Get A Life!

What comprises of "opulent costumes, an orgy of Swarovski crystals, spectacular pyrotechnics and an oversized red ribbon"?

That's correct, this year's Austrian stage show.

Get A Life - Get Alive is this year's lacklustre Austrian entry from Eric Papilaya and it's fair to say it's not a patch on such Austrian classics as Thomas Forstener or Alf Poier. I suspect that the Austrian broadcaster ORF are aware of this. Therefore they're going to put on a spectacular stage show for the song. All of it, I suspect, rather unecessary and distracting.

As Austria hosts the annual 'Life Ball', the event to highlight the effects of AIDS, they've decided to use their entry this year to spread the message. This involves a gigantic pink ribbon, the sign of solidarity for those with HIV, covered with 700 metres of feathers of which 4 dancers will emerge. On top of this there will be a guitarist onstage, and Eric will be wearing a Vivienne Westward suit with 2000 crystals on it.

Now I'm not knocking the message that Austria are trying to spread. But sometimes less is more and I fear that the rather flamboyant nature of the stage show will not send the Austrians to the final. The song is simply not good enough. Sometimes I think a big stage show can be a bad thing. The 2004 French entry, A Chaque Pas, was one of the stronger songs I thought that year and would have done better if a black bald lady in white dress wasn't tottering around on stilts (yes, stilts, in the middle of a ballad) making young Jonaton Cerrada look about 2 foot tall. It finished 15th.

I suspect that if Austria don't qualify then this could be the last we see of Austria as they're putting every available effort in to making this a memorable show. But I still fear the worst. I say, ditch all the glamour and perform it as a straightforward rock song. Yet I think that the Austrian's are concerned more about getting alive than getting a life.