Just in case anyone will be watching the final tonight, feel free to post comments in here.
Please don't turn it political though (Ukraine are the hot favourites, and of course Russia are banned from entry this year).
We haven't heard any of the entries, but we do like to watch the spectacle and listen to Graham Norton's commentary and remarks.
Apparently (or so I read today) the UK entry is expected to do well this year. That would indeed be a turn up for the books.
Thanks Reg! I'll be watching. In a way I hope we don't do well because I can't abide the UK entry. But I do think we'll get more than last time, if only due to certain geo-political considerations which we needn't dwell on here.
Well the Swiss lad looks refreshingly normal, I must say. And there's some eye candy from Spain and Sweden.
Mad that Australia is in this.
Feel like I've heard this Czech Republic tune a thousand times. Boring recycled chord changes from a dozen tunes. Generic dance tune. Dull.
I'll give it 3. Nothing interesting or original.
Romania. Bit more spirited. Feels like a pumped up folk tune. Not a great song but lots of energy. More in the Eurovision tradition. 5 out of 10.
Portugal. Actually quite a nice ballad. Lovely harmonies in that middle eight. And her voice elevates it nicely. I'm assuming that is a woman, you can't always tell these days. 7.
Portugal has been the most interesting so far, but will get lost along the way I think.
There's nothing quite so undistinguished as a rock band doing Eurovision and this Finnish entry is horrible plastic commercial hard rock. The theatrical posturing on the stage is comical. 3 out of 10.
Agreed re: Finland.
I can't see the Swiss entry doing well. Bit of a yawn fest to these ears at least.
Wow this Swiss tune is rather nice! Proper big band ballad like something from the '50s, with strings and a bit of clarinet. Reminds me of Try A Little Tenderness. Good voice as well. 7.
France. Spicy and spirited but again feels a bit generic. Folk music on speed again. Eastern-tinged, not particularly French in character. 5.
Yeah. Not very French was it? Thought it was a bit messy.
Norway. A ridiculous novelty act. But are the crowd singing along? Feels like Eurovision by numbers but it's not a bad song. Not a good one either, 5. Maybe a 6.
Norway has that Euro-weirdness vibe that might serve it well.
Armenia. Again a recycled set of chords that I've heard a million times and the chorus is the same as the verses. Dull folky acoustic tune. 3
Armenia. Mostly harmless. Nothing stirring.
Italy. It's an emotional ballad and actually a very good song in the main. Powerfully gay performance and I'm not surprised that Graham Norton likes it. A 6 from me, not my favourite so far will do well I think.
Spain is bang on what I expect from a Eurovision song. Easy on the eye too.
Will do well I think.
Spain. It's a performance that appeals more visually, and my wife noticed that I reflexively moved closer to the television.
As far as the tune goes, nothing special. Pumped up Euro tune with folk roots, similar to France and Romania. 5 again.
Netherlands. Not impressed.
Netherlands. I quite like this. Getting somewhat androgynous vibes from the singer, not that has a bearing on anything. Nice ballad, not overdone. Light and shade. 6.
Ukraine, oh dear it's a hybrid of folky Europop and rap. It does have a certain attitude and energy. It will do well but it's a 4 from me.
Ukraine. Bit of a kitchen sink song. Lots crammed in.
Prolonged exposure would give me a headache.
Bookies odds-on favourite so is expected to do very well.
Germany. Come on, I've heard this a million times. Everything about it is banal and predictable. There's not a hint of a shred of originality in the whole rotten song. 2. Worst one so far for me.
Lithuania, this is more like it. Interesting song performed with character and charisma. Has a hint of Shirley Bassey doing a Bond tune. Terrific. 8. Easily the best of the night. So far!
Sian commented on a bit of a Bond vibe too.
Azerbaijan, nothing special but it's actually a rather tasteful ballad. Well performed and the orchestration is effective. 7.
Re: Germany. Shortly after the start, I took a comfort break. Kind of says what I thought.
I think you've nailed the Azerbaijan entry.
Belgium. Another ballad but just a little overwrought and generic. 5.
These scripted dialogues between the presenters are so witty, aren't they?
Belgium. Nothing inspiring. Nothing to lift it above the rest. I predict it'll end up in the bottom half. But I'm notoriously bad at Eurovision predictions!
Quote from: Slim on May 14, 2022, 09:30:56 PMThese scripted dialogues between the presenters are so witty, aren't they?
Well you just made me laugh 😃.
Probably in a minority here, but I really enjoyed the Greece entry.
9 to go! And here comes the Greek entry. It's another power ballad. I think it's OK.
Has she got knickers on under there? When her dress was rear-projected I thought I caught a glimpse of her labia.
5.
This Iceland tune has a nice mood and it's a bit different. Nice sort of electric folky girl chorus thing going on. But the tune is nothing special. 6.5.
Iceland. No thanks. Yawnsville.
Moldova. I don't have words.
Moldova LOL
Delightfully spirited hoedown. Hey ho, let's go. Surely a nod to the Ramones. But the novelty wore off quickly. 5.
Sweden. She's performing from the floor and I think Sandie Shaw did that first. It's a pretty tasteful ballad, performed with panache. Good one, 6.5.
Enormous chorus from Sweden. Better than some I've heard tonight.
Is this bloke really Australian? I expected a corked bush hat and a can of Fosters. Another overwrought and pompous ballad. Poor. 3.
Quote from: Slim on May 14, 2022, 09:52:52 PMIs this bloke really Australian? I expected a corked bush hat and a can of Fosters. Another overwrought and pompous ballad. Poor. 3.
ROTFPMSL.
Thank you James.
Well, that was refreshing and the best UK entry in many years.
Big cheer for the UK. Probably not from me.
Wow this has come alive for me a bit and it's actually a charismatic performance. This is pretty good, possibly because it took a couple of listens and the other tunes haven't had that advantage chez moi. But I'll give it a 7.
Poland. Another painfully overwrought ballad, I don't like his voice. Has a certain grating operatic quality. Not one of the worst, 4
Bloody hell, Sian and I agree that this Poland entry is the best thing we've heard tonight.
Top stuff and a great voice.
Guess James and I disagree on that one!
Serbia, what the actual? Certainly original, I really like it. Distinctive. Quite powerful. Another 7.
Serbia. Generally annoying and monotonous, but a depressingly catchy chorus.
I hope I never hear it again.
And we finish with Ghost Riders In The Sky. Sort of.
Estonia, really good. Traditional Euro folk with a bit of Ennio Morricone in the backing. Another 6.5, maybe a 7.
My top 7, not in order - will wait for the replay clips - are..
Portugal
Switzerland
Lithuania
Azerbaijan
UK
Serbia
Estonia
So my top 3 are:
Poland
UK
Sweden
Sian's are:
Poland
UK
Lithuania
In order of preference I'm going
Lithuania
Serbia
Switzerland
UK
Azerbaijan
Portugal
Estonia
Not 100% sure about all that but without a doubt Lithuania stole the show for me.
Last year's winners are performing now and Alex Lifeson has been teleported from 1981 to play guitar with them.
Disappointed to see Spain doing this well
The Boris Factor gets us the 12 from Ukraine.
And so far we're winning, surely that won't last.
Well. This is a bit surreal isn't it?
The jurors agree with me about the German entry. Worst one. Null points so far.
And we got 12 from Germany!
12 points from France? What the..
And France! What the actual ?
Well without wandering into political matters I will just say that this time last year, quite a few folks of a Remainer disposition took to Twitter to explain that "Brexit means Brexit!"
Turns out it was just a rubbish song after all.
Will be interested to see what happens with the phone vote, but we won't have done badly.
Getting twitchy now.
The voting public agree with me about Serbia, but not Switzerland! Brutal 0 there for the Swiss lad. And only 3 for the Azerbaijan entry.
I think this is where the Ukraine might steal the show with public vote.
So Ukraine have won this surely but the credibility of this exercise as a song contest has been punctured somewhat.
That was sickening, and I guess the public vote wasn't related to the song.
Fantastic result for the UK after years in the wilderness.
It's unfortunate for the UK that it finally managed to come up with a well liked song in a year that Ukraine was always destined to win.
Quote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 10:23:45 AMIt's unfortunate for the UK that it finally managed to come up with a well liked song in a year that Ukraine was always destined to win.
Yes, it was fixed.....but it is most years. Completely irrelevant IMHO
My favourite by far from Eurovision 2021 was this one:
I knew it was one of the Eastern European countries, but I'd forgotten that it was Ukraine.
Quote from: David L on May 15, 2022, 12:17:10 PMQuote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 10:23:45 AMIt's unfortunate for the UK that it finally managed to come up with a well liked song in a year that Ukraine was always destined to win.
Yes, it was fixed.....but it is most years. Completely irrelevant IMHO
I didn't say it was fixed and I certainly don't believe it to be so. Who's doing the fixing anyway and to what purpose?
Had great fun last night with our BBQ/Eurovision party. Glad the UK did so well, but it was obvious that Ukraine would get the popular vote. I thought the overall presentation was one of the worst in recent years - the presenters having to waffle on was tedious and I don't recall ever not getting a connection to somewhere in Europe for the jury vote: last night it happened a few times. As always though a good laugh with shit songs.
Quote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 12:57:23 PMQuote from: David L on May 15, 2022, 12:17:10 PMQuote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 10:23:45 AMIt's unfortunate for the UK that it finally managed to come up with a well liked song in a year that Ukraine was always destined to win.
Yes, it was fixed.....but it is most years. Completely irrelevant IMHO
I didn't say it was fixed and I certainly don't believe it to be so. Who's doing the fixing anyway and to what purpose?
You mean Ukraine had the best song? ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: David L on May 15, 2022, 01:42:06 PMQuote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 12:57:23 PMQuote from: David L on May 15, 2022, 12:17:10 PMQuote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 10:23:45 AMIt's unfortunate for the UK that it finally managed to come up with a well liked song in a year that Ukraine was always destined to win.
Yes, it was fixed.....but it is most years. Completely irrelevant IMHO
I didn't say it was fixed and I certainly don't believe it to be so. Who's doing the fixing anyway and to what purpose?
You mean Ukraine had the best song? ;D ;D ;D
No 🙄
Quote from: dom on May 15, 2022, 12:57:23 PMI didn't say it was fixed and I certainly don't believe it to be so. Who's doing the fixing anyway and to what purpose?
For a lot of these countries, bung of £100,000 would probably amount to twice their annual GDP ;D
https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eurovision-song-contest-issue-lengthy-26970688?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mirror_main&fbclid=IwAR3qycZg3ONy9tGIEeZQNdAXF2SzvdEn95B7YrlM6DYwn__Y-FmU9HT4r88
;D ;D ;D
That's interesting, but what it shows is that the people organising the contest took care to ensure its integrity. And in any case it only refers to the jury vote; the public vote alone would have seen Ukraine win by a mile.
Quote from: Slim on May 16, 2022, 09:51:34 AMThat's interesting, but what it shows is that the people organising the contest took care to ensure its integrity. And in any case it only refers to the jury vote; the public vote alone would have seen Ukraine win by a mile.
Yes, I know that. And I also understand that the quality of their entry was irrelevant
I agree but that doesn't mean it was "fixed", just that people voted with other motives than their preference for the song.
Quote from: Slim on May 16, 2022, 10:33:30 AMI agree but that doesn't mean it was "fixed", just that people voted with other motives than their preference for the song.
;D
Tomato...Tomato