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So this past weekend was the Eurovision Song Contest - the annual competition where each European country submits a song to be performed and then all of Europe votes for their favourite. The winner’s song then goes on to become a European hit and… yeah - not 100% sure what the ultimate goal is, but the event is overdone, cheesy, kitschy, and the Europeans love this shit. And frankly, so do I.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see the competition this year (since we live in Canada, finding a channel that live broadcasts the event can be difficult), but I’ve followed up on who won the event: Russia’s entry Believe, sung by the smoldering Dima Bilan (who was accompanied on stage by Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko - so odd).

But I’m definitely left scratching my head (and not just at the oddity that was the performance). You see, the song - although sappy and overdramatic - manages to be really boring. Is this really what the Europeans are drawn to?

It makes me think that the only reason this song won is because of Jim Beanz, the American producer heavyweight who got his paws all over it. Jim Beanz is signed to Timbaland Productions and has a long list of major production credits, such as albums like Nelly Furtado’s Loose, Ashlee Simpson’s Bittersweet World and Britney Spears‘ Blackout - he’s definitely a contender. So isn’t it only obvious that if he were to tinker with a Eurovision Song Contest entry, that it would reign supreme. OK, I guess the fact that Dima Bilan came in second place 2 years ago (thus already being a crowd favourite) and that he brings the sexy, doesn’t really hurt either.

But c’mon. The song sucks, no? Watch the winning performance for yourself.

If Believe really was the best entry, I’m scared to see what else they had to choose from. Maybe it’s best I didn’t tune in after all…

Links:
Official Site: Eurovision Song Contest
Official Site: Dima Bilan
Official Site: Jim Beanz

Photograph Courtesy Getty Images

Posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 at 1:37 pm by Soja and is filed under Concerts & Events.

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