Eurovision is catching on! For the first time a TV station in the US will be broadcasting the show live in America, and it will also be shown in China, all of which sets it up nicely to be the global phenomenon it so rightly deserves to be.
But are Americans going to get it? I was born in Topeka, Kansas but I’ve lived in Europe since the age of 12 so my sense of humour is not archetypically American and you need either a camp sensibility or a sense of humour and a little geographical, never-mind geopolitical understanding, doesn’t hurt. The political voting would need to be explained and the grannies, kettle drums and babushkas could confuse some. Gay people in America didn’t want to be left out of the party - they’ve been watching it over the internet for years and didn’t it just look like the funnest party EVER! And now they’re going to invite all their straight friends over for the Eurovision Grand Final and try and explain what the hell is going on.
When I won the competition in 1997 with my band Katrina and the Waves and the song Love Shine a Light, I’d never seen the Eurovision Song Contest. I had no idea it had such a fanatical following which united the predominately male gay following in the UK with a rabble rousing horde of fans all across Europe. I thought so many of the songs associated with it were ridiculous and a far cry from ‘credible’ and ‘worthy’ pop songs, but in time the songs don’t so much grow on you as lose their ‘offensiveness’. As the sheer might of Eurovision breaks down your own cultural sense of cool and you find yourself muting Nick Cave/Coldplay/your new Radiohead album to dance round your living room to Verka Serduchka’s Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine’s 2007 entry). And then there are a few crackers like Euphoria (Sweden 2012), Waterloo (Sweden 1974) and Volare (Italy 1958) which were Top 10 around the world.
I was asked to carry the flag for the United Kingdom not just because we had a song that looked like a winner but also because I had already performed over 2,000 shows in my career and therefore shouldn’t be too anxious performing in front of 60million. Hah! It was the most nerve wracking, trouser cracking two minutes and 58 seconds of my whole career.
There was a bit of consternation regarding my participation in Eurovision because contrary to a lot of rubbish written about me on the Internet, I’m American not Canadian which could have been sort of OK. It was even suggested by the BBC publicity department I ‘tone down’ my American accent. Cor blimey Mary Poppins, that ain’t gonna happen!
Now I’m regarded as an honorary Brit. Winning Eurovision really integrated me into the British culture and 19 years later I’m still the last person to win it for the UK. For a country that produces the greatest music in the world, the Brits just don’t know how to manufacture a decent enough song to win ESC. Why? Well, I think the music is great here because the weather is terrible, it keeps people indoors, makes them pick up the guitar or sit down at the piano. Name a hot country anywhere near as prolific in the hits department as The UK.
Year after year since our win in 97 the great British public had little or no say in who would represent them at the ESC. This year the BBC hosted a terrific, televised live, phone in show called You Decide or in other words ‘It’ll be all your fault’. Leona Lewis wrote a cracking song Shine A Little Light but passed over the singing to a good but ‘no Leona Lewis’ singer who turned out a mediocre performance on the night and the song was not chosen to go forward to Stockholm for the contest. Now, had Leona Lewis herself sung the song, I strongly believe not only would the song have made the journey to Stockholm but I think with Leona’s profile, experience, popularity and bloody good singing, she could have won the whole competition.
See the rest of the blog here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/katrina-leskanich/eurovision-a-state-of-mind_b_9949598.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
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Katrina formerly of Katrina & The Waves / Blog
Eurovision: A State of Mind
Eurovision is catching on! For the first time a TV station in the US will be broadcasting the show live in America, and it will also be shown in China, all of which sets it up nicely to be the global phenomenon it so rightly deserves to be.
But are Americans going to get it? I was born in Topeka, Kansas but I’ve lived in Europe since the age of 12 so my sense of humour is not archetypically American and you need either a camp sensibility or a sense of humour and a little geographical, never-mind geopolitical understanding, doesn’t hurt. The political voting would need to be explained and the grannies, kettle drums and babushkas could confuse some. Gay people in America didn’t want to be left out of the party - they’ve been watching it over the internet for years and didn’t it just look like the funnest party EVER! And now they’re going to invite all their straight friends over for the Eurovision Grand Final and try and explain what the hell is going on.
When I won the competition in 1997 with my band Katrina and the Waves and the song Love Shine a Light, I’d never seen the Eurovision Song Contest. I had no idea it had such a fanatical following which united the predominately male gay following in the UK with a rabble rousing horde of fans all across Europe. I thought so many of the songs associated with it were ridiculous and a far cry from ‘credible’ and ‘worthy’ pop songs, but in time the songs don’t so much grow on you as lose their ‘offensiveness’. As the sheer might of Eurovision breaks down your own cultural sense of cool and you find yourself muting Nick Cave/Coldplay/your new Radiohead album to dance round your living room to Verka Serduchka’s Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine’s 2007 entry). And then there are a few crackers like Euphoria (Sweden 2012), Waterloo (Sweden 1974) and Volare (Italy 1958) which were Top 10 around the world.
I was asked to carry the flag for the United Kingdom not just because we had a song that looked like a winner but also because I had already performed over 2,000 shows in my career and therefore shouldn’t be too anxious performing in front of 60million. Hah! It was the most nerve wracking, trouser cracking two minutes and 58 seconds of my whole career.
There was a bit of consternation regarding my participation in Eurovision because contrary to a lot of rubbish written about me on the Internet, I’m American not Canadian which could have been sort of OK. It was even suggested by the BBC publicity department I ‘tone down’ my American accent. Cor blimey Mary Poppins, that ain’t gonna happen!
Now I’m regarded as an honorary Brit. Winning Eurovision really integrated me into the British culture and 19 years later I’m still the last person to win it for the UK. For a country that produces the greatest music in the world, the Brits just don’t know how to manufacture a decent enough song to win ESC. Why? Well, I think the music is great here because the weather is terrible, it keeps people indoors, makes them pick up the guitar or sit down at the piano. Name a hot country anywhere near as prolific in the hits department as The UK.
Year after year since our win in 97 the great British public had little or no say in who would represent them at the ESC. This year the BBC hosted a terrific, televised live, phone in show called You Decide or in other words ‘It’ll be all your fault’. Leona Lewis wrote a cracking song Shine A Little Light but passed over the singing to a good but ‘no Leona Lewis’ singer who turned out a mediocre performance on the night and the song was not chosen to go forward to Stockholm for the contest. Now, had Leona Lewis herself sung the song, I strongly believe not only would the song have made the journey to Stockholm but I think with Leona’s profile, experience, popularity and bloody good singing, she could have won the whole competition.
See the rest of the blog here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/katrina-leskanich/eurovision-a-state-of-mind_b_9949598.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
Reply
Australia Tour July 2016
I'm delighted to announce an Australian Tour in July 2016 - it's Totally 80s and packed with international 80s artists. More info: www.katrinasweb.com
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Get 2 Free Tracks from Blisland
Get 2 Free tracks from my latest album 'Blisland' - I'm giving away 'Texas Cloud' and 'Sun Coming Upper' when you subscribe to my mailing. Head over to my website www.katrinasweb.com to sign up and get these 2 tracks completely free.
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Walking on Sunshine programme on Swedish TV
My segment was filmed on tour in North America when we were in Toronto earlier this year.
http://www.svtplay.se/video/4690365/hitlatens-historia/hitlatens-historia-walking-on-sunshine-sasong-6-avsnitt-2
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Madam Felle in Bergen
Playing a great little music club in the very beautiful city of Bergen in Norway this month and I'll be doing some songs from my new album, 'Blisland'.
Madam Felle Bergen, Norway 4th & 5th September
Tickets: https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://www.madamfelle.no/&prev=search
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Beer And Flowers Festival in Slovenia
Opening the Beer & Flowers Festival in Lasko Slovenia tomorrow night with The moonlighting orchestra and on stage with my band on Friday 17th July Pivo in cvetje #Lasko #Slovenia
http://www.pivo-cvetje.si/en/
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My Vintage
Tune into My Vintage where I play some of my fave songs this Sunday at 5pm on Vintage TV https://mysp.ac/2b6eF
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LONDON GIG at The Forum Kentish Town
JUST ANNOUNCED!! - I'm supporting Billy Ocean @TheForumHQ #KentishTown LONDON MAY 14th TIX £28 Adv theforumlondon.com/listings/upcoming-events/12833/billy-ocean/ @MrWonga
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'Dizzy' & 'Sun Coming Upper' - FREE download
Free download of 2 tracks from Katrina's new album 'Blisland' available on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/katrina-leskanich/sets/katrina-dizzy-sun-coming-upper
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North America Tour starts March 17th 2015
Check out my North America tour dates starting on 17th March in Long Island NY http://www.katrinasweb.com/dates
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