Falling Stars

Posted 12 March 2010:

Clear your schedules, people!!!

Finally, the dates for the very first Asiavision have been announced!

Our Sound: The Asia-Pacific Song Contest

Performance Show on Friday 26 November 2010
Winner's Show on Sunday 28 November 2010

As a Eurovision fan who has only been able to dream of voting in it, all I can say is that I have been waiting for this day.

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So, the song contest was postponed until 2012, renamed the ABU TV Song Festival, and changed format to a musical gala showcase of songs, without competitive voting. It was reasonably enjoyable? I only ever got to watch the first year, but it's apparently been running annually ever since. This year, they were planning to introduce the ABU Song Contest, the long-awaited competitive version. But then pandemic, and its future is unknown.

In the meantime, the impossible happened. Australia was invited to take part in Eurovision! In 2015, as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, and then every year since. Something my friends and I had wistfully daydreamed about - how cool would it be, to get to compete, and even vote? - and never imagined could come true.

I'm still dreaming of a regional competition with all our neighbours though! There are rumblings of an Asia-Pacific spinoff of Eurovision, called Eurovision Asia...

So, after literally years of waiting for this to happen, how was it?

Well, I did get the very Eurovision experience of witnessing my country's performance and cringing with embarrassment. There was nothing actually wrong with DJ Brown's singing. But why the four dancers gyrating about the stage in black corsets and garters? I mean, really?

It especially stood out because most of the other countries went classic and conservative, with soulful ballads that were probably love songs. I have no idea what they thought of Australia.

The knockout performance of the evening was Indonesia, who was dressed like a queen, with even a jewelled eyepiece, and delivered a magnificent power ballad. Other interesting moments: Japan's cutesy pop idol trio in pink, Afghanistan's traditional string instrument and message to fellow citizens far from home, Korea's hip-hop dance moves and dramatic plumes of smoke and flame. Also, Korea being the host nation meant we got to see some special performances highlighting their music and drama.

It wasn't until the end that I discovered that it wasn't a song contest, but a song festival. So, no voting! Which might actually be for the best, considering regional tensions are still a live thing, and fits the theme of promoting harmony among the nations. So we ended up with all the performers coming back on stage to sing "Heal the World" together. Which is not a bad way to end things.

Finally, the dates for the very first Asiavision have been announced!

Our Sound: The Asia-Pacific Song Contest

Performance Show on Friday 26 November 2010
Winner's Show on Sunday 28 November 2010

As a Eurovision fan who has only been able to dream of voting in it, all I can say is that I have been waiting for this day.

Will there be great singing? Maybe.

Will there be politics? Definitely.

Will there be cheese? We can only hope.