Editorials & Opinion

The potential positive of Post Eurovision Depression?

The last few weeks, I’ve felt something strange. An odd pang, a growing feeling that’s so familiar, yet so new. I think I’ve got it again, those unsubstantial blues: Post Eurovision Depression. However, could this feeling actually be beneficial? It seems like the perils of post Eurovision depression could in fact be positive.

The trouble with defining ‘Post Eurovision Depression’?

Despite being used in the fan community for years, there doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut definition for the term. Post Eurovision Depression, or PED, is the annual disorder that manifests hours after the winner is announced, and tends to strike in the warm evenings of June. The experience can contrast from person to person, but the cause seems to be universal: the Eurovision bubble has popped for another year. No rehearsal footage to catch up on, no mid-week national final for musical nutrients. Not even a sea of flags to soothe the soul. After months of build-up, an abundance of songs to rate and a fantastic show in Lisbon, the anti-climax of starting again can be a lot to process. We are in a strange state where next year’s contest feels too far ahead in the future, yet this year’s freshly finished contest is concluded.

A positive PED?

This sounds like a paradox, and it is. It sounds ridiculous to suggest that the sadness that can come from Eurovision ending could be a good thing. Yet in moments of despondency, fans of the contest have the chance to transform melancholy into something beneficial. As fans of the contest, we seek a home to channel our interest (and often obsession!) through the internet and social media. You log in, and it begins…

Valentina’s lyrics really do encapsulate the process of joining a global community, though maybe without the questionable outfits. Yet it is this whimsical, tongue-in-cheek song that makes the case for a ‘positive’ PED. Connecting with like-minded people to share opinions or reeling off detailed stats enriches the community. Similarly, what is initially perceived as a personal solitude acts enables a creative spark, flooding the internet with memes galore:
https://twitter.com/EscDean/status/1004867555843067904
While the songs and performances are obviously a huge part of Eurovision, it is only one factor of the contest. The contest has become a social event as much as a musical one. It is this sense of longing, caused by PED, for a more consistent, year-long Eurovision experience that has built such a strong and meaningful community.
Do you think a positive PED can exist? If so, has it brought you closer to the Eurovision community? Let us know below or on social media @ESCXTRA!

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