How I got into Eurovision
Part 3: Danniiboy

Sandra Kim has a lot to answer for. Thanks to her, in just a few days, I’m heading off to a country that most people couldn’t even pinpoint on a map! She’s the cause of why I spend a large chunk of my disposable income travelling the length and breadth of Europe with hundreds of other like-minded crazy folk, some of whom have become my closest friends over the years. Not that I’m complaining though, I love every minute of it!

My first vivid memory of Eurovision was 1986, the year that said Ms Kim took Belgium to their first (and as yet, only) victory. I can’t really remember much about watching the contest itself, but I do remember being so happy that Sandra won, and singing the song in garbled French for weeks after! That was the beginning of my Eurovision fandom, and as a young boy, my parents allowed me to stay up late every year as a special occasion to watch the contest. I can remember being devastated when I missed the contest in 1990 as it clashed with a Scout camp I couldn’t get out of. I vowed never to miss a contest again, no matter what the reason! In 1991 when the contest overran, I had to watch Carola win with the sound down in my bedroom as my mum wouldn’t let me stay up late. Thankfully I got away with it! Sadly in those first years, we didn’t have a VCR at the time, so the songs faded from my memory after a while.

However that was all to change in 1992. That year always holds special memories for me. My parents had finally splashed out on a new VCR, and I excitedly stuck my Scotch video tape in the recorder and sat with my finger hovering over the record button – the trepidation and worry about the VCR failing used to haunt me for every single year until the EBU decided to release them on DVD, and I could rest easy!

Watching that year back now is always a special feeling. Many don’t see it as a classic year but everything from the infamous cartoon bird, Digiloo to the cheesy viking boat on the stage not to mention Carola’s overblown introductory performance just screams classic Eurovision to me. Not forgetting Merethe Trøan mocking the whole of Europe! Oh, and I’m still miffed that Sou Fräi did so badly, all these years later…

I faithfully recorded the shows every year and watched them over and over, but always on my own. But this wouldn’t last for long. Like Martin, I discovered there was a Eurovision fan club from a magazine, and in 1995, I joined both OGAE and the now defunct Eurovision Network. I finally had the chance to interact with people who had the same interests as me! I became penpals with people all over Europe and finally got the chance to watch older contests which I had never seen before on VHS.

I discovered the Internet back in 1996, and the first site I ever visited (after finding it on Yahoo.com) was the official 1996 site from the EBU, and I paid daily visits to my local internet café to check the latest news on the rudimentary site which had tons of frames (remember them?) and barely any info at all! It’s a far cry from the wealth of sites and information we have now, sometimes which we take for granted.

I can’t remember how exactly, but I somehow discovered the Chat around 2000, when it was #eurosong, and I’ve been a chatter ever since, and have made some really close friends from it, who often keep me up way past my bedtime!

Due to various things like uni and finances, the first Eurovision event I attended was not until 2006 when I went to Melodifestivalen, and 2012 saw my 7th (and now sadly, final) visit to Globen. I love Melodifestivalen just as much as Eurovision, and I didn’t attend my first contest proper until 2008 in Belgrade. It’s true what they say, you never forget your first time! Those 10 days I spent in Belgrade were amazing, and I have nothing but happy memories from there – dancing with Kalomira in EuroClub, stalking Bebi Dol and mistaking Regina from Euroband as a waitress! Oh, and attending the shows too!

After missing the contest due to work in 2009, I was back with a vengeance in 2010 in Oslo, and I was also there in 2011! I swore to myself back in 2009 that I’d never miss another contest again, no matter where it was, even Azerbaijan. And funnily enough, that’s exactly where I am headed in a few days time! This year, I’m proud and excited to be a part of the esc-chat team. I’ll be bringing you lots of info from the happenings in Baku, not only from the happenings on stage, but lots off it too, including all the gossip from the EuroClub and the official parties too! Firstly, I’m off to Dubai tomorrow for a fewe days rest before all the madness begins. Somehow, I think I’m gonna need it…