Posted on 05/24/2003 7:13:18 PM PDT by yonif
With a rhythmic mix of belly dancing and Middle Eastern flair, Turkey won the 48th Eurovision song contest on Saturday its first victory in the annual pop extravaganza.
Sertab Erener, a classically trained soprano who has recorded songs with the likes of Ricky Martin and Jose Carreras, sang the spirited "Every Way That I Can."
The Istanbul native edged out a Celtic-flavored tune from Belgium's Urban Trad, who sang in a made-up language they call "Sanomi."
The three-hour contest was close, coming down to the last vote from telephone callers from 26 countries.
Tatu, the provocative chart-topping Russian teen duo heavily favored to win, came in third.
Erener one of Turkey's most popular female singers, with records sales of more than 4 million delivered a sultry blend of rhythm-laden pop laced with hints of the blues and Arabic-tinged hip hop.
"It is incredible, Turkey is very happy," Erener said, licking her fingers as she ate Belgian chocolates given to her by the second-place finishers. "My friends (in Turkey) just called and said, 'Let's party!'"
Turkey's previous best was in 1997 when it finished third with Erener representing it then, too.
Oddsmakers had predicted that Tatu, whose sexy outfits and flirtation with lesbianism have made headlines, would win this year's contest. Britain's Jemini also flopped, receiving no points.
Eurovision was started in 1956 by the Geneva-based European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, as a way of bringing together the nations of postwar Western Europe with perky pop tunes. It has grown from seven founding participants to 26 this year, stretching from Britain to Israel.
The contest is derided by many as a showcase of kitsch, and most Eurovision victors have faded into obscurity. But Sweden's ABBA was propelled to international fame after it won with "Waterloo" in 1974, and other famous contestants included Celine Dion and Julio Iglesias.
Latvia, a Baltic Sea country of 2.4 million people, won the right to host the event when 22-year-old law student Maria Naumova won last year. Turkey will be next year's host.
More than 150 million were estimated to have watched the show, and thousands more logged on to the Internet to see it via streaming video.
While they were in a casino clothing boutique and having an illicit moment in a dressing room, a hurricane, originating from Michael Bolton sneezing while out to lunch with Sigfried and Roy, tore through the building and their love child was created.
The birth occurred quite unexpectedly, 1 month premature, when they were touring the Liberace museum, and the issue of their union was born on the floor of that establishment, next to a 'fleshtone' full body suit with sequins and a peacock motif.
Oh, and throw in some synthesizers there, somewhere.
Thanks for the description. I think I get the general picture. LOL!
Arabic hip hop?!
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