I'm getting to the end of my national final reviews, and now I'm getting to the host country. Austria is hosting Eurovision this year after the win of Conchita Wurst (as if you didn't already know that).
Conchita Wurst "Rise Like A Phoenix" 2014
And now ÖRF, the Austrian broadcaster, has to do the delicate dance of selecting a song to represent them on home soil.
It's generally assumed that the host country doesn't want to host Eurovision two years in a row. Although every country taking part in the contest gives money to the EBU for the right to participate and broadcast the contest, it costs millions of euros to put on the show. It's currently estimated that Austria has spent 35 million euros on this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
In response to this, the host country selects a middle of the road song that is going to be respected but not going to light the light on fire.
And this year, Austria has chosen the perfect song to do just that.
It's generally assumed that the host country doesn't want to host Eurovision two years in a row. Although every country taking part in the contest gives money to the EBU for the right to participate and broadcast the contest, it costs millions of euros to put on the show. It's currently estimated that Austria has spent 35 million euros on this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
In response to this, the host country selects a middle of the road song that is going to be respected but not going to light the light on fire.
And this year, Austria has chosen the perfect song to do just that.
The Makemakes "I Am Yours"
The Makemakes have been somewhat successful in their home country, with a couple of Top 40 singles and a forthcoming album. They're competent musicians, and their performance is spot on.
Besides, it's the perfect example of a safe home crowd song--it's three minute aural blanket. Nobody is going to say bad things about it, but it's also not going to get anywhere near the top of the scoreboard.
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That said, I kind of with that the Austrian public had gone completely left field with their choice and selected the song that came in fifth:
Johann Sebastian Bass "Absolutio"
The well performed insanity of Johann Sebastian Bass, a "electrorococo" band, would have put on a great show and would have been a memorable part of the sixtieth Eurovision Song Contest--going down with acts like Telex and Gypsy.cz
Yeah, it means they would have likely come in last. But in a year of utterly safe songs, a bit of color would make things fun.
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