Euro Pop

So I was in a lesson this week where we were talking about music from around europe, and how the british have a smug attitude of music from Europe. Which to an extent is true, if its not from the UK or from America then we're not interested. The topic came up as we were talking about Eurovision. Now I'm a fan of Eurovision, I like the songs, the performance and the whole idea of the whole of Europe coming together to sing. Now its no secret that the UK hasn't always taken the Eurovision seriously, in our class we said that because Britain disconnected from the rest from Europe, there has aways been a distance between 'us' and 'them'. The distance doesn't help matters, but it doesn't help us that 'they' tend to speak English and we don't speak any of their languages.

Eurovision has been political, but thats hardly a reason as to why people don't vote for the UK. For many in the UK the Eurovsion doesn't matter, however in places across Europe for them its as popular as X-factor is. Going back to our class I regret to say that there was alot of 'well theres an attitude that we're better than them and don't need their music because its not as good' and granted euro-pop isn't to everyones taste. However to simply snob all music from different parts of Europe is hardly a good thing. There has been an attempt to take the Eurovison song contest more seriously, back with Jade and Andrew lloyd Webber who came 5th, the best we have done in a long time! Then sadly we had whats his name from last year sining the 90's cheesy Pete waterman creation (you know its going to be bad when its called 'That Sounds Good To Me') so taking the Eurovison song contest for real is a positive move, its a sign of respect.

Something that lacked in our lesson was why Britain pushes Euro-Pop to the side, well when our main stream music medias (tav, radio, internet ect) promote such trash as the crazy frog it gives euro pop a certain image, but there are good pop songs from Europe, but they aren't promoted by Dj's in the uk. If radio 1 were to play a good pop song from Europe that wasn't in English, sure there would be some getting used to but it would open audiences mind to different types of music, it would create a healthy relationship with other music lovers across Europe. And perhaps improve the image the UK has made of it self.

When they took Jade across Europe promoting her song before the contest people grew to like her, her song, her image, and the representation of the UK actually making a effort. If our mainstream radio DJ'S were to do the same, I think we would see some change. If you look at the europeian top 40 you'll find alot of artist from the usa, the uk and different artists from across Europe, so why aren't we the same?

Now some of my favorite eurovsion entires from the past years