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Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: Eurovision

OK, it's Monday and the dust has hopefully settled. As much as I hate to raise the subject:

Eurovision, what are your thoughts on the songs, the voting, Terry's commentary.
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Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Rachel · Guest

The winning song is pants.

The voting was much as expected.

Terry's commentary was a little disappointing because a lot of the comments he made on the night, he'd already made on Radio 2 during the run up, on his own show and on the day itself, on other R2 shows, so there was very little new material. It was probably amusing for those who hadn't heard him on the Radio, but when you're listening to a live event and you've heard the "commentary" before , it becomes very predictable.

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

There are already a couple of threads about this but never mind another one won't hurt. I personally liked Hungary, Finland and Germany, thought Latvia and Belarus were ok. Our entry wasn't the best it's fair to say but it was a long way off being the worst as well, they done their best but we were seriously undone by political voting.
Ireland were shocking! it reminded me of the Father Ted 'My lovely horse' episode, France were equally bad but highly amusing, thought I was going to need oxygen from laughing at them.

Terry's commentary is in my view the only reason to watch this debacle, it was great as usual but I thought he sounded a bit tired, really fed up, even a bit sad, I honestly think he's had enough of it. Ken Bruce was equally aggrieved, he's still in a mood about it this morning and again was suggesting 2 separate contests.

The voting was a farce, no other word for it but bless dear Malta for the 12, it's been a few years since we've had one of those.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 10:19 am Post subject:

Ken Bruce is far and away the better commentator - really funny and knowledgeable too. I wish he was doing it on TV.

The top 2 songs were just dirges. Awful rubbish, and I honestly think that Scooch were very hard done by. Maybe all those Union Flags weren't such a good idea, eh?

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

Why not factor in the percentage of the EBU budget provided by each of the member countries, for example the UK got 12 votes, and contributes 20% of the budget ( I don't know the exact figure) then the UK vote would be 240.

On this basis, 'old' Europe (UK France, Germany, Ireland) would be able to counteract the Balkan/Russian/ baltic/ Scandanavian bloc voting.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

If the four "bankers" (UK, France, Germany, Spain) don't pull the plug now, after that shambles, they never will. I suspect the fact that it pulled in 10 million viewers in the UK alone means that they never will.

Thankfully, we are very unlikely to hear any of the songs again, unless some boy-band's management picks up the Belarus one, which had the air of 007 and a catchy chorus about it.

Terry sounded very resigned, and I wouldn't blame him if he decided there are better places to be of a May evening than Belgrade.
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Ron

Cherskiy · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:30 am Post subject:

firewirefred · Guest

I think Italy did the right thing in getting out a few years back. I would personally like to see a return to the voting panel system - but of course the loss of revenue from phone voting would preclude that option!

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 12:12 pm Post subject:

I did enjoy the Hungarian ' Blues' number, and the pastiche on the rat pack by Germany, but most of the rest left me cold, with only Terry's voice to lift the gloom.

Next year we ought to send Dave Hill with Slade2 to show the Swedes how to do Glam rock properly.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

OK -

The German one would have been brill, had there been any tune and had the bloke been able to sing it.

Hungary's blues might have been fine, but well out of place in the ESC.

The Russian schoolgirls took my mind off whatever they were singing Smile

Ireland's probably deserved to be bottom - poor song and very nervy performance Crying or Very sad

Nice to see "Timmy Mallett" in drag and singing for Ukraine!

Where was Andorra? (Surprised they let that poster in)
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Ron

firewirefred · Guest

When can we start voting for next years acts? Now?

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject:

Get together a crew from these boards ( there's bound to be some talent somewhere) make up a Rock/Blues/ethnic song, Bribe the judges - cracked it!!!! Confused

_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject:

Get together a crew from these boards ( there's bound to be some talent somewhere) make up a Rock/Blues/ethnic song, Bribe the judges - cracked it!!!! Confused

_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

Rachel · Guest

Hey, I'm a good cook:) but my piano playing can clear a building faster than a fire alarm. Very Happy

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

Rachel · Guest

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

Maybe we will pick up our ball and say we are not playing anymore after this year. Laughing

Lets face it we could put Elton John in there and still we would have no chance.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Perhaps we could persuade ITV to take it on.

Kiss of death... Very Happy

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Ron

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/COMMENTARY+Anyone+for+Sopot/1135227262498

The Fins are attacking "whinging Wogan"
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3413 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

But not Ken Bruce!!!
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject:

I think the writer makes some valid points re language.

" In those halcyon language-restricted days from 1966-1973 and from 1977-1999, the UK and Ireland racked up most of the dozen wins they have between them, and it is a moot point whether the songs as such were so great - Boom Bang-a-Bang, anyone? - or whether instead they were simply "more accessible" by virtue of the familiar language in which they were delivered.
Besides, as Bjørn Erichsen, the Danish Director of Television for the European Broadcasting Union, pointed out archly on Sunday, the just-joined countries of Eastern Europe remained calm and composed in the 1990s when the spoils went to Ireland (four times in five years), Norway, and the UK."

And also I'd forgotten that the old Soviet bloc used to have a separate contest: the European Broadcasting Union's Eurovision and the Intervision Song Contest, the Socialist bloc's rival gathering run under the direction of the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT). The OIRT (1946-1993) was a network of Eastern European radio and television broadcasters.

Also explains why we dont have any songs from Italy or Luxembourg. Crying or Very sad

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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3413 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

The best suggestion i read was that the let GMTV organise the phone vote. That way the winner could be fixed in advance and still raise huge amounts of cash to pay for the event.
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

I think half the time they make up their own quotes Laughing

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

Seems Terry & Ken are not the only ones who are narked about it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6657207.stm

I notice Gambo's name in this article too.

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:51 am Post subject:

gfloyd · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:52 am Post subject:

gfloyd · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:55 am Post subject:

And another thing. If it is fixed how come a different country keeps winning each year? Turkey, Ukraine, Finland & serbia in the last 4 years IIRC. Surely this is what it should be about- every country having a chance?

If the UK came up with something that was good - both visually & musically, people would vote for it. But that last few attempts have been insulting everybody's intelligence.
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:57 am Post subject:

a bit like the swedish attempt at glam rock, or german rat pack?
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:03 am Post subject:

or even those French nutters, or the wonderful Irish contribution, the Ukrainian Timmy Mallet, the Slovenian woman whose hand lit up, The divis in top hats who decided to sing in 6 languages?

Scooch may not have been good, but there were some a lot worse that came second etc.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

I think it's fair to say that our song was not the best, however it was far from the worst either. Look at the one that came second or the one that came 5th, both utterly dire.
They say ours was too camp but what about that bloke who looked like Chris Biggins Shocked

The booing from the audience said a lot as did the huge cheer when Malta gave us 12 in protest Laughing

I think Gambo is right personally.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3413 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land