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September 1st means the new Eurovision season is upon us. And that means a chance for reflections of Eurovisions past, and hopes for Eurovisions to come. No news this week, no debate, no interview, just a microphone and a monologue.
Eurovision Insight Podcast: A Few Things Need To Be Said
A welcoming community, accepting change, and finding songs to love. Ewan Spence talks about his hopes for the upcoming musical journey to Malmo and the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
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Ewan, that was very well put. I’ve noticed this theme come through in the podcast over the past few years.
As “legacy” fans of ESC Insight might remember, I was once a very regular commenter here; I had my own Eurovision Blog; I dreamed of getting to the contest when I finished college and didn’t have exams the week of Eurovision. I Loved the contest; I still do.
My first Eurovision memory was the day of my First Communion in 2001. My cousins and I were watching the TV and they moved on to Eurovision, I still remember the bee like creature (Slovenia) on the TV and to pardon a pun, the Energy of her performance.
2003 saw the excitement of Micky Joe Harte in Ireland; but my real obsession with Eurovision started in 2008. I bought the CD of the contest, and listened to Pirates from Latvia, Dustin the Turkey, Maria Støring and a Shady Lady all that summer.
I devoured the contest history; I learned about the community; I so remember the excitement of the next five years or so of contests; watching many national finals when online streams weren’t even 240px; the excitement of Eurovision week; unoffical videos of dress rehearsal 1 you could actually watch on YouTube.
I also remember the cyberattack on ESCToday the week of the contest. The community really had such a high point in that moment.
And then, life got in the way. I got busy with work and hauling myself off to see the contest involved spending money I didn’t really have. More exams were completed and the GAA (my other love in life) changed their calendar focusing on May.
Now I have stag parties the same weekend as the Melodifestivalen final; leaving drinks for colleagues the nights of Semi Finals; rushing out of a May hurling match early to get home before 8pm.
I can’t remember the Top 5 from the most recent contests, I’ll struggle to even get the weekly podcast listened to, I’ll flick the news when I can. There’s times I wonder whether I’ve changed or do I just not have the time. Have I seen too many contests? Is it just not the same anymore? Why do all my favourites just fall short of a win?
But when the Te Deum starts on the night of the final, whether I’ve RTÉ or BBC on, it all comes flooding back for just a few hours.
I am no longer an active member of the community, but I know the community that I got to know all those years ago were one of the most welcoming I ever was a part of. May the values of those times continue to be the values new members experience today.