How does one ever parody the Eurovision Song Contest when the original is already beyond parody?
In trying to do exactly that, Eurobeat had clearly set itself a considerable challenge, but in the event it was one that it frequently, if not always, rose to. For a start, most people’s Eurovision evening will commence with a mere press of the remote control. In contrast, long before I entered the auditorium at the Novello Theatre, I was asked to pick a badge to reveal the country I would be supporting, and handed a corresponding flag, clacker and souvenir programme complete with wacky Eurovision quizzes. For a show that is all about encouraging the audience to indulge in the ghastliness of the occasion, this was a highly promising start. Hosted from ‘Sarajevo’, with all the compulsory jokes about goats and famines-no-more, Eurobeat presents songs from ten different countries. Written by Craig Christie and Andrew Patterson, they capture the variety of styles – and general standard – of music on offer at the Eurovision Song Contest with striking authenticity. So Italy’s entry is a comb
