Irish Examiner, May 26 2010
With Ireland confident of Eurovision success, Thomas Breathnach looks ahead at this year’s competition in Oslo – and rates our chances.
“Good Evening Chisinau, may we have your votes please?”. The Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s most watched tv show – and Europe’s annual geography lesson, takes places in the Telenor Arena in Oslo this week. It’s the 55th edition of the contest, and as our notable absence at World Cup becomes ever imminent, Niamh Kavanagh is answering Ireland’s call to bring home some silverware – in a year where the trophy cabinet is already gathering dust.
Niamh Kavanagh at press conference in Oslo
One year ago, Norway, the nation who once made scoring “nul points” the national sport, scored Eurovision’s greatest victory thanks to the all-singing, all-fiddling, Alexander Rybak, and his Nordic opus, Fairytale. Now as host nation, state broadcaster NRK are anticipating the contest’s largest ever tv audience this year, with 130 million viewers expected to tune in, from New Zealand to Newmarket-on-Fergus.
“Share The Moment” is this year’s theme which promises to be the most interactive show to date. Flashmob dances from across the continent are to form part of the interval act and families from each participating nation will be appearing in postcard videos wishing their respective country luck. Unlike last year’s mammoth LCD screens in Moscow, budget cutbacks means this year’s stage is a smaller affair. Constructed with layers of glass and mirrors to create a deep translucent effect, the stage also features enormous rigs of lighting, which stretch out into the arena to make the audience an integral part of the stage.
The wider effects of the financial crisis also see the smallest field of competitors in several years. Andorra, Montenegro and Hungary are just some of the nations pulling the plug on the trip to Oslo, while the Czech Republic is withdrawing due to “a lack of national interest” (as opposed to “in the national interest”). And with Ireland’s last appearance in the final, Dervish in 2007, providing the abject lesson that Balkan blood is still thicker than water, or indeed Waters, the EBU have since rowed in to dilute diaspora voting. After introducing 50% jury voting to the final last year, this year jury voting will also be used in both semi-finals from which Ireland must qualify.
With no clear winner predicted this year, a number of countries are said to be in hot contention. Azerbaijan is the ante-post favourite with teenage star Safura singing a slickly produced Leona Lewis-esque number. The Azeris have high hopes of a Eurovision in Baku next year and have shipped in the same choreography team behind Beyoncé’s Single Ladies as well as stylists from America’s Top Model. Germany have opted for a pre-abitur Bavarian lolita, whose cockney accented entry has already hit the European top ten and chalked up 20 million Youtube hits to date. Israel, meanwhile is expected to have the pick of the dirges. Represented by a pin-up Israeli Idol contestant, Harel is expected to sweep up the pan-European gay and Jewish televote before Niamh Kavanagh can say “Can I have an A-minor.”
Azerbaijan superstar Safura hotly tipped
In a year of pedestrian ballads there is however one first for Eurovision this year. Kicking a nation while they are down, France will be flying le tricolore with the football summer anthem “Allez, Ola, Olé” which France Télévisions are also adopting as the official song of their World Cup 2010 coverage. Performed by DRC native Jessy Matador, the disconcertingly infectious number will see the contest’s first African rumba inspired entry. And spare a thought for this year’s bottom of the barrel entry, the United Kingdom, who tempted providence by calling Pete Waterman to pen the country’s song. The resultant “That Sounds Good to Me” performed by stage school protègé Josh Dubovie is not expected to come within a donkey’s roar of the winning enclosure – and at 200/1 is poised for the dreaded null.
Jessy Matador rehearses for France
Despite some dubious competition this year, RTÉ is unlikely wake up with a Eurovision headache Sunday morning, but with an each way bet on odds as far as 50/1, if Kavanagh does hit that final money note, you may well too.
The final takes place this Saturday (29th) 8pm on RTÉ 1