Europe, I Hardly Know Ye

The great musical farce of the Eurovision is over again for another year. I didn't see the song contest but in the course of random flicking I came upon the scoring at the end of the contest. As a child I usually didn't watch the songs either although I couldn't avoid some of them as my mother did watch it. Even then I used to enjoy watching the scoring and even then it was mainly for jingoistic reasons.

I don't think the Eurovision Song Contest ever was about the music. In the end the scoring came down to one country's list of its favourite European states. The main difference in the old days though was that some consideration to artistic taste would be allowed and so it would sometimes be possible for a song that was actually quite good to win.

The other difference was that in the old days you would know something of the history and geography of the other countries in the contest. The thing that struck me as I watched the scores coming in the other night was that I hadn’t even heard of some of the countries taking part in the contest, let alone know where they were or anything about them.

I remember in the past reading sneering articles which poked fun at Americans and how many of them couldn’t name all 50 states or place them on a map. This seemed to be information of vital importance to the health of a nation. It was also a good way for Europeans to feel superior even though we only had 12 names to remember.

It occurred to me watching the Eurovision last night that not only do I not know where many of these countries are on a map, I don’t know how many of them are members or candidate members of the EU. I’m not even sure how many countries are in the EU.

With a referendum on another Treaty coming up shortly which I don't know anything about, these are greater worries for me than whether or not a western European country will ever again win the Eurovision.