True, the Eurovision experience tends to be either sloppy or dire. But the intensity of Bulgaria's duo made me think the music jamboree still matters, at least as a medium of the traditional on a modern note. Bulgarians are not the only one that have to thank Elitsa and Stundzhi.

Eurovision has never been considered a sacred cow. Yet increasingly over the years it has turned into a mangy bull everyone wants to prod to death. I personally would rather have a meditative pint of beer rather than sit through three hours of torture watching singers going to great lengths to be "original" and an audience pretending to be entertained. So it was not without nagging doubts that I turned on the TV Saturday evening.

I forgot them all when the Bulgarians loomed large on the scene. Amidst a period of effacement and chalga-risation of the music in Bulgaria, Elitsa and Stundzhi showed it is worth winning the battle of songcraft over showmanship. A far cry from - with all my due respects - the undercurrents of lesbian porn film of the winner, the drag act of the runner-up or the mediocrity of the big four.

Political back-scratching, as always, was the factor that determined the final results.

Elitsa and Stundzhi may have not made it to the top three, but they made it to the hearts of millions of people.

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