BIRTHDAY: Jari Sillanpää from Finland is 54 today

Our favourite song contest isn’t always all about the singing. Yes, an actual song won this year, but sometimes the medium of dance tries to get in on the act.

There have been many songs about this medium, and includes all styles. The Waltz, the Coco-Dance (whatever that is) are just some fine examples. As is the style by today’s birthday boy Jari Veikko Sillanpää, who chose the Tango. Apparently it’s big in his native Finland, and I’ve no idea why. Anyway, Mr Sillanpää has the honour of being the first ever performer in a live semi-final. He was also the first performer to be able to sit back for the rest of the 2004 contest, as he didn’t quite make it out of the semi-final. In a bloodbath of a semi-final he finished 14th. Maybe Europe isn’t quite ready for Tango.

Authors: Riigi Ametnik, John Stanton

Source: OnEurope.biz