I have never particularly cared about Eurovision but I do like politics and Eurovision has become a thermometer for Europe's (and guests)'s political climate.
Like, I remember when whatever entity controlling Eurovision banned a performance in which two young women kissed. t.A.t.U. was their name. It was deemed too provocative. They were allowed to sing but not to kiss. That was 2011 and in 2014 Conchita Wurst won in all their gender-ambiguous glory.
(Ironically, t.A.t.U. is a Russian band. How things have changed).
In 2019 the contest took place in Tel-Aviv (... yeah) and Iceland was fined for their signs in support of Palestine. The contest is supposed to be neutral and performers can't make political statements. But in 2022 Russia was banned from participating and everybody showed support for Ukraine.
So I have been waiting to see what will happen this year. Will they ban Israel from participating? It doesn't look like it, but more and more participants are opposing Israel and showing support for Palestine. It's little, but it is more support than what we have seen in the last decades.
The contest has always been 40% insanity and 30% showing dislike to the UK (and only 10% music, the remaining 20% is a sacrifice to the old gods). But this year it looks like 50% insanity and 50% making political statements of any kind. With great pleasure, I share with you:
Finland. Finland is sending a pantless man emerging from a denim egg. Truly pantless. Nudity is forbidden in the contest but they are getting around it. I... I think it's an answer to some ridiculous rule lawyering on Eurovision's part. I don't know, you have to see it. It will be 3 minutes well spent.
Spain. Spain has gone "oh, are we getting political?" and, Tumblr, Tumblr, listen:
The performer is 56.
She looks 56.
When do we see women in their 50s singing and dancing? Does Madonna count? I mean women like the ones in the videoclip. I'm adding a picture.
Ma'am, I love you.
The main video differs from the performance for the contest. Sadly, there will be no women in their 50s dancing in the stage for Eurovision. They went with professional dancers.
Feminism 101. Let's have the male dancers perform like they expect women to perform in this kind of show.
The youtube comments have a not inconsiderable amount of lesbians thirsting after the drummer.
I wish them the best.
