Eurovision Song Contest
 

Okay, so it's several days after the event but I feel I need to have a rant...

I've always loved the Eurovision Song Contest and await its arrival with great anticipation every year. Every year though for the past ten years or so I've vowed never to watch it again. In the UK we used to be so proud of our pop music- it was a given we'd do well in the competition and we tended to laugh a lot at many of the offerings from some of the other European countries.

How things have changed. Now its annually a question of how close to last we will finish. The rest of Europe has moved on. In the UK we seem to have forgotten its a song contest. Now we just put forward kitsch dirge that nobody in their right mind would genuinely like. This year's UK song was truly awful. It would never score highly on the British single chart so why do we seem to assume the rest of Europe would ever think it was good? Honestly, I know it's shallow of me and it shouldn't be about how people look but compare our pasty man with buck teeth with some of the other acts. Not only was it a bad song but it was aesthetically painful too.

The voting in Eurovision still brings up some really odd scoring but in general the best songs rise to the top. This year's winner was well deserved- a great song from Sweden that was beautifully and cleverly staged.

Now, there are so many 'European' countries involved there has to be a semi-final system. Yet the 'big' countries like the UK automatically get a place in the final. As a Brit I find this rather embarrassing and wonder whether people in other countries deliberately fail to vote for us partly due to the sheer arrogance of our automatic place in the final. Is it any coincidence that of the 'Big 5 countries', the UK, Germany, Spain and France all ended up in the bottom 5? The brilliant German song this year failed to get any votes despite it being one of the best songs IMO.

Enough of a rant. I feel I don't want to watch Eurovision next year as I know in advance the UK will do badly. I know after Christmas I'll start looking forward to it though and will, sure enough have my bottle of White Zinfandel and tube of Pringles ready.

I generally just decide based on how pretty the girls are (although we normally can't vote being in Australia). This year I was wanting Greece to get through as she was quite the looker! :lol:

Well, yes, I can see where you are coming from. If that was the voting criteria though I may have been tempted to vote for David DeGea's girlfriend- the Spanish entry.:thumbsup:

Anyway, well done to Australia for doing so well- I quite liked their song. It would have made it awkward for the organisers though if the Aussies had gone and won the whole thing.

I have a nasty feeling though that Australia got invited because Europe think we watch it to enjoy the music when we actually generally watch to laugh at some of the music. Granted it has improved heaps in the past few years, but I think Australian's watch it for the cheese factor more than the talent. I do miss Terry Wogan's commentary though...

Eurovision again tonight.
Sister Nightroad- the Italian song was just on. Don't think its a winner but it was very sweet and beautifully staged.
The UK will have a good result if they finish higher than the bottom 8.

Yes, the girl was the second place winner of Sanremo (the italian music awards) she has a very beautiful sweet voice but her songs usually are lackluster in the lyrics department. She's very young, her label probably tries to sell her to youngsters and doesn't care.

It's a very varied contest so far this year- something for everyone...
...rock, power ballads, hard rock, rap, more power ballads, country, folk, Europop, a few more power ballads.

When I hear of Eurovision Song Contest .I think of ABBA.I'll have to look up and watch it.

find it on line ,LOGO is showing it and they have the most obnoxious commentary trying to be funny

So, The Eurovision Song Contest- showcase for songwriting, singing and musicianship from across Europe. And it increasingly looks like the winning entry for 2016 will be...er...Australia.

Nope, very close but in the end won by a really quite depressing number by the Ukriane entry all about the Ukrainian revolution of 1944. Really depressing.
UK came third from last.
I'm not watching next year.

I am Australian myself and congratulate Dami Im for doing so well. Though it is still odd to me that we are in Eurovision lol.

Lol, Francesca Michielin was 16th.

I jut read this in a journal about Eurovision and Australia:
"This year was about to succeed, however, Australia. Those who don't follow the Eurovision but are fairly good in geography will wonder what the hell was doing Australia at Eurovision. Good question, but the oceanic nation has participated for two years now, since at those distant latitudes the event is the most watched of the world entertainment, and has been followed and loved for years. In the end the Australian song finished at the second place (behind Ukraine and Russia before), but even if it had won, next year we would not have been forced to watch the Eurovision in the morning, since a clause in the participation contract precises that Australia, if victorious, should have to give up the organization [of the next year Eurovision] to a European country of its choice."

I just want everyone to know that this will be Italy's entry at this year's Eurovision:

A good slice of Europop. Should do pretty well across European charts.

He's bringing the Gorilla with him just like Sanremo it will be a bloodshed.

why a 'bloodshed'?
Non capisco.

It's the final of Eurovision 2017 tonight. Tell myself every year not to watch but I know I will.

UK bookmakers are making Italy's Francesco Gabbani the favourite. I can see why, its totally infectious...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpc3fcrNJQ

The UK doesnt stand a chance and will be lucky to get into the top 20. This despite us having a decent song for once; Lucie Jones' Never Give Up on You...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ6K-EvqccA


I think Azerbaijan and Moldova will also do well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY1fN0R5vXY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prqZ8MSAPh4

and second favourite is the sweet Portuguese entry...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0td62XxnjBk

The portuguese guy is a good and sensible performer.
The Azerbaijan one is a tad bizarre bat a good performer.
The sax guy from Moldova truly is epic.
The UK girl from X Factor is good but she has the same problem of Italy's girl of the last year, who also was from X Factor; they're generic good crooners.
As you said Gabbani's Occidentali's Karma is infectious, but also upon listening more closely to the lyrics you can discover that it's a smart and ironic song, there are also a couple of nods to famous works of science literature among the new age cultural references. I'm glad for once it's not a stupid song to be on top of the national charts. Also he's proven to be a good showman, the Gorilla idea was very smart.

Well, all the songs have been performed now. I'll stick my neck out and predict the winner will be one of either; Italy, Belgium, Austria, Moldova, Portugal or Romania.

I reckon the standard was the highest its ever been across the board this year. Having a semi final system ensures quality songs in the final. Good that you get quality (and some quirky, off beat performances) but sad also you miss out on the genuinely bizarre, naff and downright sh!t songs.

Final result:

1) Portugal
2) Bulgaria
3) Moldova
4) Belgium
5) Sweden
6) Italy
7) Romania
8) Hungary
9) Australia
10) Norway

UK: 15th out of 26 :]

At least Australia gave the UK 10 points. I think its time to rope in other English speaking countries; USA, Canada and New Zealand can now become part of Europe.

Great idea!

Those Irish not giving us 12 points though... :confused::eek: and Malta!

WAAAAHEEEEEEYYYYYYYYY Eurovision 2018 is almost upon us.

I love the UK entry; Storm performed by SuRie...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLGEx2x8xoo
Sadly the bookmakers dont rate her chances of even being top 15.

Bookies favourite; Cyprus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DRsfNObKIQ
I just don't get it :shrug:


PS
I'm loving Ryan Reynolds' Eurovision rant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTxD5y75FZQ

Yes, a much needed and refreshing change of topic.

I like UK's song and I really don't like Cyprus song, the girl reminds of the lead singer of that US group named Pussycat Dolls whose timbre I found irritating; however she's very beautiful, I'll give her that.

Italy entry this year is an engagé song from two Italian singer songwriters that revolves around the theme of terrorism and peace, I liked it but I haven't heard it much on the radio:



P.S. Ryan Reynolds just gained my respect

I can't say I like the Italian entry much. Perhaps if I understood the words I'd like it better. On the tune alone...meh.
UK now projected to be last according to the betting.
I'll stick my neck out and predict Saraa Aalto from Finland as the winner.

Wow, drama at Eurovision. Somebody just invaded the stage and disrupted SuRie's performance. Much credit to her- she kept her composure and carried on really well. Very lax security.

UK third last.
******g stupid event. Time we pulled out :mad:

I hadn't seen yesterday because it happened while I was deeply entranced in the preparations for the big lunch for Mother's day but I've searched for the video of the intrusion today and it was really ridiculous, thankfully it lasted only a few seconds but it's not the first time it happens, last year a man showed his arse on the stage for god'd sake.
Italy reached the fifth place, it's not bad, better than I expected but obviously it won the most extravagant performance in the event's truest style, we shouldn't be surprised.
However I've discovered this year that the Eurovision's Youtube channel has a subtitles feature so that all viewers can understand the lyrics of the competing songs, next year I'll make sure to use it.