Why do Eastern Europe always vote for each other in the Eurovision Song Contest?
I know that there is quite a lot of friction between the East and West of Europe but there is even more tension within Eastern Europe. If they really can’t stand each other – why do they always vote for each other? Their songs are normally awful but they always come out on top!
There are many reasons, such as similar cultures, similar taste in music, similar languages and being more familiar with each other’s musicians/songs. Also, those nations don’t entirely hate each other. A lot of the people have moved on already and become friends with their neighbouring nations again. There are also parts of those nations living as ethnic minorities in each other’s countries (for example there are many Croats and Serbs living in Bosnia & Herzegovina etc.).
A lot of other nations also always vote for each other. Greece and Cyprus usually give each other 12 points. The Nordic countries usually give each other a lot of points. Spain and Portugal usually give each other a lot of points. Turkey always gets a lot of points from Germany. And so on. It’s not just the East European nations. The other nations are no better with the "neighbour voting", they just often happen to have fewer neighbours.
I disagree that the East European songs are usually awful. Some of them are, but I would say most of them are good and often better than most of the West European songs. It all comes down to taste I guess.
I think it’s kinda cool how they back each other up like you see with Romania and Moldova for example they’re right next to each other and they give each other the most points. It happens through a share of respect and support, and not all of them have tensions between each other.
References :
I don’t think that this happens only with the eastern european countries but with almost all of the countries… for example Norway & Sweden always vote for each other also.
References :
Well it doesnt only happen with Eastern European countries.
For example Belgium and Denmark always vote for eachother
Spain and Portugal
Germany and Belgium
Denmark and Norway
Cyprus and Greece
and so on
And one thing…their songs are not awful…some are really amazing. This year I just loved Moldova and Bosnia&Herzegovina.
References :
There are many reasons, such as similar cultures, similar taste in music, similar languages and being more familiar with each other’s musicians/songs. Also, those nations don’t entirely hate each other. A lot of the people have moved on already and become friends with their neighbouring nations again. There are also parts of those nations living as ethnic minorities in each other’s countries (for example there are many Croats and Serbs living in Bosnia & Herzegovina etc.).
A lot of other nations also always vote for each other. Greece and Cyprus usually give each other 12 points. The Nordic countries usually give each other a lot of points. Spain and Portugal usually give each other a lot of points. Turkey always gets a lot of points from Germany. And so on. It’s not just the East European nations. The other nations are no better with the "neighbour voting", they just often happen to have fewer neighbours.
I disagree that the East European songs are usually awful. Some of them are, but I would say most of them are good and often better than most of the West European songs. It all comes down to taste I guess.
References :
Denmark and Belgium? They are not anywhere near eachother actually they are in opposite ends of Europe
Usually the Nordic countries like Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Sweden and Lithuania vote for eachother, then the Balkans like FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina etc. East block vote Russia, Belarus, Ukraine etc. Ireland and Uk vote for eachother, Greece and Cyprus are best friends and so forth all the way down Europe. It’s all one big pet-the-neighbour competition. But actually this year there was far less of that and that was great!
References :