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Tonight should have been the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 but, like many other events, it’s had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. I love Eurovision – it’s so bad it’s good, and it’s such camp fun – so I’m going to miss it this year! And if anyone’s wondering, Iceland have my vote:
As there’s no Eurovision this year, and it’s currently Wyrd & Wonder, today I thought I’d do a post that I’ve done before where I pair books with songs – but this time, they’re Eurovision songs!
A couple of these I’ve actually paired together in similar posts before, but I think they fit really well so I don’t care. (I’ve also snuck a couple of sci-fi novels onto the list, but fantasy and sci-fi are basically two sides of the same coin.)
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier & The Voice, Eimear Quinn
Sorcha is guided by the fair folk through her many trials in this gorgeous historical fantasy novel, and I often found myself listening to Celtic Woman’s version of this song while I was reading the book. Eimear Quinn won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with this song in 1996!
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer & Children of the Universe, Molly
Look, I’ll be the first to admit that the UK’s entries to Eurovision are usually absolute crap. This, however, was our 2014 entry and I really like it! Is it the best song ever? No, but it’s catchy, and I think it’s demand of ‘power to the people’ fits the rebellion vibes in The Lunar Chronicles.
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal & Waterloo, ABBA
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist pairing up ‘Waterloo’ with a Regency era fantasy novel. Considering Jane and Vincent don’t initially see eye to eye, ‘I was defeated, you won ythe war’ seems like a rather apt way to describe their romance. This song, which won the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden in 1974, shot ABBA to international fame.
Blood Red Road by Moira Young & Outlaw In ‘Em, Waylon
I don’t think this is a song any of my friends or I expected to come out of The Netherlands when we watched Eurovision in 2018, but I really love this song (I grew up listening to Shania Twain, so how could I not?) and a song with country vibes deserves a western alongside it. Blood Red Road is a YA post-apocalyptic western and, even though I read it around seven years ago, it’s still one of my favourite YA novels.
Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven & Fuego, Eleni Foureira
I like this song a lot more than I liked Phoenix Unbound – it’s another song that appeared at Eurovision in 2018, representing Cyprus, and finished second! – but the heroine, Gilene, has power over fire, so this song is perfect for her.
I love this post so much. Eurovision for ever! I’m so sad that it was missed this year, it’s become one of my favorite things to talk about with my European friends.
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I’m so sad that there was no Eurovision this year. I love it so much. And definitely agree with you on Iceland! That song is soooo catchy.
Fun fact Eimear is another way of spelling my name. The original Irish spelling is Eimhear but over time the H has been lost or in the case of my spelling the whole name has been anglicised. All pronounced the same way though 😊😊😊
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I know! It’s such bonkers fun, but it’s for the best until the current situation blows over. Oh nice! It’s a very pretty name. 🙂
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What a fun idea for a post! I don’t follow Eurovision too closely but I do like to check out the songs that everyone else is talking about. I’ve had that Iceland one stuck in my head for three days lol.
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Thank you! Haha the Iceland song is dangerously catchy.
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You did a great job! Reading this post, and listening to the songs, was fun!!
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Thank you! 😀
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This post was a lot of fun! I didn’t realize ABBA was famous because of Eurovision. I live in the US so were pretty clueless about it, but it sounds like a lot of fun.
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Thanks Tammy! 😀
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