[EM] eurovision song contest

[Jurij Toplak]

Since there was a discussion on Eurovision voting on this forum few
months ago - here is a cnn.com article on song contest in Slovenia.
There were three subjects voting - a 3-member TV commission, a
3-member expert commission and a popular voting (by telephone). Each
of the three subjects' vote was worth the same. Both commissions
decided that transvestite "Sisters" were the best, but the people
voted 31.000 versus 8.000 for another song. However, the sisters won.
http
://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/02/20/slovenia.eurovision/index.html
Transvestite Sisters stir Slovenia
February 21, 2002 Posted: 3:23 AM EST (0823 GMT)


By Ales Gaube

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- The annual Eurovision Song contest is causing a
stir in Slovenia, where a group of three transvestites called "The
Sisters" are challenging traditional values.

The group has won the right to represent the country, where nearly
three-quarters of the two million citizens identify themselves as
Catholic.

Allegations of voting improprieties have compounded the shock to the
national system and the debate has reached the Slovene parliament.

The trio -- lead singer Miss Marlena (real name Tomaz Mihelic), Daphne
(Sreco Blas), and Emperatrizz (Damjan Levec) -- won the national heat
on February 16 for their song, "Only Love."

The winner was picked by two juries and TV viewers. The juries' vote
gave the trio the win by a single vote, despite apparently
overwhelming public tele-vote support for the second-place finisher,
Karmen Stavec and her song "More and More."



Doubts about the fairness of the popular vote had been voiced before
the final results were announced.

The results of the five-minute tele-voting period did not appear as
planned and the tension among the artists in the studio rose as 20
minutes passed. The musical acts split into two camps, one supporting
"The Sisters" and the others taking Stavec's side, shouting "Karmen,
Karmen."

When the results were finally announced, Stavec had overwhelmingly won
the telecast vote with 31,944 votes, while "The Sisters", who wore red
air hostess uniforms for their performance, had received only 8,454
votes.

But with the jurors' votes, the trio gained overall victory and Stavec
fled the stage in tears -- runner-up for the second year in a row.

"The Sisters" had little chance to savour their victory, however, as
it was revealed that their songwriter, Magnifico, had got into a
backstage brawl with a rival, Patrik Greblo, who had cheered for
Stavec.

Then suspicions grew about the long-delayed tele-voting results.
According to official results, 91,952 votes were cast for the 10
songs, doubling the previous year's total.

TV Slovenia and two tele-voting companies held a news conference to
address the controversy. But it did nothing to clear the air as it was
revealed that the tele-vote had lasted eight minutes -- three more
than allowed -- and had started early.

The organisers gave no indication as to who had given the green light
to open up the phone lines before the starting signal flashed on TV
screens across Slovenia.

Misa Molk, editor-in-chief of TV Slovenia's Entertainment Program,
ultimately said the tele-voting had been declared invalid. But "The
Sisters" retain their crown.

Rules state that the juries' decision would count if tele-voting broke
down, explained Molk.

Now a group of leading Slovenian singers, composers and record label
bosses have written an open letter vowing never again to appear at TV
Slovenia's Entertainment Program events.

The group said that no respect was being paid to their work, that the
irregularities surrounding the public voting results had been poorly
justified and that the jury members had overstepped their mandate with
a unilateral decision in favour of "The Sisters."

In parliament, Slovene People's Party deputy Franc Kangler on Tuesday
asked culture ministry officials how they intended to improve the
public image of the national television station. The same day, the
station's general manager, Aleks Stakul, demanded a thorough
investigation.

"The Sisters" themselves have carefully avoided the squabbles, leading
commentators to suggest they are already packing their suitcases for
Estonia -- carefully laying the air hostess uniforms on top.


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