Eurovision Song Contest 2019

[Silly Moustache]

In a Europe trying to recover from WW2, there was an number of ideas to try to unite Europe culturally.

It all started in1956, and had continued ever since.

Thing have ... expanded a little now, antd the contestant countries participating this year in Israel (huh?)are:

Albania
Armenia
Australia (Euro?) (great presentation - three women on enormous swaying poles)
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Croatio
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia (the singer played a Taylor ... a bit)
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece,
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia (?)
San Marino
Serbia (a ballad in 6/8 time!)
Slovenia (they had a Fender guitar!)
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The (?) Netherlands
The (??) UK

There's Nana Banana, and some woman called Madonna about to sing during the interval!

It's a great circus, most presentations are all about 4/4 disco stuff with supporting dancers and loads of fx.

Amusing and fun.

Voting by international "app", landlines or mobiles. (I don't understand but it doesn't matter)

[agfsteve]

I remember when Sandy Shaw won it with Puppet On A String!

Actually I don't remember it happening, but I remember learning of it when I was a child.

I can't believe it's still going, they should have cancelled it along with Opportunity Knocks.

Circus is a good word for it.

[Silly Moustache]

And ... The Netherland win !!!

and the UK ? ..... last!

[BoneDigger]

I saw where they are planning to bringing this to America. Not sure how that would work.

[Brucebubs]

It was noted that if Australia won they could not host it here - it had to be in Europe.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

It was noted that if Australia won they could not host it here - it had to be in Europe.

Yeah, I heard that too.

Welcome to Yoorup!

FWIW, the Oz singer and the presentation was outstanding!

[boombox]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

And ... The Netherland win !!!

and the UK ? ..... last!

Political voting, as usual!! Most of Europe dislikes the UK: with perhaps some justification given the general attitude of many Brits to Europe (which has always been the case, even before the B-word). The British entry was by no means the worst and was certainly better than Iceland's sub-standard Rammstein rip-off entry and North Macedonia's song, both of which made the top 10. Felt sorry for the Belarus girl too coming second to last - not my type of music at all, but at least she could sing and the song had some life.

Our household agreed best of the top 10 entries was Norway's. But the best Eurovision winner in decades still remains Lordi in 2007 - their album was pretty good too.

[Silurian]

Everything sounds the same these days, bland Europop all in English. It was better when performers dressed in national dress and sang about cheese.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Silurian

Everything sounds the same these days, bland Europop all in English. It was better when performers dressed in national dress and sang about cheese.

Cheese? Yeah, I get you!

I've just been looking at the particiants and the song lyrics, most are truly banal. (this from a Brit which had a winner with Boom Bang a bang in 1969!)

My favourite was the Australian singer and presentation was very good.



(listen to typical European audience clapping! - we simply don't get the off beat!)


The lyrics ? Well ...

Hey you (hey you, hey you, hey you) It’s me again Hey you (hey you, hey you, hey you) Stone in my shoe I’ve been aching Feeling low You’re so heavy I have got to let you go I’m going where there’s zero gravity Zero gravity Zero gravity I’m free, ah... Hey you (hey you, hey you, hey you) Lock with no key Hey you (hey you, hey you, hey you) Earth with no sea I’ve been freezing On the ground You’re so heavy I can’t let you keep me down anymore Oh zero gravity Zero gravity

etc. (sigh)

[frankmcr]

So, they "spell" Eurovision with a heart instead of a V. Not just a heart, but a heart with a smiley face on it.

At least that alerts you from the get-go what kind of, ahem, material to expect . . .

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

So, they "spell" Eurovision with a heart instead of a V. Not just a heart, but a heart with a smiley face on it.

At least that alerts you from the get-go what kind of, ahem, material to expect . . .

Yes, Frank,
when it started , wwwaaayyy back in 1956, it was a remarkable thing - "live" from other countries !!
then it slowly but surely became increasingly banal, but a great promoter for expanding sales of silly pop songs across Europe.

We had a wonderful , much loved and much missed presenter in the UK called Terry Wogan, who used to make great fun in his talk overs, but even he got tot he point where he thought it was so silly that he refused to do it any more.

Then, strangely, it regained popularity, especially in the gay communities of Europe, because it was so camp, and so silly.

Of course, it is still a "device" for selling pop songs.