If there is one music event likely to put the ‘serious’ music fan’s nose out of joint, it is surely the Eurovision Song Contest.

And they will be out in force today ahead of tonight’s annual knees-up taking place, this year, in Sweden.

They dismiss its throwaway pop approach - the theatrics, the instantly catchy choruses, the politically-driven voting system.

Such a view, however, is a nonsense.

Because, in reality, that is exactly what makes it such a compelling event. Not to mention that anyone dismissing ‘pop’ as some sort of musical Chicken McNugget rather than the rump steak of, say, Pink Floyd or Radiohead is simply a musical snob.

In an event where the majority of viewers are hearing the three-minute tunes for the first time, there is no room for complexity, no time for showcasing your musical chops - you just need an earworm which stands out from the crowd.

Better still, if you can accompany that with some ludicrous, over-the-top stage performance. Votes from the public are, of course, at stake.

Let’s be honest, it’s rare that the continent actually unites for a celebratory event - far too often nations are too busy trying to score points off one another for political gain. Or trying to kick each other off the park during major football tournaments amid patriotic fervour. And I know many want a boycott of this year’s event due to the Israel/Palestine conflict, but putting the rights and wrongs of Israel’s inclusion to one side (and ignoring the fact it’s not in Europe), it is an opportunity to simply enjoy a smorgasbord of Euro pop.

Yes, a lot of songs sound like the sort of music you hear when in a taxi on holiday, but the fact some tunes lean more on their nation’s traditional musical background is no grounds for dismissal.

Eurovision is a little different. Because, certainly here in the UK, we have long come to accept that (Sam Ryder aside) we are also-rans here so the trick is enjoying the tunes of our European cousins.

So all gathering for a jolly good sing-song should be something worthy of raising a glass to. Plus, its arrival always seems to remind us all that summer is just around the corner.

I am old enough to remember when we used to be quite good. The era of Bucks Fizz and even Katrina and The Waves (we’ll skip over the fact they were Canadian). We didn’t always finish in the top three, but we were, at least, on the left-hand side of the scoreboard.

Since the dawn of the 21st century, however, we’ve only made the top 10 on three occasions. The reasons can be debated until the cows come home - and I’m sure invasions and Brexit have done little to endear us to our continental cousins. But, more often than not, it’s not politics but just that the song we’ve entered simply isn’t up to much.

But given we pride ourselves on our music heritage, we struggle to accept that as the case.

When Olly Alexander’s Dizzy (our entry this year) neatly avoids any douze points this evening, just compare it with Mr Ryder’s Spaceman and his remarkable charm offensive.

We can do it - we just need a ruddy good tune.