Eurovision bloc voting simple solution - regional heats meaning that only a couple of countries from each 'region' get in. EG - 2 Scandi countries are in, 2 Western Europe countries in, 2 Balkan countries in, 2 ex-Russian in, etc. That would mean they may still give each other 12 points but they would be FORCED to give the other points to outlying nations. Simpe.
Eurovision bloc voting simple solution - regional heats meaning that only a couple of countries from each 'region' get in. EG - 2 Scandi countries are in, 2 Western Europe countries in, 2 Balkan countries in, 2 ex-Russian in, etc. That would mean they may still give each other 12 points but they would be FORCED to give the other points to outlying nations. Simpe.
That would be a lot of regional heats - and if they happened before the final week you'd have national selection, regional heats (who would host these and who would vote?) and then a final.
You'd also potentially have a huge audience who had no real interest in the show because their entrant wasn't going to a semi or final.
I still think there is merit in two semi-finals and no guaranteed final places (apart from the Big 4 of course) - but whether the semi should be split by timezone or randomly is a good question. I'd vote for random, on two consecutive nights.
That way all countries still get to go to the contest itself - and it still has the HUGE event feel that it has developed over the last few years - and feels like a real pan-European festival and contest. If you ditch the semi in favour of regional pre-selection it will reduce the size and scale of the major event - not sure this would be a good thing.
I draw your attention to this, which I haven't seen discussed since I mentioned it the first time. Specifically:
Quote:
RTÉ are pleased to announce Ireland's participation in the first Eurovision Dance Contest. The event is organised by the EBU and will be broadcast live from London on Saturday, September the 1st and will be produced by the BBC.
Good site about the Eurovision Dance event here Seem the contest is getting it's shape and we have allegedly "last dance" for Camilla and Brendan for UK.
I didn't want to bring this thread up from the dead again as I'm not sure if this has been discussed but since this thread is back up on the first page... here goes!
I was looking back at Scooch's performance again on You Tube and I paused it on the trolleys at the end to count how many flags were on it. But then I noticed that in the bottom left corner of the right hand trolley, they actually used the old Georgian flag! Surely they could have done a quick search on Wikipedia to check on them all, or even the BBC's country profile pages! Again, apologies if this has been noted before!
Eurovision bloc voting simple solution - regional heats meaning that only a couple of countries from each 'region' get in. EG - 2 Scandi countries are in, 2 Western Europe countries in, 2 Balkan countries in, 2 ex-Russian in, etc. That would mean they may still give each other 12 points but they would be FORCED to give the other points to outlying nations. Simpe.
Just two western European countries? That would be all out of proportion! Far more countries in western Europe than in Scandanavian, so wouldn't agree with that-- although I do agree with the sentiment behind what you're saying though!
Here's how I would do it. I would keep the entry process to the final the same as it is now. However, when it comes to voting in the final, I would put each country into a block of countries. Each country would still get its individual votes and points, but would not be allowed to vote for any countries in its block. That way, we wouldn't have the regional voting which happens now.
Eurovision bloc voting simple solution - regional heats meaning that only a couple of countries from each 'region' get in. EG - 2 Scandi countries are in, 2 Western Europe countries in, 2 Balkan countries in, 2 ex-Russian in, etc. That would mean they may still give each other 12 points but they would be FORCED to give the other points to outlying nations. Simpe.
Simple - but unlikely to happen.
You still have the "Big Four" problem - that the four main bankrolling countries - those who actually pay a large licensing fee to show the event - are all Western European (Germany, France, Spain and the UK) and all currently have guaranteed final places, to ensure they show the event (and thus fund it)
I think the two-semi option has a lot going for it - though whether it should be an East/West split or random is a good question.
By the sound of it they're sticking with the status quo this year - as they can't agree on changes in time for 2008's show.
The irony is that the ratings in many countries are pretty good - even though our performance in the show often isn't.
Recently - although there has been an East/West split - with the Eastern bloc doing pretty well - these countries have also taken the contest a LOT more seriously - actually entering artists who are big names domestically. Serbia entered something that was what it was, a simple song sung well - and it didn't have to be in English. No gimmicks required.
In Western Europe the trend has been to use less well-known (arguably weaker) stars - often using a Pop Idol / Fame Academy style selection format. We've taken to re-inforcing the Eurovision "Euro pop" cliche often - whereas Europop has often tanked more recently. (Belgium have suffered from this recently - with well regarded pop numbers not getting through the semi-s - Xandee and Kate Ryan for example)
Sweden's Melodifestivalen selection shows have a mix of established and newer local performers - and Sweden has done quite well some years recently... (But then Sweden has a strange local music scene all of its own - with Melodifestivalen entries often dominating the local charts for weeks)
Earlier today I happened to have my TV on The Hits, and saw the pop video for Ricky Martin - "Livin' La Vida Loca". That came out in the 1990s.
It suddenly occurred to me, this year's Eurovision Song Contest entry for Greece, "Yassou Maria", in my opinion, sounds decidedly similar to Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca". Do any other Eurovision fans agree or disagree with me on that?
Earlier today I happened to have my TV on The Hits, and saw the pop video for Ricky Martin - "Livin' La Vida Loca". That came out in the 1990s.
It suddenly occurred to me, this year's Eurovision Song Contest entry for Greece, "Yassou Maria", in my opinion, sounds decidedly similar to Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca". Do any other Eurovision fans agree or disagree with me on that?
You dug up a 1½ month old thread just to say that?!