2011 Eurovision Song Contest

Post by **DonnaT** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:23 am

Dana International won again at this years contest, singing the song Ding Dong. She first won in 1998 with Diva

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjkioN6sa4A

The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the longest running television shows in the world. It was on the 24th of May, 1956, that Europe saw the first ever Eurovision Song Contest.

EDIT: My mistake. I saw a youtube video where she won the vote, but it was for who Israel would send to the Eurovision Contest.

Martina · Post by **Martina** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:01 pm

I admire the courage of Dana representing a conservative society like Isreal but I don't understand how Isreal is represented in a European song contest.

Post by **DonnaT** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:13 pm

Since they have a few entries from Asian countries, I'll assume that the contest is limited to Eurasian countries.

A list of countries entered in the contest is at the bottom right of the page http://www.eurovision.tv/page/dusseldorf-2011

Post by **DonnaT** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:04 pm

I've asked around for an answer to the last question.

The answer Donna is that the host organisation and originator of the contest is EBU, the European Broadcasting Union. Israel and Russia are both members and paying their dues, so they are then allowed to participate in the competition.

Why they are members in EBU is another question, I would think it is because they want access to sporting events and other European large events, perhaps also access to technology and satellite feeds. Besides, Russia likes to stand on both legs, being part of Europe and Asia both, politically and culturally. Talking politics Israel sometimes feels isolated among the arabic neighbouring countries and also with a sizable part of the population with European roots. I think EBU is not the only example that Israel is nursing European contacts.

The organisation is there to pool resources in satellite technology for broadcast purposes. The Eurovision Song Contest was conceived as a means to test and showcase that technology. I guess it's useful to have Russia onboard as the have Baikonur and a large space program. And that's the reason we have to put up with the pointlessness every year.

See what we learn from having contacts all over the world on forums like these!

Lucy Michelle · Post by **Lucy Michelle** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:35 pm

The ESC went though a phase of several entries with a cross dressing element in the last decade.

Lucy Michelle · Post by **Lucy Michelle** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:43 pm

The membership was western Europe + Israel up to the collapse of the eastern bloc brought many former communist / soviet states.

Lebanon entered but couldnt take part because the tv company refused to show Israel's entry