Before we get sucked into all things Eurovision/Junior Eurovision, we wanted to give our readers the opportunity to get to know our team a bit better. Next up in our introductions series is Stuart.
Hello everyone, my name is Alasdair and I have joined the TES Team. I am from Dumfriesshire, in southern Scotland. I currently work for the civil service, helping those on benefits, find work. If I am not talking about Eurovision, then you’ll see me rant and rave about football, mainly Scottish with my team, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, or about politics. When it comes to music, rock and all of its sub-genres are what I am into, this can be from the likes of Eurovision winners, Måneskin, as well as My Chemical Romance, to The Stone Roses, to Blink-182 and Eurovision hopefuls, The Rasmus.
If I am not on Twitter, then you will probably see me on the weekends going to the football (covid restrictions permitted), in the gym, or out walking my dog.
Name: Alasdair Macrae
Age: 26
Pronouns: He/Him
You are able to follow me on
- Twitter: @escmacrae
- Instagram: @alasdair.macrae95
How did I get into the Eurovision Song Contest?
My first memory was of the 2004 contest. With my Ukrainian background, my mum was speaking to her friends with the Edinburgh Ukrainian Club about how Ukraine could win the contest with the big named artist, Ruslana. However, my first time watching the contest was in 2005, and I was gripped by the ethno-pop song from Helena Paparizou. At a young age, I was going on holiday with my family to Greece and I was obsessed with Greek music, so I was all over this song and it has a special meaning to me from my childhood.
What point did I consider myself as a “Eurofan”?
I became a Eurofan very late, at the 2016 contest. It was then I found out about national finals and that Eurovision was not just about the 3 shows on TV. I became fully engrossed in the lead-up to the 2017 contest when I binge-watched a number of YouTube videos from Eurovision blog channels.
How has my life changed since becoming a Eurofan?
This changed my whole outlook on Eurovision. Understanding the effort put into how countries select their entries and engaging myself with more Eurovision fans. I did not even know there was a fan base of Eurovision fans. I’ve met new people who share the love of the song contest and knew I was not alone in loving this event. Coming from a small Dumfriesshire town, being the only Eurofan I know, becoming a Eurofan broadened my thoughts and opinions on Eurovision and music in general.
My favorite Eurovision songs are all those that have a special meaning to me.
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine (2016) Jamala with “1944”
- 🇮🇹 Italy (2021) Måneskin with “Zitti e Buoni”
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus (2018) Eleni Foureira with “Fuego”
- 🇬🇷 Greece (2005) Helena Paparizou with “My Number One”
- 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (2009) Aysel & Arash with “Always”
My favorite national final songs are those that I saw when I started getting into watching the national finals.
- 🇵🇱 Margaret with “Cool Me Down” (Krajowe Eliminacje 2016 – Poland)
- 🇦🇱 Xhesika Polo with “Më Mbron” (Festivali i Këngës 59 – Albania)
- 🇺🇦 Tayanna with “Lelya” (Vidbir 2018 – Ukraine)
- 🇵🇹 Jimmy P with “Abensonhado” (Festival da Canção 2020 – Portugal)
- 🇸🇪 Dotter with “Bulletproof” (Melodifestivalen 2020 – Sweden)
What am I looking forward to the most at Eurovision 2022?
Having the fans back at full capacity. With the contest looking back to its normal self before 2020 and hoping that we have no issues like Iceland had in 2021 and the opening ceremony to continue as normal! Eurovision 2022 will be the first contest I will be going to in person. My first contest was supposed to be in Rotterdam in 2020, but sadly the contest was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.
What do you think of Alasdair’s favorite songs? Want to learn more about our team? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. Don’t forget to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ over at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
