On the 14th February 2023 at 20:45 I received a Facebook message from Wardy. He sent it to encourage me to enter the 152nd edition of BuzzJack Song Contest.

I was reluctant to join because I seem to have had the impression that there was more commitment involved than entering Unknown Pleasures and Nuggets, and I had never been successful at those - being, as I was, very ill equipped to know what other members of BuzzJack would find entertaining.

Nevertheless, after some reassurances from Wardy, I decided to take part.

Within an hour of that first message, I had come up with a country name and, without any reference points to the sort of music that is appropriate for the contest, an entry,

That entry was Gentlemen Who Fell by Milla, a number 65 UK hit. It was a gently dramatic, baroque-tinged folk rock song that I had always felt was overlooked.

I pressed Submit and off it went to Uhsting, who was hosting that month.

During the semi final results I waited, and waited and continued to wait. I had to wait until the very last qualifying nation was announced. ☹️

In the end, fortune decided to bless me and I made my way to the final of the 152nd BuzzJack Contest.

The results of the final was a fairly lengthy affair with votes being announced from dozens and dozens of countries. I finished that evening in 17th place, which I felt was quite good given that I hadn't a clue what I was doing.

When the contest spreadsheets were published, the Semi-Final 2 tab told me that I had come 5th, which I was even more pleased about.

Spod had arrived.

Milla - Gentleman Who Fell (1994)

Edited Saturday at 12:454 days by Colm

I am seated for The Spodic Empire lore, a nation too iconic I thought they had been around for years 🖤

where have you been for the last 3 years? 😄

Just now, Colm said:

where have you been for the last 3 years? 😄

My memory doesn't go back 3 months