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True, initial concern over Ukraine's ability to host the 2005 contest, meant that at one stage, the countries who finished second (Serbia) and third (Greece) in 2004, were offered the opportunity to host it in 2005. But both refused.Quote:
Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie
Nobody told me MY thread had been resurrected! ;) Shame for wee Austria, I thought they actually produced a good song this year. Not good that more eastern countries are coming in, they are going to go OTT with the drums and the leaping about like mad eejits! :eek: Thank God YAS has been axed for the Eurovision. Shall be interesting next year!
:D
Had Ukraine been unable under the above circumstances... The EBU would have gone looking for willing member states to host the damn thing! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by mypost
In 1971 Monaco won the contest in Dublin... they had no venue large enough and capable of hosting all the broadcasting equipment necessary to host it.
It was awarded to Britain who nominated Edinburgh in 1972 if the memory serves.
Sandra Kim will perform her winning song, "J'aime la vie", at the Eurovision 50th anniversary show in Copenhagen in October. Sandra Kim was the youngest ever winner of Eurovision, having won it when 13 years old for Belgium in Oslo in 1986.
This year's winner, Helena Paparizou, has had more success since the contest. "My Number One" went gold in Greece, and Sweden, where it topped the charts for 4 weeks. Her latest album went Platinum in Greece. The McCauls however, seem to have disappeared completely from the music radar since the contest.
Moving back home, YAS takes a different twist in August, as celebrities take part in a charity version of the show, over two weeks. The celebrities will donate the proceeds from the show to various charities around the country. If you thought there were amateurs in the original YAS, they are music veterans compared to the following "celebrities":
Geri Maye, Alan Shortt,
Amanda Brunker, Sile Seoige,
Liam McCormack, David Mitchell,
Natasha O' Garvey, and ahem.....Finian McGrath TD. :confused:
The viewers will vote out one contestant each night. Louis Walsh and Linda Martin return to the YAS judging panel for the show. Quite what they'll make of the music quality, or distinct lack of it, of the "celebrities", remains to be seen.
Soap actor David Molloy won the YAS Charity Special, beating Finian McGrath, in the final. Predictably, the judges slaughtered the celebrities, some of them using language, while doing so. :eek: The show raised 300,000 Euro for various charities around Ireland.
The run-up to Athens begins next month, when some countries begin their selection process to find a performer for next year's Eurovision. About two thirds of participants will be selected through national talent shows, others will be chosen by their state broadcaster, and a few will be chosen through a national final, as is likely to be case with RTE, even if they haven't officially confirmed it yet.
All competing countries must select a performer for Athens before, or at the HOD meeting in Athens next March. A few countries will choose before Christmas, however most will after it. Ireland, UK, Sweden, and Germany are traditionally among the last countries to choose an artist for the event every year, and will be so again next year.
The 50th anniversary show will take place in Copenhagen on 22nd October. Johnny Logan's two Eurovision-winning songs will be among the 14 songs performed during the show, to decide which is the best Eurovision song ever. Former winners, Linda Martin, Charlie Mc Gettigan, and Eimear Quinn, complete the Irish party at the show. Also there will be the contest's first winner Lys Assia, youngest winner Sandra Kim, and latest winner Helena Paparizou. RTE will show the two-and-a-half hour contest, but 2 of the Big 4 countries, France and the UK won't.
Austria withdrew from Athens next year, and they have been joined by Czech Republic, and Georgia. Among the doubtfuls for next year are Armenia, Bulgaria, and the UK. Despite the 2005 contest attracting 8 million viewers, massive job cuts recently made by the BBC, together with the UK's constant poor results in the contest, have led to rumours going around that the station have questioned whether they should send a performer to next year's contest. They will continue to fund the contest nevertheless, of which they contribute 30% of it, although how long their contribution would last without being involved in the show, is open to debate. How the contest can go ahead without the financial contribution of the Big 4 is a nightmare scenario potentially facing the EBU. Have we heard the last of Wogan at the contest?? :eek:
I would miss Wogan and his hilarious digs. Please let him stay ...
It was Wogan's digs that initially de-valued the contest. :rolleyes: He is partly responsible for the contest's negative image over here, which is hardly surprising, as he openly admits to hating the event.Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
Abba's Waterloo won the 50th anniversary show in Copenhagen. It was a show with a difference, not so much of a contest, but more of a spectacle. Johnny Logan's winning songs were performed, and Hold Me Now qualified in the top 5, and was voted as the 3rd best song of all time in the contest. :) He also performed another ballad later on. However, the show was overshadowed when Ronan Keating turned up to s(h)ing a
s(h)ong, the organisers would have been better off re-scheduling one of the show's numerous ad breaks at that point! :rolleyes: He was joined by Eimear Quinn, Charlie McGettigan, and Linda Martin who all performed part of their winning entries too.
Orchestras, and juries returned to the event. The only singer to perform their song in it's entirity, was the current champion Helena Paparizou, whose song also made the final 5. In Israel, commercial breaks overran, and their winning song from 1979, "Hallelujah" was not seen there, until the repeat showing of the event. There was only going to be one winner; Abba, of course. As usual, they didn't appear at the event, but Bjorn & Co. accepted their award a few days later.
Er...no, his comments actually make some people watch it. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
and I'm one of them:o. If I was watching it at all it would be on BBC that I'd watch it cos of Wogan's witty comments:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
oh we agree on something! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
Yeah, but dont get too used to it though;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
heh heh :DQuote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
Brian Kennedy has been selected as Ireland's representative for Eurovision 2006 in Greece:
http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision2006/
We are the first country to select a performer for the 2006 contest, with 6 months to go to the event.
I know, it's great! A great candidate in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Positives:
* Great accomplished singer, very versatile and has great experience with many singers, so will make sure it is of a decent standard unlike last year :o
*Is a fan of traditional/folk type music
* He's fit :D
*YAS is no longer involved.
* He's from the North... ;)
* He's not those 2 geeks from Athlone (sorry hamish etc)
Negatives
* He's a guy and lately guys don't tend to win Eurovision, as long as they have a traditional Irish musical influence, instruments, a few women in stage etc, preferably dancers. Unfortunately the no. of people on stage is limited.
Cannot believe we are the first to pick a singer! Bit of organisation this time!!
Good luck Brian!
and gay too;) :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
So?!? :mad: At least he looks good...Quote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
For other men;):pQuote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
*Thinks how easy it is to annoy GT*:cool:
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
Do ya fancy him sligoman?
:eek:
Oh yeah sure, he's my idol:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
I think you've me mistaken with Hamish, he's the guy that dreams of Elton John;)
I don't watch it anymore.....I need not pretend :p :D
you get your own personal updates though....;)Quote:
Originally Posted by d f x-
For sligoman.......
http://www.tradmusic.com/artistimage...iankennedy.jpg :D
Feck off with yer Brainless Kennedy:mad: :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
Lionel no like this.
I think we should send that victorian freak-show tweedle dee and tweedle dum again. The people of Athlone demand it -hear their cry.
Send forth the one legged man - the @rse kicking competition is set to begin!
King Brian will bring the trophy home! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie
that's what worries me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
I can picture him now -singing some camp quasi religious twaddle most likely composed by Brendan Graham with a bit of help from Brian mcFatten to inject a bit of "cool". Jesus wept.
Click here for some more info on our Brian...:D
Fab voice. Come on, compare him to the Milky Bar Kid and his momma from Athlone that we sent last year! :o :eek:
Kennedy reactionsQuote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
Personally, I have my doubts about Kennedy. While the reaction has been generally positive overall, I would be concerned that while he has the ability to perform well, it's clear that the show has changed irrevocably since our last win, and sending him to Athens could well backfire on RTE. Generally, traditional music/ballads (his forté) don't score well, and there will almost certainly be no "visuals" on stage to accompany the song. Couple that with the mass Eastern bloc voting, and it's going to be very difficult for him, and indeed us, to qualify for the final on that basis. I think it's a gamble by RTE to send him to Eurovision, and it could ruin his career if he fails in the contest.
Will he be another Mark Roberts/Mickey Harte, or alternatively Gary O'Shaughnessy Mark II?? Find out on May 19th.
Who's to say there will be no visuals on stage? I cannot believe they will stick him there on his own :eek: Brian is no cod, he will be highly involved in every stage of this performance and will have a say in what goes. They will not go for a straight ballad, even though his voice is well suited to it. They know these ballads do not work, however did Malta and some other country(Latvia?) not finish in the top 5 with ballads last year.....The bloc voting is a problem, only good thing is there are more and more east Europeans in Ireland so we tend to be getting more votes from Poland, Latvia etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Also I think Ireland has realised that it is important to send someone who is actually known in Europe, like other acts that have done well, recent Greek acts, Helena Paparizou and Sakis for e.g.
Previous winners have had some traditional elements to it, Ruslana had the Ukrainian :rolleyes: wild dances, music was traditional to a mountain area in Ukraine. Helena last year had elements of Greek music in hers and Turkey Sertab whatever her name had a very typical Turkish instrumental theme.
Regarding Brian's career, well he is 40 now and has already established himself, it is not as if he is just starting out or in the middle of his career. He would not have chosen to do this unless he felt he had the ability and experience to do well. That's all I expect and hope for in the competition, that we get our credibility back in the contest, actually MAKE a final and finish in the top 10. To win would be a huge bonus though...
I am very optimistic about it, can't wait, put it this way, we can't do any worse than last year! And who would you choose, those 2 gimps from last year or Brian? Speaking of which some gossip on those 2 gimps! :eek:
We'll leave the gossip to those who care.Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
We Irish are balladeers. And you can be sure that the public here will vote for another soppy ballad yet again for the contest. They don't work in Eurovision, because most people who watch it, are not interested in listening to 3-minute long boring bawls.Quote:
They will not go for a straight ballad. They know these ballads do not work.
The same problem of course, that will guarantee us 12 points from the UK in 2006. :D :rolleyes:Quote:
The bloc voting is a problem
There is no evidence suggesting that they vote for us in increasing numbers.Quote:
there are more and more east Europeans in Ireland so we tend to be getting more votes from Poland, Latvia etc.
Yes, Greece and Turkey have sent ethno songs for 30 odd years, and the reward for all that is 1 win apiece. Greece's winning song was a straight-forward pop song, written and performed by professionals. Turkey's winning song had a strong Austrian influence, as they were the dancers. Ukraine's song in 2004 was not an ethno entry. There are plenty of ethno failures too e.g. Estonia 2004, and Croatia/Turkey 2005. The televoters want to hear upbeat catchy numbers in English, not traditional music in a language that nobody else understands, or ballads that bore everyone to sleep.Quote:
Previous winners have had some traditional elements to it, Ruslana had the Ukrainian wild dances, music was traditional to a mountain area in Ukraine. Helena last year had elements of Greek music in hers and Turkey Sertab whatever her name had a very typical Turkish instrumental theme.
Oh yes we can do worse, and I fear we will. BK wouldn't have been my choice, he wouldn't have even been considered tbh. I fear that after all the years of RTE saying we will do better next year, they will continue to embarrass us in the contest. Failure to make the final, could have a major negative impact on Kennedy's career and image, and I fear that he doesn't realise exactly how tough it's going to be. Eurovision is not a straight-forward gig. To succeed, you need to come up with something a bit different. Can he do it? I'm not so sure.Quote:
I am very optimistic about it, can't wait, put it this way, we can't do any worse than last year!
The fact that this thread has reached 16 pages is what's worrying me:o.
It's only 8 pages long, on my site set-up. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
With less than 5 months to go to the 2006 event, preparations for the contest are in full swing. Many countries will choose through YAS-style semi-finals, and finals. Only the Big 4 and Sweden have yet to get their Eurovision plans up for next year off the ground, but will do so soon. By this time next month, there will be 3-4 countries choosing their performers every weekend for Athens.
There were 450 entries submitted from all around the country, wishing to be selected as the song to represent Ireland in Athens. Shay Healy, and Brendan Graham will whittle them all down to a shortlist of 4 entries to be voted on by the public in the Spring.
Other Eurovision news sees Albania and Switzerland also select their performers in 2006. In Albania's case, they will have a Male artist on stage for the first time in the contest, while Switzerland have chosen a group of 6 members from 6 different countries. Johnny Logan will judge the Belgian entry for Eurovision in Athens. Meanwhile, Hungary's MTV, after making their return to the show in 2005 following an 11-year break, have withdrawn from the contest once again, mainly on financial grounds.
Update:
I don't like the Eurovision anymore.
Come on boys and girls...is there need for such in depth analysis for the Eurovision...?:DQuote:
Personally, I have my doubts about Kennedy. While the reaction has been generally positive overall, I would be concerned that while he has the ability to perform well, it's clear that the show has changed irrevocably since our last win, and sending him to Athens could well backfire on RTE. Generally, traditional music/ballads (his forté) don't score well, and there will almost certainly be no "visuals" on stage to accompany the song. Couple that with the mass Eastern bloc voting, and it's going to be very difficult for him, and indeed us, to qualify for the final on that basis. I think it's a gamble by RTE to send him to Eurovision, and it could ruin his career if he fails in the contest.
heh heh, wonder who you're quoting from, snigger.......:DQuote:
Originally Posted by d f x-
I wish Brian Kennedy well. But if we do not get far in this year's competition I wish to reiterate an idea that Partizan would concur with .Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Tribe
Invite Belgrade's own Irish folk music/ trad band The Orthodox Celts to represent us in 2007. As they are one of the most popular bands in ex-Yugoslavia they would garner votes from all 5 parts of the former federation currently in the Contest. This would diffuse a lot of the block voting from the Balkans and would keep Ireland in the frame.
Well, the "competition" to find the song for Kennedy in Eurovision turned out to be a) a fix, and b) crap. As usual with Kennedy, he cannot sing anything else except a ballad, and despite writers, and composers sending literally hundreds of better entries, Kennedy's own song was chosen. His own song may be typically Irish, but it's Gary O'Shaughnessy-esque, and hasn't a prayer at Eurovision. :mad:
The Brits make their minds up about Athens this weekend, as do the Croats. The Germans, Swedes, and French decide soon also, given that there are only 2 weeks left to choose a song for the 2006 contest. Las Ketchup are performing for Spain! :o
Of those that have decided, there are already some firm favourites, like Norway, Turkey, and especially Belgium, where RTBF have sent the well reknowned Kate Ryan to Athens; her looks, and song may well bring the title back to Brussels for the first time in 20 years. Already, it's a chart-topper around the continent, and yes, Je t'adore it too. Re: Kennedy, he may as well not turn up, as his song is of Father Ted standard. :(
oh, cop on, brian kennedy is an amazing singer :mad: Sure you thought the brother and sister geeks for ireland last year were great :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
I really hope it works well for him, i have not heard the song yet.