#HALLOWE’EN: Eurovision goes bump in the night

Hallowe’en and Eurovision. Does it scare you? Do you tremble on 31 October when you get a sinister knock at your door? Are you relieved when you find out it’s only the local kids going trick-or-treating? Or do you leave the door unanswered all night and hide behind the sofa or under that Carola-themed duvet?

Well fear not. Hallowe’en is a time for taking stock of the scary, just to prove that scary can be just a little bit fun instead.

We at Eurovision Ireland are doing the same, and have dug out a few of those scary songs that turn out to be just plain funny, and those funny songs that turn out to be just plain scary.

Next, is there a ghost in your body? Is it a lyricist? Is its brain in your hand, and movin’ really fast? Yes, we know that this next song isn’t that scary. But being possessed by someone, even if they mean well, can still be very unnerving. Here are Teya and Salena in their official video.

The next video is one of our favourite singers to score a big fat zero. This is the late great Jahn Teigen singing ‘Voodoo’ with his cohort Inger-Lise Rypdal back in 1976. Does Jahn’s outfit send shivers down your spine?

Next, Switzerland tried the supernatural theme with a ‘mature’ performer called DJ Bobo. His motif was vampires, and Swiss Television thought it so scary that they didn’t even have a national final. Sadly, the voters of Europe seemed more scared off than scared witless, and he sadly languished in the semi-final. Here’s the official music video.

In 2016, one song actually cut straight to the chase with the Hallowe’en theme. It’s called ‘Ghost‘, so there’s no ambiguity as to what it’s about. Young Jamie-Lee Kriewitz had high hopes in Stockholm. Now had the contest taken place in October, then she may have done better. But her finish would have scared the pants off some viewers.

A compilation wouldn’t be a compilation without something Swedish. One of the stalwarts of Melodifestivalens in former times was Nanne Grönvall. In 1998 she adopted an “Elvira, Mistress of the dark” persona to sing ‘Avendsjuk‘. Jealousy makes you ugly, but how can Ms Grönvall possibly look ugly, even though she tries. She would have turned heads if she’d beaten Jill Johnson and won the ticket to Birmingham.

There is, of course, only one song we can finish with. Over two nights in Malmö, a certain singer from Macroom wowed the assembled masses with a stage performance that will go down in history as one of the most daring you’ll ever see. No, it’s not Kaleen, it’s the one, the only, Bambie Thug. Here’s that stage performance. Still as utterly brilliant… showstopping… batsh1t (depending on your perspective). Happy Hallowe’en!

Authors: John Stanton

Source: Eurovision Ireland