March 12, 2025

S2 EP1: Eurovision and the Avant-Garde

1 hour 7 minutes

Konstrakta - Serbia 2022 (22:33), Charles Busch - Tale of the Allergist's Wife (43:42)

In our Season 2 premiere we're tackling Eurovision and the Avant-Garde! First, we deep dive into the history of avant-garde Eurovision acts and discuss the tension between Eurovision's desire to appeal to the broadest possible audience and its elevation of some of the most aesthetically and politically innovative pop acts of the last half century.

Then, we talk to Eurovision avant-garde darling Konstrakta, who took Turin by storm in 2022 with In Corpore Sano. Konstrakta walks us through her decades long career, where she has explored a modernity shaped by listlessness, spiritual consumerism and consternation about how it is that Megan Markle actually does get her healthy hair.

Finally, we sit down with queer theater pioneer Charles Busch, whose play, Tale of the Allergist's Wife, is the longest running Broadway comedy in the last quarter century. We get his thoughts on Eurovision's most boundary pushing acts, as well as a wild story about an alluring, antique thieving count.

"VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF EUROVISION" CLIPS

Konstrakta, In Corpore Sano (Serbia, 2022) -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odFhYxoXiuo

Rodolfo Chikilicuatre, Baila el Chiki-Chiki (Spain, 2008) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfeCIvOxXBo

Guildo Horn, Guildo Hat Euch Lieb (Germany, 1998) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo_DyXn-9Bc

Les Fatals Picards, L'amour à la française (France, 2008) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjo3PIABpVQ

Let 3, Mamma SC (Croatia, 2023) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isZ_4AnCTnA&t=1s

Verka Serduchka, Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine, 2007) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfjHJneVonE&t=1s

...more