NG
They do that in Melodifestivalen for the final. I quite like it as you get to see a different side of the artist(s) - nervous, having fun etc. I think that keeping the post card simple allows for this - as you're staying in the arena with this style of post-card, rather than going to and from VT (which is how MF do it - though they use interviews with the artist as their "postcard" and carry on overlaying the audio over the backstage cutaway)
I think the semi-VRness of the card graphics, with a virtual screen locked to the crane worked really nicely though - and very cost-effective.
Compared to the rest of the television presentation, it's very jarring and 'odd' though, Noggin.
It's as though the 'live on stage' cut is being done for the BBC's benefit (as though a commercial logo is being plastered over the postcard VT), and this is a thrown together solution to hide it. The live picture cut, doesn't fade in or out, or fly on to the screen, it's just a simple picture cut.
Strange.
Don't think it is strange, odd or jarring at all. If you don't have a reason not to cut, then cut. It isn't a BBC specific feed - it's the same everywhere. You're leaving a postcard sequence for a backstage sequence - a cut is fine. Probably preferable to a mix or a DVE transition. (Mixes fix where directors have failed...)
noggin
Founding member
They do that in Melodifestivalen for the final. I quite like it as you get to see a different side of the artist(s) - nervous, having fun etc. I think that keeping the post card simple allows for this - as you're staying in the arena with this style of post-card, rather than going to and from VT (which is how MF do it - though they use interviews with the artist as their "postcard" and carry on overlaying the audio over the backstage cutaway)
I think the semi-VRness of the card graphics, with a virtual screen locked to the crane worked really nicely though - and very cost-effective.
Compared to the rest of the television presentation, it's very jarring and 'odd' though, Noggin.
It's as though the 'live on stage' cut is being done for the BBC's benefit (as though a commercial logo is being plastered over the postcard VT), and this is a thrown together solution to hide it. The live picture cut, doesn't fade in or out, or fly on to the screen, it's just a simple picture cut.
Strange.
Don't think it is strange, odd or jarring at all. If you don't have a reason not to cut, then cut. It isn't a BBC specific feed - it's the same everywhere. You're leaving a postcard sequence for a backstage sequence - a cut is fine. Probably preferable to a mix or a DVE transition. (Mixes fix where directors have failed...)
TT
Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Semi-Final 2
As I already said, due to getting home late I started watching around 8:45pm in chasing playback on my hard disc recorder, therefore I was running 45 minutes late. Please therefore read this as though I'd been watching live, and thus posted it just after Turkey had finished singing.
Song 1: LITHUANIA - InCulto "Eastern European Funk"
Well I didn't go much on this on the CD, and it's not much better live. Last you undeservedly made it to the final, please stay out this year.
Song 2: ARMENIA - Eva Rivas "Apricot Stone"
From an eastern European funky dance song to an eastern European ballad. Good dance routine, for a moment I thought the bloke was holding a rugby ball until I realised it was a vase. What was the significance of the vase? This ought to qualify.
Song 3: ISRAEL - Harel Skaat "Milim"
A beautiful ballad by a male soloist, all the better for it being in Israel's native Hebrew. I liked this on the CD, and it's better live. This deserves to qualify. See you Saturday.
Song 4: DENMARK - Chanée & N'evergreen "In A Moment Like This"
One of the Scandinavian songs now, I particularly enjoyed this on the CD, and it too is better live. Good catchy chorus. This too deserves to go through.
Song 5: SWITZERLAND - Michael von der Heide "Il Pleut de L'Or"
Switzerland have missed the final the last few yeas now. They seem to have made a better effort this year, with a song sung in French, but although it's better than Lithuania's rubbish, I'm not overly keen on the Swiss entry.
Song 6: SWEDEN - Anna Bergendahl "This Is My Life"
This year the Swedes have gone for a beautiful ballad sung by a female soloist. Very well sung, this ought to go through to the final.
Song 7: AZERBAIJAN - Safura "Drip Drop"
Last year you brought us a lively dance to copy, this time they've gone for a ballad. I half liked this on the CD, it's better sung live. This too ought to qualify.
Song 8: UKRAINE - Alyosha "Sweet People"
Oh dear! Three years ago Verka Serduchka gave us "Dancing Lasha Tumbai", which was several orders of magnitude better than this. So good some of my mates in the RCCGB performed it at the 2008 RCCGB Blackpool Bash. This year's offering is somewhat dull, and at times like a cat screeching. Please stay out of Saturday's final for once, give the other decent entries a chance.
Song 9: THE NETHERLANDS - Sieneke "Ik Ben Verliefd (Sha-la-lie)"
A fair organ style folk song. Love the way they showed the singers merge with the organ initially. A bouncy, catchy song, this is Netherlands' best effort since semi-finals first appeared in 2004. I'll be gutted if you don't qualify.
Song 10: ROMANIA - Paula Seling & Ovi "Playing With Fire"
First up there's the gimmick of the double piano. The two on the piano are singing loud and clear. Excellent power ballad, I liked it on the CD and it's even better live. This too ought to go through.
Song 11: SLOVENIA - Ansambel Žlindra & Kalamari "Narodnozabavni Rock"
A lively rock song, with a bit of folk thrown in for good measure. I didn't like this on the CD, and I don't like it much more live. Please stay out of the final for another year.
Song 12: IRELAND - Niamh Kavanagh "It's For You"
Now for our neighbours across the Irish Sea. Niamh has already won for Ireland in 1993, and after several years of doing badly, she's back with another beautiful ballad. In fact I think this one's better than "In Your Eyes" in 1993. This deserves to go through. Can she follow in the footsteps of Johnny Logan, and achieve a second win by one artist for Ireland?
Song 13: BULGARIA - Miro "Angel Si Ti"
Good dance routine from the two blokes on the floor. For a song with "Angel" in the title, we had to have two more people in angel costumes. Another great ballad, with the "Oh-oh" thrown in. This too ought to go through.
Song 14: CYPRUS - Jon Lilygreen & The Islanders "Life Looks Better In Spring"
I didn't go much on this when I played the CD, and it's not much better sung live. Please stay out of Saturday's final, just like you did last year. You'll still be able to give your douze points to Greece Saturday night, it's just they won't be able to give them back to you.
Song 15: CROATIA - Feminnem "Lako Je Sve"
A beautiful ballad sung by three ladies. By far the best of this year's ex-Yugoslav entries. So much better than Bosnia & Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. See you Saturday.
Song 16: GEORGIA - Sofia Nizharadze "Shine"
A couple of years ago you had a decent song "Peace Will Come", but this year you've gone for a song that doesn't really appeal to me. Stay out of this year's Saturday's final please, better luck next year.
Song 17: TURKEY - maNga "We Could Be The Same"
Kind of a cross between rock and rap, with the gimmick of strobe lighting in the choruses. C'est terrible. I think it's best if you stay out of Saturday's final.
My preferences: Armenia, Israel, Denmark, Sweden, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, Romania, Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia.
As I've already said, I stopped my video just after The Netherlands finished singing, and having realised there was about a minute and a half of voting time left in real time, voted for the Netherlands (got there in time for my vote to count).
As I already said, due to getting home late I started watching around 8:45pm in chasing playback on my hard disc recorder, therefore I was running 45 minutes late. Please therefore read this as though I'd been watching live, and thus posted it just after Turkey had finished singing.
Song 1: LITHUANIA - InCulto "Eastern European Funk"
Well I didn't go much on this on the CD, and it's not much better live. Last you undeservedly made it to the final, please stay out this year.
Song 2: ARMENIA - Eva Rivas "Apricot Stone"
From an eastern European funky dance song to an eastern European ballad. Good dance routine, for a moment I thought the bloke was holding a rugby ball until I realised it was a vase. What was the significance of the vase? This ought to qualify.
Song 3: ISRAEL - Harel Skaat "Milim"
A beautiful ballad by a male soloist, all the better for it being in Israel's native Hebrew. I liked this on the CD, and it's better live. This deserves to qualify. See you Saturday.
Song 4: DENMARK - Chanée & N'evergreen "In A Moment Like This"
One of the Scandinavian songs now, I particularly enjoyed this on the CD, and it too is better live. Good catchy chorus. This too deserves to go through.
Song 5: SWITZERLAND - Michael von der Heide "Il Pleut de L'Or"
Switzerland have missed the final the last few yeas now. They seem to have made a better effort this year, with a song sung in French, but although it's better than Lithuania's rubbish, I'm not overly keen on the Swiss entry.
Song 6: SWEDEN - Anna Bergendahl "This Is My Life"
This year the Swedes have gone for a beautiful ballad sung by a female soloist. Very well sung, this ought to go through to the final.
Song 7: AZERBAIJAN - Safura "Drip Drop"
Last year you brought us a lively dance to copy, this time they've gone for a ballad. I half liked this on the CD, it's better sung live. This too ought to qualify.
Song 8: UKRAINE - Alyosha "Sweet People"
Oh dear! Three years ago Verka Serduchka gave us "Dancing Lasha Tumbai", which was several orders of magnitude better than this. So good some of my mates in the RCCGB performed it at the 2008 RCCGB Blackpool Bash. This year's offering is somewhat dull, and at times like a cat screeching. Please stay out of Saturday's final for once, give the other decent entries a chance.
Song 9: THE NETHERLANDS - Sieneke "Ik Ben Verliefd (Sha-la-lie)"
A fair organ style folk song. Love the way they showed the singers merge with the organ initially. A bouncy, catchy song, this is Netherlands' best effort since semi-finals first appeared in 2004. I'll be gutted if you don't qualify.
Song 10: ROMANIA - Paula Seling & Ovi "Playing With Fire"
First up there's the gimmick of the double piano. The two on the piano are singing loud and clear. Excellent power ballad, I liked it on the CD and it's even better live. This too ought to go through.
Song 11: SLOVENIA - Ansambel Žlindra & Kalamari "Narodnozabavni Rock"
A lively rock song, with a bit of folk thrown in for good measure. I didn't like this on the CD, and I don't like it much more live. Please stay out of the final for another year.
Song 12: IRELAND - Niamh Kavanagh "It's For You"
Now for our neighbours across the Irish Sea. Niamh has already won for Ireland in 1993, and after several years of doing badly, she's back with another beautiful ballad. In fact I think this one's better than "In Your Eyes" in 1993. This deserves to go through. Can she follow in the footsteps of Johnny Logan, and achieve a second win by one artist for Ireland?
Song 13: BULGARIA - Miro "Angel Si Ti"
Good dance routine from the two blokes on the floor. For a song with "Angel" in the title, we had to have two more people in angel costumes. Another great ballad, with the "Oh-oh" thrown in. This too ought to go through.
Song 14: CYPRUS - Jon Lilygreen & The Islanders "Life Looks Better In Spring"
I didn't go much on this when I played the CD, and it's not much better sung live. Please stay out of Saturday's final, just like you did last year. You'll still be able to give your douze points to Greece Saturday night, it's just they won't be able to give them back to you.
Song 15: CROATIA - Feminnem "Lako Je Sve"
A beautiful ballad sung by three ladies. By far the best of this year's ex-Yugoslav entries. So much better than Bosnia & Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. See you Saturday.
Song 16: GEORGIA - Sofia Nizharadze "Shine"
A couple of years ago you had a decent song "Peace Will Come", but this year you've gone for a song that doesn't really appeal to me. Stay out of this year's Saturday's final please, better luck next year.
Song 17: TURKEY - maNga "We Could Be The Same"
Kind of a cross between rock and rap, with the gimmick of strobe lighting in the choruses. C'est terrible. I think it's best if you stay out of Saturday's final.
My preferences: Armenia, Israel, Denmark, Sweden, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, Romania, Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia.
As I've already said, I stopped my video just after The Netherlands finished singing, and having realised there was about a minute and a half of voting time left in real time, voted for the Netherlands (got there in time for my vote to count).
TT
I'm still watching the ESC semi final 2, in chasing playback mode, and I'm about to see the results being announced.
AG
Positions in the Final:
01 - Azerbaijan
02 - Spain
03 - Norway
04 - Moldova
05 - Cyprus
06 - Bosnia & Herzegovina
07 - Belgium
08 - Serbia
09 - Belarus
10 - Ireland
11 - Greece
12 - United Kingdom
13 - Georgia
14 - Turkey
15 - Albania
16 - Iceland
17 - Ukraine
18 - France
19 - Romania
20 - Russia
21 - Armenia
22 - Germany
23 - Portugal
24 - Israel
25 - Denmark
01 - Azerbaijan
02 - Spain
03 - Norway
04 - Moldova
05 - Cyprus
06 - Bosnia & Herzegovina
07 - Belgium
08 - Serbia
09 - Belarus
10 - Ireland
11 - Greece
12 - United Kingdom
13 - Georgia
14 - Turkey
15 - Albania
16 - Iceland
17 - Ukraine
18 - France
19 - Romania
20 - Russia
21 - Armenia
22 - Germany
23 - Portugal
24 - Israel
25 - Denmark
Last edited by AxG on 27 May 2010 11:14pm - 4 times in total
DA
I hope Sweden go through.
They about an hour ago.
I hope they have on your viewing.
I'm still watching the ESC semi final 2, in chasing playback mode, and I'm about to see the results being announced.
I hope Sweden go through.
They about an hour ago.
I hope they have on your viewing.
NG
Hmm - wouldn't that mean sending a song in Welsh, Gallic, Gaelic or English? The Belgians alternate between RTBF (French) and BRT (Dutch) chosen songs because they have two languge blocs within their country, and two national broadcasters - though they can both send songs in alternative languages (BRT have sent English-language songs in the past). The UK only has one national broadcaster - the BBC.
noggin
Founding member
Jon Lilygreen being asked the question whether the UK should alternate between sending a singer from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland like the Belgium way of doing it.
Hmm - wouldn't that mean sending a song in Welsh, Gallic, Gaelic or English? The Belgians alternate between RTBF (French) and BRT (Dutch) chosen songs because they have two languge blocs within their country, and two national broadcasters - though they can both send songs in alternative languages (BRT have sent English-language songs in the past). The UK only has one national broadcaster - the BBC.
Last edited by noggin on 28 May 2010 12:15am