18/05/13: Ah, Eurovision. Yes, it was that time of the year again when we got to check out the talent of other countries beyond Gran Canaria’s barmen at Gay Pride. Big hair, big key changes and enough polyester to bring down a nation with just a naked flame. Eurovision 2013 was not to be missed.
A bar crawl in Clapham seemed the perfect way to take in the TV extravaganza. Having necked some Bucks Fizz beforehand (what else?), the first stop was Kazbar, arriving just in time to witness France kick things. We’re pretty sure there was at least one wannabe-drag act in the bar jotting down the name “Amadine Bourgeois.”
Our mission to drink a drink in ode to each country not withstanding – any one know a Lithuanian cocktail? – the atmosphere was dix pois and soon everyone was hooked, debating whether Germany’s Cascada had ripped off Loreen and if Malta’s Gianluca was fit or not.
Its been 16 years since Katrina seduced the EU with her Waves, and we washed up at The Bridge just in time to see Bonnie Tyler fly the flag for Britain. Sure, ‘Believe In Me’ became ever more desperate but we couldn’t help but love her rising up on a platform a la Madonna. Though some rightly decided to avoid Sweden’s entry by hanging outside on the terrace, we ended the night in 2Brewers.
Arriving to the sound of Greece’s ‘Alcohol Is Free’ certainly put us in the spirits to head to 2Brewers’ dancefloor, reminding ourselves what “real” music sounds like. By the time poor Bonnie trailed into 19th place, we wished we too had botox to hold us together. Still, we danced the night away safe in the knowledge that no-one could ever look as bad that Saturday night as Rylan Dolan, Ireland’s last place and living proof that leather trousers are never a good idea.
Clapham High Street
Words by Colin Gentry
Photos by Dos Fotos
