My head’s busting today (and not because I joined the house girlie party) but I won’t give in to Eurovision‘s dark tourism around this year’s contest in Malmo in Sweden.
In what was meant to be a celebration of 50 years since its greatest champions Abba won the competition with Waterloo.
The music fest has become more of a war than a channel of peace and unity.
The protests around the Israel entry and the original lyrics to their song, the subliminal messages in Driuid Ogham on the body of the Irish singer and the Dutch singer’s disqualification have all betrayed the spirit of the competition.
Winner takes it all: Abba back in 1974
Now not for one minute do I intend to descend into the politics of the Middle East.
Only to say it seems to me be only humane to take an even-handed empathy and sympathy for both sides.
But the bullying of the Israeli singer was wrong both on a personal level and because it ignores the country’s history in the competition.
Much of that harassing has come from an LGBTQ+ lobby who do not take into account that Dana International from Israel was Eurovision’s first trans winner in 1998.
Keep it neutral
Nailed it: Nemo
Thankfully then next year’s competition, a return to the scene of the first in 1956, will be more neutral.
Or you’d hope so as it is being held in non-aligned Switzerland.
And kudos to winner Nemo for not getting embroiled in the politics in their acceptance speech.
All of which is a slightly strong-handed introduction to all things Eurovision tourism related.
For it is a thing all right.
With Liverpool getting a £40m boost from holding the extravaganza on behalf of Ukraine last year.
Obvious really when you think that Eurovision is the biggest cultural event in the world.
With its three live broadcasts drawing 162 million viewers.
Big noise in the hood
There’s still a point: But lose the politics
It’s all eyes on your town and a marketing guru’s dream to provide a showpiece of what’s best in your hood.
It helps, of course, to be one of the world’s richest countries… think all those Swiss banks.
Iceland ran a subpar candidate in 2020 Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga which was really rooted in reality.
Hosting the event could cause the country to go bankrupt.
A fear long held in Ireland, which holds the record for most competition wins along with Sweden on seven.
With its national broadcaster RTE said to have almost gone bankrupt hosting the event.
While in 2012 when Azerbaijan welcomed the contest in capital Baku, it was reported that the country spent upwards of €55 million hosting the event.
Not including the €92 million stadium they built for it.
Swede sounds of the tills
Keep it daft: No politics here
Some 100,000 visitors descended on Malmo this last week swelling its 350,000 population.
That including ticket buyers from 89 countries, fans without tickets, sponsors.
And the performers from 37 participating countries, each with around 20 crew members.
All of which had the hoteliers in the city rubbing their hands with glee.
With business hotel Clarion Malmö Live, sold out months before the event with rates from €167 up to €790 per night.
While boutique Malmo hotel MJ’s is just one to have gone all-out kitsch for Eurovision.
Its rooms sold out on the day Malmo was announced as host city last July.
While the few remaining “x-tra” small rooms (just over 100 sqft) came in at upwards of $300 a night.
Swiss timing
International appeal: Dana International
None of which should put us off what should be an annual celebration of the power of music.
To unite and the common values we share across Europe and Eurofriendly countries like Australia, and yes, Israel.
So let’s not be ambushed, and I won’t give in to Eurovision’s dark tourism.
And rather sing out loud for what a great continent we have and why we should promote all our great destinations.
