Weekly blog #152: October, when the Eurovision fever hits again

And suddenly, it’s October already, the tenth month of the year. After quite a bit of rain, the sun is shining brightly above Italy once again. No wonder that October is one of the most popular months for tourists to visit the country. It’s also the month when grapes and olives are harvested, and we get to taste the freshest olive oil, bright green in colour. It’s the tastiest oil of all. 

Immediately there were voices saying that the organisation was “typically Italian”

Exactly a year ago, we had just found out that Turin was the chosen city to host the Eurovision Song Contest. That was extremely late according to good Eurovision customs, and immediately there were voices saying that the organisation was “typically Italian”. The many and extensive preparations the city had to undertake could only start now. Would they even make it in time? Well, this year, we have only found out last week that Eurovision 2023 will go to either Glasgow or Liverpool. Indeed, the final choice has not even been made yet. And that makes the UK even slower than the Italians. 

With that there is not much Italian about Eurovision anymore. Topic closed; you might think

But why am I writing about it in this blog? Last year, it made total sense – in this blog that’s all about (life in) Italy – to update you on the latest developments of the Eurovision Song Contest that, after 30 years, would finally return to Italy. But now the baton has been handed over to the British, and with that there is not much Italian about Eurovision anymore. Topic closed; you might think. But the truth is: it’s not as simple as that. 

With that, you head into summer, only rarely thinking about that crazy month of May. Eurovision is officially a thing of the past

That’s what I realised when I spoke to a Eurovision friend last weekend. She put into words exactly the feeling I had a year ago. Being part of such a gigantic production as the Eurovision Song Contest is what you call a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. When you’re in the middle of it, there’s nothing you can do but surrender to it completely and put the rest of your life on hold. And when it’s over, you have to recover to such an extent that you really can’t hear or see anything Eurovision for a while. So, you think that was it. An experience you won’t forget for a lifetime. And with that, you head into summer, only rarely thinking about that crazy month of May. Eurovision is officially a thing of the past.

That’s why, from this month on, you suddenly get that feeling again: I want to be part of it

But suddenly it’s October. Whereas the news items about which cities are interested in hosting Eurovision only really get major media attention in the organising country itself, the official announcement of the next Eurovision host city will reach every newspaper and every news bulletin in Europe. So that’s why, from this month on, you suddenly get that feeling again: I want to be part of it. And those were my friend’s words exactly. 

It’s an absolute guarantee that they will put up a gigantic spectacle full of glitter and hair that dramatically blows in the wind. And in the end, it’s exactly that’s what I’m most excited about

And what about me? Will I be part of Eurovision again next year? It goes without saying that I share her feelings. As the journalist who interviewed me this year put it into words so well; “Anne is infected with the Eurovision fever”. However, in 2021 and 2022, the reason I was involved in it had everything to do with Italy. And as mentioned, now it’s entirely up to the British. No fresh olive oil here, but butter. No Lavazza coffee but a good old cup of Earl Grey. No fine white wine but a hearty pint. In short, everything will be different, and probably very un-Italian. At the same time, though, it’s an absolute guarantee that they will put up a gigantic spectacle full of glitter and hair that dramatically blows in the wind. And in the end, it’s exactly that’s what I’m most excited about. So… never say never.