On the day of Rockoning

And yet another tradition has been passed my way; last night I partook in the viewing of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. This is considered an extremely important television moment for the majority of folks living within the European Broadcasting Union, which stretches a lot farther than the word "European" would lend you to believe (read: Israel and Armenia). For those of you scratching your heads, he's a short rundown of how this thing works:

The contest, which has been running since 1956, begins early in the year with each country holding their own national contest to select one song to represent the country in Eurovision. Viewers vote via telephone or text message (calls cost about 75 cents). Then a semifinal is held to weed out the competition to 24 countries/songs. What you then have is the final, 3 hour long, Eurovision where each performer plays their song via live television.

Major rule: you cannot vote for your own country. If you live in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia you cannot vote for Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. But what you get are folks supporting their country's neighbors pretty regularly no matter how bad their songs may be. Norway and Finland usually come in towards the bottom of the pack but Sweden is know to always throw a good deal of votes their way. Neighborly.

Sweden has some solid ties to the competition. Abba launched their career in 1974 by winning the contest with their jam Waterloo. I suppose it's not uncommon for unknown acts to break into the mainstream through the exposure this show gives.

Abba would be a good way to judge the sort of music that commonly does well in Eurovision. This is for the most part a family program. We're talking middle of the road songs that Joe Blow wouldn't mind turning up when it plows through Top 40 radio. We're talking about well-groomed 20-somethings singing about love or fun and having the dance moves (and back up dance crew) to help drive the point home. Think a glorified and international Star Search and then you are getting pretty close.

Now, I told you all of that so I could tell you this.




Finland's Lordi took the Eurovision prize last night with their anthem 'Hard Rock Hallelujah'. Bringing this back home, it's the exact same as millions of folks choosing Gwar over Celine Dion on some sort of network TV primetime family fun show. Mind boggling, and wonderful.

Go peep it over on You Tube.

Sing along at home:

Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!

The saints are crippled
On this sinners' night
Lost are the lambs with no guiding light

The walls come down like thunder
The rocks about to roll
It's The Arockalypse
Now bare your soul

All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe

Rock 'n roll angels bring that Hard Rock Hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock 'n roll angels bring that Hard Rock Hallelujah
In God's creation supernatural high

The true believers
Thou shall be saved
Brothers and sisters keep strong in the faith
On the day of Rockoning
It's who dares, wins
You will see the jokers soon'll be the new kings

All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe

Rock 'n roll angels bring that Hard Rock Hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock 'n roll angels bring that Hard Rock Hallelujah
In God's creation supernatural high

Wings on my back
I got horns on my head
My fangs are sharp
And my eyes are red
Not quite an angel
The one that fell
Now choose to join us or go straight to Hell

Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!

Rock 'n roll angels bring that Hard Rock Hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock 'n roll angels bring that Hard Rock Hallelujah
In God's creation supernatural high

Hard Rock Hallelujah!