Thread: Eurovision 2009

Watched it once, I think in 2002 or 2003.

Basically it's horribly slanted in favour of the countries that send out workers abroad. Back then Turkey won because there are so many turkish immigrants abroad who could all vote for turkey.

To be fair to Turkey, it was a good song.
Yes, the point system sucks (Belgium and the Netherlands always swap high scores) but in the end, the winning song is ususally pretty good.

What usuaully happens for Belgium is this:

a) the walloon media network selects from a list of candidates a contestant which is original and has a catchy song. walloon contestants usually get decent final scores. A couple of years ago they came in second

b) the flemmisch media network organizes something like 'idols' in which all contestants compete against each other. The public gets to vote by sms (raking in massive profits for the network) alonside a panel of 'experts'.
This goes on for weeks, until we have something left that noone takes offense to. Usually this is some soft pop song which you've forgotten by the time the act is done. by this time, the singer has quite an ego, and people delude themselves into thinking that a mellow voice somehow gets lots of votes.
Then they get pounced on in the actual contest, and the singer and their supporters act all indignant that it was a fix, that the winner was ridiculous, etc etc. (ignoring the fact that their walloon counterparts never seem to have this problem)

Well, Graham Norton is doing the UK commentary this time so it might be interesting! Not that the UK has a snowball in hell's chance, no matter what the song.

Null point...

It has cult status down here in Aus. People have eurovision parties ets. Say it isn't so about Wogan say its't so.

Brian

Originally Posted by Bruno

To be fair to Turkey, it was a good song.
Yes, the point system sucks (Belgium and the Netherlands always swap high scores) but in the end, the winning song is ususally pretty good.

Nope, not in my view. Ok before I go on I should mention that I'm a bit of a singer. So I know (by ear) whether someone can actually sing or not.

And I remember that year being amazed at how bad many of the singers really were. It sounds pompous to say that I could have done better but in most cases I actually could have.

Turkey was one of the groups that had a HORRIBLE live performance. I don't remember the song, I don't remember the singer but I do remember being appalled that a massive singing contest like this would allow such a horrible performer (this goes for many of the performers that year, not just the turkish contestant).

I watched part of it again the year after and the same thing happened. Unprofessional after unprofessional stood on that stage and made (in my eyes) a complete and utter fool of themselves. After seeing part of that second one I vowed never to watch again. I will not sit through HOURS of absolute garbage.

The songs are repetitive and uninspired, a lot of the singers are a complete joke and the fact that they'll let the public judge it (seeing as most of the public wouldn't know a good song or singer if it bit them in the nose a fact proven time and time again by the Idols concept.) is just the final drop that makes the bucket spill. (Most judges actually know what they're talking about. I know the public interaction gets higher ratings but it kills quality)

So yeah, tastes may vary.....but skill will not. And the level of live performing skill I saw those two years convinced me that I'd never need to sit through something like that again. They might be amazing in the studio...but they didn't impress live.

On the other hand I have some friends that went to see the dutch act for this year (they did a number of stadium concerts) and they said it was great. But I hate the music they do with a vengeance.....mass produced over commercialised grumble grumble grumble, if they win I might have to shoot myself grumble grumble grumble.

That said...enjoy it if you want. It only comes on TV once a year afterall

I believe that Wogan stepped down because he was fed up with the way the voting is conducted. The quality of a song really has no effect on the voting, it seems.

I can't remember the last time I watched it. I am far too cynical these days.

If you want to see some true art, watch this clip - the finest of Ein Kessel Buntes, the pinnacle of entertainment behind the iron curtain.

YouTube - EIN KESSEL BUNTES - Die Wiederbelebung des Originals!