If you are not familiar with the Eurovision (European music song) contest, it's been on every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running TV programs in the world. I came in contact with the contest a few years back at a Eurovision party, where most of the competing countries were represented: attendees from Germany, Sweden, Italy, France and Spain. Coming from the US, I was a bit jealous at the fact that there was a song contest pitting the countries against themselves -I wondered how it would go down with New York (my home) against, say, Alabama for a US-edition- and enjoyed everyone's imitation of the point reading, in their very best French accents. Of course, with any competition, there are very strong political undertones and something known as block voting, where in neighboring countries plot to vote for each other---and no one votes for Britain.

And, if all the excitement of watching countries battle each other wasn't enough, it is the quality -or lack there of- of their battle tunes that puts the entertainment level over the edge, given added oomph from over-the-top choreography that would give the kids of TV's Glee a run for their money. Spain, one of the "Big Five" countries has won the contest twice: first in 1968 with the song "La, la, la" done by Massiel and the second a year later, when Salomé's "Vivo Cantando" was involved in a four way tie. Some of the most memorable tunes to come out of Spain's participation include "Europe's Living a Celebration" from Operación Triunfo's Rosa in 2002, "BloodyMary" from Las Ketchup -of "Asereje" fame- in 2005 and 2008's Rodolfo Chikilicuatre with "Baila el Chiki-chiki".

The 2010 contest will take place in Oslo on May 29th this year and in the meantime, you can check out all the info and some song samples on the contest's website. Personally, after becoming hooked on literal videos (music videos that change song lyrics to reflect the usually bizarre happenings in the background) last weekend, I propose next year's contest be one of literal videos, in which each country acts out and sings the literal happenings of music videos. There is already a WEALTH of literal video goodness out there, Norway can take A-ha's "Take on Me", Wales can have Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and so on. Check out the literal videos from DustFilms for a glimpse. Now, are you with my proposal, or what?