httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaPGwvAis3U&list=PL_8Ls-dzQCjm1dFZUhoVdu2a5VrQZDILo
Once we got over the solemn messages, the show went for comedy.
Sirs Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi were even roped in for a tiny pre-recorded skit, with Sir Ian moaning: “This feels like longest night of my life”.
Sweden reminded us that along with producing plenty of good pop it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The highlight of the interval entertainment was a very good parody of what makes the perfect Eurovision hit: clunky key changes, sexy milk maids, grannies baking bread, wind machines and lyrics about “Love, love, peace, peace and love for everybody.”
It’s a shame the participants hadn’t watched it beforehand as an instruction manual of what to avoid.
Because although the acts were light on quirky novelties, most stuck to the formula of a female singer in gold sequins belting out a ballad to love, peace or lighthouses, or a bloke in a leather jacket and quiff crooning about peace, love, and a million stars.
Apart from Ukraine and Australia, the stand out was Russia.
In previous years Russia’s act has been booed by the predominately gay uber-fans in the auditorium, but Lazarev managed to win over most of them, helped by a relentless campaign in the weeks leading up to the show, promising that if Russia won, Moscow’s gay bars would welcome international visitors.