It’s May in Europe and you know what that means: EUROVISION! Next week marks the beginning of the 54th annual Eurovision Song Contest and I can’t wait. Until last year, I was completely clueless about this zany, tasty, and ridiculous tidbit of television entertainment, but, as you may recall from my blog posting a year ago, I was absolutely won over by the spectacle of it all and am now a devoted fan.

Eurovision 2009 will take place in Moscow (Russia won last year, so were granted the honor of hosting) and much controversy has already ensued. First, the mayor of Moscow made strong comments that, although all Eurovision fans “are welcome in Moscow---despite their sexual orientation,” gays are advised “to stay off the streets and out of the squares.” How messed up is that? I mean, Eurovision is totally gay! Without the gays, honestly, I don’t think there would be a Eurovision. Sigh. Second, Georgia has been banned from the contest because their song was judged to be “too political.” The song was, “We Don’t Wanna Put In.” Get it? Put In. Putin. I guess hostility between those two countries is still pretty strong.

The first-semi final is Tuesday, May 12; the second semi follows on Thursday, and the final is Saturday, May 16. Husband and I are going over to a friend's house to watch the excitement with a group of adults and children. We’re all especially geared up this year because the Norwegian entry is freakin’ superb and we think we (Norway) have a very, very good chance of winning. See for yourself: here is Alexander Rybak singing his own composition, “Fairytale.”






Instantly addictive, yes? And how adorable is Alexander? Cute as a button adorable. Plus, he was born in Belarus when it was still part of the U.S.S.R., which makes him practically Russian, which makes him practically a shoe-in to win! Also, the competition this year is, in my opinion, easily beatable.

Britain, France, Russia, Iceland, and Poland have all entered boring ballads sung by pretty young women. Britain’s song was written by Andrew Lloyd Weber but it’s not one of his best, not by a long shot. Swedan’s entry, Malena Ernman, is a trained opera singer and has a beautiful voice but, in her Eurovision video, she looks and sounds like a big drag queen. Which one might think is a good thing for such a gay show, but, no, it’s not good. Spain’s entry is energetic, for sure, but the tension in the performance comes mostly from the viewers’ fear that the singer’s short, short dress is going to ride up and expose her ladybits. And speaking of ladybits, Ukraine’s entry seems to think we all want to see hers covered in chocolate. Sakis Rouvas, from Greece, is gorgeous to look at but his song is uninspired. Serbia and the Czech Republic are just too weird, and Israel is too controversial.

Romania's song is good and the girls are hot, but that's so been-there. I think Norway’s big rivals this year are Germany and Latvia. Germany’s singer is hella sexy, and his song, “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang,” is very, very catchy. Latvia’s entry totally rocks---it makes me want to get up and dance from the very first note. And the singer, Intars Busulis, is singing in Russian, which will go down a treat this year.

So, that’s my take on the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Fun and games begin next week. Go Norway!