What do you think?
Rate this book
Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest
Do you think the world of the Eurovision Song Contest, with its crazy props, even crazier dancers and crazier still songs has nothing to do with serious European politics? Think again. The contest has been a mirror for cultural, social and political developments in Europe ever since its inauguration, when an audience in dinner jackets and ball-gowns politely applauded each song. It has been a voice of rebellion across the Iron Curtain, an inspiration for new European nations in the 1990s and 2000s, the voice of liberation for both sexual and regional minorities. It even once triggered a national revolution.
Eurovision charts both the history of Europe and the history of the Eurovision Song Contest over the last six decades, and shows how seamlessly they interlink and what an amazing journey it has been.
Eurovision charts both the history of Europe and the history of the Eurovision Song Contest over the last six decades, and shows how seamlessly they interlink and what an amazing journey it has been.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2017
26 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Chris West
61 books24 followersI grew up in a country village north of London. As a boy I filled endless notebooks with stories - not all of them finished! As a young man I played in various (unsuccessful) bands, then worked in the City of London. I studied philosophy and economics as a 'mature' student (though I wasn't very mature). After leaving uni I went backpacking in China, and wrote a book about that adventure which came out in 1991. Since then, writing has (along with family) been at the heart of my life, though I've had other jobs, too, largely in Marketing and PR, working with small businesses. In 2008, I found an old stamp album in the attic of my parents' old house, and became fascinated by the contents and the way they seemed to mirror history. Each stamp was a tiny, rectangular time machine! In the end, I had to write a book along these lines: A History of Britain in 36 Postage Stamps was the result. I have now done the same for the USA - a fascinating journey into American history (and a great pleasure to collect the nation's stamps). I live in North Hertfordshire with my wife and daughter.
a.k.a Christopher West|6453491].
a.k.a Christopher West|6453491].
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 18, 2025
One for the Eurovision fanatics. This book detailed the contest year by year from the very start.
History played a main theme in the narrative, as an interest of the author’s. It set the scene for politics at the time and sometimes related it to ESC trivia.
More interesting were the tidbits and scandals involved, as well as an honest take on whether some songs sucked or were sheer brilliance.
Behind-the-scenes action and artist trivia were scarce, possibly due to the many years included and not exploding the volume. I would easily have preferred less history and more goss but hey, it’s about one of the best events in life and for that I’m stoked.
I watched every single contest from 1956 on youtube with Brendon Oliver-Ewen then followed up with the related chapter so this took about 2 years to finish. I’d recommend that to all fanatics.
The ESC for 2025 just finished moments ago. The winning song (no spoilers) was vocally talented but not my cup of tea. For posterity, my votes were:
Douze points (12): Luxembourg 🇱🇺❤️🇱🇺
10: Lithuania
8: Sweden
7: Finland
6: Italy
5: Estonia
4: Malta
3: Poland
2: Germany
1: Latvia
and last for the hell of it: San Marino.
History played a main theme in the narrative, as an interest of the author’s. It set the scene for politics at the time and sometimes related it to ESC trivia.
More interesting were the tidbits and scandals involved, as well as an honest take on whether some songs sucked or were sheer brilliance.
Behind-the-scenes action and artist trivia were scarce, possibly due to the many years included and not exploding the volume. I would easily have preferred less history and more goss but hey, it’s about one of the best events in life and for that I’m stoked.
I watched every single contest from 1956 on youtube with Brendon Oliver-Ewen then followed up with the related chapter so this took about 2 years to finish. I’d recommend that to all fanatics.
The ESC for 2025 just finished moments ago. The winning song (no spoilers) was vocally talented but not my cup of tea. For posterity, my votes were:
Douze points (12): Luxembourg 🇱🇺❤️🇱🇺
10: Lithuania
8: Sweden
7: Finland
6: Italy
5: Estonia
4: Malta
3: Poland
2: Germany
1: Latvia
and last for the hell of it: San Marino.
May 9, 2023
A good format to consume history of a broad region: year by year, in the context of a cuckoo-bananas, glitter-laden multinational song contest.
I learned so much random stuff. I never knew Luxembourg had won (more than once!), that Serbia won with a queer Roma singer once, or that Turkey had ever been in (I started watching after their last participation). West skillfully wove banking crises, ethnic struggles, and outright war into years of Eurovision wins.
I admit, it read a bit dryly at times even for what colorful content it should have been, and the structure is very meandering for each year, but overall it was a great overview.
I learned so much random stuff. I never knew Luxembourg had won (more than once!), that Serbia won with a queer Roma singer once, or that Turkey had ever been in (I started watching after their last participation). West skillfully wove banking crises, ethnic struggles, and outright war into years of Eurovision wins.
I admit, it read a bit dryly at times even for what colorful content it should have been, and the structure is very meandering for each year, but overall it was a great overview.
July 11, 2017
This was an incredibly interesting read. Anyone who follows me on Twitter (or any other social media) will probably know by now how much I love the Eurovision Song Contest and how much I care about it.
Another thing that I love very much is history.
I haven't had a history lesson in three years so I usually compensate by watching YouTube videos about empires and the horrible things they did but switching to this book was an amazing idea. I saw some of my fellow Eurovision-loving friends talk about it and immediately knew I should buy this book.
Eurovision! actually includes way more history than I thought it would. The book has one chapter for every year of Eurovision (1956 - 2016) and every chapter includes what happened in the world of Eurovision and in the world of politics, wars, social changes, and so on. Chris West includes all the plans and ideas to unite Europe, statistics on what people thought about these ideas, which troubles we had with European countries or which troubles European countries had with other nations, and more.
On the music side, he talks about some of the more interesting songs of every year of Eurovision, about the rules and technologies that have changed, about the controversies Eurovision or certain artists or songs caused and on how politics sometimes influenced the contest.
I definitely learned a lot about history. I think in school we don't learn enough about what happens after World War 2 so I only had an overview about certain things and this book added more facts to these gaps. I also learned more about Eurovision, especially the early years and the controversy that the contest brought with it even back then.
It's very interesting to see how both Eurovision and Europe developed over the past 60 years and to see which influences contributed to the changes.
Especially in the last 15 or 20 years/chapters I don't always agree with the author's opinion on the EU and on certain countries but I still enjoyed reading all of it and I'm glad this book wasn't dry or boring but in fact not just insightful but also quite witty and generally just really interesting!
Another thing that I love very much is history.
I haven't had a history lesson in three years so I usually compensate by watching YouTube videos about empires and the horrible things they did but switching to this book was an amazing idea. I saw some of my fellow Eurovision-loving friends talk about it and immediately knew I should buy this book.
Eurovision! actually includes way more history than I thought it would. The book has one chapter for every year of Eurovision (1956 - 2016) and every chapter includes what happened in the world of Eurovision and in the world of politics, wars, social changes, and so on. Chris West includes all the plans and ideas to unite Europe, statistics on what people thought about these ideas, which troubles we had with European countries or which troubles European countries had with other nations, and more.
On the music side, he talks about some of the more interesting songs of every year of Eurovision, about the rules and technologies that have changed, about the controversies Eurovision or certain artists or songs caused and on how politics sometimes influenced the contest.
I definitely learned a lot about history. I think in school we don't learn enough about what happens after World War 2 so I only had an overview about certain things and this book added more facts to these gaps. I also learned more about Eurovision, especially the early years and the controversy that the contest brought with it even back then.
It's very interesting to see how both Eurovision and Europe developed over the past 60 years and to see which influences contributed to the changes.
Especially in the last 15 or 20 years/chapters I don't always agree with the author's opinion on the EU and on certain countries but I still enjoyed reading all of it and I'm glad this book wasn't dry or boring but in fact not just insightful but also quite witty and generally just really interesting!
January 26, 2023
Luulin tietäväni aika paljon Euroviisuista ja Euroopan historiasta, mutta opin paljon uutta! Hyvässä suhteessa molempia teemoja ja kiinnostavalla tavalla tuotiin esiin niiden yhtymäkohtia. :)
March 8, 2021
I am a huge Eurovision fan. I love everything about this crazy song contest. Therefore I really enjoyed getting a lot of history I have missed since I haven't been alive for more than a third of this contests life. It got a little slow and off topic at times though.
June 29, 2020
So as long as I can remember I've had a childlike love of everything Eurovision. The cringe, the heartfelt ballads, the madness, and especially the voting where each country gets to showcase themselves and their song preferences. The subtext and context surrounding the Eurovision went on to breed a love of geography and politics as well. So when I saw this book existed, I thought this was made for me. The more I read the book I felt that it really wasn't.
I want to preface this by saying I actually enjoyed the book especially the tidbits about various artists and political controversies surrounding the Eurovision. I think the political commentary, however, was ...meh. Maybe, this is because I knew most of what was being referenced already (thus the book isn't for me) and also because I felt the author did a poor job of balancing political talking points and Eurovision trivia. Some chapters weighed heavily on politics and not enough on the Eurovision and vice versa. I felt like a lot of stuff was omitted that would have been cool to include like the various stage invaders (other than SuRie's) and just maybe a bit more information on past winners. For example, I think Dima Bilan (2008 Russian winner) is bisexual and it would have been interesting to follow up that considering Russias 'relationship' with LGBT members.
So political problems. I noticed some things that were referenced that were kind of wrong (someone smarter than me might spot a few more errors these are just the ones I found). In the original Churchill quote, sure, Yugoslavia is considered 'behind the iron curtain'. However, post-1948 the term was increasingly used to refer to just the Soviet Union. While I understand that this is kind of a pedantic point, the author makes no attempt to make clear that Yugoslavia is in fact a separate country not under Russian rule. To add to further obfuscation, the country is only ever talked about when referencing the USSR. This I feel is so disingenuous in representing the country especially when in the context of Eurovision it's presence is so darn interesting. A socialist country that also maintained a sense of a European identity. Also, the author refers to Yugoslavia as part of the iron curtain a cringeworthy amount of times. It is beyond me that this made it to publish.
I'm Irish so I have a pretty good understanding of the 'Troubles'. Obviously I do not endorse the IRA or anything like that but I often feel that English writers (and politicians) have a very dim understanding of the political nuance in Northern Ireland. So I think it needs to be said if you are going to talk about them (IRA) you should really mention the context and why they are fighting e.g. civil rights campaigns in the 60s, conditions surrounding the partition of Ireland, etc because oftentimes I feel this is misrepresented.
In conclusion, I don't want my critiques of the book to discourage anyone from reading it because it is worth it IMO. The chapters are brief, chronologically organized, and gives a decent rounding off each year. It's great for Eurovision fans because when you are trying to remember some odd piece of trivia you can flick through it and find it easily. If you have a favorite year you want to revisit you can! It doesn't really have robust political commentary but I mean, it's not really why you would read this book in the first place. I'm glad I bought it and I'll probably re-read when the beloved Eurovision comes back next year!
I want to preface this by saying I actually enjoyed the book especially the tidbits about various artists and political controversies surrounding the Eurovision. I think the political commentary, however, was ...meh. Maybe, this is because I knew most of what was being referenced already (thus the book isn't for me) and also because I felt the author did a poor job of balancing political talking points and Eurovision trivia. Some chapters weighed heavily on politics and not enough on the Eurovision and vice versa. I felt like a lot of stuff was omitted that would have been cool to include like the various stage invaders (other than SuRie's) and just maybe a bit more information on past winners. For example, I think Dima Bilan (2008 Russian winner) is bisexual and it would have been interesting to follow up that considering Russias 'relationship' with LGBT members.
So political problems. I noticed some things that were referenced that were kind of wrong (someone smarter than me might spot a few more errors these are just the ones I found). In the original Churchill quote, sure, Yugoslavia is considered 'behind the iron curtain'. However, post-1948 the term was increasingly used to refer to just the Soviet Union. While I understand that this is kind of a pedantic point, the author makes no attempt to make clear that Yugoslavia is in fact a separate country not under Russian rule. To add to further obfuscation, the country is only ever talked about when referencing the USSR. This I feel is so disingenuous in representing the country especially when in the context of Eurovision it's presence is so darn interesting. A socialist country that also maintained a sense of a European identity. Also, the author refers to Yugoslavia as part of the iron curtain a cringeworthy amount of times. It is beyond me that this made it to publish.
I'm Irish so I have a pretty good understanding of the 'Troubles'. Obviously I do not endorse the IRA or anything like that but I often feel that English writers (and politicians) have a very dim understanding of the political nuance in Northern Ireland. So I think it needs to be said if you are going to talk about them (IRA) you should really mention the context and why they are fighting e.g. civil rights campaigns in the 60s, conditions surrounding the partition of Ireland, etc because oftentimes I feel this is misrepresented.
In conclusion, I don't want my critiques of the book to discourage anyone from reading it because it is worth it IMO. The chapters are brief, chronologically organized, and gives a decent rounding off each year. It's great for Eurovision fans because when you are trying to remember some odd piece of trivia you can flick through it and find it easily. If you have a favorite year you want to revisit you can! It doesn't really have robust political commentary but I mean, it's not really why you would read this book in the first place. I'm glad I bought it and I'll probably re-read when the beloved Eurovision comes back next year!
July 28, 2021
A history of Europe, told year by year, through the lens of Eurovision song contests? Not quite a full history of Eurovision, nor an in depth analysis of Europe, but it worked pretty well as a book to be dipped into, or read as a light but informative book.
By trying to look at both Eurovision and Europe it sometimes felt a bit like both elements were brushed over a bit too lightly. Some years contained almost no information at all about their Eurovisions beyond who won and whether it was deserved or not. In other years there was a more pleasing contextualisation and analysis of the contests, not just the winners but the staging, the other tunes, the presenters, even the audience reactions.
When Eurovision itself rose to meet the book's remit (Conchita Wurst, Ruslana and Loreen engaging with political protests and movements at the time, the times when Eurovision entries were about politics directly like Italy in 1990, etc) the fusion of these two narratives worked really nicely. And there is a decent amount of information about some of the contests and winners. The fact that West covers Intervision, the Warsaw Pact rival, shows a willingness to explore beyond the borders of nul points and glittery outfits.
Ultimately I didn't get quite as much information about Eurovision or Europe from this book as I might have wanted, but I still enjoyed the ride and would definitely give it to anyone who thinks Eurovision is irrelevant, stupid or nothing to do with Europe itself. The insights into language use alone are worth reading.
And as a side note: the bit where West describes how in 2019 the UK decided to take Eurovision more seriously for 2020 ends with him saying he doesn't want to jinx the UK to nul points by telling us this... oh Chris, you couldn't possibly have foreseen that it wouldn't just be the UK but EVERYONE getting nul points in 2020 after all...
By trying to look at both Eurovision and Europe it sometimes felt a bit like both elements were brushed over a bit too lightly. Some years contained almost no information at all about their Eurovisions beyond who won and whether it was deserved or not. In other years there was a more pleasing contextualisation and analysis of the contests, not just the winners but the staging, the other tunes, the presenters, even the audience reactions.
When Eurovision itself rose to meet the book's remit (Conchita Wurst, Ruslana and Loreen engaging with political protests and movements at the time, the times when Eurovision entries were about politics directly like Italy in 1990, etc) the fusion of these two narratives worked really nicely. And there is a decent amount of information about some of the contests and winners. The fact that West covers Intervision, the Warsaw Pact rival, shows a willingness to explore beyond the borders of nul points and glittery outfits.
Ultimately I didn't get quite as much information about Eurovision or Europe from this book as I might have wanted, but I still enjoyed the ride and would definitely give it to anyone who thinks Eurovision is irrelevant, stupid or nothing to do with Europe itself. The insights into language use alone are worth reading.
And as a side note: the bit where West describes how in 2019 the UK decided to take Eurovision more seriously for 2020 ends with him saying he doesn't want to jinx the UK to nul points by telling us this... oh Chris, you couldn't possibly have foreseen that it wouldn't just be the UK but EVERYONE getting nul points in 2020 after all...
December 28, 2017
Over het Eurovisiesongfestival zijn al halve bibliotheken bijeen geschreven, maar door het festival te bekijken vanuit een politiek-economische bril en jaar per jaar te bekijken hoe het politieke toneel weerspiegeld wordt op het Eurovisiepodium, slaagt West erin om een andere kijk te bieden. Alleen vond ik dat niet altijd even verrijkend - de beschrijvingen van beide perspectieven staan vaak naast elkaar, zonder veel integratie, en de hoofdstukken lezen soms als een niet altijd even enthousiasmerende geschiedenis van de Europese Unie. Het staat buiten kijf dat veel van wat op het Eurovisiesongfestival gebeurt politiek geïnspireerd is, maar in een ander format (niet jaar-per-jaar, maar thematisch of op een andere, minder strakke manier) zou het boek beter tot z'n recht zijn gekomen. Al heb ik nu wel veel bijgeleerd over de EU - over Eurovisie net iets minder, maar da's misschien omdat ik intussen sowieso al een veel te grote fanboy ben geworden.
June 3, 2021
An hilarious yet interesting book about Eurovision and European politics. I'm a huge fan of the Eurovision Song Contest yet I still learnt some new things which is what I like. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Eurovision and the history of Europe through politics as well.
*Starts with the first contest in 1956 and finishes with the 2019 contest.*
*Starts with the first contest in 1956 and finishes with the 2019 contest.*
September 28, 2018
I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this birthday present was! The book spends a few pages on each year of the Eurovision Song Contest, describing not only highlights of the show, but also explaining what was going on in Europe at the time and how the contest reflected that. A fascinating read, and pretty accessible for the most part, even for those who don't know much about history or the past contests. The one drawback was that at times there was a bit of an assumption that you would have an awareness of x issue or event, which perhaps a European person would, but I was aware that occasionally I was missing something (also many many acronyms!). I learned a lot and can definitely see why paying more attention to the past is important! Looking forward to Eurovision this year even more now!
May 14, 2019
What a genuinely great book, a mix of social and musical history set against the backdrop of Eurovision.
Loads of fascinating details about the contest and its participants but also loads about the history of Europe as a political and social entity. I think many people would be put off reading this due to the Eurovision links, but they would be wrong as this goes far beyond the song contest to look at the wider context of what it means to be European.
To quote from the conclusion of the book.. ' as Eurovision enters its seventh decade, its quirky, tolerant heartfelt humanity is needed more than ever..... it may even keep us going in the right direction. '
Loads of fascinating details about the contest and its participants but also loads about the history of Europe as a political and social entity. I think many people would be put off reading this due to the Eurovision links, but they would be wrong as this goes far beyond the song contest to look at the wider context of what it means to be European.
To quote from the conclusion of the book.. ' as Eurovision enters its seventh decade, its quirky, tolerant heartfelt humanity is needed more than ever..... it may even keep us going in the right direction. '
May 28, 2020
I went in expecting this to be another tongue in cheek, silly foreigners, look at Eurovision, but was surprised at how insightful it was about the history aspect of politics in modern Europe, the complicated evolution and workings of the EU and the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. It wouldn't be Eurovision without a little joshing about the actual Contests, but it's entirely respectful, and mostly factual, with a little personal preference. As a long time fan there were plenty of nuggets that were completely new information to me too...
December 1, 2022
Huge fan and been enjoying it with my family since the childhood.
If you're into the show and how politic runs in EBU and the rest, this book is fun refreshment for you. Easy and quick, loved it!
4 starts because they went too easy on them, for my tast.
If you're into the show and how politic runs in EBU and the rest, this book is fun refreshment for you. Easy and quick, loved it!
4 starts because they went too easy on them, for my tast.
May 11, 2023
This is history with a side of Eurovision. I never realised how mental Europe's history was. Eurovision is like the dysfunctional family Christmas all of Europe attends once a year and the drama is top tier batshit.
February 18, 2018
Since I am a massive fan of Eurovision, and also very interested in politics, this book was kind of the perfect match. It contains as much Eurovision as it deals with European politics and history.
There were a lot of interesting facts I actually had no idea of. One thing I found incredibly interesting was that the first ever contestant who performed in Eurovision, back in 1956, was a Jewish holocaust survivor. It just seems so fitting since Eurovision was created to unite the new Europe after World War II and all its horrors. I wont list everything I found interesting, but I cannot BELIEVE that the symbol on the stage in the 1969 contest was a kind of tribute to Franco. Just. Wow. I also thank the book for mentioning Polina Gagarina in the light she deserves, because she is precious and needs to be protected.
I just found the whole read to be throroughly enjoyable (even though "Fångad av en stormvind" was spelled wrong), and I didn't really want to finish it because I didn't want it to end.
There were a lot of interesting facts I actually had no idea of. One thing I found incredibly interesting was that the first ever contestant who performed in Eurovision, back in 1956, was a Jewish holocaust survivor. It just seems so fitting since Eurovision was created to unite the new Europe after World War II and all its horrors. I wont list everything I found interesting, but I cannot BELIEVE that the symbol on the stage in the 1969 contest was a kind of tribute to Franco. Just. Wow. I also thank the book for mentioning Polina Gagarina in the light she deserves, because she is precious and needs to be protected.
I just found the whole read to be throroughly enjoyable (even though "Fångad av en stormvind" was spelled wrong), and I didn't really want to finish it because I didn't want it to end.
September 3, 2017
A very readable account of Eurovision History, within the context of a wider European Social History. Easily worth four stars if you're a Eurovision fan. As someone who likes the idea of Eurovision more than sitting through several hours of "ding, ding-a dong" - even ironically - I warmed to the idea of watching the next one. Indeed, there are various aspects to this contest which I had not appreciated which I have a feel for now. For instance, that other nations often send accomplished artists to the contest - as opposed to us who often send manufactured bands who aren't a good representative of where British popular music is at.
Perhaps Chris West's greatest success though is balancing the Eurovision and the European Social History aspects. If you love Eurovision but think you hate History, the History aspects don't overwhelm the narrative; likewise the Eurovision doesn't overwhelm the Social History. For this achievement alone, the author deserves recognition. It's a balance all too often not achieved.
Perhaps Chris West's greatest success though is balancing the Eurovision and the European Social History aspects. If you love Eurovision but think you hate History, the History aspects don't overwhelm the narrative; likewise the Eurovision doesn't overwhelm the Social History. For this achievement alone, the author deserves recognition. It's a balance all too often not achieved.
January 11, 2021
Overall the book has great titbits on Eurovision. Lots of small facts I hadn’t considered or known about. But pairing Eurovision with politics seemed a bit clunky and at times forced. Especially when there’s a year where there are no parallels. The author needs to remain more respectful on some of the more sensitive political issues he mentions though. Some comments were tragically disappointing. It’s a nice read...
November 22, 2017
Highly entertaining, informative and overall great read. Chris West really knows how to carry the narrative of ESC and the narrative of ever-changing European and world politics together. This book is clearly a labor of love for him and as an Eurovision lover I learned so much from this great book. Highly recommended for people who enjoy ESC, politics, or both.
October 28, 2024
A good summary of how the "non-political" Eurovision reflects and always have been surrounded with politics.
Would love to hear what Chris thought about the shitshow that was the 2024 contest - I audibly scoffed on the page about "EBU listening to its fanbase" considering how fast that statement aged like milk.
Would love to hear what Chris thought about the shitshow that was the 2024 contest - I audibly scoffed on the page about "EBU listening to its fanbase" considering how fast that statement aged like milk.
September 21, 2019
interesting and factual about modern europe
October 14, 2022
The book:
“Eurovision!” by Chris West, first published by Melville House in 2017 and updated in 2020, is a great example of the eclectic range of books this publisher champions. Charting both the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and that of Europe from the mid-1950s onwards, the author highlights the many changes that have occurred over the decades, and how this has been reflected in the great annual song contest.
My thoughts:
As mentioned in a former post, I don’t read very much non-fiction. So when I do, it needs to be on a subject I’m really interested in (see “After Agatha”!). I have been a fan of the Eurovision since childhood (no doubt driven early on by a desire to be allowed to stay up late…). And I like to watch it properly — no having it on in the background; I want to watch it, I want to give my scores, I want a flag, I want to shout in disbelief at the results, and in more recent years I want to watch the semi-finals too.
So, I came at this book with a great deal of interest and optimism; and I’m pleased to say that it did not disappoint!
Each chapter focuses on a year, and charts the progress of the Eurovision from inception in 1955 and first contest in 1956 (of which, sadly, footage does not exist apart from the winner’s refrain), through to the Netherlands victory in 2019. Alongside this, the author charts the history of Europe, starting with the early post-war years, with the creation of the European Broadcasting Union and European Coal and Steel Community (with the six member nations of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg — also the contestants in the first song contest, along with Switzerland).
Themes like feminism, environmentalism and national independence are all present as Eurovision progresses and grows, with the themes of the contest often holding up a mirror to what was going on in the representatives’ countries and the world. For example, the year 1972 which saw Germany enter “Diese Welt” (“This World”) with an environmental message, was the same year Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace were founded.
And in fact, an early winner of the contest in 1961 was “Nous Les Amoureux” (“We, The Lovers”) by Luxembourg, about “love that is forbidden by religion and frowned on by society”, which the author suggests is a song about homosexuality (which was illegal in nearly half the countries participating in the contest that year); an early example of the inclusivity that Eurovision champions today.
But it’s also important not to forget the fun that makes so many people love Eurovision, and the author’s affectionate writing and dry humour really reflect this. Each chapter is packed with information and historical detail, but is also short and sprinkled with a good dose of humour, so doesn’t feel overwhelming. All Eurovision fans love crazy lyrics, mad outfits, nul point scores and laugh-out-loud voting, and will be amply rewarded by reading this book.
“Eurovision!” by Chris West, first published by Melville House in 2017 and updated in 2020, is a great example of the eclectic range of books this publisher champions. Charting both the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and that of Europe from the mid-1950s onwards, the author highlights the many changes that have occurred over the decades, and how this has been reflected in the great annual song contest.
My thoughts:
As mentioned in a former post, I don’t read very much non-fiction. So when I do, it needs to be on a subject I’m really interested in (see “After Agatha”!). I have been a fan of the Eurovision since childhood (no doubt driven early on by a desire to be allowed to stay up late…). And I like to watch it properly — no having it on in the background; I want to watch it, I want to give my scores, I want a flag, I want to shout in disbelief at the results, and in more recent years I want to watch the semi-finals too.
So, I came at this book with a great deal of interest and optimism; and I’m pleased to say that it did not disappoint!
Each chapter focuses on a year, and charts the progress of the Eurovision from inception in 1955 and first contest in 1956 (of which, sadly, footage does not exist apart from the winner’s refrain), through to the Netherlands victory in 2019. Alongside this, the author charts the history of Europe, starting with the early post-war years, with the creation of the European Broadcasting Union and European Coal and Steel Community (with the six member nations of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg — also the contestants in the first song contest, along with Switzerland).
Themes like feminism, environmentalism and national independence are all present as Eurovision progresses and grows, with the themes of the contest often holding up a mirror to what was going on in the representatives’ countries and the world. For example, the year 1972 which saw Germany enter “Diese Welt” (“This World”) with an environmental message, was the same year Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace were founded.
And in fact, an early winner of the contest in 1961 was “Nous Les Amoureux” (“We, The Lovers”) by Luxembourg, about “love that is forbidden by religion and frowned on by society”, which the author suggests is a song about homosexuality (which was illegal in nearly half the countries participating in the contest that year); an early example of the inclusivity that Eurovision champions today.
But it’s also important not to forget the fun that makes so many people love Eurovision, and the author’s affectionate writing and dry humour really reflect this. Each chapter is packed with information and historical detail, but is also short and sprinkled with a good dose of humour, so doesn’t feel overwhelming. All Eurovision fans love crazy lyrics, mad outfits, nul point scores and laugh-out-loud voting, and will be amply rewarded by reading this book.
August 26, 2025
Chris West’s Eurovision! is an engaging and fact-packed look at the contest as more than just a kitschy music show. It uses the annual event as a lens on post-war European history, showing how politics, culture and identity have shaped both the competition and the continent.
The book is full of sharp observations and fascinating background detail. For example, West explains how Portugal’s 1974 entry, E Depois do Adeus, doubled as a coded signal that triggered the Carnation Revolution; how Yugoslavia’s participation reflected its delicate balancing act between East and West; and how Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic states have used the contest to project national pride and independence. He also shows how artists themselves respond to the politics swirling around them, sometimes deliberately challenging stereotypes or using the stage as a form of protest.
One of West’s key points is that winning Eurovision does not automatically mean chart success. Domenico Modugno’s Volare (Italy, 1958) is a famous example: it came only third on the night, but went on to become one of the most recognisable songs in the world. Conversely, many winners disappear without a trace soon after the show.
Overall, West makes the case that Eurovision is much more than camp spectacle. It is a mirror of Europe’s dreams, tensions and contradictions — told through the unlikely medium of pop songs.
The book is full of sharp observations and fascinating background detail. For example, West explains how Portugal’s 1974 entry, E Depois do Adeus, doubled as a coded signal that triggered the Carnation Revolution; how Yugoslavia’s participation reflected its delicate balancing act between East and West; and how Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic states have used the contest to project national pride and independence. He also shows how artists themselves respond to the politics swirling around them, sometimes deliberately challenging stereotypes or using the stage as a form of protest.
One of West’s key points is that winning Eurovision does not automatically mean chart success. Domenico Modugno’s Volare (Italy, 1958) is a famous example: it came only third on the night, but went on to become one of the most recognisable songs in the world. Conversely, many winners disappear without a trace soon after the show.
Overall, West makes the case that Eurovision is much more than camp spectacle. It is a mirror of Europe’s dreams, tensions and contradictions — told through the unlikely medium of pop songs.
May 27, 2021
Now this was brilliant! I picked it up because I needed a Eurovision related suggestion for a work thing, read the introduction and was so hooked I needed to read the entire book. The book dives wonderfully into the world of Eurovision while explaining what else was going on in Europe at the time and that's a combination that works. It analyzes the winning songs and memorable performances and all the makes Eurovision the greatest thing on Earth it is.
At the same time it reminds the reader of important things happening alongside, making you pay attention to events you might have forgotten and see how they affected Eurovision. This is also a perfect reminder that the Eurovision Song Contest isn't and never has been an apolitical contest, no matter how much it tried to pretend or make sure no one says anything vaguely political. It was also incredible to read this and realize how many important historical events I had already managed to forget. It's amazing this contest has been running as long as it has and while it has changed quite a bit, at heart it is still the same it was decades ago. This year proved it.
At the same time it reminds the reader of important things happening alongside, making you pay attention to events you might have forgotten and see how they affected Eurovision. This is also a perfect reminder that the Eurovision Song Contest isn't and never has been an apolitical contest, no matter how much it tried to pretend or make sure no one says anything vaguely political. It was also incredible to read this and realize how many important historical events I had already managed to forget. It's amazing this contest has been running as long as it has and while it has changed quite a bit, at heart it is still the same it was decades ago. This year proved it.
May 22, 2020
This is a (mostly) fun gallop through European history and the Eurovision song contest since 1955 (the bits that weren't fun were the tragic events in Bosnia and Kosovo). It's around 25% Eurovision and 75% wider history. Some of the analysis connecting Eurovision to social and political history is a bit of stretch, but for fans of the competition, there are some lovely insights.
Overall, I would have liked more about the songs and performers, but it was a great window for looking at Europe and the big changes since the end of World War II, and as a Brit, it was refreshing to approach this history through a much broader geographic perspective, albeit from an author championing the values of liberal western and northern Europe.
Overall, I would have liked more about the songs and performers, but it was a great window for looking at Europe and the big changes since the end of World War II, and as a Brit, it was refreshing to approach this history through a much broader geographic perspective, albeit from an author championing the values of liberal western and northern Europe.
May 2, 2021
I’m a huge Eurovision enthusiast and I absolutely loved this book. Not only is this a joyous celebration of the song contest but also a year by year history of Europe. This book neatly uses the lyrics, fashion and staging of the competition to reflect on the changing continent and it’s a fascinating summary of Europe’s divisions and the ways in which we are united. I could not stop reading this book, and if I did it was only to listen to the songs on YouTube and reminisce about my favourite performances. I found so much of this book fascinating and it piqued my interest in so many countries’ history. I wish there had a tiny bit more about the contest. Perhaps more about the presenters or behind the scene information but it’s a minor criticism about a thorough book.
February 21, 2018
Really a 4.5 but will award 4 stars. Far more about European politics than it is about Eurovision. An enjoyable read with some interesting angles but it is certainly more focused on politics. Some years, which were great Eurovision years, were really diluted to be solely about politics and history. I was particularly looking forward to 1974 (Abba's win) 1988 (Celine Dion) and 2015 (the 60th Anniversary and Australia's debut) but there wasn't really any new information on any of the subjects. Luckily, I am interested in both. However, anyone looking for a book just about the contest with interesting statistics and facts this isn't for you.
January 22, 2023
A good outline of the contest and of European history and institutions up to 2019. This book will appeal to its target audience and fans of the contest will enjoy it.
Some aspects of wider European historical context are a little bit over-simplified (although in fairness this book does not claim to provide an in depth discussion of any historical event, but it's worth keeping it in mind whilst reading). However, overall the book is an enjoyable and easy read, in part due to the length of the chapters which make it easy to dip in and out of the book even if you only have a spare 15 minutes. Ultimately this does what it says on the tin and I enjoyed reading this.
Some aspects of wider European historical context are a little bit over-simplified (although in fairness this book does not claim to provide an in depth discussion of any historical event, but it's worth keeping it in mind whilst reading). However, overall the book is an enjoyable and easy read, in part due to the length of the chapters which make it easy to dip in and out of the book even if you only have a spare 15 minutes. Ultimately this does what it says on the tin and I enjoyed reading this.
May 13, 2024
What a perfect combo for a lover of Eurovision and European political institutions! I enjoyed reading it so much, especially while reading it right before Eurovision 2024 took place.
The structure is simple and logical: every next year is a new chapter. However, I wish there was a tighter connection between the description of Eurovision and political background. Sometimes it seemed they were completely unrelated parts of the chapter. And by the end of the book it felt a bit repetitive.
But anyway, a very decent summary of Euro(vision) history. I think even those who are not fans of Eurovision could enjoy it just reading the 2nd, more general, part of each chapter.
The structure is simple and logical: every next year is a new chapter. However, I wish there was a tighter connection between the description of Eurovision and political background. Sometimes it seemed they were completely unrelated parts of the chapter. And by the end of the book it felt a bit repetitive.
But anyway, a very decent summary of Euro(vision) history. I think even those who are not fans of Eurovision could enjoy it just reading the 2nd, more general, part of each chapter.
May 15, 2020
This is truly an excellent book, charting the political, social and economic history of Europe through the lens of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The author seamlessly shows how Eurovision is intrinsically linked with European history and that of European Union. He never shies away from offering a personal perspective on the contest’s songs and there is a true sense of affection for the ESC, however flawed it may be.
I would recommend this book to any fans of Eurovision as well anyone wanting to learn more about the history of Europe over the past 60 years.
The author seamlessly shows how Eurovision is intrinsically linked with European history and that of European Union. He never shies away from offering a personal perspective on the contest’s songs and there is a true sense of affection for the ESC, however flawed it may be.
I would recommend this book to any fans of Eurovision as well anyone wanting to learn more about the history of Europe over the past 60 years.
January 9, 2024
(3.5 Stars) How it felt was 60% Eurovision and 40% European history. I liked it overall, but some countries were rarely talked about, and/or we would only hear about them in a certain era and not hear too much about them again. I do highly recommend this book for any Americans (like my self), people who enjoy Eurovision, and people who enjoy learning about the politics of Europe. Side note: the book ends in the year 2016, so their some years of the contest missing!!!
🇺🇸♥️🇱🇹♥️🇫🇮♥️🇪🇺♥️🇺🇦♥️🇦🇲♥️🇩🇪♥️🇸🇪
🇺🇸♥️🇱🇹♥️🇫🇮♥️🇪🇺♥️🇺🇦♥️🇦🇲♥️🇩🇪♥️🇸🇪
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews