Thu 24 May 2012 | 
Eurovision 2010: Party time with Eurovision A-Z
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Enlarge textJulia Zemiro and Sam Pang get the party started with clips, tips, interviews, Bjorn Again, Les Murray, Gina G and more!
- 26 Comments | Join the discussion
To get you in the mood for Eurovision, this weekend Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang host Eurovision A-Z.
The special, recorded before a studio audience, celebrates the history of Eurovision with a jam-packed party loaded up with clips, guests, interviews and live performances. The audience is filled with die-hard fans bearing flags or dressed in appropriate colourful attire.
It's the perfect way to either get a crash-course in all things Eurovision or to relive the more memorable, outrageous, and occasionally baffling moments of the contest.
For true Euro-tragics there are some past performers who have been tracked down for exclusive interviews.
One of them is Australian-born Johnny Logan who, as a singer-songwriter, has won Eurovision more than any other single performer.
The Frankston-born Logan chats to Julia and Sam about his previous wins for Ireland, and finishes with an impromptu performance of his hit Hold Me Now which won in 1987.
Remember this?
Also appearing is another Aussie, Gina G. who represented the UK in 1996 with her driving dance song (Ooh Ahh) Just a Little Bit. But where is Ms. G nowadays? You'll find out here.
Here she is in 1996 ... can we talk pitch?
Then there is (a not particularly articulate) Dima Bilan, Russia's winner in 2008 with Believe. He takes time for a quick chat while he happened to be visiting Australia.
Other guests include SBS legend Les Murray who takes to the floor karaoke-style to belt out a few notes of one famous Eurovision entry. And he's not half bad for a sports bloke.
Bjorn Again drop by to add a little bit of ABBA to the proceedings. No prizes for guessing which song they sing!
Then there's cabaret artiste Meow Meow who performs a little French number, and gives a few fashion tips on what we are likely to see this year.
But there is so much about Eurovision that it takes an entire alphabet to try to cover it all: Bloc Voting, Choreography, Costume Reveals, Deux Points, Kitsch, Key Change, Lloyd-Webber, Questions, Surprise, and even the Worst.
There are also behind-the-scenes moments from Moscow 2009. What happens when last year's Belarus entrant meets Sam Pang backstage? Too weird.
Plus there are classic clips of Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard, Bucks Fizz, Julio Iglesias, Celine Dion, Nana Mouskouri and more.
"It was great to catch up with Johnny Logan in a pub in Dublin," says Sam Pang. And witnessing Les Murray singing Volare live is probably something I'll never forget. If you're a Les fan it's well worth tuning in. Gina G gave us a great story about her dress, which was a Cher discard. It was a fun show and there's a bit in it for everyone, Eurovision fans or not."
And did we mention our very own Eurovision dancers?
EUROVISION A - Z airs 8:30pm Saturday May 22nd on SBS ONE.
Countdown to Eurovision Pt. 2 airs 4pm Friday May 21st on SBS ONE.
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Comments (26)
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03 Jul 2010 12:46 AEST
From: Tumbulgum
Get Rid Of Australian Commentators Altogether
I would have expected better from SBS. I find this obsession Australian television has with putting an 'Aussie' slant on everything to be inappropriate & revolting. I used to love watching Eurovision with my family, but if we ever have to sit through that inane, racist & utterly pointless Australian drivel which is supposed to pass for commentary again, we'll be watching Eurovision on YouTube instead. Give me British commentary any day. We want Eurovision intact without shoddy Aussie input.
05 Jun 2010 14:02 AEST
From: Maribyrnong
Commentators sucked!!!
Those two commentators brought the whole sophistication and fun of the show down. They were terrible, opinionated and uninformed. SBS can do much better!
30 May 2010 23:10 AEST
From:
SBS Commentators are really unproffessional!!!!!!!!!!
Who hired the commentators for 2010 Eurovision contest???? The Australian commentators drove us crazy with their sarcastic, short comments. How dare they be so opinionated!!!!! Get them OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
30 May 2010 22:58 AEST
From:
spain ....... gate crasher
i think it was done purposely so they could do it again cos it was definately a performance to forget. they just wanted to make sure no one did forget it......typical bloody spainards and im allowed to say that cos my family is full of them lol :p
30 May 2010 13:56 AEST
From:
Horray for Eurovision & SBS
Thanks for Eurovision SBS. Julia & Sam are doing a fine politically correct job hosting. I'm sure both cld let lose with some really sharp/funny comments, but thouhtfully walk the fine line instead. Music, like sport, is a universal language = friendly competition. Always loved it and take Eurovision for what it is - FUN. Keep it coming year after year. The global viewing numbers are speaking for themselves. P.S. Pity the Italians have opted out.
29 May 2010 21:29 AEST
From: cammeray
website still not working
Plleeeaasseeeee!! Ukraine!!! #1!!
29 May 2010 16:11 AEST
From: paralowie
graphics
sbs, the pictures of the contestants and their representative countries do not correspond. Are my votes going to the people I'm voting for?....
29 May 2010 5:12 AEST
From:
Euro Fun
Love it, great hosts as good as Wogan maybe better, fun drinking games, although I started too early, unbelieveable staging, what more can you ask? I suggest we enter Cat Empire teamed with Kylie next year, (assuming Kev lets us join the EU) singing something classic like Old Man Emu (now that you'd pay money for). Good work SBS tax money well spent.
26 May 2010 16:18 AEST
From:
you want feedback- but you wont out it up on yor website
well yet again SBS you seem to select what you want said on your blog. Controlled comments only allowed. If we cant have our true say we may as well be living in China. You really know how to get rid of viewers. well 20 anyway in SA who are watching the first semi final today . The BBC welcome all comments good or bad, and show them. If you dont let us have our say here, we will put them on other forums that will .
25 May 2010 7:12 AEST
From: Caringbah
Hosts again
That's a bit better. Last year Sam and Julia were way out of their depth. Looks like they've done a bit of homework and got the flavour. A-Z was funny and entertaining. Loved the competition drinking rules. Will someone put them up on the website - pleeeze. But it's a big gig. Let's hope our hosts are up to it this time.
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About this Blog
Join David Knox as he reports on the build-up to Eurovision 2011. Who will capture the imagination of an entire continent? Knox is a media commentator with an unhealthy addiction to television and pop culture. His coverage of Eurovision is an annual fixture at SBS and
he blogs at TV Tonight.To this day, he still thinks Gina G was robbed at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest.
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