Eurovision 1998: Best Contest ever?
Oct. 18th, 2005 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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garpu about Dana International’s Diva reminded me of how the year she won represented a watershed for the contest.
The 1990s in many respect were Ireland’s years at the Eurovision: Ireland won in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996, placed 2nd in 1997, and supplied half the permanent members of Secret Garden, who won on behalf of Norway in 1995. Add in Riverdance--the interval (or voting period) act from 1994--and you get a very skewed decade. In fact, Ireland was only outside the top 10 2 of those years.
Great for Eire, bad for the contest. When Ireland finished 2nd in 1997--well behind the UK’s “Live Shine a Light” but still 2nd--people were getting restless, tired even, of the jury system so clearly favouring 1 country in particular (Ireland) and English-speaking countries (Eire, UK, Malta) who for the most part finished top 10 most years. It would take one more year (1999) before the “free language” rule came into effect; for 1998 countries would still be required to perform in one of their official languages (save for one phrase in any language per song). In 1997 a handful of countries had used televoting: in 1998 only countries that didn’t have either an infrastructure, or a telephone owning public, were allowed to use juries. As a result, the contest changed dramatically over one memorable evening. Of 24 songs, 10 (Croatia, France, Israel, Malta, Ireland, Romania, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium) were good or great: solid pop songs with polished arrangements and professional-calibre performances. Halfway through the night, several songs were contenders--but how would televoters react?
Usually the first song doesn’t register much--and scores badly--but when Danielja took the stage for Croatia with “Neka mi ne svane” a number of viewers probably thought “there’s the winner”. Even if you don’t understand the lyrics (a lover singing about not wanting the dawn to come and the concomitant adieu), the passion--her passion--came across in spades.
A mere 30 minutes later it was time for song #8, Israel’s Dana International with “Diva”. Dana is a transgender woman, and while many complained that Israel had sent a novelty act, she was actually one of the most popular entertainers in Israel, having had numerous hit albums and singles. She was also experienced doing TV work and it showed: despite being at times off-key, her performance was energetic, poised, and confident--and not like a drag kween. As they say in da business it “went over big in the house.”
After a bizarre TV moment from Germany (don’t let its 7th place fool you, this was a novelty act), Malta took the stage. Chiara Siracusa was only 18 and her country’s delegation didn’t have a lot of money for their participation--in fact, most folks in Malta thought “The One that I Love” would bomb. To make things worse, someone got the stoopid idea to put a large woman in a very boxy, colourless grey dress suit; someone else, however, got the brilliant idea to fill the stage with candles. And probably no one realized that Chiara wasn’t only a great singer, she was a born performer. And yes, this is the same Chiara who sang for Malta this year and finished second with “Angel”. Another roaring response from the audience: 10 songs performed, already 3 contenders--and not even halfway through.
Ireland drew unlucky 13, and probably most Irish folks weren’t keen on another win (it was getting a bit embarassing being “the natural home of Eurovision” as one banal Oirish pundit put it). However Dawn Martin’s “Is Always Over Now” was a great track and well sung. “Ireland sounds like a winner--again--the bastards” is as one friend put it. Quite possibly a backlash led to a lower result than Ireland deserved (9th). Romania’s song “Eu Creud” and singer (Malina) were both beautiful...but really not the sort of song that stands out during a 3 minute performance on the small screen: it finished second-to-last, unfairly.
The host team usually does very well or really abysmally, but winning 2 in a row is rare (Luxembourg, 72 73; Israel 78 79; Ireland 92-94 for a hat trick), but the UK had a strong R & B song well performed by Imaani. “Where are you?” would come very close to giving Britain back-to-back wins after waiting 16 years between previous victoria (81 and 97). The Netherlands, once a consistent top 5 country, was in dange of “relegation”--being forced to sit out next year’s contest--if they didn’t get at least a top 5 result. Edsilia Rombley ripped “Hemel en aarde” and brought the crowd to its feet. Would winning be OK, rather than just avoiding relegation? Belgium had only won once in almost 40 years, and tried to repeat that formula: a catchy pop song “Dis oui” sung by a charming teenage girl (Melanie Cohl). it too would do well.
In the first 10 countries to report their votes, the top 5 changed among these songs (including Germany). About halfway through it looked like Malta, the Netherlands, the UK or Israel would win; in fact each held 1st or 2nd place at least once, and twice it looked like one coutnry was pulling away (first Israel, then Malta), only for new voting trends to emerge. After 23 of 24 countries had reported, it came down to tiny newcomer Macedonia. The score was:
Malta 165
Israel 164
UK 156
Netherlands 147
Croatia 119
Belgium 116
And so Macedonia gave its point allocation in traditional reverse order: 1 Finland, 2 Sweden, 3 Netherlands, 4 Portugal, 5 Turkey, 6 Belgium, 7 Ireland. That put Belgium at 122 and the Netherlands at 150--good results, but not winners. 8 points went to Israel, putting it at 172--a mere 7 points ahead of Malta, with 10 and 12 points to go. Then the UK got Macedonia’s 10, putting them at 166--1 ahead of Malta, but not enough to catch Israel. Everyone held their breath and waited to hear that Macedonia’s 12 points went to.....Croatia! Final result: Israel 172, UK 166, Malta 165, Netherlands 150, Croatia 131, Belgium 122. Dana International had won--and it was the people’s choice!
French designer Gautier had designed Dana a special faboo dress but her advisers wisely told her it was too over-the-top: during her winning turn she wore a stunning, tasteless grey sequined gown. But it took Dana several minutes to get to the stage for her winning reprise: she pipped off, grabbed the Gautier, and re-appeared in her resplendently fabou gown:
Chiara, who lead at several points during the evening was apparently gutted by the experience; combined with a crappy (local) recording contract and no one heard from her for years (this year, in fact). Imaani faded from view almost immediately, as did Mélanie Cohl for the most part. Danielja and Edsilia Rombley were both established performers with solid fan bases and their careers continue to this day.
Dana International was welcome home with a hero’s welcome. “Diva” was a hit across Europe and she was a headliner at queer prides around the world. As is tradition, Israel hosted the 99 contest (in Jerusalem) and Dana was the interval act, performing at several sacred sites in the holy city (about which religious zealots were almost entirely unhappy). But she had one more “moment” up her sleeve. In presenting the ridiculously large winner’s trophy to Sweden’s rather amazonian Charlotte, Dana lost her footing and fell ass-over-teakettle--totally upstaging Charlotte (who had a distinct “that feicin’ dragkween just stole my moment look about her). Viva the Diva indeed!
garpu about Dana International’s Diva reminded me of how the year she won represented a watershed for the contest.The 1990s in many respect were Ireland’s years at the Eurovision: Ireland won in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996, placed 2nd in 1997, and supplied half the permanent members of Secret Garden, who won on behalf of Norway in 1995. Add in Riverdance--the interval (or voting period) act from 1994--and you get a very skewed decade. In fact, Ireland was only outside the top 10 2 of those years.
Great for Eire, bad for the contest. When Ireland finished 2nd in 1997--well behind the UK’s “Live Shine a Light” but still 2nd--people were getting restless, tired even, of the jury system so clearly favouring 1 country in particular (Ireland) and English-speaking countries (Eire, UK, Malta) who for the most part finished top 10 most years. It would take one more year (1999) before the “free language” rule came into effect; for 1998 countries would still be required to perform in one of their official languages (save for one phrase in any language per song). In 1997 a handful of countries had used televoting: in 1998 only countries that didn’t have either an infrastructure, or a telephone owning public, were allowed to use juries. As a result, the contest changed dramatically over one memorable evening. Of 24 songs, 10 (Croatia, France, Israel, Malta, Ireland, Romania, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium) were good or great: solid pop songs with polished arrangements and professional-calibre performances. Halfway through the night, several songs were contenders--but how would televoters react?
Usually the first song doesn’t register much--and scores badly--but when Danielja took the stage for Croatia with “Neka mi ne svane” a number of viewers probably thought “there’s the winner”. Even if you don’t understand the lyrics (a lover singing about not wanting the dawn to come and the concomitant adieu), the passion--her passion--came across in spades.
A mere 30 minutes later it was time for song #8, Israel’s Dana International with “Diva”. Dana is a transgender woman, and while many complained that Israel had sent a novelty act, she was actually one of the most popular entertainers in Israel, having had numerous hit albums and singles. She was also experienced doing TV work and it showed: despite being at times off-key, her performance was energetic, poised, and confident--and not like a drag kween. As they say in da business it “went over big in the house.”
After a bizarre TV moment from Germany (don’t let its 7th place fool you, this was a novelty act), Malta took the stage. Chiara Siracusa was only 18 and her country’s delegation didn’t have a lot of money for their participation--in fact, most folks in Malta thought “The One that I Love” would bomb. To make things worse, someone got the stoopid idea to put a large woman in a very boxy, colourless grey dress suit; someone else, however, got the brilliant idea to fill the stage with candles. And probably no one realized that Chiara wasn’t only a great singer, she was a born performer. And yes, this is the same Chiara who sang for Malta this year and finished second with “Angel”. Another roaring response from the audience: 10 songs performed, already 3 contenders--and not even halfway through.
Ireland drew unlucky 13, and probably most Irish folks weren’t keen on another win (it was getting a bit embarassing being “the natural home of Eurovision” as one banal Oirish pundit put it). However Dawn Martin’s “Is Always Over Now” was a great track and well sung. “Ireland sounds like a winner--again--the bastards” is as one friend put it. Quite possibly a backlash led to a lower result than Ireland deserved (9th). Romania’s song “Eu Creud” and singer (Malina) were both beautiful...but really not the sort of song that stands out during a 3 minute performance on the small screen: it finished second-to-last, unfairly.
The host team usually does very well or really abysmally, but winning 2 in a row is rare (Luxembourg, 72 73; Israel 78 79; Ireland 92-94 for a hat trick), but the UK had a strong R & B song well performed by Imaani. “Where are you?” would come very close to giving Britain back-to-back wins after waiting 16 years between previous victoria (81 and 97). The Netherlands, once a consistent top 5 country, was in dange of “relegation”--being forced to sit out next year’s contest--if they didn’t get at least a top 5 result. Edsilia Rombley ripped “Hemel en aarde” and brought the crowd to its feet. Would winning be OK, rather than just avoiding relegation? Belgium had only won once in almost 40 years, and tried to repeat that formula: a catchy pop song “Dis oui” sung by a charming teenage girl (Melanie Cohl). it too would do well.
In the first 10 countries to report their votes, the top 5 changed among these songs (including Germany). About halfway through it looked like Malta, the Netherlands, the UK or Israel would win; in fact each held 1st or 2nd place at least once, and twice it looked like one coutnry was pulling away (first Israel, then Malta), only for new voting trends to emerge. After 23 of 24 countries had reported, it came down to tiny newcomer Macedonia. The score was:
Malta 165
Israel 164
UK 156
Netherlands 147
Croatia 119
Belgium 116
And so Macedonia gave its point allocation in traditional reverse order: 1 Finland, 2 Sweden, 3 Netherlands, 4 Portugal, 5 Turkey, 6 Belgium, 7 Ireland. That put Belgium at 122 and the Netherlands at 150--good results, but not winners. 8 points went to Israel, putting it at 172--a mere 7 points ahead of Malta, with 10 and 12 points to go. Then the UK got Macedonia’s 10, putting them at 166--1 ahead of Malta, but not enough to catch Israel. Everyone held their breath and waited to hear that Macedonia’s 12 points went to.....Croatia! Final result: Israel 172, UK 166, Malta 165, Netherlands 150, Croatia 131, Belgium 122. Dana International had won--and it was the people’s choice!
French designer Gautier had designed Dana a special faboo dress but her advisers wisely told her it was too over-the-top: during her winning turn she wore a stunning, tasteless grey sequined gown. But it took Dana several minutes to get to the stage for her winning reprise: she pipped off, grabbed the Gautier, and re-appeared in her resplendently fabou gown:
Chiara, who lead at several points during the evening was apparently gutted by the experience; combined with a crappy (local) recording contract and no one heard from her for years (this year, in fact). Imaani faded from view almost immediately, as did Mélanie Cohl for the most part. Danielja and Edsilia Rombley were both established performers with solid fan bases and their careers continue to this day.
Dana International was welcome home with a hero’s welcome. “Diva” was a hit across Europe and she was a headliner at queer prides around the world. As is tradition, Israel hosted the 99 contest (in Jerusalem) and Dana was the interval act, performing at several sacred sites in the holy city (about which religious zealots were almost entirely unhappy). But she had one more “moment” up her sleeve. In presenting the ridiculously large winner’s trophy to Sweden’s rather amazonian Charlotte, Dana lost her footing and fell ass-over-teakettle--totally upstaging Charlotte (who had a distinct “that feicin’ dragkween just stole my moment look about her). Viva the Diva indeed!
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:01 am (UTC)1979 was an excellent year too, and amazingly more entertaining from the '78 edition in France. ^o^
no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:14 am (UTC)And remind me again--there was the year of 4 winners. Eres Tu was one. There was a nasty British pop siong in the mix. Who were the other 2? Then, I'm remembering a French song "Un ___, un Arbre, Une Rue" Why is that planted in my brain?
no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:22 am (UTC)Actually, "Eres tú" never won -- it got 2nd place in '73. And "Un banc, un arbre, une rue" was Monaco's winner in '71. The four winner year was 1969, where Spain won (somehow) with "Vivo Cantando", along with The Netherlands' "De Troubador", France's "Un jour, un enfant", and Lulu sang the "nsty British pop song" "Boom bang-a-bang" ^_-
no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:27 am (UTC)"Un Banc, un arbre, une rue" won for Monaco, sung by Séverine (she was Parisian though, you're right). "Eres tú" was second in 73.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 06:54 pm (UTC)