RIGA 2003:NUL POINT IN EUROVISION?
For the first time in the UK's long and occasionally glittering Eurovision
history, its entry ended the night with the dreaded "Nul points". A result of
Britain's part in the War on Iraq, which most of Europe opposed? Or simply a
reflection on the quality of Jemini's song, and its out-of-tune performance?
Whatever the merits of participating in such an ultimately dubious
competition may be (notably the blatant "you scratch our back, we'll scratch yours"
voting by neighbouring countries), the UK provides most of the funding for the
body in charge of running the contest each year and the clear snub on the UK was
joined by the lack of votes for the song by host nation Latvia. If musical merit
obviously counts for so little, then perhaps Eurovision's prime source of income
and whichever nation happens to be holding the contest also ought to be granted
a more charitable approach...
That said, Jemini hardly deserved to succeed, being a wretchedly cliched and
forgettable sub-Steps concotion. Rather than signalling the end of their
career, however, the infamy of coming last appears to offer a "unique" marketing
and promtional angle if this week's newspaper and television reports are to be
believed.
The most notable aspect of 2003's Eurovision, chart-topping faux-lesbian duo
t.A.T.u. representing their mother country Russia, passed without much
incident other than backstage claims of the girls' petulant diva-like behaviour and
3rd place. Ne Ver, Ne Boisia has now been added to a freshly-issued version of
the 200KM/H In The Wrong Lane album, which also includes a bonus DVD of
interview footage lasting 25 minutes and a fold-out colour poster.
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