It’s almost impossible not to watch the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. I couldn’t avoid it either. Ok, to be honest, it was actually fun to watch and judge all these crazy musicians from all over Europe presenting corny music in dresses who were totally over-the-top. The more glitter the better!
Dressed over-the-top? Corny music? This year’s winner, the Norwegian Alexander Rybak, was simply dressed and if I forget the lyrics and just focus on the music I even don’t find the song corny. I think he presented a quite original piece (at least in comparison to the other participants).
It’s fantastic that the usual winning method ‘sex sells’ didn’t work this year. A charming young guy dressed in a classic black vest combined with a white shirt and some black suite trousers accomplished the best score in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. All the Barbie girls shaking their arses in their short dresses did not have any chance against the Norwegian violin player.
In particular Germany had to learn that just a sexy woman is not sufficient to win this competition. Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese supported the German participants “Alex Sings and Oscar Sings” by dancing and smiling in a corset that was so tightly laced that I was wondering how she was able to breath. It didn’t help. Germany was almost last.
When I saw Alexander Rybak’s performance I (and every other person in the room) said, “Oh my God, he’s so cute”. I have never voted in the Eurovision Song Contest before but tonight I spent 4,95 crowns for this talented, well-dressed and cute Norwegian singer. I hope it was really his charm and talent and not the result of two and half years of enjoying Swedish culture…
You’re simply contradicting yourself:
“It’s fantastic that the usual winning method ‘sex sells’ didn’t work this year.”
When I saw Alexander Rybak’s performance I (and every other person in the room) said, “Oh my God, he’s so cute”.
So instead of a sexy girl, a cute guy won. Ah the winds of change
Report abuse »
Well said, but I disagree with you in one aspect. Charm, cuteness, talent and being well dressed are all attributes that define the sex appeal of a man (and woman).
Or would you have spent the same 4.95 crowns if Alexander would have been an overweight, bald, 50 year old artist?
Report abuse »
Good point! Maybe his sex appeal mattered. But at least in a smart and not cheap and stereotypical way.
I don’t know if I would have voted for him he was a 50-year-old guy. But last year my favourite was Sébastien Tellier and he is neither cute nor sexy, in my opinion…
Report abuse »
Well, it usually seems that a sexualised female body is a required component to win this competition. That didn’t work this time and I think that’s good! I think he could convince some many people (including me) because the ‘sex sells’ factor was not that important or at least not obvious in his performance. In contrast to many other participants, he rather presented himself as a smart, young, talented AND CUTE musician and not just as a cheap half naked dancer.
Report abuse »
I thought this year’s songs were the worst ever. It was a struggle to find even one good one! When my group of 10 friends and I watched the Norwegian one we thought “Oh my God, this is the worst one in the competition, what a joke”. I’m happy that Oslo gets to host the song contest next year as it is good publicity for them but there are so many good bands and singers in Scandinavia, that I really wonder where they dug up the disasters in this year’s competition!!
Report abuse »
Hej Mareike
Honestly I knew what you meant and fully agree to your view. But it is so easy to make generic statements. Referring to your reply – can you for instance tell me the last time a sexualised female body won? You have to go back to 2005 to Elena Paparizou to be able to even start debating about the virtues of a trimmed and well shaped body deemed to be sexual attractive.
Eurovision is great because it illustrates all the different fashion, beauty and humor components in Europe. It is a great social event and seeing it from that angle I started loving it – because Europe (Euro-) is shown here (-vision) not only as one big EU its is a big melting pot of cultures and taste! Long live Eurovsion song contest
Report abuse »
Yeahhhhhh – no.
I think Eurovision could be so much more than what it really is right now – euro-trash-kitsch! With some notable exceptions, most of the participants and their material come off as nothing more than a really bad attempt to mimic what’s hot on the charts. Maybe I’m just not seeing something – but to call this Eurovision seems a bit over the top.
Eurovision seems like a rare opportunity for people to do something different and get noticed. It’s one of those few times where European youth seem aware of what’s going on around them in other European countries. If anything – as in fashion, – we should applaud those who do something different.
Sex does sell, but we don’t always have to package it as sleaze.
Report abuse »
This article is GREAT it can be EXCELLENT JOB and what a great tool!
Report abuse »