Sunovision results

So Austria's JJ, a counter-tenor at the Vienna State Opera no less, pipped Israel at last knockings to win Eurovision, courtesy of a massive public vote share. The awkwardness of an Israel win in the current geopolitical climate was thus avoided, and JJ has since returned to Austria to a hero's welcome. The UK did reasonably well in the judges' vote but again got absolutely nothing from the public, and finished 19th out of 26. My hat remains uneaten.

More importantly though, there was a winner in the Sunovision Song Contest. This was also close, with the win being secured by the last vote. Without further ado, I can reveal the results were as follows:

6th. Alone Together by The Verdant Sigil, representing Virelia
5th. Lonely Shadows by L'Orée d'Or, representing Elystène
4th. In the Quiet of the Night by Solène Morra, representing Caldovaria
3rd. Terminverzug by Frostwake, representing Drevona
2nd. Symphony of Collapse by Elias Vergrave, representing Ormandia
1st. Dancing Kitty by Silver Vatra, representing Thesskora

What does this tell us? Well, the most bland, most anodyne, most MOR pap occupied the bottom two places. First and second were close, and a good margin ahead of third (though Frostwake's heaviness won them a lot of votes). As for those top two, well, Symphony of Collapse is the one I personally like most, musically and lyrically ... but Dancing Kitty is about a dancing cat, and is slightly earwormy, so what's the world to do?

Conclusions? AI is scary and Eurovision is largely pap. There. I'm glad it took two blog posts to work that out.

Let's close with a real song by a real band, to cleanse the palate. The Rat by The Walkmen came on the radio at the weekend, and I was quietly delighted to see Amusements Minor enjoying it as much as me. "Who's this?", he asked. A song that's older than he is, still gaining his attention, and later added to his Spotify playlist. Dancing Kitty won't be doing that in twenty years' time.

Douze points for The Walkmen from me.