Eurovision 2008

Washburne

Protector of the key.
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For you who don´t live in Europe this is a song contest between the European countries. Eurovision Song Contest - Belgrade 2008

What I´m intersted to know is if people like this. Not only yourself but in general in your country. Here it´s only children an a few grown-ups that admit they like the show. But yet somehow then the swedish final airs somewhere between a third and half of the population are watching it. I watched it all the time as a child but for the last ten years I think I´ve only seen a whole show once, and since we the last couple of years have had 4 tryouts before our own final it´s not much.

But I´m actually thinking of seeing the big final tomorrow. God, I must be old. And as usual the swedish newspapers think that we are among the favourites. They think that everytime and usually it don´t go so well. It always happen stupid things related to this arrangement. I try to stay away but I couldn´t avoid to notice that France can be disqualified becuase their commentator said that the swedish singer looks like a bad exemple of plastic surgery. Ok it wasn´t nice, but it´s true. I´m not usually fond of comments about how people look, at least in public. It´s hard to keep quite in front of the tv. But it´s kind of funny since she got it because she wanted to improve herself. Kids, let this be a lesson to all of you. Plastic surgery is bad (if it´s done becasue you´re vain)! 😉 Nikki Cox (Las Vegas) is another example. But now I´ve strayed way off topic.

Best thing ever in this competion was of course then Lordi won 2206. Please keep in mind this show always have been about glamour. At least in my lifetime.

YouTube - WINNER EUROVISION 2006 FINLAND- Hard Rock Hallelujah -Lordi

lordi.jpg
 
In Ireland Eurovision was always our competition. We have won it moe than anyone else (7 times to be exact). Some of our greatest musical moments were borne out of the Eurovision, The Voice by Eimer Quinn, Rock and Roll Kids and of course Riverdance all debuted on Eurovision. It was the show everyone watched no matter how utterly camp and ridiculous it became. In the past few years though that has changed, people don't vote for the best song anymore they vote for their neighbours. Also our offerings have been less than impressive. Dustin was rock bottom in my opinion. I love him on tv but he had no business at the competition. Although that was the point they were trying to make, Eurovision = crap.

I won't watch the competition tomorrow night, mostly becuase Munster will playing in the Heineken Cup Final but also because, well, what's the point?
 
Washburne
Washburne
I absolutely love The Voice.
Yeah the voting´s crap, but I´ve never really liked it anyway. It´s just boring, I only wanted to know who won. But now it´s way worse than it used to. In Sweden people always complain that people are voting on the wrong song only because it´s their neighbours. It hasn´t occured to them that not everyone has the same taste in music. No, it´s all just a big conspiracy...
 
I've never actually watched the whole thing. I would watch Ireland's entry and then I would watch the points being given out. I don't know how anyone could actually watch the entire thing.
 
I watch it every year, its enjoyable enough as a yearly event for us to sit down and watch despite the wonky voting practices and have a laugh at the songs.
 
I watch it every year, its enjoyable enough as a yearly event for us to sit down and watch despite the wonky voting practices and have a laugh at the songs.
Is there anoyone who watch it because it´s good (in their opinion) besides children? But I must admit there are a few songs through the years I really like. But I claim it´s only becasue of nostalgia.

Keanoite: Good company and a few beers defintely helps then you´re watching it.
 
Not that I've met no. I only watch it because its a yearly tradition sort of thing, well two years ago was awesome because of Lordi, and last year Hanna Pakarinen and the rock interval act were worth it, but this year its slim pickings, but its not like I have anything better to do.
 
I watch it sometimes, but not every year. I haven't seen last 2 Eurovisions and I really didn't have regrets. But this year I'm going to watch it because I like the song our representant has and I hope that maybe we will score some higher place. The songs we had in last few years were just crap.
But if it is about other people,many of them watch Eurovision every year.
Generally, shows with singing and dancing are extremely popular in Poland.
 
I sometimes watch it, but don't love it as much as I did as a kid. And while the vote numbers tally at the end is tension I really like to get into, I do belong to those who would prefer going back to juries instead of televoting, because I don't think the "neighbor effect" can be explained by similar taste in music alone. Ever noticed that pretty much every year, 12 points go from Germany to Turkey, no matter the quality of song and performance entered?

Here in Germany, the people who really celebrate watching it and look forward to it feverishly for the entire years seem to mostly belong to the gay community. They really love it.

And I'd really like to know how our German act will do this year (we have a record of failing miserably in the last few years, and yeah, not undeservedly IMO :blushy: ), since our contenders, "No Angels", have been a successful group for several years (and even managed to make a come back minus one member after a "creative pause" - how often do you see a group pull that trick off?).
 
I don't think the "neighbor effect" can be explained by similar taste in music alone. Ever noticed that pretty much every year, 12 points go from Germany to Turkey, no matter the quality of song and performance entered?
Yeah I know. I didn´t mean it all was becasuse of different taste. It´s just that no one here even takes that in consideration. But I´ve never really understood the whole vote on your neighbour thing. Why would I vote on Norway, Denmark and Finland if I don´t like their song? Not that I´ll vote anyway, but you get the picture.

One "problem" here I think is that children rule the houssholds nowdays. They decide who to vote for and becasue of that childsih songs get way more votes than they should (in my opinion).


Here in Germany, the people who really celebrate watching it and look forward to it feverishly for the entire years seem to mostly belong to the gay community. They really love it.

It´s the same here. I should have included them then I said that it´s mostly children who are looking forward to this. Or in public at least, viewer ratings as I said tells another story.
 
Ok here goes.

Songs I like: Romania, Finland, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia and Norway

Songs I didn´t like: Croatia, France and Spain

Songs that got worse since I didn´t like the performance: England, Bosnia & Herzogovina, Sweden and Latvia (but children will love this)

Songs that will probably be hits in the summer: Iceland (minor) & Greece

Well, that´s based on first impression. After hearing them a few times more I´ll probably change my mind completely.

Edit:

And as usual the swedish newspapers think that we are among the favourites. They think that everytime and usually it don´t go so well.
Oh, then will they learn? But I´m not surprised at all. Well at least Charlotte go down memory lane to 1999. It should pick her right up. YouTube - SUECIA 1999 - Charlotte Nilsson - Take Me To Yo And for you who don´t know, she won that year.


Top 3
Russia
Ukraine
Greece

So I can´t really complain. Now I just have to convince the rest of the country that everything´s as it should. The complaining has already started.
 
Germany at the bottom of the tally, so what else is new. :lmao: Anyway, I've really seen our "No Angels" doing better performances than last night, so I'm not complaining. Wonder why they didn't seem to put their all in it...

What I don't understand is why Poland fared so badly, I really liked their song?
 
S
Starlet
Glad you like the song:) I have to say I was proud that we FINALLY had some good one for Eurovision and won't take last place like we usually do. But hey, again..
My Mom just told me about how Germany sucked :lmao:
Well, it's moments like this that I proudly say I'm so glad to be half Russian. Cos Russia kinda rules this contest 😀
 
It's true Russia was great yesterday. I really liked the performance.
In general the concert was quite good last night, there were many good songs.
But I'm still dissapointed that Poland ranked so low...
 
Speaking of voting for your neighbours; that's not exactly anything new. It's always been like that. The issue now is that western-European countries are grumpy because they're not getting as many votes as they used to. Due to Yugoslavia and Soviet being devided into like 10000 different nations, east-Europe are totally in control of the contest, on the contrary to the 70's and 80's when countries like UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Sweden ran the show. Also, many of these new nations made their debute during the 90's and early 2000. During the golden age of western Europe, none of the former Yugoslavian and Soviet countries were part of the contest. In my oppinon, people should stop whining and realise that Europe is changing and there is nothing we can do about it (and we shouldn't do anything about it either).

And another thing:
If you look at the votes that Ireland (won the contest 7 times) has received in total in the history of the contest, UK, Sweden and Norway has given them most points. Ireland has given most points to UK, France and Sweden.
Sweden has won 4 times and received most points from Norway, Denmark and Finland. They've given most points to Irland, UK and Denmark.

Now, if that ain't neighbour-voting, I don't know what is.
 
M
Monty
exactly!
Eurovision is so political that I expect World War 3 to stem from it.

"You give England 12 points! I kill you!"
 
Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg
Totally agree, it's all political, & gets worse every year! It's worth watching just for Terry Wogans commentary & snide comments about the voting 'lol'
I LOVE everything about Eurovision!

I love the rubbish performances, the outfits, the songs, the utter over-the-top ridiculousness of everything, and especially, the completely politically-motivated voting process- you know exactly who's going to get what points before they've even announced them!!

Also, Latvia totally should have won last night! Although yay for Russia (I'm part Russian, so I can ignore my UK side for once- although at least we got points this time!)

I have to say though, that if anyone watches in the UK they'll all say the same thing- the main reason we watch Eurovision is for Terry Wogan- for those of you who don't know, he's been around FOREVER and is a really famous radio presenter, who has done Eurovision as far back as I remember. He's just so funny to listen to because he just makes sarcastic comments and gets progressively more drunk as the evening goes on.... he's definitely what makes Eurovisin worth watching!
 
Tueuse de Vampires
Tueuse de Vampires
part Russian karma, lol
I think Terry Wogan's rather annoying.

Also, Serbia should have won, their entry was by far the best musically, as funny as it was to watch Latvians dress up as half-blind drunk seafarers.
 
He might be annoying to some, but he's very astute about what's really going on, and after listening to him during Eurovision for more years than I care to remember I've just gotten so used to him that it wouldn't be the same without him.

I didn't like any of the top 3 this time round and I have to wonder if they were the 25 finalists, how bad were the others? 'lol' But then Eurovision wouldn't be Eurovison without the pants songs. 😛

Despite that we still watch it every year........ :whistle:
 
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