5 November – Strange and peculiar love

If you know your history, our friends in the United Kingdom of stuff were once masters of our favourite TV show. They didn’t win every year, but they put up a good showing. They even hosted more then their share of contests.

Which brings me to the eighth (but not last) time it was there. It was 1998 – a mere 25 years ago – and to some was a corker of a year. I have to agree as the crop of songs was easily above average. Yes, even Switzerland. It even spawned a couple of fresh-faced teenagers. One of those is today’s birthday boy Μιχάλης Χατζηγιάννης/Michael Hajiyanni. His name can be spelt several ways. He finished 11th – top half – and scored off ten countries. He’s still a big name in the Hellenic world, and if he was belting songs out like at 19, he must be good now.

Michael is 45 – yes, 45 – today.

Χαρούμενα γενέθλια, Μιχάλης!