Since we're talking about music, here's something musical that I have found most Americans have never heard about. Probaly has to do with the fact that they can't take part in it, since they're not part of Europe.
In the 1950's, Eurovision was founded to share TV programing, mainly cultural broadcasts, among European countries. In 1956, the first annual Eurovision Song Contest was held, with 7 countries participating. Since then, it has grown, and now has so many countries represented, that they have to have semi-finals, since they can't do them all in one evening. Besides the European Union, the European Economic Area, which includes Iceland, is also represented, as are Israel and a number of Easter European countries. Israel has one the competition twice. First in 1978 with the song Abanibi, which is a song about love, and the difference between how we talk about it as kids, and how we discuss it as grown ups. In accordance with the rules, the competition was held in Israel the following year. That year, Israel won again, becoming only the third country up til then to win two years in a row.
Although the US doesn't participate, you probably know many Eurovision songs, without realizing it. Among the songs that later became popular in the States are Save your kisses for me, by The Brotherhood of Man, Love is blue, by Vicky Leandros (became popular in the US in an instrumental version) and Wateloo, by Abba. Here is Israels second winning entry, Hallelujah, and a translation of the Hebrew lyrics.
[video=youtube;3L6snm72ENM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L6snm72ENM[/video]
Haleluya to the world,
every one will sing
One word only
and the heart is full of thanks
And beats as well what a wonderful world
Haleluya with the song,
for a day that shines
For all that has been
and for all that is about to happen
Haleluya to the world,
every one will sing
And the big bells
will be echo in a lot of notes
And together with us they will say - haleluya
Haleluya for every thing,
yesterday and tomorrow
Haleluya hand in hand
and sing in one heart - haleluya
