Eurovision Uberthread

[Spudulika]

According to a colleague of mine in Germany (a German based NL fan can confirm this) but Lena is going to sing again next year for Germany! It was a smooth move to get an emo-pop-Brit-Yank type to sing a quirky Lily Allen punk song. It was a great performance from her. The Russian girl who sang for Armenia lost alot of East European votes because she looked too well. While the Azeri favourite just flopped on the night. Next year in Germany will be good, I'm considering paying it a visit. I was at Moscow last year and the buzz was amazing. The funniest part of all (in a darky comic way) was a gay pride march getting battered into oblivion by OMON officers (OMON in Russian script is OMOH, there's quite a good laugh to be had when you see a reflection in a shop front).

[mypost]

A somewhat bizzare statement. I don't doubt that some of the countries you seem to be referring to (we're Europeans too btw) put everything into it -too much some would say. But I'm not sure where they "get the rewards" you speak of. Only Ireland, Sweden and Norway have won the thing more than once in the last two decades. That fairly even spread of winners means all these other countries, including the one-time winners, who bust a gut for it every year actually have very little to show for it relative to their outlay.

Eurovision is one of the rare chances some of the Eastern countries get to get noticed. If they win, they get a huge boost in general interest and tourism the following year.

Of course, if you don't put the effort in as we generally don't, and treat it as a joke, you'll be the ones that end up getting laughed at instead.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Y'see I don't buy this. I know of absolutley no country that got a tourism bounce as a result of winning Eurovision. Having won 3 years straight -we should've have had a measurable mid-90's peak if such a bounce existed. I know the event itself creates a flurry of economic activity in and around the host town as opposed to host country but that's about the size of it.

Also, and I'm just curious, when approximately do you think RTE and whoever else is involved in the thing here stopped putting the effort in? Do they put less in now than when Ireland was winning it four years in five? Or has the nature of the show changed so uttlerly that it's just not possible to justify the outlay needed when the dividend is so intangible? I mean -back in the "good old days" of Irish dominance it could've bankrupted RTE. They weren't rolling in cash over it for sure.

[mypost]

Y'see I don't buy this. I know of absolutley no country that got a tourism bounce as a result of winning Eurovision. Having won 3 years straight -we should've have had a measurable mid-90's peak if such a bounce existed. I know the event itself creates a flurry of economic activity in and around the host town as opposed to host country but that's about the size of it.

Also, and I'm just curious, when approximately do you think RTE and whoever else is involved in the thing here stopped putting the effort in? Do they put less in now than when Ireland was winning it four years in five? Or has the nature of the show changed so uttlerly that it's just not possible to justify the outlay needed when the dividend is so intangible? I mean -back in the "good old days" of Irish dominance it could've bankrupted RTE. They weren't rolling in cash over it for sure.

You only have to look at Millstreet to see how Eurovision reflects on it. It is world-famous because of one thing and one thing only, it hosted Eurovision.

RTE put in some effort a couple of years ago. Now it's amateur hour again. The process to select the representative is held on one night on a talk show, not remotely like the massive stage used in the event itself. The pre-promotion of the songs consists of a broadcast on an afternoon radio show the day before, while the performers get one day to rehearse their performance.

Unlike us, very very few other countries use panellists views after their performances during the selection process. Most leave the viewers to make up their own minds instead. Kavanagh's song was lauded and practically driven over the line by RTE's panel, before a vote was cast for it last March. I for one, didn't like it, and feared it would get lost in a sea of ballads. European voters agreed.

Once it's chosen, little promotion work is done, sometimes not even a video is shot for it. The stage at the event is usually bare, the choreography is a shambles at best, if there is any, and the performer is usually poorly dressed. All minnowism, and the results reflect it on the night. That's all RTE's responsibility. It looks a joke, because it's treated as a joke.

As regards the outlay, it's the same as everything else. If you try, you might get something. If you don't try, you get nothing. Germany, Denmark, and Belgium finished in the top 5 this year, so RTE can't blame the usual Eastern bloc-voting excuse for the result this time.

[Lionel Ritchie]

You only have to look at Millstreet to see how Eurovision reflects on it. It is world-famous because of one thing and one thing only, it hosted Eurovision..

World Famous where now? When Millstreet is Googled - "Millstreet Recycling Center" is offered as an auto-complete ahead of the Arena. ...and check out their state of the art website
http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm

RTE put in some effort a couple of years ago. Now it's amateur hour again. The process to select the representative is held on one night on a talk show, not remotely like the massive stage used in the event itself. The pre-promotion of the songs consists of a broadcast on an afternoon radio show the day before, while the performers get one day to rehearse their performance.

So you'd like Song For Europe or the National Song Contest back? I'm pretty sure they got rid of that or decided to give it a piggy-back on the Late Late due to lack of interest/low viewership ...and in the current era where half the broadcast output is a lack-of-Talent Show of one form or another then the National Song Contest -which essentially surrendered the airwaves to showband refugees and uppity wedding singers, would die on it's hole.

Unlike us, very very few other countries use panellists views after their performances during the selection process. Most leave the viewers to make up their own minds instead. Kavanagh's song was lauded and practically driven over the line by RTE's panel, before a vote was cast for it last March. I for one, didn't like it, and feared it would get lost in a sea of ballads. European voters agreed.

Again that just "reduces it" to yet another version of Irelands Got Fame the Musical. Every Tidy Towns committ-ee out there will row in behind their local prize pig regardless of ability or hope. There'll be posters, flyers and ads everywhere. Equity will be released by doting parents to fund the shot of some delusional spoilt brats that this is their big chance. It's been tried before and Ireland sent the milky bar kid and his mutant sister -and on another occasion cantankerous fifth-columnists of my ilk voted for Dustin to torpedo it below the waterline before it got out of port.

Once it's chosen, little promotion work is done, sometimes not even a video is shot for it. The stage at the event is usually bare, the choreography is a shambles at best, if there is any, and the performer is usually poorly dressed. All minnowism, and the results reflect it on the night. That's all RTE's responsibility. It looks a joke, because it's treated as a joke.

Videos cost a fortune -and again it's down to what return can reasonably be expected. Eurovision WINNING songs often don't sell well. Non-winning songs are tatty bread by sundown on the night of the competition.

As regards the outlay, it's the same as everything else. If you try, you might get something. If you don't try, you get nothing. Germany, Denmark, and Belgium finished in the top 5 this year, so RTE can't blame the usual Eastern bloc-voting excuse for the result this time.

But there's no runners-up medals. I dunno what Denmark or Belgium spent -but it's dead rubber. No one but fetishists will pat them on the back for a top 5 finish. They lost.

[Wolfie]

I think we should send Dustin again next year - treat this farce with the contempt it deserves.

Consider it a final Harrrrumph, as we exit stage left, finally removing ourselves from this pantomime of a pathetic collection of zany Krauts, feudal headbangers and Marty Whelan.

[bennocelt]

Was at a comedy gig last monday and the Eurovision was reffered to as the Special Olympics of Singing, which sounds about right to me

[mypost]

So you'd like Song For Europe or the National Song Contest back? I'm pretty sure they got rid of that or decided to give it a piggy-back on the Late Late due to lack of interest/low viewership ...and in the current era where half the broadcast output is a lack-of-Talent Show of one form or another then the National Song Contest -which essentially surrendered the airwaves to showband refugees and uppity wedding singers, would die on it's hole.

Again that just "reduces it" to yet another version of Irelands Got Fame the Musical. Every Tidy Towns committ-ee out there will row in behind their local prize pig regardless of ability or hope. There'll be posters, flyers and ads everywhere. Equity will be released by doting parents to fund the shot of some delusional spoilt brats that this is their big chance. It's been tried before and Ireland sent the milky bar kid and his mutant sister -and on another occasion cantankerous fifth-columnists of my ilk voted for Dustin to torpedo it below the waterline before it got out of port.

Videos cost a fortune -and again it's down to what return can reasonably be expected. Eurovision WINNING songs often don't sell well. Non-winning songs are tatty bread by sundown on the night of the competition.

Satellite which won this year, went straight to No. 1 in Germany upon it's release. Since then, it's gone triple-gold. The winner came from a talent show.

For the first time in years, the Germans took it seriously, promoted their singer and song, produced a video, waltzed direct into the final, put on a good show for the crowd, and walked home with the prize.

With "jokes" like in the above post, you see the attitude why we came 3rd from last place.

[SkStu]

theres only one solution for this national shame.

Get J-Lo back.

[mypost]

In the second semi-final, Ireland got 43 points by televoting and 84 from the juries. The combined 13th and 6th place rankings, got us 9th spot so without the juries, we would have gone home early again.

In the final, we got 15 points from the televoters, putting us in 24th position. 62 jury points meant we were 16th best in their eyes, but not enough to drag us higher than 23rd place overall.

In contrast, with a single performance, Germany swept the boards to claim the victory, while the Brits got the sweeping brush, finishing last in both scoring systems.

So Pete Waterman won't be on their judging panel next year.

http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/15973

[Lionel Ritchie]

Don't know why I thought of this today but we're about half way between the last one and the next. Damn -this young wans been choppin' wood in her first 6 months as queen of Eurovision ...no. 26 in Austria!
Quite a career launcher this Eurovision malarkey. Must be why she's going back for another try next spring. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Meyer-Landrut

[mypost]

She's also been No. 1 in 6 countries. With an English-language song, that got to No. 2 in Austria.

[Lionel Ritchie]

She's also been No. 1 in 6 countries. With an English-language song, that got to No. 2 in Austria.

...six months ago. The follow up stalled at 26 in Austria, somewhere in the teens in her native Germany and they don't appear to have even bothered releasing it in 5 of the six countries she topped the charts in -or anywhere else for that matter. Impressive no?

Sorry punctuated that badly ...Impressive? No.

[BonnieShels]

Was at a comedy gig last monday and the Eurovision was reffered to as the Special Olympics of Singing, which sounds about right to me

But everyone doesn't get a medal in the Eurovision.

[mypost]

...six months ago. The follow up stalled at 26 in Austria

So?

The fact the first song reached No. 1 in so many countries, shows the broad appeal it has. She will defend her title in Dusseldorf in May.

[Lionel Ritchie]

So?

The fact the first song reached No. 1 in so many countries, shows the broad appeal it has. She will defend her title in Dusseldorf in May.

So this amazing career launcher has once again given someone a career that's dead in the water before all the leaves are brown. The only people who go at Eurovision a second time are those who are down to their last card. She wouldn't be touching it with a bargepole otherwise.

[Wolfie]

There is so much inherently wrong with this annual farce of a competition that I wouldn't know where to begin.

Its certainly well beyond taking seriously, that's for sure.

[mypost]

So this amazing career launcher has once again given someone a career that's dead in the water before all the leaves are brown. The only people who go at Eurovision a second time are those who are down to their last card. She wouldn't be touching it with a bargepole otherwise.

Don't agree with any of the above. Two of our previous winners won at their second attempt. Another one had another go this year. Greece's last winner won it at their second attempt as well.

All artists get a low chart ranking at some point. Even the most successful.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Don't agree with any of the above. Two of our previous winners won at their second attempt. Another one had another go this year. Greece's last winner won it at their second attempt as well.

All artists get a low chart ranking at some point. Even the most successful.

Wwwhaaaa?? it's not like she took a few years off to go back to college, see the world and start a family -It's her second single! The follow up to her all conquering Eurovision success and surely basking in the warm afterglow thereof.

As for previous winners from Ireland who went back -Logan was dropping his pants for spare change by the time 1987 rolled around. Linda Martin was back doing wedding gigs and Niamh Kavanagh was back behind the counter in the bank a long, long time ago -possibly needing time off on the first anniversary of her win.

[sligoman]

Jedward will be representing Ireland in this years Eurovision qualifiers, perfect Mickey Mouse act for Mickey Mouse show

The song: