Review by AndrewPhillips

Come on everyone, if you talk about the quality of the music then you have missed the point, it's about competition, pitting nation against nation to see who will win. Surly this must be better than going to war with each other, at least at the Eurovision song contest no one dies.

The excitement of the voting especially when its a close run thing, is an adrenalin rush and if it's your own country up there vying for the top spot I defy any patriotic person not to start shouting at the screen. There has in the last few years, with the introduction of telephone voting, been a growing concern over neighbours voting for each other, political voting. Yes it does have an effect on some of the final positions but the song that wins will always be the one that appeals to the majority, so that still makes it fair.

For many artists this is the launch pad for a successful career in countries other than their own. The exposure they get from performing in front of an audience of 500 million is worth it's weight in gold. However bad you consider the song to be at least they are original, unlike the "pop idol" type shows who rely on cover versions.

There are many countries in Europe that have benefited from winning the contest and hosting it the following year, countries trying to establish their place in the world and all of them proud to show what they can do and in fact where they are. Tourism increases following the contest so that more people have experienced the delights of say Estonia or Latvia than they ever would have thanks to Eurovision. So there is more to it than the songs. I for one think the world would be a poorer place if we did not have this institution.