(courtesy Eurovision.tv) We’re off to Austria! The superbly passionate and gloriously operatic performance by Austria’s JJ aka Johannes Pietsch, a singer at the Vienna State Opera, garnered 258 points from the international jury vote, which was allocated first by the traditional appearance of representatives from all 37 competing countries, and Continue Reading
Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Eurovision 2025 cultural festival Swiss movie review: The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch (Wolkenbruchs wunderliche Reise in die Arme einer Schickse)
(courtesy IMDb) There is one line towards the end of this singularly charming but emotionally meaningful film with which anyone who has ever grown up in an oppressive environment where they cannot be themselves will readily identify. The titular protagonist of The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch (Wolkenbruchs wunderliche Reise in Continue Reading
Songs, songs and more songs #122 – Eurovision 2025 cultural festival music review: 5 great Swiss music artists
(via Shutterstock) One of the great gifts of the Eurovision Song Contest is discovering the incredibly talented and richly imaginative music artists that each country possesses. But while we meet a new artist from each country each year, the truth is that beyond that one person or group are a Continue Reading
Eurovision 2025 cultural festival Swiss book review: Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier (translated by Barbara Harshav)
(courtesy Allen & Unwin Australia) The weight of life upon us can often be considerable; but for many people, it is not until a sudden event or change of heart hits them that they become aware of just great a load they are carrying. For some people, of course, it Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 7 – The Big 6 – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, UK (Grand final)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025 – Week 6 – Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Serbia (semi-final 2, part 3)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025 – Week 5 – Finland, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia (semi-final 2, part 2)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 4 – Armenia, Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark (semi-final 2, part 1)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 3 – Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden + Ukraine (semi-final 1, part 3)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 2 – Estonia, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway + Poland (semi-final 1, part 2)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading