Steve Humphreys, Melbourne Australia.

In May 2015 Eurovision celebrated the 60th contest in Vienna. I was unable to be in Vienna, but the most exciting part for me was voting from our living room, and the text votes were flying everywhere for both Semi Finals and the Grand Final.

I guess it was Australia taking part in Eurovision 2015 that inspired me to actually be there for next year 2016 in Stockholm Sweden. Am I actually going? I still have to pinch myself to just believe it’s true.

Now my Eurovision story goes back a very long way to, as a youngster growing up in the UK, in a town near Birmingham. Back then I even purchased LP records, by Vicky Leandros, Anne Marie David and then I slowly warmed to that 1974 winner ‘Waterloo’ and I became a Abba fan in 1975. At first Abba’s ‘ Waterloo’ seemed too rocky and different for the Eurovision song contest of mainly french romantic amazing ballads.

Now lets fast forward about 20 years or so when I developed a big interest in Melodifestivalen, so I wanted to help spread the word of Sweden’s home song contest that a bit like the Melbourne Cup- horse race here down under, annually actually stops the nation on Grand Final night. As the Swedes try and make the best selection for Eurovision Song Contest that year.

So I wanted to blog regular updates on new Melodifestivalen music and Eurovision news, as it happens to Aussies and anyone in the world (who does not understand Swedish) I started my schlagertunes blog in 2008.

Some of my personal highlights, have been when I found a cartoon u-tube clip called ‘ Fairytale’ the year before 2010. I remember thinking this song has something extra special, and I like it a lot. So I FB messaged Alexandra Rybak to wish him luck at Norsk MGP Semi Final, he answered right away, to a new supporter down-under in Melbourne. Of course I had no idea, what success was around the corner for Norway, only I did believe in his fairytale from the start.

Eurovision Song Contest each year is a fairytale, as amazing musical experiences happen with each year. It’s part of the fun to share them with so may different people and cultures as well.

I luv it.