For the Love of Eurovision

As the years go by in Denmark, my monthly blogs get less and less frequent. That's to be expected due to the fact that what was once new has now become an ordinary part of everyday life. However, there are still those moments that suddenly strike me as extraordinarily different, or very European, not that they are necessarily one in the same. Either way, the Eurovision Song Contest is one of those moments for me.

I remember the first time I experienced it with my husband two years ago. I could tell by how excited he got when he was explaining what it was all about. It was one of those growing up experiences that is so ingrained in a person's past that they almost can't believe you have no idea what they are talking about. Those moments literally feel like an out of the body experience because you thought there was everything to know about this person, and then all of a sudden out of nowhere, a completely new world opens up that you had no prior knowledge about. 

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual contest where countries from all over Europe compete for the best song. Sort of like American Idol, if each State was represented, and it only happened one time per year. As the legend goes, ABBA became famous after winning this contest in 1974, so some winners do make it outside of Europe. But first, each individual country needs to select their winner for best song so they can go on to compete against all other European countries. Denmark's annual song contest in order to select their Eurovision contender is called Melodi Grand Prix and it was on TV this past weekend. 

People from all over Denmark (and some representing European countries) vote for their favorite Danish singer to represent them to the rest of Europe. The style of song is anywhere from traditional music in the local language, to pop music sung in English, to alternative, to really, really weird (as the picture on this blog shows). Fortunately, this year's winner was my favorite. Her name is Soluna Samay and she reminds me of a Danish Sheryl Crow. It was just her and her guitar, with great backup singers, and set, but the best part of the story is that she was a street singer just two years ago. To me, the song and all of the singers, represent urban Copenhagen. The style, the chill vibe, and the matter of fact way of just being. 

Check it out for yourself: Should've Known Better by Soluna Samay 

New Year, Old Friends

For as long as I can remember, New Years Eve has been an exciting and festive occasion each year. Of course I am talking about the years when I wasn't single and anxious about where to go, what to do, and who I would kiss at midnight. What I figured out long ago was that New Years is a time to be with those you love. Old friends, new family members, current boyfriends, whoever!

If I recount the past 5 years, they were spent with pretty much the same people year after year. All of whom have been a part of my life for many years, and this year is no exception. I met my friend Beth in a Copenhagen café in November of 2009 and both of us knew without even speaking that we would be very good friends. Our lives and loves had put us in the same place, and pretty much on the same timeline, that would seal our fate as friends for many years to come.

When you marry a Dane and decide to live in their country, there are many things about the life you once had that you will miss, while you learn to let go of the past so a new life and future can begin to take shape. Those are the moments when you need a friend to confide in. It can be confusing to learn new customs and culture, and frustrating as hell to learn a new language that does not sound the way it is spelled. Those are also the times when you need a friend to relate to what you are going through. That was the role Beth and I played for each other.

Besides being hippies at heart, and loving live music, wine, gossip magazines, and painting our nails, we embraced each others differences and helped one another through the dark and dreary days in Denmark. Sometimes all you need is someone to listen, even if they don't understand. But most of the time, we understood each other perfectly, or at least were able to put ourselves in the other person's shoes which is priceless and irreplaceable. Of which, I will be forever grateful.

While our lives have now taken on different paths, Beth back in the US, me still in Denmark, we now make time for our chats via email, Skype, and in person visits whenever possible. Like the two weeks she was back in DK for Christmas and New Years. We assumed the same routine of long talks, TV show updates, and taking turns being good (healthy lunch) and naughty (liquid lunch). Even though I miss her daily presence in DK dearly, I know there are more exciting visits in our future. That's the thing about new old friends.

"After all, seasons change. So do cities. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."
Carrie Bradshaw