SE
Square Eyes
Founding member
Just caught up with this, and goodness it was woeful, the production, direction, presenting, panel and the so called talent. It had a just thrown together feel to it.
This must have been a new low for the selection process. A handful of x factor style rejects being judged by their excruciating performance of some long forgotten 80's pap. How did these people come to be selected ? And I take it we won't be using established artists for our entry again anytime soon ?
At least last year was a decent stab, did the BBC use up all the budget on another derivitive dance format ? (I note there have been two already this year and it's only March).
Time perhaps to see what ITV / Cowell could make of the format, with a proven track record for big entertainment shows.
This must have been a new low for the selection process. A handful of x factor style rejects being judged by their excruciating performance of some long forgotten 80's pap. How did these people come to be selected ? And I take it we won't be using established artists for our entry again anytime soon ?
At least last year was a decent stab, did the BBC use up all the budget on another derivitive dance format ? (I note there have been two already this year and it's only March).
Time perhaps to see what ITV / Cowell could make of the format, with a proven track record for big entertainment shows.
NG
It's sad - but the BBC, or more accurately Britain in general, doesn't take it's Eurovision entry seriously - for all the reasons we know (particularly that no artist signed to a record label will be allowed to touch it with a bargepole)
In Sweden the Melodifestivalen final is likely to be the second most-watched show after the Royal Wedding this summer (it is normally watched by a bit under half of the population - not half the audience - half the population!!) It gets upwards of 4.25million viewers - and Sweden only has a population of 9.2million.
If a UK show got those ratings it would be around the 30million mark! Yep... Melodifestivalen is HUGE. Bonkers huge. (Though this year it hasn't had quite the same buzz in the press as it used to - though it's still big)
In Swedish TV terms it is bigger than X Factor. Hence it gets the best production money can buy...
That kind of audience means that performers are almost forced to enter by their record labels, and in some cases are told their albums won't be released unless they do. Getting to the final comes close to guaranteeing a top ten hit - in fact tonight's winner (Anna Birgendahl) is already at number 1 in the Swedish charts (and the Swedish iTunes chart)
noggin
Founding member
Watched last night's car crash tv on the iplayer earlier - now watching Melodifestivalen live - it's like a different planet...!!! (and SVT's website is streaming better than iplayer was)
SVT really showing the BBC up - surely as the world renowed broadcaster the BBC is it could have done better.
SVT really showing the BBC up - surely as the world renowed broadcaster the BBC is it could have done better.
It's sad - but the BBC, or more accurately Britain in general, doesn't take it's Eurovision entry seriously - for all the reasons we know (particularly that no artist signed to a record label will be allowed to touch it with a bargepole)
In Sweden the Melodifestivalen final is likely to be the second most-watched show after the Royal Wedding this summer (it is normally watched by a bit under half of the population - not half the audience - half the population!!) It gets upwards of 4.25million viewers - and Sweden only has a population of 9.2million.
If a UK show got those ratings it would be around the 30million mark! Yep... Melodifestivalen is HUGE. Bonkers huge. (Though this year it hasn't had quite the same buzz in the press as it used to - though it's still big)
In Swedish TV terms it is bigger than X Factor. Hence it gets the best production money can buy...
That kind of audience means that performers are almost forced to enter by their record labels, and in some cases are told their albums won't be released unless they do. Getting to the final comes close to guaranteeing a top ten hit - in fact tonight's winner (Anna Birgendahl) is already at number 1 in the Swedish charts (and the Swedish iTunes chart)
PT
Am I the only one who thinks our song sounds like a BBC News theme at the start? 
NG
noggin
Founding member
And if you really want to contrast our two approaches...
In the BBC show we took the mickey out of Norway's 1980 entry - Lars-Ante Kuhmunen.
The SVT show had him performing in the Sweden vs Norway duel - vs Roger Pontare (who represented Sweden in 2000 with "Spirits are calling my name"(?))
One taking a bit of a snide dig at those funny foreigners, the other embracing two performers who represented slightly different aspects of their culture and weren't "the norm".
In the BBC show we took the mickey out of Norway's 1980 entry - Lars-Ante Kuhmunen.
The SVT show had him performing in the Sweden vs Norway duel - vs Roger Pontare (who represented Sweden in 2000 with "Spirits are calling my name"(?))
One taking a bit of a snide dig at those funny foreigners, the other embracing two performers who represented slightly different aspects of their culture and weren't "the norm".
IS
It's not that bad, and of course we wait to see how it will change in the next few weeks. The one performed last night wasn't the final thing
Worst... entry... ever... and that includes Flying the Flag...
It's not that bad, and of course we wait to see how it will change in the next few weeks. The one performed last night wasn't the final thing
CC
Couldn't agree more, awful camera work and direction as well as a presenter that can't ad-lib. Contestants were shocking, the girl that lost her way just about summed up this abysmal production.
Just caught up with this, and goodness it was woeful, the production, direction, presenting, panel and the so called talent. It had a just thrown together feel to it.
This must have been a new low for the selection process. A handful of x factor style rejects being judged by their excruciating performance of some long forgotten 80's pap. How did these people come to be selected ? And I take it we won't be using established artists for our entry again anytime soon ?
At least last year was a decent stab, did the BBC use up all the budget on another derivitive dance format ? (I note there have been two already this year and it's only March).
Time perhaps to see what ITV / Cowell could make of the format, with a proven track record for big entertainment shows.
This must have been a new low for the selection process. A handful of x factor style rejects being judged by their excruciating performance of some long forgotten 80's pap. How did these people come to be selected ? And I take it we won't be using established artists for our entry again anytime soon ?
At least last year was a decent stab, did the BBC use up all the budget on another derivitive dance format ? (I note there have been two already this year and it's only March).
Time perhaps to see what ITV / Cowell could make of the format, with a proven track record for big entertainment shows.
Couldn't agree more, awful camera work and direction as well as a presenter that can't ad-lib. Contestants were shocking, the girl that lost her way just about summed up this abysmal production.
NG
No UK artist with a record deal is going to be allowed near Eurovision - the labels won't touch the contest with a bargepole. The UK hasn't been able to use established artists for years...
It's like the UK has to enter with both hands tied behind its back. It's not the BBC's fault - they can't force artists to represent the UK. (Though last year's process was a WHOLE lot better than this year's show, which had a feeling of under-rehearsal, and a set that wasn't suited to the format)
noggin
Founding member
And I take it we won't be using established artists for our entry again anytime soon ?
No UK artist with a record deal is going to be allowed near Eurovision - the labels won't touch the contest with a bargepole. The UK hasn't been able to use established artists for years...
It's like the UK has to enter with both hands tied behind its back. It's not the BBC's fault - they can't force artists to represent the UK. (Though last year's process was a WHOLE lot better than this year's show, which had a feeling of under-rehearsal, and a set that wasn't suited to the format)
JA
Just look at the camera work on this - the orange glow's gorgeous (as is Anna - phwoar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKXPfyvQMo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKXPfyvQMo4