This year everyone’s favourite pan-European music festival (ok, only pan-European music festival!) the Eurovision Song Contest clocked up its 50th edition, and to celebrate wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen is playing host to a special anniversary concert on October 22nd.
 | | Dean with the UK's 2005 entrant Javine |
Entitled Congratulations after Sir Cliff’s 1968 entry (which, unbelievably, came 2nd – we woz robbed!), the event will pitch 14 of the most popular songs to come from music’s answer to the Olympic Games against each other, in an attempt to find the most popular Eurovision ditty ever. So who’s in with a shout? Well, everyone’s favourite Swedish supergroup, Abba, are hot favourites to walk away with the Eurocrown with Waterloo, and to be honest I can’t see anyone coming close. But, before you head off down to the bookies and put your next mortgage payment down on them to romp home, hang on and remember that this is Eurovision land, where anything can happen! Up against Abba are the likes of the Brotherhood of Man with Save All Your Kisses For Me; Diva from Dana International, who caused a right stir in Birmingham in 1998; Volare (altogether now, Oh Oh!, and yes it is a Eurovision song); and, you better believe it, singing superstar Celine Dion who won the 1988 Contest for Switzerland with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.
 | | Dana International's Diva is on the final list |
Alas (although not unsurprisingly) not all of the 14 songs competing in the Congratulations concert will be sung by their original artists. Well, you didn’t really expect Abba to reform, did you? Although, if they are there, shoot me, cos life couldn’t get any better…. Cliff, whose entry is providing the show with its title, won’t be strutting his stuff either, which is a real shame. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Celine will jet in from Las Vegas, but I fear I’m being wildly optimistic…. Nonetheless the event promises much fun for any Euronut. Johnny Logan (responsible in one or another for 3 of Ireland’s Eurovision victories) will be there, as will Lys Assia, winner of the very first Eurovision way back in 1956.
 | | Whats' another Eurovision PA to Johnny Logan? |
Also on hand to add to the musical mayhem (and if you recognise any of these names, then there’s no use denying it - you are a Eurovision fan!) will be Bobbysocks, Sandra Kim, The Olsen Brothers and, my personal heroine, Denmark’s glamorous grandmother Birthe Kjaer. With a few diggi-loo diggi-leys, a smattering of ooh aahs, and several hundred la la la’s, Congratulations looks set to be a fitting tribute to Europe’s most enduring television spectacular. Break open the bucks fizz, and raise a toast to the next 50 years of crazy dance routines, fashion faux-pas, bonkers voting, and great, great songs! |
