Eurovision Song Contest Riga 2003

I watched this programme at home with a friend, who shares the same enthusiasm with me for it and it was great! First of all, it was well organised. The stage looked fantastic on TV. Like every year, there are brilliant songs (e.g. France, Russia and Spain for this year), interesting ones (e.g. Belgium, Austria), unoriginal ones (e.g. Ireland, Romania), dull ballads revealing the artist's vocal range (e.g. Greece, Portugal) and some crappy ones. For my taste, there were more songs I consider to be good, compared to previous years, although my personal favourites didn't do well. Not the best always win, but that's what a competition is supposed to be like. However, I enjoyed it really much! I look forward to be there next time! The feeling must be great! Besides, it's a pan-european celebration and a good opportunity to have fun!

I adore the Eurovision Song Contest. It is the only time that all European countries get together to participate in TV together. Especially since Jeux sans Frontieres ended. I wish we had more continental programmes in the UK as well as the constsant stream of American ones. Maybe we would realise and appreciate our own European heritage more instead of thinking we're a 51st State.

However, 2006's competition felt like MTV instead of a competition. Since the Eastern European and Nordic countries just vote for each other it has ruined the 'feel' of the competition. So too has the fact that everyone sings in English, the most stupid songs are submitted just for effect (ok, they always were odd songs but at least they were songs). I used to love the orchestras too, which doesn't happen anymore and in 2006 the tour of the countries for the results just zoomed past.

The old countries no longer seem to register on the scale as all the smaller new additions vote for themselves. It did get boring and everything sounded tinny and off-key.

I hope there is an improvement next year, but as everyone sings in English now it doesn't feel European enough...I used to like the songs sung in their own language...again, this was changed because the Nordic and Slavic languages are so harsh..

Of course, I hope the contest continues but keeps its sense of European-ness...instead of an MTV contest.

I must say, my expectations weren't all that when is started watching this Eurovision Song Contest. I was disappointed every time I looked. But when the nice lady from Iceland started singing, my heart was happy. Fourth was Sertab Erener from Turkey, the winner. I thought she really deserved her victory. Other nice songs came from Belgium with 'Sanomi' and Russia with 'Ne ver ne besjia'. They came 2nd and 3th. The setting in Riga was very well done. The floor was one big screen were the Latvian television projected all sorts of soothing images on. The stage was very well as always I guess.

The vote was very exciting with a head-to-head race between Turkey and Belgium. Russia also got some points but you knew they weren't going to make it. This was the final top three: 1: Turkey 167 2: Belgium 165 3: Russia 164

All by all it was a very good contest with nice songs and nice visual effects. Thank you Latvia.

After having seen clips from the Eurovision Song Contest on television comedy and chat shows I made the effort to watch the whole thing this year. And I'm glad I did, as I had a huge amount of fun. The show went for a little over three hours but the time just went so fast. In fact, I watched it twice in less than a week (first time with Australian commentary, then with the BBC's wonderful Terry Wogan).

If you don't know what the Eurovision is, let me explain. Countries from around Europe have a singer or group to represent them. After all of the countries have performed their song, the viewers in Europe get to vote for their favorite (but they can't vote for their own country, to stop bias). Then points are given out (12 points for most votes and 1 for bottom tenth) and the song that gets the most points wins.

But the thing about Eurovision is that a lot of the singers are really awful, and they don't know it! But in 2003 there were quite a lot of good performers. Personal favorites were Russian t.A.T.u., Belgium, Estonian band Ruffus and Turkey (you'll be humming "Everything that I can" for days after!). So it is a win-win situation, a bad song is funny and a good song is, well, good!

Eurovision is very quirky and wonderfully fun. Get a group of friends around and have a Eurovision party. I guarantee you'll have a great time. I love Eurovision!!

10/10