(More Than) 500 Miles Away From Home

January 5, 2012 6:50 AM

American Country Music legend Bobby Bare (76) will take part in the Norwegian finals in the Eurovision Song Contest.

If selected, he will be the oldest entrant in Eurovision history. Maybe he will get the German vote?

Importing artists for the ESC is not new. Celine Dion won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988, representing Switzerland.

posted by iviken (17 comments total)

Bare seems to have a strong career in Norway, having toured there at least five times, three in the past five or six years--perhaps this isn't so odd, after all?
posted by ocherdraco at 7:05 AM on January 5, 2012

Aaaaaaand the Dutch have been defeated already.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:10 AM on January 5, 2012 [3 favorites]

Props on the post title - nicely played! Maybe having Bobby in the competition is what it will take for me to finally try to figure out Eurovision.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 7:49 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

His version of "Don't Think Twice" is better than Dylan's. Even with the back-up singers. Maybe BECAUSE of the back-up singers? It's hard to tell sometimes.
posted by StopMakingSense at 7:51 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

win hippees git owlder th' harr tuh his showlders turrns grawyeeee
posted by Trochanter at 7:54 AM on January 5, 2012

I am absolutely flabbergasted that I have to hook the computer up to the TV to watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US. Someone should broadcast it here! I've suggested it to Telemundo, Bravo and Logo, but as yet, I've heard nothing.

Also, Olivia Newton John sang probably the worst song ever, in the ugliest dress known to man for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. So lots of times countries will import folks to represent them.

There's also a Junior Eurovision Song Contest, dominated by the Balkin states, but still nearly as much fun as the original.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:03 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

Bring back Odd Børre!
posted by grounded at 8:39 AM on January 5, 2012

American country bears you say?
posted by Jahaza at 8:44 AM on January 5, 2012

Norway? Eurovision Song Contest?

Why, that resulted in Father Ted's "My Lovely Horse"
(and on Wikipedia)
posted by TheAlarminglySwollenFinger at 8:59 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

Bobby Bare is one of the greats. And Norwegians love their Køntri music.

I hope he does "Drop Kick Me, Jesus" as his entry.
posted by spitbull at 9:31 AM on January 5, 2012 [2 favorites]

Wow, that was the worse song ever (ONJ '74).
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:46 AM on January 5, 2012

My favorite Bobby Bare song has always been Tequila Sheila.
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:50 AM on January 5, 2012

Is there a video or recording of "Things Change" anywhere?
posted by Kattullus at 9:50 AM on January 5, 2012

Maybe having Bobby in the competition is what it will take for me to finally try to figure out Eurovision.

You're not drinking heavily enough.
posted by delfin at 9:53 AM on January 5, 2012 [2 favorites]

Indeed. And Eurovision is not something to be 'figured out', so much as experienced. It's a hypo-reality of sorts, a living dream sequence which can be communally shared.

Plus heavy drinking.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:43 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

Is there a video or recording of "Things Change" anywhere?

Not yet, the song will be performed in public for the first time during the Norwegian finals.
posted by iviken at 12:43 PM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

Too bad his old pal Shel Silverstein isn't around to write him a song for the occasion.

In its stead, definitely "Drop Kick Me Jesus"...
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:59 PM on January 5, 2012