Who do we really want back?

Every year a lot of speculation over countries that might come back arises and is killed eventually, as each one of the former participants decline to return to ESC. Last year, however, did see the comeback –and what a comeback, I might add, even if it wasn’t reflected in the results— of Slovakia. The countries that have come and gone, and therefore could make a return are Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Monaco, San Marino and Morocco.

Each year polls are raised to address this question, and normally the most voted ones are Italy and Luxembourg, with the first tending to top the polls every single time. I, however, wonder: who is it that we really want back? Who would actually give the contest a little extra, an added value?

It’s true that Italy has sent some great songs… ‘Insieme’, ‘Si’. ‘Non ho l’etá’, and of course, the ESC and music classic ‘Nel blu di pinto di blu’, to name a few. Still, Italy has quite a mediocre record in the contest.

No, who I really want back, demand back if you will, is Luxembourg. It’s the second most successful country in the contest, only behind Ireland (and tied with France and the UK, although these two share one of their victories, with the 1969 four-country tie) and if you consider that sine 1993 they haven’t participated, it’s all the more impressive. Add that lots of times when they didn’t win, they had a really good placing. Add that they had some world famous superstars… and keep adding as much as you want. The result will be that Luxembourg is really missing from the contest not just because of the country’s name, but because year after year they brought a lot of quality to scene.

This year we might start to be seeing the light. On recent days, the broadcaster from the tiny principality has stated that they are seriously considering a comeback for 2010. Just the intention is amazing, but I hope that they actually work hard to put an act together and stun us as it is their tradition.

With all this, I can’t help it but recognize yet again the effect that the return of the jury had. I can’t imagine Luxembourg considering coming back otherwise. It seems that EBU really is committed to the task… finally.

So let’s see if in the end they manage to bring one of the contest founders at last. For now, I can only say that, even if every return is applauded, who I really want to see in the contest, more than any other of the withdrawn ones, is Luxembourg!!!