Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Quirky Euro Files: It's Time for Eurovision 2009!

You know, we spend a lot of time on this blog talking about (more or less) serious issues of education, history, politics, foreign policy, and so forth.

But it's almost summer, which is "silly season" for just about everybody --including me. So, instead of talking about cross-Atlantic relations this afternoon, I give you a lighter side of Europe -- the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest! (If you're a little fuzzy on this little pop culture habit, read this.)

The thing is an absolute temple to silliness -- and I mean that as basically a good thing. Check out this handy list of some of this year's songs (with YouTube music video links!). Some of the entries are OK (Denmark's isn't too bad), some are horrible, and some are just plain crazy.

Take a look at Macedonia's entry (we're back to big-hair 1980s rock), or the Netherlands' weird middle-aged "boy band"-- their lyrics include the line "love will make us glow in the dark." Really! I laughed out loud when I watched the music video. Golly, there's something really gloriously silly about Eurotrash dance pop.

The act from the Czech Republic, though, qualifies for the tag "weird with crazy on top." (No, seriously, you have to see it to believe it. A guy in a red jumpsuit -- with cape! -- raps about gypsies while other people play violin and guitar. No, I'm not making this up.)

Random speculation: Romania's entire national supply of eye makeup was used in the production of its music video.

Still, nothing I've seen this year comes close to the winners of the 2006 Eurovision contest -- the Finnish band Lordi.

No comments: