We don’t get a lot of news about Eurovision here in the United States, but this clip from Sebastien Tellier has been making the rounds.  For good reason, as it turns out.  C’est fantastique!

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=A0D0ZxjpbkM&fmt=18]

Sebastien Tellier – Divine

I’m not sure how exactly Sebastien was chosen to represent France at Eurovision 2008, but it seems to have been a controversial move.  The French are very proud of their language, as they should be, and a large portion of the population was furious that “Divine” was to be sung in English.  In the end, Tellier did throw in a couple of verses en francais to try and appease the Francophiles.

Naturally, I was rooting for Sebastien to win it all.  It wasn’t to be, sadly.  Who would take home the Eurovision 2008 crown?  Some Russian guy, singing in English, of course.  Check out the vid…

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSSadsrmTGc&fmt=18]

Et tu, Russia?  One would hope that a country like Russia might be immune to the horrible commercial crap music Americans produce, but no.  How can anyone, let alone all of Europe, think that this song is worthy of winning anything?  C’est une tragedie, non?  At least the performance was good for some laughs.  Fast forward to the 2 minute mark and you’ll see what I mean.

I’ve found that watching the “Divine” video after that Russian guy relieves the symptoms of nausea and confusion you may now be feeling.  I’m fresh out of unicorns, sorry.

TOUR DATES (for Sebastien, not the Eurovision…ahem….”winner”)

SAT JULY 26 – Knitting Factory – Los Angeles, California
WED JULY 30 – Hiro Ballroom – New York, New York
SUN AUG 3 – MEG Festival – Montreal, Quebec
MON AUG 4 – Mod Club – Toronto, Ontario
FRI AUG 8 – For Noise Festival – Pully, Switzerland
SAT AUG 9 – Les Nuits Secretes – Aulnoye Aymerie, France
SUN AUG 10 – Festival Pantiero – Cannes, France
FRI AUG 15 – Astropolis – Brest, France
SAT AUG 16 – Flow Festival – Helsinki, Finland
SUN AUG 17 – Lounge 102 Festival – Istanbul, Turkey
THU AUG 28 – Nasa – Reykjavik, Iceland
FRI AUG 29 – Popaganda Festival – Stockholm, Sweden
SAT AUG 30 – Brussels Summer Festival – Brussels, Belgium
SUN SEPT 7 – Bestival – Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
FRI SEPT 26 – Ososphere Festival – Strasbourg, France
TUE SEPT 30 – L’Olympia – Paris, France
THU OCT 2 – Shepherds Bush Empire – London, United Kingdom
TUE OCT 7 – Concorde 2 – Brighton, United Kingdom
WED OCT 22 – Magazini Generalli – Milano, Italy
THU OCT 23 – Circolo Artisti – Romo, Italy
FRI OCT 24 – Tenax – Firenze, Italy
SAT OCT 25 – Hiroshima – Torino, Italy
FRI OCT 31 – Nevers a Vif Festival – Nevers, France
MON NOV 3 – Le Transbordeur – Lyon, France
TUE NOV 4 – La Cooperative de Mai – Clermont Ferrand, France
THU NOV 6 – L’Aeronef – Lille, France
MON NOV 10 – Espace Julien – Marseille, France
WED NOV 12 – Le Casino – Basel, Switzerland
FRI NOV 14 – Hangar 23 – Rouen, France
SAT NOV 15 – Le Chabada – Angers, France
WED NOV 26 – Debaser Medis – Stockholm, Sweden
FRI NOV 28 – Brew House – Gothenburg, Sweden
SAT NOV 29 – KB – Malmo, Sweden