What, one wonders, could be a greater honor that playing host to a collection of outrageously campy music acts from across Europe, all gathered for a frenzy of televized flamboyance that seems to get more frivolous by the year?
Moscow, for its part, has taken the responsibility seriously and has pledged the most lavish show ever when the grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest hits the stage there this weekend. They have spent €30 million and have booked Olimpiyski Indoor Arena in downtown Moscow for the show. Still, controversy threatens to torpedo the hosts' best efforts.
The narrowing of the field is already well underway. A number of acts were sent home on Tuesday, with Belarus, Bulgaria and Belgium all getting the boot, along with a handful of others. Fifteen of the 25 finalists have now been chosen, with pop perennials Sweden making the cut along with Iceland, Israel, Romania, Armenia and Malta, among others.
Turkey emerged as the favorite among 10 countries moving on to Saturday's final. Turkish pop singer Hadise, who grew up in Belgium, sang "Düm Tek Tek" in English and performed with belly dancers.
Five countries -- defending champion Russia, France, Britain, Spain and Germany, whose act includes stripper sine qua non Dita von Teese -- qualify autmatically. It is their money that makes the event happen.
The annual competition is one of the most-watched television events in Europe, with nearly 300 million viewers around the world. In its 53-year history, the colorful contest has even helped launch careers -- like those of international pop acts Abba and Celine Dion.
In recent years, however, a new viewer televoting system and the doggedly loyal voters of Eastern Europe have resulted in the recent dominance of former Eastern Bloc countries -- a situation lamented by many in other parts of the continent. Success in the competition not only results in bragging rights within Europe -- but the winner of each competition is also the following year's host, creating extra incentive for countries to prevail.
A change in this year's voting, however, intends to level out the playing field again -- all decisions are determined by equally weighing votes both from television viewers and from national juries selected by the participating countries.
Despite the changes, this year's competition is marked by a decidedly eastern flare. The Moscow venue has been completely transformed for the occasion and the show included a medley by the Alexandrov Ensemble of the Russian armed forces as well as the scandalous Russian duo t.A.T.u.
Regardless of the lesbian image projected by that girl-pop pair, Russia threatens to be the exact opposite of a gay-friendly host. Gay rights campaigners are determined to march through Moscow a few hours before the final show on Saturday, ignoring a city ban on their parade and risking the kinds of violent, anti-gay attacks the march has seen in the past.
The controversy could potentially threaten Russia's desire to put on a perfect show. Flamboyant Dutch trio De Toppers, who perform in the semifinals on Thursday, told Dutch television late on Tuesday that they will boycott the song contest if Russian authorities crack down on Saturday's parade.
"If we get to the final and the demonstration is suppressed by force I refuse to get on that stage in Moscow," said singer and songwriter Gordon. "If my kind of people are discriminated against in this way, there is no reason for me to be there," he said. "I will take the first plane home."
jcm - with wire reports
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