I have to admit that I’m not big on watching European entertainment programs in general. With the exception of British comedies and music. However, once a year, like many Europeans (lets assume for a second that being a part of Europe is determined by geography as well as by other things), I watch the Eurovision. Well, not exactly watch, not exactly every year, and not even once a year. Let me explain.
Years ago, before Israel became part of Europe, before the Soviet Union split into one hundred and one nations, before good old Yugoslavia became Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, before Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, the Eurovision was a simple European song contest. In the first competition which took place in 1953, there were only 14 countries. This year, 2009, there were roughly 45 countries. I am wondering if this is a song contest, or a contest to reach and even succeed the US in the number of states… All we need is a couple of more countries to split, possibly the Vatican City to participate, and Europe will be all set for the future, fifty something states strong.
The rules of the contest are strict, and they changed many times during the last fifty three years. The songs’ length in minutes (currently three minutes), the language chosen (used to be restricted to one of the official languages in the represented country, no such restriction exists anymore). Due to the sudden multitude of countries, the contest is now held in a tournament form. Two sessions prior to the actual competition, for screening purposes, and then the final between twenty five participating countries. Then the long and boring collection of points, the announcement, the works.
I only stayed up for a third of the competition. Many of the participants chose to perform in English. And then it occurred to me that the choice of language in the European Song Contest, the Eurovision, may be somewhat symbolic. In a way, admitting defeat.
While in the past, participants had to use their native languages, many choose to perform in English nowadays. The reason is obvious. Better chance to connect with an international audience, to get on radio channels around Europe, possibly elsewhere (when was the last time you heard a French song on AMerican radio?), to get a fat recording contract. But there’s a price to it. Watching (part) of the Eurovision made me feel as if I was watching the early stages of American Idol. A bunch of unprofessional but good looking singers, trying to look and sound the same, and be liked by Simon and Randy (Paula and Kara don’t count). But there’s a deeper mystery. Who writes the songs? Local people with poor understanding of English (and none of the culture)? Americans or British with no understanding of the local culture? Is this yet another indication (in addition to conspicuous consumption, unlimited credit, derivatives, hamburgers, brand names, more) for the American culture taking over the planet?
I don’t know about you, but watching forty five countries stand in line to get a three minutes chance of pretending to be American seemed pathetic to me. Of course, there were exceptions. I am probably not very objective, but I must say that the two Israelis singing in three languages, Hebrew, Arabic and English were a refreshing change. The performance was excellent, the subject of the song – relevant and actual, and the performers – in line with the message of peace: “when I cry I cry for both of us”, and “there must be another way”.
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