Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

"He's certainly gay" said my six-year-old son as another contestant appeared on the Eurovision stage. Few other spectaculars, apart from the American elections, are specifically designed for a TV audience so he was allowed to stay up late. He seemed more interested in the contestants' sexual orientation (in a completely non-judgemental, indeed supportive way, I may add) than their nationality. He wanted the Latvian pirates to win. I rather agreed with him. My ten-year-old daughter backed Armenia most of the way but switched to Ukraine at the last minute: long-legged girls in mini skirts with glittery outfits seems to be the common factor. Iceland and Georgia also got strong support in my household. I confess to a sneaking liking for the silly Spanish song.

I'd seen the Russian song in rehearsal and thought it pretty poor. I also saw the Greek singer so despite her sub-Shakira belly dancing not really coming off I was pleased she managed third place. It's all a matter of taste. Bad taste no doubt.

But am I missing something about the Great Eurovision Row? It wouldn't be worth watching without Terry Wogan's commentary which usually hits just the right note of sardonic humour tipping between affectionate ridicule and scathing bewilderment. But this weekend he often seemed plain sour. He particularly disliked those who mocked the contest with their songs: that clearly is his job. When he announced that Croatia featured a grumpy old man I wonder if it was time for a guest appearance.

I've always been a bit baffled by his contention that the Balkan nations love each other so much that they vote for each other's songs. Wasn't there a rather nasty war in the region not long ago, based on ethnic hatred? So I have always shrugged when Sir Terry insists Croatia's admiration for Serbia results in the voting pattern.

Now he says . Is it Finland, Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland's overwhelming love for all things Russian that handed victory to the dull ballad? There is hardly an Eastern European country that has even reasonably passably warm relations with their big neighbour, so voting for them in Eurovision is hardly likely to ease tensions markedly.

My colleague, and Balkans expert, , has a theory that it is the national minorities that swing it. This is much more feasible: Hungarians in Romania vote for Hungary, Russians in Ukraine vote for Russia and so on. This makes much more sense, but it still requires them to vote in disproportionately huge numbers to really work.

I must admit I haven't done a psephological study of the voting. Indeed I went to bed before the end of the contest, so I don't quite have the detail at my fingertips. But could people just be voting for the sort of song they like?

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• |
• |
• - What's this?