Lopez Blogs

Interesting Facts about Eurovision Song Contest

Italy boycotted the 1981 Eurovision Song contest, saying that it was too old fashioned. The following year, France opted out with the excuse that the cost was too great for such "mediocre" results. Sour grapes perhaps?  Let's see - the last time Italy had won was in 1964, and not again until 1990.
I don't know why France was complaining. (They won in 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, and 1977)

Mira Awad, a Palestinian singer and actress was caught in a tug of war (so to speak) when she performed at the 2009 Eurovision with her Jewish partner. Both Israel and Palestinian officials had put her on the spot and forced her to choose one or the other. Extremists on both sides even circulated a petition to force her to withdraw. She stood her ground and refused to quit.  She was strongly committed to dialogue and she "didn't want to walk out and slam the door. You can't solve anything when each is in his bunker."







Every day until May 8 I will be posting a music video of each one of the semi-finalists of the Eurovision Song Contest. On May 9, I will post the last three (my top favorites). Enjoy the videos!