Anyone watch Eurovision?

[merryone]

Love or hate Olly Alexander I felt really sorry for him last night especially when the camera homed in on him just as it was announced that he'd received zero points in the public vote. This was the only time the camera bothered with him which was rather sad as at one stage he'd reached the left hand side of the scoreboard. I thought the song had a fairly catchy chorus, and would possibly get stuck in your head whether you like it or not - I think they call it an earworm! I considered it a rather ordinary radio track and tbh I'm surprised it garnered as many points as it did. The song had cutesy and tender lyrics, so why on earth did they stage it with a group of half dressed blokes grinding and thrusting their bits and bobs in each other's faces with what looked like a filthy public lavatory as a backdrop?! The whole atmosphere of the contest was horrible with all the booing and jeering - it's supposed to be a song contest fgs! I'm glad Switzerland won in the end, great song, great staging and great vocals.
I'll admit that I can't take to Olly Alexander and I can't quite pinpoint why...There's just something about him that makes my skin crawl but I didn't like to see him humiliated. Who else watched and what did you think?

 

[stratobuddy]

I heard you could vote right at the beginning, before even one song had been sung - crazy!

 

[PhaedrusR]

Don't get me started...

This has become a parody of itself.

For once, I thought the UK entry was reasonable and not a bad song, quite listenable with a semblance of a tune/catch and something you might hear as an actual pop song on the radio. Imho, thought it was better than the Spaceman 2nd place one 2 years ago.

But the staging was awful. Apparently he was in the 'box' for 2 minutes of his song and the stadium audience couldn't see him. And because his dancing was so vigorous, it affected his singing and he was a bit pitchy and breathless.

My assumption was that this was to appeal to the now large gay following of the contest. But the voting public are mixed so it may have put many conservative country Europeans off with the seedy nature of the performance?

As for the other songs, many of them were not 'songs' but either spoken rap to a click beat, or euro dance numbers where there is no tune just a rhythm song along to a repetitive beat, or a shock value aspect.

Very few seemed to have an actual tune/hook, beyond repetitive chanting or a bit of local cultural references then sliding into a euro pattern.

I'm not old-fashioned and like new music, but many of the entries seem aimed at the Euro audience contest and not actually written as decent songs, or had gimmicks.

Last year's winner was a good pop/dance anthem. And my favourite of recent years was Sweden's winner a few years ago, Heroes, which was a cracking dance track with a great tune/hook and a good actual song. And a great animated video to go with it.

I thought the Switzerland entry was well-performed on the 'dish' but a poor song, the rap bit at the beginning had no place and the oh-oh was the only hook. There were better tunes, imho.
One wonders if the gender thing was also a winning appeal in these current culture 'wars'.

This is nothing new, I remember 20 years ago some great songs from Eastern Europe which had great tune, melody, would be a number one or album top track and the others said that's a winner. It came mid-table.

Yes, we all like different musical genres, but the contest seems to be about trend, culture, national tropes and performance, more than being a song contest.

Well, you did ask!

Wonder if @stratobuddy has an opinion as I think they work in the industry?

 

[PhaedrusR]

Don't get me started...

This has become a parody of itself.

For once, I thought the UK entry was reasonable and not a bad song, quite listenable with a semblance of a tune/catch and something you might hear as an actual pop song on the radio. Imho, thought it was better than the Spaceman 2nd place one 2 years ago.

But the staging was awful. Apparently he was in the 'box' for 2 minutes of his song and the stadium audience couldn't see him. And because his dancing was so vigorous, it affected his singing and he was a bit pitchy and breathless.

My assumption was that this was to appeal to the now large gay following of the contest. But the voting public are mixed so it may have put many conservative country Europeans off with the seedy nature of the performance?

As for the other songs, many of them were not 'songs' but either spoken rap to a click beat, or euro dance numbers where there is no tune just a rhythm song along to a repetitive beat, or a shock value aspect.

Very few seemed to have an actual tune/hook, beyond repetitive chanting or a bit of local cultural references then sliding into a euro pattern.

I'm not old-fashioned and like new music, but many of the entries seem aimed at the Euro audience contest and not actually written as decent songs, or had gimmicks.

Last year's winner was a good pop/dance anthem. And my favourite of recent years was Sweden's winner a few years ago, Heroes, which was a cracking dance track with a great tune/hook and a good actual song. And a great animated video to go with it.

I thought the Switzerland entry was well-performed on the 'dish' but a poor song, the rap bit at the beginning had no place and the oh-oh was the only hook. There were better tunes, imho.
One wonders if the gender thing was also a winning appeal in these current culture 'wars'.

This is nothing new, I remember 20 years ago some great songs from Eastern Europe which had great tune, melody, would be a number one or album top track and the others said that's a winner. It came mid-table.

Yes, we all like different musical genres, but the contest seems to be about trend, culture, national tropes and performance, more than being a song contest.

Well, you did ask!

Wonder if @stratobuddy has an opinion as I think they work in the industry?

Imho, best recent Eurovision song winner, Heroes, Sweden, 2015, as mentioned:

 

[donna255]

I think they pushed people to start voting at the very beginning to cut down on the time the whole voting thing takes. I watch the singing they go as the voting takes what feels like years. It is also boring at hell.

Olly is a great singer if anyone has heard Years and Years songs.

I did like the winning song. Also, the German song and the man dressed in Blue think the song was Hollow. My all-time Eurovision song has to be the Give The Wold A Banana.

 

[merryone]

I think this is the first year in recent times that I've actually shrugged my shoulders and thought "sod it, it really isn't worth getting your knickers in a twist for, it is what it is" and that's a political farce. I didn't have particularly high hopes this year anyway, as I didn't love the song and I definitely don't love the singer. I'm done with thinking that we've been robbed and that we should pull out of the contest. It's very doubtful we'll do as well as we did with Sam Ryder any time soon. Sam had a good song, he sang it well and he had charisma, having said that I did wonder whether his success was as much to do with the UK's proactivity in their support of the Ukranian nation at the time. Had this been a "regular" year would Ukraine have won? Very doubtful. Would Sam Ryder have won? that we'll never know! Sadly I rather think not. Good fun night with a smattering of dancefloor bangers, ballads and utter silliness and that's the way I'm gonna look at it from now on! Having said all this I thought the right act won this time around, instead of some bizarre choice that I have written "crap"or "boring" beside it on my party scoresheet!

 

[PhaedrusR]

I think this is the first year in recent times that I've actually shrugged my shoulders and thought "sod it, it really isn't worth getting your knickers in a twist for, it is what it is" and that's a political farce. I didn't have particularly high hopes this year anyway, as I didn't love the song and I definitely don't love the singer. I'm done with thinking that we've been robbed and that we should pull out of the contest. It's very doubtful we'll do as well as we did with Sam Ryder any time soon. Sam had a good song, he sang it well and he had charisma, having said that I did wonder whether his success was as much to do with the UK's proactivity in their support of the Ukranian nation at the time. Had this been a "regular" year would Ukraine have won? Very doubtful. Would Sam Ryder have won? that we'll never know! Sadly I rather think not. Good fun night with a smattering of dancefloor bangers, ballads and utter silliness and that's the way I'm gonna look at it from now on! Having said all this I thought the right act won this time around, instead of some bizarre choice that I have written "crap"or "boring" beside it on my party scoresheet!

Ok. Clearly we don't agree.

Agreed, it is (now) what it is.
And I'm not particularly concerned or aggravated by it all, just think it's a shame. The good thing is the shared cultural interchange of hearing varied music cultures, sometimes.

I just don't think it's a 'best song' contest anymore.

I know what you mean about Olly, he's not a bad singer (when not out of breath dancing) but he has a 'wannabe' vibe, a bit scattish and not helped by his agents/PR over- plugging and overexposing him in recent times. This was the latest attempt. Still, he's doing ok out of it all!

Also, I looked up the songs GrahamN said were good, e.g. Netherlands and, sorry, I just don't get his taste.

For me, a winning song should be like when you're playing an album (old school) or come across a track on Spotify/YouTube/Amazon music, etc. that makes you take note, sit up and play it again.

Very, very few of those Eurovision songs are like that, not memorable. Just Euro soundalike 'muzak'. Key change!

Right, off to hunt the song I thought should've won in past times...

 

[Patsy]

Nope don't think I've ever watched it.

 

[merryone]

Ok. Clearly we don't agree.

Agreed, it is (now) what it is.
And I'm not particularly concerned or aggravated by it all, just think it's a shame. The good thing is the shared cultural interchange of hearing varied music cultures, sometimes.

I just don't think it's a 'best song' contest anymore.

I know what you mean about Olly, he's not a bad singer (when not out of breath dancing) but he has a 'wannabe' vibe, a bit scattish and not helped by his agents/PR over- plugging and overexposing him in recent times. This was the latest attempt. Still, he's doing ok out of it all!

Also, I looked up the songs GrahamN said were good, e.g. Netherlands and, sorry, I just don't get his taste.

For me, a winning song should be like when you're playing an album (old school) or come across a track on Spotify/YouTube/Amazon music, etc. that makes you take note, sit up and play it again.

Very, very few of those Eurovision songs are like that, not memorable. Just Euro soundalike 'muzak'. Key change!

Right, off to hunt the song I thought should've won in past times...

What are we not agreeing on? Agree and yes I'll be interested to hear what you find! Joe and Jake were robbed lol! We came 24th out of 26 countries that year (2016) awful dirge about the war won that year. Also I though Scooch was a right old bit of fun and shouldn't have done so badly, not saying it should've won or anything but the Serbian dirge that won that year was abysmal!

 

[merryone]

What are we not agreeing on? Agree and yes I'll be interested to hear what you find! Joe and Jake were robbed lol! We came 24th out of 26 countries that year (2016) awful dirge about the war won that year. Also I though Scooch was a right old bit of fun and shouldn't have done so badly, not saying it should've won or anything but the Serbian dirge that won that year was abysmal!

Sorry I can see we're talking about Olly's song, yep definitely disagree that it was better than Spaceman, but yeah come on tell us what you thought was robbed!!!!

 

[VapidStoat]

I watched it, admittedly to see if there was anything kicking off after the Malmö protests and the Netherlands being disqualified.

It's been years since I watched it for an entrant I enjoyed listening to, or because I was excited to see what happened (except for last night, and all for the wrong reasons obviously).

I have got in the habit of watching it just because I always have. Although I gave up on last year's contest in the first semi-final because if I hadn't watched the previous year's contest, or if they hadn't had one Ukrainian presenter (out of four), I would have thought that Sam Ryder had won previously. The UK effectively ignoring why they were hosting the contest instead of Ukraine, and the reasons why, sickened me. So I gave up last year.

I was in two minds whether I would watch this year. I didn't watch the first semi final, but saw the second. Which was meh.

Only decided to sit through the actual final when the news broke about the Netherlands entry

 

[catzrcool]

Yep, watched it all. Recorded it and started watching an hour in. That's so I can skip the songs I really can't stand.

I like Germany last night, thought the lad had a powerful voice.

But, my favourite of all time was the Finnish group Lordi, Hard Rock Hallelujah. The rest of the competition was so boring, but these woke me up and was so different, I loved it. Was great when they won.

Thought Olly's performance with them lads thrusting their nethers all over, was just a bit too sleazy for me. (I daren't even tell you what my hubby thought of it.) Nemo was ok, but I admit I have googled a non binary person and still don't understand what it is. I am definitely getting old.

 

[Herring]

Olly's song was rather weak and by-numbers, but not as bad as others we've sent in the past (for once - it's always amused me in the past when Brits say "we were robbed" over a song/act we've sent that isn't even popular enough with us to chart in the UK top 40 ).

I think Olly's song sounds better on the radio/Spotify etc., likely because his vocals are pre-recorded, processed, auto-tuned, and made louder in the mix. Olly doesn't have a strong voice and his live performances are always a bit flat, weak, and mumble-y.

Same reason Mae scored worse than Olly last year despite her, arguably, having a much better song - her live vocal was awful too.

Sam Ryder's vocal performance and stage presence? That was off the charts and he came second — it seems competence connects (as the "non-binary" winner showed: their song wasn't my favourite but they could belt out a tune, and put some thought into how to stage things in a memorable rather than intentionally provocative way).

So also working against Olly were his "sleazy visuals". That dirty toilet set, the half-naked dancers thrusting their groins in each other's faces and sticking their tongues out, was just …not the vibe. It was more like a music video concept.

Eurovision is quite camp and gay (as the presenters made a lot of jokes about ) but much of Europe is quite conservative (with a small c). A winning performance has to appeal to more than just gay men — and I don't imagine most people watching will have found a seedy toilet sex aesthetic that relatable.

 

[donna255]

I know someone who has been a rapid Eurovision fan. Holds parties etc every year and posting in a group on Facebook. This year, she was telling everyone not to watch and boycott.

Love Doctor Who and was should I watch Eurovision after it or not? The other channels had nothing of interest for me, so it was it, Netflix or Amazon Prime?

 

[LV73]

Love or hate Olly Alexander I felt really sorry for him last night especially when the camera homed in on him just as it was announced that he'd received zero points in the public vote. This was the only time the camera bothered with him which was rather sad as at one stage he'd reached the left hand side of the scoreboard. I thought the song had a fairly catchy chorus, and would possibly get stuck in your head whether you like it or not - I think they call it an earworm! I considered it a rather ordinary radio track and tbh I'm surprised it garnered as many points as it did. The song had cutesy and tender lyrics, so why on earth did they stage it with a group of half dressed blokes grinding and thrusting their bits and bobs in each other's faces with what looked like a filthy public lavatory as a backdrop?! The whole atmosphere of the contest was horrible with all the booing and jeering - it's supposed to be a song contest fgs! I'm glad Switzerland won in the end, great song, great staging and great vocals.
I'll admit that I can't take to Olly Alexander and I can't quite pinpoint why...There's just something about him that makes my skin crawl but I didn't like to see him humiliated. Who else watched and what did you think?

Well, I watched it and thought our song was pretty rubbish! I like the songs by Years and Years, and I thought Olly was great in Its a Sin (and I couldn't give a toss whether someone is gay or straight btw) but it was just an attempt to be blatantly (homo)sexual and shocking by simulating gay sex/porn and it probably put off a lot of the Catholic countries from voting.

There was so much nudity and shock value going on that the whole event was ridiculously inappropriate for 8pm. The Irish entry would have given kids nightmares!

It's about time we realised that we need to stop paying vast amounts as we'll never win as its all political. We only came second 2 years ago because of our support for Ukraine.

Best song for me was either Sweden or the second place one Baby Lasagna!

 

[stratobuddy]

Right, off to hunt the song I thought should've won in past times...

The one by DAZ was very catchy, even though some rap. - -

I bet the chorus will become an earworm

And "Why do I always get it wrong" was a good melody and singer, and actually came second. - - -

 

[LV73]

Yep, watched it all. Recorded it and started watching an hour in. That's so I can skip the songs I really can't stand.

I like Germany last night, thought the lad had a powerful voice.

But, my favourite of all time was the Finnish group Lordi, Hard Rock Hallelujah. The rest of the competition was so boring, but these woke me up and was so different, I loved it. Was great when they won.

Thought Olly's performance with them lads thrusting their nethers all over, was just a bit too sleazy for me. (I daren't even tell you what my hubby thought of it.) Nemo was ok, but I admit I have googled a non binary person and still don't understand what it is. I am definitely getting old.

I watched it on delay for the same reason! And my favourite of all time was also Lordi, and my runners up would be the hilarious (Polish?)group of suggestive and very busty washerwomen with their implements, and some girls in cavewoman type furs with a drumming type of vibe. No idea of the countries or names of acts as I'm not that much of an aficionado.

 

[stratobuddy]

While watching this years, I was unconsciously imitating my father when I was a teenager listening to my records - - - "Why hasn't it got a tune? And I can't understand a word they are singing."

 

[VapidStoat]

I know someone who has been a rapid Eurovision fan. Holds parties etc every year and posting in a group on Facebook. This year, she was telling everyone not to watch and boycott.

Love Doctor Who and was should I watch Eurovision after it or not? The other channels had nothing of interest for me, so it was it, Netflix or Amazon Prime?

I know some people who have always made a big deal about the final who didn't do anything this year, and most stayed off social media.

I haven't read as much online about the UK getting zero public points, when there's usually massive rants going on about how unfair it is that Europe never votes for the UK. Probably because our entrant is a gay guy, and the anti-Eurovision lot don't want to defend him or his act.

I think it's very telling that most of the hugely sexed up acts did pretty badly. The judges and public both went for the atypical acts like Nemo, or Baby Lasagna, Slimane and Bambie Thug. Perhaps people are now wanting more than pretty dancers with minimal clothing doing saucy dance moves, complicated staging/lighting and mediocre songs.

Though maybe not the "comedy" ones, like Finland

 

[merryone]

If I'm honest it's gotten far too big for my liking, too much build up, too many countries in it, a big production in the interval and almost the same amount of time spent on getting the results in as the contest itself. I preferred the Eurovisions of old when there was about 12 countries participating, and you could enjoy it for a couple of hours with a bag of popcorn and a bottle of coke!