2001

2001 saw Natasha St-Pier representing France, the country’s first (and, thus far, only) North American act.  A prolific recording artist, she recently released a greatest hits album and is currently on tour in her native Canada.  Interestingly, she’s done the best for France so far this past decade – perhaps an affirmation of her views concerning French ESC participants, or perhaps because her 4^th place song “Je N’ai Que Mon Âme” (“I Only Have My Soul”) was in fact the first French attempt to–mon Dieu!–incorporate English lyrics on stage?  Who knows.  Only time will tell if France will ever pick a US contestant to represent them (though that entry, as we’ve seen from recent controversy over language policy and test scores, would have to been sung at least partially in French).  Even so, I’d seriously doubt it.

2006

Greek-American Annet Artani represented Cyprus in 2006 with “Why Angels Cry” (think gospel version of “What for?”).  She was born “Annette” in New York City but decided to change the spelling so Greeks could pronounce it easier.  Prior to her ESC debut, she collaborated with Mando (ESC Greece 2003) as well as Britney Spears, as a backing vocalist and co-writer of “Everytime”.  As with most things Britney-related, Artani has not missed her fair share of controversy – from contesting her 15^th place semifinal finish (Q #13) to exiting prematurely after being invited to appear on “Fame Story” (former Greek version of, yes, American Idol) and later represent Greece in Eurovision 2008 (due to “contractual differences”).  Seems like Artani isn’t the only one bailing out on the Greeks.

2008

2008 was a double-whammy as far as Eurovision America is concerned.  What made it so interesting was that our two Americans represented such different ends of the spectrum at the finale that year.  Isis Gee (born Tamara Diane Wimer) grew up in Seattle before marrying Adam Gołębiowski and moving to Poland.  She’s recorded several jazz albums and was selected the Polish Eurovision act with “For Life”,where she made it through to the final before (sadly) coming in 23^rd place.  Gee currently resides in Italy, where, from the looks of it, has successfully dispelled the notion that there is more to life than bottle tan and peroxide (though she insists her time in Miss America was for a “scholarship opportunity”) (Q#4).  Fittingly, she recently appeared on “Taniec z Gwiazdami” (Polish version of, yes, Dancing with the Stars).  It was either that, or The Real Housewives of Warsaw….

America’s other 2008 entrant, Kalomoira (or –mira, it’s a bit hard to tell for sure) Sarantis, on the other hand, hailed from the East Coast prior to her transcontinental musical debut.  Like Annet Artani, she is a native New Yorker of Greek descent, participated in Season 2 of “Fame Story” (and won the contest), and had a row with her Greek recording label.  Like Isis Gee, she performed in the Greek version of Dancing with the Stars and has expressed her national pride, though perhaps in a  more subtle way.  After winning the internal selection, Kalomoira came in 3^rd for Greece with “Secret Combination” in Belgrade.  Immediately following her ESC success/label row fallout, Kalomoira left Greece for New York, ultimately deciding to return, re-sign with the same recording label, and film a Japanese game show (our ESC participants are so predictable).  Which makes me ask: is taking your cue from other pop stars a secret combination to success (maybe not), or just good feet?

2009

Last year’s contest in Moscow was a unique experience for Germany, who decided to go with a secret combination of their own – pairing relatively unknown American performer Oscar Loya with “surprise” guest star Dita von Teese (pro-Europe burlesque dancer and former Mrs. Marilyn Manson) for a rousing rendition of “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang” accompanied by Alex Christensen on the piano.  Loya grew up in California and currently resides in Munich/Berlin.  He was involved in Broadway’s musical theater scene prior to forming Alex Swings Oscar Sings with Christensen, a successful German producer/inventive lyricist/Clay Aikenite; last year, they were the first German act featured on Oprah and released a collaborative album.  Von Teese, on her part, raised some high hopes in her stage appearance for Germany, though the performance ultimately came in a slightly-disappointing 20^th place.  In retrospect, however, it’s hard to tell which was meant to steal the show – von Teese’s presence or Loya’s pants.  (Though as we’ve seen, shiny pants don’t always equal success).

Not to be overlooked was another almost-shocker that American metal/rock band System of a Down (whose members are of Armenian heritage) would represent Armenia at the ESC.  Somehow the rumor mill went into overdrive (especially considering the band’s been “on hiatus” since 2006) and the viral spread needed to finally be combated by the band itself.

2010

Sadly, no representatives from our continent in this year’s contest (at least, to my knowledge).  However, there were some close second-best scenarios:  1) Albanian Juliana Pasha’s backup singers were all American.  2) Everything about Azerbaijani Safura Alizadeh’s entry can be considered American given its US choreography and production….everything, that is, except Safura herself.  3) Greece’s Giorgios Alkaios lived in the US as a toddler.  4) Lastly, Tom Dice (Belgium) and Jessy Matador (France) headed to the States to film their official ESC videos (for Mr. Matador, Miami specifically….though unfortunately for Kalomoira, it looks as though her recent trip to Florida came courtesy of a green screen).

American by association. (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38029120@N05/4642612063)

And that’s it! (thank goodness)  Lastly, no story about North Americans in Eurovision would be complete without a shout-out to those non-native participants who’ve spent a considerable amount of time living in the US/Canada (ie, longer than the 90-day visa waiver period).  Such notables include (but are by no means limited to): Ronnie Tober (Netherlands 1968), Julio Iglesias (Spain 1970), the Herrey brothers (Sweden 1984), Lara Fabian (Luxembourg 1988), Tajči (Yugoslavia 1990), Stefan Raab (Germany 2000), Dave Benton (Estonia 2001), Mando (Greece 2003), Sakis Rouvas (Greece 2004 and 2009), Noa (Israel 2009), Aysel Teymurzadeh (Azerbaijan 2009), Giorgos Alkaios (Greece 2010).  I am certain there are others to be added this list; thus, if I’ve left out anyone (whether glaringly obvious or not), do let me know…

So, to wrap up: what lessons can we take from all this?  Just this, my fellow citizens….whether you’re an American Idol hopeful, aspiring academic, or budding ornithologist,  there is always a place for you at the Eurovision Song Contest….perhaps even its own stage.

Allow me to begin by saying that although many Americans may not have heard of the Eurovision Song Contest (at least, as compared to the Australian and South African fans, from what I’ve seen), the few, the proud does in fact extend beyond myself and my co-author (and, of course, you, our lovely reader).  While respected local and national US news (ie Washington Post and New York Times ), media commentary, and entertainment industry sources alike commit the egregious error of framing the contest as a “European” version of American Idol to their readership, we the enlightened ones, however, know that to be utterly preposterous!  It’s actually a Europeanized version of Italian Idol.

Same stylist, different contest. (Sources: Wikimedia Commons and http://www.flickr.com/photos/rayzphotoz/2520021340/)

This may come as a surprise, but several members of our select circle have taken it upon themselves to venture into uncharted pseudo-celebrity waters as North American performers in the ESC.  Yes, you’ve heard me right – people originating from our dear continent have actually traversed a fairly large ocean to represent countries competing in a European song contest!

Now, you may be asking: who are the honorable members of this exclusive club, and what the heck were they doing at Eurovision?   Tricky questions, indeed, but nothing we here at Eurovision America can’t answer.  Let us proceed in a chronological order, from the start of the contest to the start of the current century.

Luxembourg 1979, 1985, 1986

The word says it all: Luxembourg.  Due to the apparent dearth of Luxembourgish pop performers (or perhaps just a preference for other means of expressing Luxembourgishness, which may at least partially explain why they are no longer in the contest, the Grand Duchy of a half-million denizens selected not one, not two, but THREE North American acts to represent them during their 38-year Eurovision tenure.

1979’s entry was Jeane Manson.  Manson brought the true American success story to Eurovision –from being born in Ohio, growing up in Mexico and becoming a Playboy bunny to (naturally) moving to France to obtain a singing career, reality TV show, and YouTube channel.  It was thus only fitting that she represent Luxembourg with “J’ai Déjà Vu Ça Dans Tes Yeux” (“I’ve Already Seen That In Your Eyes”).  Déjà vu indeed…..I could’ve sworn I’ve seen those knights at Spamalot.

In an act representing nearly as many countries as those in the contest, 1985 saw American Diane Solomon represent the Duchy alongside a Dutchwoman, a German, a Briton, a German-Briton and (surprisingly) an actual Luxembourgian as 1/6^th of a group mysteriously known as “The Internationals.”  She had previously hosted a BBC show entitled The Diane Solomon Show and is currently a homeopathy/natural foods specialist.  Though an admirable trilingual cacophony, “Children, Kinder, Enfants” came in an unadmirable 13^th out of 19 entries; Diane is featured on the far right.  Perhaps she should’ve stuck to a solo act.

In 1986, Sherisse Stevens (neé Laurence) became Luxembourg’s third North American and Canada’s first representative at the Eurovision Song Contest.  Unfortunately for Sherisse, that distinction was partially overshadowed/robbed of her by her fellow countrywoman two years later (see below).  Like Diane Solomon before her, she was previously a TV host, and finished a commendable third place as the inaugural ESC Canadian with “L’amour De Ma Vie” (“The Love Of My Life”).  Which nobody other than the Huntsville Community Choir seems to remember….

Switzerland 1988 and 1993

There’s not much I can say about this act.  Celine Dion, a then-rising star in her native Canada, was approached and asked if she would represent Switzerland at Eurovision 1988 (at least, according to the story: for a more visual representation, skip to 5:00).  Though crossing the Atlantic to compete in a foreign country’s singing competition in a tutu may have seemed an unorthodox career-launching move, one can only respond thusly: when the Helvetic Confederation calls, you answer.  It can even be said that choosing Ms. Dion was the first time the Swiss actually took a stand on something.  And it paid off for everyone: Celine won the contest with her entry “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” (“Don’t  Leave Without Me”), earning herself and her tutu cross-continental recognition and Switzerland its long-overdue quadrilingual place in the Eurovision sun.

Speaking of Quebec, Switzerland’s next North American selection, Annie Cotton, was Eurovision’s third Canadian in a contest in which Canada, I reiterate, is not a participating country.  Her 1993 entry, “Moi, Tout Simplement” (“Quite Simply Myself”) came in third place that year with 148 points.  From 1991-2000 she appeared in a TV show called “Watatatow”, which lasted for 15 seasons.  Though with a name like that, it’d have probably been a successful title at Eurovision as well.

United Kingdom 1997

Despite the oft-quoted “special relationship” between the UK and US (though for reasons why I have yet to understand, seeing as it’s basically an issue of phonology), the United States has only represented its transatlantic brethren once (as opposed to twice for Luxembourg….yeah, I know).  But we can’t blame perfidious Albion; on the contrary, you could say they were biding their time for a truly compelling American act (by featuring obscure Aussies in between).  In 1997, that act was Katrina Leskanich and her band, Katrina and the Waves, best known Stateside for their hit, “Walking On Sunshine”.  Across the pond, their ESC entry “Love Shine a Light” gave the UK its fifth (and latest) Eurovision win, America’s first (and only) one thus far, and the band its second hit before breaking up in 1998.  After bashing the contest in ‘03, she later returned to Eurovision as a participant in Melodifestivalen 2005, presenter in “Congratulations”, and judge of Belgium’s Eurosong 2008.  Regardless, whether you’re a fan of Katrina or modernist critiques of narrative fiction, there’s something in this ’97 entry for everyone.

I’ll save the past decade’s participants for the next post.  (Phew!  Who would have thought there’d be so much to say?)

I found Belgium’s entry impressive, especially for a ten-year-old to be singing:

And the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s entry I think, with a little polishing, would have done quite well in the real contest. I don’t personally like it as much FYR Macedonia’s ESC entry this year, Nešto što kje ostane, but I think the song, with the right singer, could have done better. Maybe it would have made the final.

Malta staged a Chiara look-alike, which was quite interesting to watch. The Chiara look-alike didn’t have a voice anywhere close to Chiara’s, which I think was at its best in Angel in 2005 (interestingly, also in Kyiv)

Also appearing on stage in Kyiv tonight was Ani Lorak, Ukraine’s second place finisher in 2008, and yes, she performed “Shady Lady.”

The Netherlands ended up winning. Enjoy their promo video.