I see it like this. A good song alone may not be enough to win the contest. What you almost certainly need is a good song plus a good hook. Tastes may differ greatly on a big regional scale and on a small individual scale. Every year all entries have their supporters and their contesters (needless to say, not in the same proportion). But not all entries are equally likely to receive points, even after adjusting for the differences in perceived sympathy towards the songs. Here comes ''the hook'' into play. While the spread in taste covers large segments of the field (i.e. the participants in the contest), usually each year only a few benefit from a strong hook. The list of potential winners and eventually the actual winners almost always come from this category. The hook itself may be an overwhelming performance, brilliant staging, a poignant gimmick. Anything that makes an entry stand out from the rest and therefore mobilises the masses to vote.
- Would have Lordi
2006 won without the costumes? Doubtful at best.
- What about Loreen
- Or Ruslana
And then there's this year.
- Would have Conchita
- But does this make it any different from past winners? I don't think so. (see above examples)
- Is it an unfair advantage? Advatage? Yes. Unfair? Not really, since it doesn't break any rules.
- Is it morally wrong? Well, personally I wouldn't go into such an ample discussion about such an extensive topic, but since morality is derived from principles defined by society, it certainly is something that can be discussed.
