
“The glass box is a political statement”(Azerbaijan). But no one payed attention to that. Was the reference too deep? Or too far? The answer is up to you.” – Patriks Kiršs
“Belgian heroes: Again a winner without shoes.” #trend – Mathieu Soete
“The eye of sauron watches over Azerbaijan in the back” -Patriks Kiršs
“What is Cristiano Ronaldo doing in Norway?” – Juan Luis Toboso Garcia
“Germans could have given us (The Netherlands, ed.) some points for taking our bikes” – Paul Smits
“Montenegro was the two astronauts rapping on dubstep, right?” – Marije Arentze
“The best comment by the German TV: “This is what we needed, Modern Talking reborn as Earl Dracula” – Stephanie Müller
Thank you for watching ESC with us and we look forward to repeating the experience again next year!
Written by Cosmina Bisboaca, AEGEE-Torino
Pictures courtesy of FlickR