ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the extent to which the musical styles employed in Eurovision songs over the past fifty years and more have attempted to reconcile a desire to give voice to individual national identity with an ambition to address the values of a wider European community. Antipathy to European political unity can be tolerated, but not a rejection of the European commitment to respect human rights. The chapter also explores musical styles and devices and, although the discussion is placed in a socio-cultural context, there is clearly much more to be said about the politics of the contest or the whole media circus that surrounds the event. In Eurovision songs a modulation to a higher key is much prized for giving a fresh stimulus to a repeated refrain. The Eurovision Song Contest is widely recognized to be an event during which camp is on abundant display.
