Lady, Lady, Blue Eyed Lady

Eurovision. That perennial scoffed-at schlock-fest that I remember so well, which used to include Israel (Europe? even as an ignorant, self- conscious teen I knew the difference). 1984. Representing Spain, the group Bravo singing “Lady, lady”.

“Lady, lady, lady se pinta los ojos de azul…” A description of a sad old lady who resists, or rather denies, the ravages of time by brushing blue eye shadow on her wrinkled lids. A typically catchy-á la Eurovision- song which did score an honorable forth place, if you were wondering, and made that line a famous one here in Spain.

Last week, somewhere in the not sunny bit of Spain, 2013. An old lady in the line of the supermarket cashier. Dated blue eye shadow. Three wide monochrome brushstrokes: brow bone, mobile eyelid, and just for good measure, the under-the-eye bag. Yeah, bring it on. Very touching, really. Just like the lady depicted in the Bravo song. I could not keep my own eyes off her. And she smiled that crafty smile. I think I must be sounding very nostalgic lately but I can’t help it, it was such a great color. It also came in turquoise green. Maybe 40 years ago, they were the only colors available or perhaps just the most popular among the women of Spain.

In defense of azul I would say that it has been a very sought after color since ancient times.  The color blue is scarce in nature and it was historically a very expensive pigment when used in textiles. It differentiated social classes by the choice of their garments. Most of it came from the semiprecious minerals lapis lazuli or malachite, which comes in green tones too. Hence the blue-green pairing of the Spanish eye shadows, I would say!

Not until indigo was brought from the Indies did blue become a more affordable pigment choice. The leaves of the indigo are liquid-processed and a deep blue (añil in Spanish) is extracted. Vegetable versus mineral-based hues.

The question is, why was the blue eye shadow so popular in Spain? Maybe because most Mediterranean women have dark brown eyes and seek the unattainable blue? Because it makes for a nice contrast? Or was it just a matter of availability at the time? Some things defy Googling….

Nowadays one rarely sees that kind of blue out there which is a shame. It is a fantastic color. I tried it a few times and it looks great. Only if you are like the lady in the song you should avoid it, or, hold on, no way… just wear it if you like it!