A quick look at Barb's figures shows the final UK ratings for every Eurovision since 1999:
1999: 8.91 million
2000: 6.54 million
2001: 6.98 million
2002: 7.81 million
2003: 7.94 million
2004: 8.38 million
2005: 7.97 million
2006: 8.33 million
2007: 8.77 million
2008: 7.15 million
2009: 7.91 million
2010: 5.59 million
So 2002 to 2009 saw it hover nicely around the 8 million mark before a surprising drop last year. There seems to be a bit more interest this time with Blue and Jedward though, so ratings may be up again tomorrow. Anyone know any pre-1999 figures?
Was no surprise last year when figures dipped after the shambles that was Pete Waterman. I think Jedward more than Blue will probably see figures jump back above 7m this year.
Will the UK viewer votes be revealed after the contest this year. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Jedward top the viewer vote for the UK, but the decision to let five people have as much weight as a poll of the nation (even though it doesn't affect the winner of the damn thing one bit!) means they probably won't get Deux point!
Last years was probably just a blip in terms of ratings, 2009 was a real toys out of the pram moment and the thought that if Jade couldn't win after all the hype then noone could. Last year was a non-event and without looking up I was unable to name who represented the UK last year. Then by looking it up, I have no idea who he is.
There is a fair bit of hype around it this year and with 2 quite well known acts representing the UK and Ireland and a weak Britain's Got talent, the figures should be around 7.5m.
A quick look at Barb's figures shows the final UK ratings for every Eurovision since 1999:
1999: 8.91 million
2000: 6.54 million
2001: 6.98 million
2002: 7.81 million
2003: 7.94 million
2004: 8.38 million
2005: 7.97 million
2006: 8.33 million
2007: 8.77 million
2008: 7.15 million
2009: 7.91 million
2010: 5.59 million
So 2002 to 2009 saw it hover nicely around the 8 million mark before a surprising drop last year. There seems to be a bit more interest this time with Blue and Jedward though, so ratings may be up again tomorrow. Anyone know any pre-1999 figures?
I wish I could find the 1997 and 1998 figures at the winning and host country.
Does anyone actually think Blue have a chance at this?
I think so, compared with what I've heard in the semis it's one of the better songs and importantly it's catchy. Blue seem pretty well known and the reaction when it was played on Tuesday and Thursday was very positive
Well the favourite being France is quite an odd choice in my opinion in terms of it being a classical piece, not very Eurovision at all really. Ironically the 2nd favourite right now is actually Jedward... who'd have thought eh?!
Ironically the 2nd favourite right now is actually Jedward... who'd have thought eh?!
As much as I really hate Jedward... I really wouldn't mind if they won as it means Eurovision can return to it's homeland! I bet RTE's heads are sweating a little bit though!!
Well the favourite being France is quite an odd choice in my opinion in terms of it being a classical piece, not very Eurovision at all really. Ironically the 2nd favourite right now is actually Jedward... who'd have thought eh?!
Exactly my thoughts. I can understand Jedward being second favourites with UK bookies due to people putting a bet on them for a laugh, but just can't see France winning it at all.
Would be very funny though if it was Jedward who ended Ireland's 15 year drought!
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Semi-Final 2
The second semi-final is now over. I saw it, did you? Here are my opinions on each of the 19 songs. Most of my preferred ten qualifiers remained the same during last night's live show as they did watching the preview videos the weekend before last, with one or two exceptions.
Again I had no access to the internet last night so have had to delay posting this until now. Please read the following as if I had posted it during the interval between Ireland's song and announcement of the ten qualifiers. N.B. All occurrences of the word "tonight" the rest of this post refer to Thursday 12 May 2011.
Song 1: BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA - Dino Merlin "Love In Rewind"
When I watched the preview videos online recently, this was one of my preferred ten to qualify. A good ballad with quite a catchy beat. Watching it live tonight I still think it should qualify.
Song 2: AUSTRIA - Nadine Beiler "The Secret Is Love"
Austria have been absent for a few years. Is this the best they could come up with on their return? A gospel style ballad with a female soloist and backing singers. Not my style of singing, and tonight's live performance was only marginally better than the preview. I still don't think it merits qualification for Saturday.
Song 3: THE NETHERLANDS - 3JS "Never Alone"
A ballad with a catchy chorus. Not bad, but not sure it's good enough for the final.
Song 4: BELGIUM - Witloof Bay "With Love Baby"
Capella? I hate that. I shouted boo and off several times during the performance. Stay out!
Song 5: SLOVAKIA - TWiiNS "I'm Still Alive"
Not among my favoured ten qualifiers when watching the preview videos. Watching the live performance tonight it's a good ballad with drum beat behind the singers. I'm now swayed towards it qualifying.
Song 6: UKRAINE - Mika Newton "Angel"
A song with the gimmick of the sand artist. I notice they've got an overhead view of the table on the illuminated screen at the back. Was the sand artist really necessary? Mika has a nice dress, but the song itself isn't up to much. Not a patch on Verka Serduchka in 2007. I'd rather this stays out.
Song 7: MOLDOVA - Zdob și Zdub "So Lucky"
Nauseating trash! The pointed hats and piping unicyclist were unnecessary gimmicks in my opinion. Were the two lots of strobe lighting really necessary? Again I shouted boo at the end. Stay out!
Song 8: SWEDEN - Eric Saade "Popular"
Another of my ten preferred qualifiers among the preview videos online, but based on tonight's live performance I'm not so sure now. It has a catchy chorus, and good arm movements by the backing group. If this goes through I'll want to copy those Saturday night.
Song 9: CYPRUS - Christos Mylordos "San Aggelos S'Agapisa"
A fairly OK song, though a bit depressing at times. Not among my favoured ten previews. Based on tonight's live performance, it's still questionable whether or not this should go through. Was it really necessary to swing that illuminated ball?
Song 10: BULGARIA - Poli Genova "Na Inat"
Terrible I say, somewhat nauseating at times. I shouted "boo" and "off" during this. Stay out!
Song 11: F.Y.R. MACEDONIA - Vlatko Ilievski "Rusinka"
Excellent dance routine by the talented backing group, including arm movements, formation and some ballet. Of course it wouldn't be Eurovision without accordion usage in at least one song, but in this song it was an inappropriate gimmick (unlike Finland's entry last year). If it qualifies I'll have fun copying some of the dance routine. However the song itself is terrible, so on balance it's best if this doesn't qualify. After all, this is the Eurovision SONG Contest, not the Eurovision Dance Contest.
Song 12: ISRAEL - Dana International "Ding Dong"
One of my favoured ten qualifiers among the preview videos. It's better still live tonight. Great verses and middle eight, really catchy chorus. I liked the way Dana International walked around the arena during her performance. One of the best so far. See you Saturday!
Song 13: SLOVENIA - Maja Keuc "No One"
One of my preferred ten qualifiers among the preview videos, not so sure now. Verses aren't that brilliant, chorus is borderline. Perhaps best if this doesn't qualify after all now.
Song 14: ROMANIA - Hotel FM "Change"
Another of my preferred ten qualifiers among the previews, and going by tonight's live performance I still want it to qualify. A bouncy song with catchy chorus. Good beat too. It's got the grand piano again, albeit a single one this time.
Song 15: ESTONIA - Getter Jaani "Rockefeller Street"
One of my favoured ten qualifiers among the preview videos. A great song with a very catchy chorus, I particularly love the dance routine. Definitely deserves to qualify, if it does I'll join in and copy the dance routine. See you Saturday!
Song 16: BELARUS - Anastasiya Vinnikova "I Love Belarus"
Yet another of my preferred ten qualifiers among the previews. Watching it live tonight, I like the song overall, particularly the very catchy chorus. This really must be in the final. I love Belarus, see you Saturday!
Song 17: LATVIA - Musiqq "Angel In Disguise"
A ballad with a catchy chorus. Another preview I wanted to qualify. Going by tonight's performance I still think it should be in the final.
Song 18: DENMARK - A Friend In London "New Tomorrow"
Another of my preferred ten qualifiers among the previews. A good ballad with catchy chorus, and well sung. I liked the way the singer raced around the arena during the middle eight. Based on tonight's performance I still want to see it Saturday night.
Song 19: IRELAND - Jedward "Lipstick"
The last song already. Mind you, it's one hour and 21 minutes into the show! It's amazing how time flies. Again this is one of the previews I wanted to see qualify. Tonight's live performance is better still. It's a really catchy song with a good beat. I really loved the arm movements in time with the beat, indeed I joined in and copied them. This could be Ireland's first win since 1996. See you Saturday!
Here are my preferences based solely on all of tonight's performances:
Definitely want to qualify:
Israel, Romania, Estonia, Belarus, Denmark, Ireland.
Maybe:
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia, Sweden, Latvia.
Prefer not to qualify:
Austria, Netherlands, Ukraine, Cyprus, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Slovenia.
Definitely don't want to qualify:
Belgium, Moldova, Bulgaria.
So these are the ones I want to see Saturday night:
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia, Sweden, Israel, Romania, Estonia, Belarus, Latvia, Denmark, Ireland.
Had the UK been eligible to vote tonight, I'd have definitely voted for Estonia. I might also have voted for Israel and Ireland.
