Well, most west of Bryssel don't 'get' the EuroVison. I keep seeing it (using my kids as an excuse) but I usually don't like the music. So why is it so popular?
Maybe it's a cold war thing? We who lived at the border to the Iron curtain have a rather different view to the eastern europe than Uk. So to compete with them in a 'no big deal' contest is relaxing (no war this year). The voting is part of the game and could maybe be done in several other ways if one truly consider the outcome to be important, which is not.
To participate is the goal.
(as a side note, swedes always give the 8/10/12p to the song that in some way could have some connection to Sweden, this year the Cyprus contribution was written by two swedes I think)
I was thinking more longterm, since the televoting started swedes have a trend to vote for songs/artist that have a connection to Sweden and not for just being a song from a neighbour.
(as a side note, swedes always give the 8/10/12p to the song that in some way could have some connection to Sweden, this year the Cyprus contribution was written by two swedes I think)