Vaya con Dios   » Eurovision, history	Русский

Eurovision Song Contest

	See also
	Results of Eurovision Song Contest 2003

    Eurovision Song Contest - the history, a brief rate.

    In the middle fiftieth members European Broadcasting Union - EBU establish special committee before which to be put a task to investigate ways of rallying of the countries of Europe around of the program of easy entertainments. In Monaco at the end of January, 1955 this committee, under presidency by Marcel Bezenon, the general director of the Swiss Television, has acted from ideas of creation of competition of the songs, inspired with the most popular festival in San Remo (San Remo Festival). The idea has been approved by General Assembly EBU in Rome, on 19th October, 1955, and has been solved, that the first “Grand prix of the Eurovision” (so him has christened, by the way, a British journalist) will be lead by spring of 1956 in the Lugano, Switzerland

    The following step was to unit together a set corrected, sent to participants whom originally was ten though only to seven countries finally have allowed to take part: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and the Western Germany. Other three countries - Austria, Denmark and the United Kindom of Great Britain and North Ireland were registered after an official deadline and thus have been disqualified, and have not accepted participation in competition. Rules of the first competition allowed to bring in participants a two songs maximum, and strongly recommended, that songs have been chosen in the public national ending participation to make competition so popular as far as it is possible. There were no rules about language of performance, each named participant had the right to choose language on which they wished to sing. There was, however, a rule on quantity of allocated time: three and a half of one minute were a maximum for each performance. There were no restrictions on number of actors on a stage, and each country could use the own conductor if it wished it. The order of performance has been determined by a toss-up, but participants could choose, which of two songs they would like to execute the first.

    The jury have been made of two delegates from each participating country among which one president and two observers have been appointed by confidential voting of members - for voting and drawing up of final position of songs at the end of performances. The jury should judge competition on the small television screen, and each judge awarded with a mark each song, in limits from 1 up to 10 in ascending order qualities, on specially intended for this purpose to a leaf. The song which has received the greatest amount of points, has been awarded “Grand prix Eurovision Song Contest of 1956”. At that time it was not forbidden to members to vote for the own country, and any material compensations did not accompany with the award. As to financing this competition, participants paid own charges, and the country - the organizer (Switzerland that year) carried all cost of the organization of the European Ending Contest. The winner of Grand prix was Switzerland (Switzerland) with song “Refrain”, singed by Lys Assia. The next competition will be lead in the country - Winner.

    In 1974 Grand prix has been won by the Swedish group ABBA, acted with a song “Waterloo”. ABBA have became the most popular group for all history of competitions.

    In 2000 competition has been lead on prestigious Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, before an audience in 12,000 persons. The number of participants has increased up to 24. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland and Slovakia have been compelled to take a break for one year of that have received insufficient number of points in competition of the past year. Finland, Former Yugoslavian Republic Macedonia, the Russian Federation, Romania and Switzerland have come back, and Latvia has joined to competition for the first time. Competition of this year has seen introduction of two important new ideas. First, compile CD with all 24 songs has been made and released on a commercial basis (carry to our Russia - only has returned, and the favourite Russian freebie already has been ended... A joke). Second, the Microsoft (Microsoft © ® ™ $, bla, bla, bla...) broadcast competition in alive online in the Internet. Grand prix was granted to Denmark for the song “Flight on wings of love”, singed by Olsen Brothers.

    Accordingly, Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 has been lead in Denmark - and became more popular, than ever before. Almost 35,000 people have come on Parken Stadium on competition. New rules EBU have come into force. On competition of the next year those countries which have occupied the first 15 places in Copenhagen, plus “the Big Four” - the Great Britain, Germany, France and Spain are supposed only. All 23 countries have taken part in competition of 2001, and Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Tanel Padar and Dave Benton from Estonia, with a song “Everybody”.

    Then Estonia has organized Eurovision Song Contest in 2002. Audience Saku Suurhall in Tallinn was a place where Marija N from Latvia have taken Grand prix with the song “I Wanna”, won other 23 competitors due to the name. Before competition, representatives of the Estonian Television have been concerned with, whether they can lead competition at the European level, but actually, Estonians have presented results which were similar to a fairy tale - and it was a theme of the Estonian competition, among other things.

    The 48th Eurovision Song Contest of 2003 year has been lead in Riga, Latvia, in the SKONTO Olympic Hall on May, 24. 26 countries have taken part in competition. For the first time in history Eurovision Song Contest both comperies - Renars Kaupers and Marija N - in the past were participants Eurovision Song Contest of different years. The first place was occupied with the woman singer from Turkey - Sertab Erener, with the song “Everyway That I Can”. The second place was occupied with Belgium and the group Urban Trad c with song “Sanomi”. By the way, forecasts allowed him only 17th place. Russia (in sense we) have occupied a 3rd place with duet Tatu and a song “Do not trust, be not afraid, do not beg” (if translate it to English), singing in Russian (still not in Russian - for Europeans this language though sounds mysteriously, like Orcish language from “Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkin, and if translate song text to English, what it will? Delirium and an incoherent mere verbiage). In general, with this third place to us has largly carried, likely, have regretted us, stupid and poor. Well all right, were not dishonoured, and that is good. Have gone further. Each country put points by tele-voting (spectators called by phone and expressed the opinion) - well, almost everyone, in strange Russia, as always, all not how in other world, at us the jury consisting of showmens, and one of these figures, by his own words voted, “has understood nothing”. And in general - at us the opinion of the country represented such jury. Very professionally, isn't it ? However, will suffice about sad. The monkey in fact too not at once have will become to human. Can also we shall sometime be humanized… (to tell the truth, for this purpose how speak classics to work it is necessary… but where we, Russian, such shall learn - to work? We like as not in this respect… Well, I'm joking). So, 48th Eurovision Song Contest of 2003 year. Show had looked more than 100 million people, in 42 countries, for the first time it broadcast to Australia and New Zealand. Streets of Riga were full of people… More shortly, Eurovision Song Contest 2003 quite it was possible, became even more popular, and to be bent (as some our figures of culture declared), apparently, does not gather at all. And to spit to its organizers - European Broadcasting Union (EBU) - that think concerning their show in far and wildish Russia. And it is correct, as show excellent. In general, Latvians have perfectly coped with hosting of competition, all was simply magnificent - view of a stage above any praises, beautiful music, fine performance of songs by participants... In my opinion, it not  Sertab Erener  has won, it all spectators have won, having received as a prize magnificent show. I'm also did not know, that in modern Europe so many talented musicians. Now I know that, and many thanks for it to organizers of show. And it is pleasant, that Europe comes back to musical styles of the seventieth.

    The following, 49-th Eurovision Song Contest  will be lead in Turkey, in 2004 year, and, we shall hope, appears even better. Though, strictly speaking to make it more beautiful, than in Latvia, it will be necessary VERY - VERY MUCH to try. But, may by, this is that Turks will manage to make? Well, time will tell. By the way, for the first time competition will pass to two stages, and all countries (and those who has received more glasses on present show, at once will reach the final) can take part in it.