What do you think?
Rate this book
Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision
A memoir of race, glitz, glamour, geopolitics, and the power of pop music, following a misunderstood queer biracial kid from small-town Georgia who became the world's foremost Eurovision Song Contest blogger.
As a boy, William Lee Adams spent his days taking care of his quadriplegic brother, worrying about his undiagnosed bipolar Vietnamese mother, and steering clear of his openly racist and homophobic father. Too shy and anxious to even speak until he was six years old, it seemed unlikely William would ever leave small-town Georgia. He passed the time alone in his room, studying maps and reading encyclopedias, dreaming of distant places where he might one day feel free.
In time, William discovered that learning was both a refuge and a ticket out. So even as he struggled to understand and to get others to accept both his sexuality and his biracial identity, William focused on his schoolwork, his extracurriculars, and building community with the students and teachers who embraced him for who he truly was. Though his scholarship to Harvard parachuted him into a whole new world, he still carried a lifetime of secrets and unanswered questions that would haunt him no matter how far he traveled.
Years later, as a journalist in London, William discovered the Eurovision Song Contest—an annual competition known for its extravagant performers and cutthroat politics. Initially just a fan, he started blogging about the contest, ultimately becoming the most sought-after expert on the subject. From Albania, Finland, and Ukraine, to Israel, Sweden, and Russia, William was soon jetting across the Continent to meet divas, drag queens, and aspiring singers, who welcomed him to their beautiful, if dysfunctional, family of choice.
An uplifting memoir about glitz, glamour, geopolitics, and finding your people, no matter how far you must travel, Wild Dances celebrates the power of pop music to help us heal and forgive.
As a boy, William Lee Adams spent his days taking care of his quadriplegic brother, worrying about his undiagnosed bipolar Vietnamese mother, and steering clear of his openly racist and homophobic father. Too shy and anxious to even speak until he was six years old, it seemed unlikely William would ever leave small-town Georgia. He passed the time alone in his room, studying maps and reading encyclopedias, dreaming of distant places where he might one day feel free.
In time, William discovered that learning was both a refuge and a ticket out. So even as he struggled to understand and to get others to accept both his sexuality and his biracial identity, William focused on his schoolwork, his extracurriculars, and building community with the students and teachers who embraced him for who he truly was. Though his scholarship to Harvard parachuted him into a whole new world, he still carried a lifetime of secrets and unanswered questions that would haunt him no matter how far he traveled.
Years later, as a journalist in London, William discovered the Eurovision Song Contest—an annual competition known for its extravagant performers and cutthroat politics. Initially just a fan, he started blogging about the contest, ultimately becoming the most sought-after expert on the subject. From Albania, Finland, and Ukraine, to Israel, Sweden, and Russia, William was soon jetting across the Continent to meet divas, drag queens, and aspiring singers, who welcomed him to their beautiful, if dysfunctional, family of choice.
An uplifting memoir about glitz, glamour, geopolitics, and finding your people, no matter how far you must travel, Wild Dances celebrates the power of pop music to help us heal and forgive.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 9, 2023
12 people are currently reading
1324 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 9, 2023
Happy release day!!!!
Douze points to William Lee Adams!
Thanks to Netgalley & Astra Publishing for granting me this to read just before Eurovision 2023 - Wild Dances is perfectly timed to release near the song contest.
From a difficult childhood growing up in Atlanta among troubled family members, feeding his burgeoning queer identity with little dance routines haphazardly taped on to the ends of TV recordings, to the bright lights and thrumming beats of Eurovision finals, this book was a stellar performance of its own.
"I won’t count my college debt in dollars. I’ll measure it in guilt for living fully and totally for myself."
William peels back the layers of glitter, heavy makeup, and outlandish stage costumes to paint an intimate portrait of his own path to becoming an authority in Eurovision media coverage. Frankly written and so heartfelt that pain seeps from the pages at times, this memoir's heaviest parts were quite difficult to read through, so fair warning for sensitive readers.
It opens with the death and funeral of William's father and the retrospection that invites, moving to examine the author's upbringing in 80s and 90s Atlanta with a Vietnamese mother and American soldier father. The Vietnamese food, relatives and culture mentioned throughout were a lovely, warming part of the narrative. It then transitions to college years, and eventually to what we know now, of the famous Wiwibloggs and its yearly journeys to wherever the song contest is being held.
Eurovision isn't mentioned much before the sixty percent mark, so depending on why you picked up the book that may come as a disappointment. Once it is mentioned, I was blown away at the detail, candid interviews he managed to catch, and even the geopolitical context provided for different wins and scandals. Incredible work. I was really curious, personally, to read about William's journey to running Wiwibloggs, my favorite source for Eurovision coverage, and not at all disappointed there.
Five stars for a thorough excavation of William's early life til now, and all the pain and excitement that went alongside. A good memoir doesn't shrink back from or sugarcoat our darkest moments, and this was well done.
TWs for homophobia, child abuse, domestic violence, frank discussions of troubled mental health, death of family members.
Douze points to William Lee Adams!
Thanks to Netgalley & Astra Publishing for granting me this to read just before Eurovision 2023 - Wild Dances is perfectly timed to release near the song contest.
From a difficult childhood growing up in Atlanta among troubled family members, feeding his burgeoning queer identity with little dance routines haphazardly taped on to the ends of TV recordings, to the bright lights and thrumming beats of Eurovision finals, this book was a stellar performance of its own.
"I won’t count my college debt in dollars. I’ll measure it in guilt for living fully and totally for myself."
William peels back the layers of glitter, heavy makeup, and outlandish stage costumes to paint an intimate portrait of his own path to becoming an authority in Eurovision media coverage. Frankly written and so heartfelt that pain seeps from the pages at times, this memoir's heaviest parts were quite difficult to read through, so fair warning for sensitive readers.
It opens with the death and funeral of William's father and the retrospection that invites, moving to examine the author's upbringing in 80s and 90s Atlanta with a Vietnamese mother and American soldier father. The Vietnamese food, relatives and culture mentioned throughout were a lovely, warming part of the narrative. It then transitions to college years, and eventually to what we know now, of the famous Wiwibloggs and its yearly journeys to wherever the song contest is being held.
Eurovision isn't mentioned much before the sixty percent mark, so depending on why you picked up the book that may come as a disappointment. Once it is mentioned, I was blown away at the detail, candid interviews he managed to catch, and even the geopolitical context provided for different wins and scandals. Incredible work. I was really curious, personally, to read about William's journey to running Wiwibloggs, my favorite source for Eurovision coverage, and not at all disappointed there.
Five stars for a thorough excavation of William's early life til now, and all the pain and excitement that went alongside. A good memoir doesn't shrink back from or sugarcoat our darkest moments, and this was well done.
TWs for homophobia, child abuse, domestic violence, frank discussions of troubled mental health, death of family members.
April 15, 2023
‘Wild Dances’ is a unabashedly honest telling of William Lee Adana’ life through his childhood in Atlanta, becoming who he truly is as a gay man in a conservative household, and through to discovering Eurovision, a huge part of who he is.
This book can be heartbreaking and at times harrowing, with moments of joy speckled throughout, going into the life he holds in London with his husbands cats and Wiwibloggs family.
The way the family dynamic is described is fascinating, with a truly uplifting element with his wonderful relationship with his brother John. So often stories like John’s are undersold or dehumanising, with the disabled person’s whole personality and character entirely missed out, however William describes John so beautifully, and we really get a sense of love from them.
Anyone who watches Wiwibloggs’ content knows the meme queen that is Suzanne, so it’s great to see her story told too both good and bad. She is a fiercely independent woman, and we hear how William and Suzanne’s relationship has developed in recent years compared to their childhoods.
Death in a family can hurt so badly, but the depiction we see in ‘Wild Dances’ is brutally open and honest. From the moment of passing through the grieving process we get two very different examples and how the family cope with the loss.
Further into the book, we hear about William’s time at Harvard, and later his discovery of Eurovision and creation of Wiwibloggs. The stories that people on social media think they know aren’t at all what they seem, and I really think it would benefit a lot of people to read this and understand the truth. The stories of Kirkorov, Romanian national song selections and the emotional toll of covering everything possible are rarely told by William, who chooses a classy approach to online silliness. I’m so glad he’s finally telling his side of things, where people can see what’s actually happened at these events.
I really can’t stress enough how wonderful ‘Wild Dances’ is, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year, easily. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a truthful and real memoir before, with writers usually choosing the option to brush past inconvenient stories. William cracks them open and lets everyone into his world and vulnerability.
I adored this read, I really hope the Eurovision community takes time to appreciate this book.
This book can be heartbreaking and at times harrowing, with moments of joy speckled throughout, going into the life he holds in London with his husbands cats and Wiwibloggs family.
The way the family dynamic is described is fascinating, with a truly uplifting element with his wonderful relationship with his brother John. So often stories like John’s are undersold or dehumanising, with the disabled person’s whole personality and character entirely missed out, however William describes John so beautifully, and we really get a sense of love from them.
Anyone who watches Wiwibloggs’ content knows the meme queen that is Suzanne, so it’s great to see her story told too both good and bad. She is a fiercely independent woman, and we hear how William and Suzanne’s relationship has developed in recent years compared to their childhoods.
Death in a family can hurt so badly, but the depiction we see in ‘Wild Dances’ is brutally open and honest. From the moment of passing through the grieving process we get two very different examples and how the family cope with the loss.
Further into the book, we hear about William’s time at Harvard, and later his discovery of Eurovision and creation of Wiwibloggs. The stories that people on social media think they know aren’t at all what they seem, and I really think it would benefit a lot of people to read this and understand the truth. The stories of Kirkorov, Romanian national song selections and the emotional toll of covering everything possible are rarely told by William, who chooses a classy approach to online silliness. I’m so glad he’s finally telling his side of things, where people can see what’s actually happened at these events.
I really can’t stress enough how wonderful ‘Wild Dances’ is, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year, easily. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a truthful and real memoir before, with writers usually choosing the option to brush past inconvenient stories. William cracks them open and lets everyone into his world and vulnerability.
I adored this read, I really hope the Eurovision community takes time to appreciate this book.
February 2, 2023
Eurovision fans worldwide know the man on the video with the curly hair and the insight on every contestant. William Lee Adams, the Vietnamese-American journalist with the Southern twang in his voice, has been reporting on the song contest for well over a decade with his team at Wiwibloggs. And much like many of the contestants he reports on, Adams’ journey to the song contest has not been an easy road.
Adams new memoir Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision documents the path his life took from a childhood in Georgia, to an Ivy League college, to now living in London. This memoir is about the finding where you fit in personally and professionally, as well as overcoming the shared family trauma that so often restrains us. Framed by the loss of two important people in his life, this striking autobiography covers tough subjects usually shrouded in stigma such as mental health, physical disability, domestic violence, and sexual orientation.
I give Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision 5 out of 5 stars. It is not very often a book, let alone a memoir, can have me mourning a loss and laughing out loud in the span of two pages, but this book did just that. The way the author approached the difficult topics instead of shying away or glossing over them gives an authenticity to the writing. This memoir also serves to remind readers that popularity, fame, and success do not mean an individual has experienced an easy, or even happy life.
I recommend this book to readers familiar with Adams’ via the Eurovision contest, as well as those who have never heard his name. I also suggest this memoir to those who, like Adams, must navigate family culture while looking for love, happiness, and professional success. With discussions of sexual orientation and discovery, this book would be best for audiences over 13.
Adams new memoir Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision documents the path his life took from a childhood in Georgia, to an Ivy League college, to now living in London. This memoir is about the finding where you fit in personally and professionally, as well as overcoming the shared family trauma that so often restrains us. Framed by the loss of two important people in his life, this striking autobiography covers tough subjects usually shrouded in stigma such as mental health, physical disability, domestic violence, and sexual orientation.
I give Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision 5 out of 5 stars. It is not very often a book, let alone a memoir, can have me mourning a loss and laughing out loud in the span of two pages, but this book did just that. The way the author approached the difficult topics instead of shying away or glossing over them gives an authenticity to the writing. This memoir also serves to remind readers that popularity, fame, and success do not mean an individual has experienced an easy, or even happy life.
I recommend this book to readers familiar with Adams’ via the Eurovision contest, as well as those who have never heard his name. I also suggest this memoir to those who, like Adams, must navigate family culture while looking for love, happiness, and professional success. With discussions of sexual orientation and discovery, this book would be best for audiences over 13.
May 23, 2024
Ok, this is an odd one, but it popped up on my Storytel app and even though I can't stand the Wiwibloggs Eurovision news, I started to listen to the audio version of this book anyway, hoping to find news about Eurovision I didn't know yet.
William is the narrater of this book as well, which I disliked, because I'm just not a fan of his overly exaggerated way of explaining things. He's one big metaphor sometimes and I am just not into that, as well as the voices he gave everyone in his book. Also not a fan of that. But his story was interesting to hear about. Overly exaggerated as well, probably, always searching for a way to be special it feels like, but it wasn't all that bad in the end. Only the last 25% of the book deals about Eurovision and doesn't reveal things that a regular fan wouldn't know, which was slightly disappointing, but it rounded his story, ending by the death of his brother and the aftermath up pretty well. It's better written than I thought it would be. I feel the narration didn't help, so I would give this 3.5 stars, but making it 3 in the end. I could have done without this book in my life, but there we go, I made it through all the way and it was quick.
William is the narrater of this book as well, which I disliked, because I'm just not a fan of his overly exaggerated way of explaining things. He's one big metaphor sometimes and I am just not into that, as well as the voices he gave everyone in his book. Also not a fan of that. But his story was interesting to hear about. Overly exaggerated as well, probably, always searching for a way to be special it feels like, but it wasn't all that bad in the end. Only the last 25% of the book deals about Eurovision and doesn't reveal things that a regular fan wouldn't know, which was slightly disappointing, but it rounded his story, ending by the death of his brother and the aftermath up pretty well. It's better written than I thought it would be. I feel the narration didn't help, so I would give this 3.5 stars, but making it 3 in the end. I could have done without this book in my life, but there we go, I made it through all the way and it was quick.
June 30, 2023
I love Eurovision and have been following William and Wiwibloggs since the very early days, so I was very excited to dive into this book and discover more about what lead him to where he is now. And it was so much more than I expected. The book deals with extremely difficult topics, such as homophobia, challenging family relationships, mental health and physical abuse. Learning about the struggles that William has had to face has given me a whole new sense of respect for him and how hard he has worked.
However my complaint is that it's all very melancholy. I recognise that in a book that deals with such heavy topics that it's not all going to be kittens and rainbows, but I didn't get any sense of the joy and fun of Eurovision, and in fact he is quite scathing about most of the Eurovision acts he mentions. Even his relationship with his husband, which I imagine is a source of happiness and joy is skimmed over in order to get to the more depressing parts. So it's a 50/50 book for me. Some of it was brilliant, but I'm left feeling really quite depressed. I hope William can relocate his love for Eurovision which was so clearly there in years gone by, but seemingly now has been lost.
However my complaint is that it's all very melancholy. I recognise that in a book that deals with such heavy topics that it's not all going to be kittens and rainbows, but I didn't get any sense of the joy and fun of Eurovision, and in fact he is quite scathing about most of the Eurovision acts he mentions. Even his relationship with his husband, which I imagine is a source of happiness and joy is skimmed over in order to get to the more depressing parts. So it's a 50/50 book for me. Some of it was brilliant, but I'm left feeling really quite depressed. I hope William can relocate his love for Eurovision which was so clearly there in years gone by, but seemingly now has been lost.
June 18, 2023
Admittedly, I was expecting this book to be 75% about the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and 25% about Adams, but the ratio was reversed. And I ended up being more than OK about that. I have been a Wiwibloggs fan for about seven years. Adams is extraordinarily charismatic, intelligent, enthusiastic, compassionate, creative, and articulate. It was intriguing to learn more about the man behind the premiere Eurovision Song Contest blog / YouTube channel. (Wiwibloggs; check it out.)
Adams' book ends up chronically his childhood as a biracial child (Vietnamese mother and American father who served in Vietnam). His life is complicated and enriched by his family structure, which includes a lot of strong personalities (Mom, Dad, Bill, Suzanne, William) as well as an older brother, John, who lives with disability. As the book progresses, the dynamics of how all the family members relate to John (including extended family) ends up dominating the narrative. And that's more than OK. John's role in the family offers a valuable, complex, and touching narrative.
In addition with dealing with family drama, Adams also must negotiate being biracial and being a homosexual--which are further complicated by his growing up in an Atlanta suburb. It was a happy coincidence that I am finishing this book during Pride Month. (Love Is Love.)
I was cheering as I read how Adams was able to find a voice for himself through academics and the arts. It wasn't until about page 176 that he started talking about the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the details about the first 25 years or so of his life allow me to better see how these elements influence his ESC reporting. I can better see how his studies in psychology, his love for theater and drag shows, and his profession as a journalist (with Time and BBC as well as guest reporting for scores of other news organizations)--all brought him to ESC where he now flourishes as the lead journalist for the contest.
The book describes about three seasons where William watched from afar. Then he describes a handful of years in more detail. I have been following his reporting for a while, but I still gained some insider information by reading his description of reporting on the ground. I understand that this work is engaging but exhausting, and I am grateful for his efforts (and the efforts of his team members).
(Adams leads a team several contributing journalists who write for his blog and record for his YouTube channel, notably Deban Aderemi and more recently his sister Suzanne Adams. There are too many to list, but--and I repeat--CHECK OUT the blog and YT channel to learn more.)
Thank you, William, for sharing the most tender-hearted portions of your journey through your life to this point.
Adams' book ends up chronically his childhood as a biracial child (Vietnamese mother and American father who served in Vietnam). His life is complicated and enriched by his family structure, which includes a lot of strong personalities (Mom, Dad, Bill, Suzanne, William) as well as an older brother, John, who lives with disability. As the book progresses, the dynamics of how all the family members relate to John (including extended family) ends up dominating the narrative. And that's more than OK. John's role in the family offers a valuable, complex, and touching narrative.
In addition with dealing with family drama, Adams also must negotiate being biracial and being a homosexual--which are further complicated by his growing up in an Atlanta suburb. It was a happy coincidence that I am finishing this book during Pride Month. (Love Is Love.)
I was cheering as I read how Adams was able to find a voice for himself through academics and the arts. It wasn't until about page 176 that he started talking about the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the details about the first 25 years or so of his life allow me to better see how these elements influence his ESC reporting. I can better see how his studies in psychology, his love for theater and drag shows, and his profession as a journalist (with Time and BBC as well as guest reporting for scores of other news organizations)--all brought him to ESC where he now flourishes as the lead journalist for the contest.
The book describes about three seasons where William watched from afar. Then he describes a handful of years in more detail. I have been following his reporting for a while, but I still gained some insider information by reading his description of reporting on the ground. I understand that this work is engaging but exhausting, and I am grateful for his efforts (and the efforts of his team members).
(Adams leads a team several contributing journalists who write for his blog and record for his YouTube channel, notably Deban Aderemi and more recently his sister Suzanne Adams. There are too many to list, but--and I repeat--CHECK OUT the blog and YT channel to learn more.)
Thank you, William, for sharing the most tender-hearted portions of your journey through your life to this point.
May 27, 2023
“Wild Dances” was composed of two starkly different halves, with opposing problems. The first half was the more emotionally resonant of the two but had pacing that moved at a crawl (also a distinct lack of Eurovision). The second half had lightning-fast pacing, jumping from year to year of Eurovision competitions, but did little to justify its existence (i.e., it was boring). This memoir was not particularly thematically cohesive, nor was it especially well written. I applaud the author’s openness in sharing so much of his life, but didn’t love the book.
September 28, 2024
Llevo muchos años siguiendo a William, y aunque considero que es un buen periodista, como novelista no creo que esté al nivel.
Si bien su vida sí puede dar pie a ser contada en una novela, lo más probable es que esta autobiografía (larguísima, uf!) la haya escrito en un momento malo de su vida. Se nota el pesimismo en la manera en como narra, y no de manera poética, sino de estar realmente de mal humor.
La parte sobre Eurovision (si te esperas leer un libro sobre Eurovision, este no lo es) es corta y cínica. No me creo que alguien tan entregado a Eurovision no pueda contar ni una anécdota graciosa viviéndolo desde tan cerca. Estoy segura de que, si bien puedo empatizar de que debe ser agotador reportarlo todo y no conseguir demasiada ganancia financiera, también creo que William debe haber pasado de sus mejores momentos viviendo el certamen - al final es una persona que tiene esta pasión.
En cualquier caso, William, creo que has tenido una vida muy complicada, te admiro por tu proyecto de wiwibloggs, pero creo que es hora de curar tu herida y empezar a perdonar. Ah, y un par de clases de escritura también.
Si bien su vida sí puede dar pie a ser contada en una novela, lo más probable es que esta autobiografía (larguísima, uf!) la haya escrito en un momento malo de su vida. Se nota el pesimismo en la manera en como narra, y no de manera poética, sino de estar realmente de mal humor.
La parte sobre Eurovision (si te esperas leer un libro sobre Eurovision, este no lo es) es corta y cínica. No me creo que alguien tan entregado a Eurovision no pueda contar ni una anécdota graciosa viviéndolo desde tan cerca. Estoy segura de que, si bien puedo empatizar de que debe ser agotador reportarlo todo y no conseguir demasiada ganancia financiera, también creo que William debe haber pasado de sus mejores momentos viviendo el certamen - al final es una persona que tiene esta pasión.
En cualquier caso, William, creo que has tenido una vida muy complicada, te admiro por tu proyecto de wiwibloggs, pero creo que es hora de curar tu herida y empezar a perdonar. Ah, y un par de clases de escritura también.
June 21, 2025
I was not expecting such an heavy life. I'm impressed by the courage of the author. This book was interesting but I was more drawn to the second part of Adams life with his discovery and of Eurovision and work for his blog.
November 26, 2023
Douze points. A sensitive, thoughtful, and insightful portrait of grief, trauma, and self-belief. Being granted this glimpse to the upbringing and shaping of the soul of Wiwibloggs is such a gift. One of my favorite books.
November 14, 2024
Euroviisuista ei ole montaa kirjaa kirjoitettu - tai minä en ainakaan ole sellaisiin törmännyt. Siksi suurena viisufanina olinkin iloinen löydettyäni tämän kuuluisan viisubloggaajan (jota itsekin seuraan Instagramissa) elämänkertateoksen.
Tosin ensin pitää lukea melkein 2/3 kirjasta hänen lapsuudestaan ja nuoruudestaan erikoisessa perheessä, (homo)seksuaalisesta heräämisestään, opinnoistaan ja juuriensa etsimisestä Vietnamissa ennen kuin vasta sivulla 178 hän Eurooppaan muutettuaan löytää Euroviisut, ja innostuu niistä.
Ja aika hauska, että hänen ensimmäinen kosketuksensa viisuihin oli Helsingin kisat, jotka hän näkee televisiosta (Suomi mainittu! Isosti!). Ensimmäinen asia mistä kerrotaan, on Lordi ja miten erikoinen esitys edellisenä vuonna oli voittanut.
”These demons, perhaps pulled from swamp after millenia of rot and decay, are ugly…. This is not American Idol, with a panel of four judges smiling kindly as an upstart from North Carolina covers Whitney Houston’s ”I have nothing””.
Adams kuvailee monia Helsingin kisojen esityksiä Suomen Hanna Pakarisesta Britannian lentoemäntäfloppiin, Serbian voittoballadista Ukrainan legendaariseen Verla Serduchkaan. Muistan tietysti nämä esitykset hyvin.
”Finland sends a female rocker, an Elvira, Mistress of the Dark stand-in, with the pop metal number ”Leave me alone”. Angry over infedility, she suggests that losing her mind is the only way to stay sane. I’ve never thought of it that way.”
”Verka appears to be wrapped in so much aluminium foil that she could transmit tonight’s broadcast just by wiggling her tush.”
Myöhemmin hän kuvailee monia muitakin viisufinaaleja, jopa paikallisia karsintoja (on käynyt myös Turussa UMK-finaaleissa ja kuvaa pitkästi mm. Erika Vikmanin esitystä, joka ei loppujen lopuksi edes päätynyt Viisuihin).
Euroviisujen piilotettu poliittisuus tulee myös hyvin esille. Jamala vei voiton 2016 Ukrainalle ”perheestään”kertovalla laululla, jossa oikeasti oli poliittinen piilosanoma. Seuraavana vuonna Venäjän hellyttävää pyörätuolissa istuvaa laulajaa ei päästetty kisoihin (joiden teemana oli diversiteetti) (muka) Ukrainan lakeihin perustuen. Israelin ja Gazan välinen konflikti tulee esillle, ja bloggaajamme pelkää Tel Avivin kisoissa henkensä puolesta.
Bloggaaja osaa kyllä kirjoittaa, teksti on kiinnostavaa ja hauskaa. Kuuntelin kirjan äänikirjana Adamsin itsensä lukemana. Toimi erittäin hyvin. Selkeä ja ilmeikäs lukija omalle tekstilleen.
Adams kertoo olleensa pienestä asti kiinnostunut taitoluisteluesityksistä, musiikkivideoista, kauneuskilpailuista, … Euroviisut sopii hyvin joukon jatkoksi.
Itse seuraan Euroviisuja melko tiiviisti, joten loppujen lopuksi William ei kerro paljoakaan uutta. Hän kuvailee tiettyjä, muutenkin mieleenpainuvia esityksiä ja kertaa poliittisia kuvioita. Lisämaustetta tuovat hänen huomionsa sisäpiiristä, hän on päässyt mm tuomaroimaan paikallisia karsintoja eri maissa.
Loppujen lopuksi jäi hämmentynyt olo. Olisiko Euroviisuista pitänyt kirjoittaa oma kirja, ja perhetaustansa toinen?
Tosin ensin pitää lukea melkein 2/3 kirjasta hänen lapsuudestaan ja nuoruudestaan erikoisessa perheessä, (homo)seksuaalisesta heräämisestään, opinnoistaan ja juuriensa etsimisestä Vietnamissa ennen kuin vasta sivulla 178 hän Eurooppaan muutettuaan löytää Euroviisut, ja innostuu niistä.
Ja aika hauska, että hänen ensimmäinen kosketuksensa viisuihin oli Helsingin kisat, jotka hän näkee televisiosta (Suomi mainittu! Isosti!). Ensimmäinen asia mistä kerrotaan, on Lordi ja miten erikoinen esitys edellisenä vuonna oli voittanut.
”These demons, perhaps pulled from swamp after millenia of rot and decay, are ugly…. This is not American Idol, with a panel of four judges smiling kindly as an upstart from North Carolina covers Whitney Houston’s ”I have nothing””.
Adams kuvailee monia Helsingin kisojen esityksiä Suomen Hanna Pakarisesta Britannian lentoemäntäfloppiin, Serbian voittoballadista Ukrainan legendaariseen Verla Serduchkaan. Muistan tietysti nämä esitykset hyvin.
”Finland sends a female rocker, an Elvira, Mistress of the Dark stand-in, with the pop metal number ”Leave me alone”. Angry over infedility, she suggests that losing her mind is the only way to stay sane. I’ve never thought of it that way.”
”Verka appears to be wrapped in so much aluminium foil that she could transmit tonight’s broadcast just by wiggling her tush.”
Myöhemmin hän kuvailee monia muitakin viisufinaaleja, jopa paikallisia karsintoja (on käynyt myös Turussa UMK-finaaleissa ja kuvaa pitkästi mm. Erika Vikmanin esitystä, joka ei loppujen lopuksi edes päätynyt Viisuihin).
Euroviisujen piilotettu poliittisuus tulee myös hyvin esille. Jamala vei voiton 2016 Ukrainalle ”perheestään”kertovalla laululla, jossa oikeasti oli poliittinen piilosanoma. Seuraavana vuonna Venäjän hellyttävää pyörätuolissa istuvaa laulajaa ei päästetty kisoihin (joiden teemana oli diversiteetti) (muka) Ukrainan lakeihin perustuen. Israelin ja Gazan välinen konflikti tulee esillle, ja bloggaajamme pelkää Tel Avivin kisoissa henkensä puolesta.
Bloggaaja osaa kyllä kirjoittaa, teksti on kiinnostavaa ja hauskaa. Kuuntelin kirjan äänikirjana Adamsin itsensä lukemana. Toimi erittäin hyvin. Selkeä ja ilmeikäs lukija omalle tekstilleen.
Adams kertoo olleensa pienestä asti kiinnostunut taitoluisteluesityksistä, musiikkivideoista, kauneuskilpailuista, … Euroviisut sopii hyvin joukon jatkoksi.
Itse seuraan Euroviisuja melko tiiviisti, joten loppujen lopuksi William ei kerro paljoakaan uutta. Hän kuvailee tiettyjä, muutenkin mieleenpainuvia esityksiä ja kertaa poliittisia kuvioita. Lisämaustetta tuovat hänen huomionsa sisäpiiristä, hän on päässyt mm tuomaroimaan paikallisia karsintoja eri maissa.
Loppujen lopuksi jäi hämmentynyt olo. Olisiko Euroviisuista pitänyt kirjoittaa oma kirja, ja perhetaustansa toinen?
Read
May 27, 2023We often have a certain image of social media influencers. Usually, on the outside, their lives seem perfect as they have gathered a large and hungry group of followers and attend fancy parties. "Wild Dances" is an honest and raw memoir that tells the story of William, starting with his challenging childhood in Georgia and then plowing through his time as a popular student at Harvard and much further down the line as his life as a Eurovision vlogger.
Many Eurovision Song Contest fans have always found it ironic that the most famous pundit and blogger about the competition is in fact a non-European. But maybe it's not that strange after all. Eurovision is a contest that brings together outcasts from various places around the world as many of its performers are often from minorities and marginalised groups too. Growing up gay in a dysfunctional family inflicted by the trauma of the Vietnam War made William fit in the extravaganza of the song contest. It's incredibly hard to write about your family in the way that William does, but it's perhaps his only way to honesty.
His blog has many followers but also a staggering amount of haters who cannot see past the fancy parties, sponsorships deals, PR boxes and media appearances. In anonymous comments online, out of spite, they drag him down for getting 'everything so easily' above others. After someone on social media comments that he used a headline about a wheelchaired singer for clickbait purposes, his two worlds—his present in Europe and his past in the US—collide and never disconnect again. "Wild Dances" is a book for the fans, but most of all, for the haters.
(I am not starring this review because I'm acquainted with the author. This is my honest review and personal view of the book.)
Many Eurovision Song Contest fans have always found it ironic that the most famous pundit and blogger about the competition is in fact a non-European. But maybe it's not that strange after all. Eurovision is a contest that brings together outcasts from various places around the world as many of its performers are often from minorities and marginalised groups too. Growing up gay in a dysfunctional family inflicted by the trauma of the Vietnam War made William fit in the extravaganza of the song contest. It's incredibly hard to write about your family in the way that William does, but it's perhaps his only way to honesty.
His blog has many followers but also a staggering amount of haters who cannot see past the fancy parties, sponsorships deals, PR boxes and media appearances. In anonymous comments online, out of spite, they drag him down for getting 'everything so easily' above others. After someone on social media comments that he used a headline about a wheelchaired singer for clickbait purposes, his two worlds—his present in Europe and his past in the US—collide and never disconnect again. "Wild Dances" is a book for the fans, but most of all, for the haters.
(I am not starring this review because I'm acquainted with the author. This is my honest review and personal view of the book.)
May 28, 2023
Full disclosure, I was a contributor on William's Eurovision blog in the early days. I didn't end up writing many articles, mostly because I found the process of finding an idea and fleshing it out into 300-500 words exhausting. But William was like an unstoppable force, with a fresh idea for an article seemingly every day, even in the off season, and I gained huge respect for him as one of the smartest, most hard-working people I knew.
When I saw he was releasing a memoir, I thought it would be all about Eurovision and how an American from Georgia somehow found himself with the most widely read Eurovision fan site. That's certainly part of it, and it's fascinating to learn about some of the behind-the-scenes of Eurovision and the blog itself.
From the first chapter, however, it was obvious that it was much, much more than that. William doesn't shy away from the details of his chaotic and stressful childhood or his difficult relationships with his family. His description of his relationship with his older, mentally disabled brother was particularly powerful, especially the conflicting feelings of wanting to protect his brother but at the same time protect himself - and the guilt he carried afterward.
To me, this book was much less about the power of Eurovision (whatever that means) and instead about finding ways to understand and forgive yourself and your family, over and over.
When I saw he was releasing a memoir, I thought it would be all about Eurovision and how an American from Georgia somehow found himself with the most widely read Eurovision fan site. That's certainly part of it, and it's fascinating to learn about some of the behind-the-scenes of Eurovision and the blog itself.
From the first chapter, however, it was obvious that it was much, much more than that. William doesn't shy away from the details of his chaotic and stressful childhood or his difficult relationships with his family. His description of his relationship with his older, mentally disabled brother was particularly powerful, especially the conflicting feelings of wanting to protect his brother but at the same time protect himself - and the guilt he carried afterward.
To me, this book was much less about the power of Eurovision (whatever that means) and instead about finding ways to understand and forgive yourself and your family, over and over.
July 12, 2023
Gorgeous memoir about self-discovery and forgiveness... and Eurovision!
I was always going to read this book because William and I were friends in college, but since I don't follow Eurovision, I expected that it would be mostly a gesture of support. However, from the first page, I could tell that this is so much more than a recounting of encounters with the stars (and wannabe stars) of the European music scene. If you want that, it's definitely there, but this book is also a masterclass in understanding your past without letting it define you. I was floored by William's ability to write about parts of his experience that were even too painful for him to share with friends in college, but also put those events in context and find forgiveness for those involved.
William's writing is beautifully evocative. He really did the work to bring the reader along on his journey from the homes in Georgia where he grew up to the performance arenas of Europe.
This book is for anyone who wants to feel inspired to believe in themselves and be themselves against all odds. Bravo!
I was always going to read this book because William and I were friends in college, but since I don't follow Eurovision, I expected that it would be mostly a gesture of support. However, from the first page, I could tell that this is so much more than a recounting of encounters with the stars (and wannabe stars) of the European music scene. If you want that, it's definitely there, but this book is also a masterclass in understanding your past without letting it define you. I was floored by William's ability to write about parts of his experience that were even too painful for him to share with friends in college, but also put those events in context and find forgiveness for those involved.
William's writing is beautifully evocative. He really did the work to bring the reader along on his journey from the homes in Georgia where he grew up to the performance arenas of Europe.
This book is for anyone who wants to feel inspired to believe in themselves and be themselves against all odds. Bravo!
August 14, 2023
Heartwarming and hilarious — this needs to be a movie
This book really touched my soul — I read it in just 36 hours. You start with a story of an adult grieving at his Dad’s funeral and you think you understand the troubled family dynamic. The chapters that follow go back to the very beginning of the narrator’s life and you realise things are darker and a lot more complicated (like the the writer’s sweet relationship with his disabled brother). There’s buckets of humour and insight (into topics like immigration, the legacy of war, mental health, growing up gay in the Deep South, the power of pop music, etc.). He keeps you with him as he overcomes obstacles in surprising ways, and ends up globe-trotting from Georgia to Harvard to Vietnam to the U.K. and ultimately all over Europe. Eurovision brings a complicated sort of refuge…even if fan culture isn’t so peaceful. Mysteries linger and then explode in a gut-wrenching epilogue. This is a whirlwind and I hope it becomes a movie.
This book really touched my soul — I read it in just 36 hours. You start with a story of an adult grieving at his Dad’s funeral and you think you understand the troubled family dynamic. The chapters that follow go back to the very beginning of the narrator’s life and you realise things are darker and a lot more complicated (like the the writer’s sweet relationship with his disabled brother). There’s buckets of humour and insight (into topics like immigration, the legacy of war, mental health, growing up gay in the Deep South, the power of pop music, etc.). He keeps you with him as he overcomes obstacles in surprising ways, and ends up globe-trotting from Georgia to Harvard to Vietnam to the U.K. and ultimately all over Europe. Eurovision brings a complicated sort of refuge…even if fan culture isn’t so peaceful. Mysteries linger and then explode in a gut-wrenching epilogue. This is a whirlwind and I hope it becomes a movie.
April 17, 2024
As a keen Wiwibloggs follower, it was great to learn more about William and especially his really touching relationship with his brother John. A couple of passages really touched me, particularly his mother's grief at John's passing and earlier in the book during her husband's death.
I came into this probably expecting a little more Eurovision, though.
'Wild Dances' feels like two potential books mashed together - one about struggling, understanding and reconciling the nuanced relationships we have with family and another about the ins and outs of the Eurovision whirlwind.
Perhaps the uncoupling of each would have allowed some more space devoted to fascinating experiences such as judging the Belarussian selection or William's attendance at a Russian party for Yuliya Samoylova, each of which just receiving a brief nod in the book.
I came into this probably expecting a little more Eurovision, though.
'Wild Dances' feels like two potential books mashed together - one about struggling, understanding and reconciling the nuanced relationships we have with family and another about the ins and outs of the Eurovision whirlwind.
Perhaps the uncoupling of each would have allowed some more space devoted to fascinating experiences such as judging the Belarussian selection or William's attendance at a Russian party for Yuliya Samoylova, each of which just receiving a brief nod in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
4 // Raw and vulnerable. Adams doesn't shy away from stating his reality as it is, yet he captures the nuanced feelings we have towards our closest relationships. People we can't help but love and hate. How as much as we think we know someone, we actually don't.
I initially picked this book up because of its enticing cover and to get a glimpse into the excitement of Eurovision (something I always ignored as something "not my vibe"). It did not disappoint. Adams' knowledge of the singers, songs, and performances led to vibrant descriptions of the show. I really liked how Adams tied the artistic and political aspects of the show together. While I don't foresee myself closely following Eurovision in the future, I now have a lot more respect and understanding for it.
I initially picked this book up because of its enticing cover and to get a glimpse into the excitement of Eurovision (something I always ignored as something "not my vibe"). It did not disappoint. Adams' knowledge of the singers, songs, and performances led to vibrant descriptions of the show. I really liked how Adams tied the artistic and political aspects of the show together. While I don't foresee myself closely following Eurovision in the future, I now have a lot more respect and understanding for it.
September 10, 2023
William grew up in a house of horrors, witnessing abuse to his quadriplegic brother, experiencing abuse himself from his racist, homophobic father, his mother, who had mental illness, and two more siblings. The book isn't an easy read in many places. If you're a trauma survivor, you will be triggered in reading the book. I had to put it down and go back to it days later. The fact that William is alive, surviving and thriving, is nothing less than a miracle. Ten stars. #WilliamLeeAdams #WildDances
May 25, 2023
This book is a gift. It's a reminder that people can overcome terrible circumstances and achieve wonderful things. William found Eurovision and could certainly write an encyclopedia volume on it. As a child, it was his love of encyclopedias, maps, popular tv shows, and ice skating, among other things that provided an escape from a family trapped. The specter of the Vietnam War with all of its consequences is like an additional character. Johnny, William's brother, spoke the loudest to him and provided an unconditional love that to this day stays with him. Forgiveness, acceptance, and love : what we are reminded of by Wild Dances. Now go and get this book because you will laugh a lot too.
June 4, 2023
I am a massive Eurovision fan and when I saw that the guy from WiwiBloggs was promoting this book, I was like I HAVE TO GET MY HANDS ON IT!!! It is such a good book for people who feel like they need to find their voice among the noise. READ IT!!!!!
August 16, 2025
An enjoyable book! One that I never would have read if not for my challenge, but I'm glad I did. Although I feel like he glossed over some of the abuse he experienced growing up, reading about his unconventional path after college and Eurovision was fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2023
I love Eurovision and gay people
June 25, 2023
Ay ay, this book simply isn’t about Eurovision. It’s the author’s life memoir. If it had been marketed differently, I would have approached it differently, or maybe I would have never picked it up without the Eurovision connection. As it were, I found myself scrolling through sections that didn’t have to do with Eurovision. The Eurovision parts I quite liked and I do wish he write a book that’s more like Chuck Klosterman - working an analysis angle while bringing in personal anecdotes. That book would be a killer.
June 26, 2024
This is a slightly strange one to write about - because William is actually a work colleague! As well as working with me, William is a massively popular Eurovision expert who runs a YouTube channel and blog. How did he get from small town Georgia (the US state, not the country) to here? His memoir will tell you and it’s quite the journey. Reading this was the first time I read a memoir written by someone who I know in real life, so that was slightly disconcerting experience. But the book is really powerful and worth reading even if you don’t like Eurovision.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews