Belmont Club » Not just England’s any more

Not just England’s any more

Posted By Richard Fernandez On May 17, 2009 @ 4:33 am In Uncategorized | Comments Disabled

The BBC ^[1] reports that singer and violinist Alexander Rybak ^[2], 23, won the Eurovision talent contest by a record-breaking number of points. The winning entry was sung in English. Although the Eurovision Song Contest rules allow performances in any language ^[3] — until recently they were sung in the national language of the participants — and although even artificial languages are technically allowed, the overwhelming number of performances are in English. The contest’s YouTube page ^[4] contains links to many of the participating songs, and with a few notable exceptions (such as France and Spain) they are in English.

Whether the entry is from Azerbaijan ^[5], Turkey ^[6], Germany ^[7], or Switzerland ^[8], it’s in English. And no, it’s not all Greek ^[9] to me. Here’s where we learn what “Be My Valentine” is in Ukranian ^[10]. Ironically, the entries from the UK ^[11] often finish near the bottom. There’s no accounting for the judge’s musical taste. But neither is there any doubt that the bridge between the nations and the nearest thing to a universal language since Latin ruled is English.

Presenting … Finland!

embedded by Embedded Video ^[12]

YouTube Direkt ^[13]

And what’s it like to Shine in Dutch?

embedded by Embedded Video ^[12]

YouTube Direkt ^[14]

Tip Jar or Subscribe for $5 ^[15]

Article printed from Belmont Club: http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez

URL to article: http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/05/17/not-just-englands-any-more/

URLs in this post:

[1] BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8052636.stm

[2] Alexander Rybak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiH4BFTELME

[3] rules allow performances in any language: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

[4] YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/EurovisionFinal2009

[5] Azerbaijan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvWQ5yFDIvU

[6] Turkey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQD8K-hgHTI&feature=channel_page

[7] Germany: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJPMLXnhShY&feature=channel

[8] Switzerland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl5k0D9V998

[9] Greek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIDRNRhE2pg

[10] Ukranian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcZK24ueAV0

[11] UK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eADt1lFpmCA

[12] Embedded Video: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/embedded-video-with-link/

[13] YouTube Direkt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRQO16OqxHw

[14] YouTube Direkt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGwI-NKlLX0

[15] Tip Jar or Subscribe for $5: http://wretchard.com/tipjar.html

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