Eurovision 2006 .. WHAT A BLAST!

So last night, I did what any good Australian would do - I watched the goodness and badness that comes with the Eurovision song contest - WITH EUROPEANS!

And boy, what an experience!

I had several key learnings throughout the night:

1. Some people actually take the event seriously.

Ok, so my first shock was the difference in perception re: the event.

Confession: I do not know if it is just my friends, or other Australians share the sentiment - but for my part, the Eurovision contest is soo good because it is sooo bad. I mean, watching it in Australia is definately for the laughs that you will get as you watch completely dreadful performances - one after another.

It's GREAT!

However, confessing this to my roomies I soon came to realise that some people DO take it seriously.

Hmmmm.... o....k....

2. British BBC commentary is essential to the whole experience

Maximising the experience means listening to BBC's commentary. These guys have their finger on the pulse as to the hilariousness that exists within some of the acts.

I especially loved the constant Greece adverts, and their comments on those... CLASSIC!

3. Country voting is BIASED to the extreme.

Being in a room with Dutch, Russian, Ukranian and Finnish friends was completely informative. They KNEW who was going to vote for who - I learned crazy amounts about country allegiances in a SONG CONTEST.

Whoa...!

4. The debate still exists - Should a REALLY GOOD ACT win or is the spirit of Eurovision more about 'dodgy' acts getting ahead.

Another key discussion of the night - I am with the second option. As great as Sweden, B&H, and so were... my heart was always with Finland or Lithuania - just for the goodness of the acts.

So, until 2007 in Finland - (Maja is getting the tickets for us all!)