IS
The mistake that the BBC has made for years is that they've over thought the selection. Their aim is to get 'a good Eurovision song' when everyone else just tries to get a good song.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
What they need is lots of good songs and get the public to vote on the best.... none of this vote for 'what will work in Eurovision' nonsense
Or the BBC could just try a bit harder to get a contemporary artist and decent, memorable song. The ratings wouldn't be anywhere near as high if we weren't actually taking part. The voting's the most exciting bit (when we're getting a few points of course).
The mistake that the BBC has made for years is that they've over thought the selection. Their aim is to get 'a good Eurovision song' when everyone else just tries to get a good song.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
What they need is lots of good songs and get the public to vote on the best.... none of this vote for 'what will work in Eurovision' nonsense
GO
The mistake that the BBC has made for years is that they've over thought the selection. Their aim is to get 'a good Eurovision song' when everyone else just tries to get a good song.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
What they need is lots of good songs and get the public to vote on the best.... none of this vote for 'what will work in Eurovision' nonsense
They need to start searching for acts much earlier than they currently are. Asking round just two months before the deadline is far from ideal for getting a decent song together.
Or the BBC could just try a bit harder to get a contemporary artist and decent, memorable song. The ratings wouldn't be anywhere near as high if we weren't actually taking part. The voting's the most exciting bit (when we're getting a few points of course).
The mistake that the BBC has made for years is that they've over thought the selection. Their aim is to get 'a good Eurovision song' when everyone else just tries to get a good song.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
What they need is lots of good songs and get the public to vote on the best.... none of this vote for 'what will work in Eurovision' nonsense
They need to start searching for acts much earlier than they currently are. Asking round just two months before the deadline is far from ideal for getting a decent song together.
TT
Well said Inspector Sands, I agree with you there.
Cast your mind back to the 2007 UK national selection. About a week before the national final (Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up or whatever it was called that year), I watched the preview videos of the six competing acts. To be honest, I thought they were all rubbish. The only one I kind of liked was Scooch "Flying The Flag (For You)" which ended up being our act that year. At the time I thought it was catchy, it wasn't a good song but it was a good Eurovision song.
If that year's six finalists that the British public had to choose from were all so bad, it was obvious we were doomed before we even chose our song. I said somewhere else that "Sporty Boogie" (the big video for that week's run of Boogie Beebies on CBeebies) was better than any of the six finalists for the 2007 UK entry. At the time, I strongly felt "Sporty Boogie" sung by Pete Hillier should be our Eurovision Song Contest 2007 entry!
We can do well in Eurovision, believe it or not we can even win again, if we make the effort. If we have some decent songs to choose from in the national selection (not the six rubbishy songs we had in 2007) we might stand a chance. Look at "It's My Time" in 2009, that finished fifth. You can't blame it all on bloc voting, politics,etc.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
Well said Inspector Sands, I agree with you there.
Cast your mind back to the 2007 UK national selection. About a week before the national final (Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up or whatever it was called that year), I watched the preview videos of the six competing acts. To be honest, I thought they were all rubbish. The only one I kind of liked was Scooch "Flying The Flag (For You)" which ended up being our act that year. At the time I thought it was catchy, it wasn't a good song but it was a good Eurovision song.
If that year's six finalists that the British public had to choose from were all so bad, it was obvious we were doomed before we even chose our song. I said somewhere else that "Sporty Boogie" (the big video for that week's run of Boogie Beebies on CBeebies) was better than any of the six finalists for the 2007 UK entry. At the time, I strongly felt "Sporty Boogie" sung by Pete Hillier should be our Eurovision Song Contest 2007 entry!
We can do well in Eurovision, believe it or not we can even win again, if we make the effort. If we have some decent songs to choose from in the national selection (not the six rubbishy songs we had in 2007) we might stand a chance. Look at "It's My Time" in 2009, that finished fifth. You can't blame it all on bloc voting, politics,etc.
AN
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm always impressed with France's attitude to Eurovision. Their songs are generally excellent in that they just sound like cool songs you'd hear in the charts. You can tell that they don't set out thinking "what song could win Eurovision?", but more "what do we like?" They tend not to go for over-dramatic, and I always think it sets them apart from the rest.
JJ
jjne
I said somewhere else that "Sporty Boogie" (the big video for that week's run of Boogie Beebies on CBeebies) was better than any of the six finalists for the 2007 UK entry. At the time, I strongly felt "Sporty Boogie" sung by Pete Hillier should be our Eurovision Song Contest 2007 entry!
Is this for real?
:-(
A former member
it also does not help we are always in the final no matter what which makes us lazy,
JO
I think you should have a go at writing one.
We
can
do well in Eurovision, believe it or not we can even win again, if we make the effort. If we have some decent songs to choose from in the national selection (not the six rubbishy songs we had in 2007) we might stand a chance. Look at "It's My Time" in 2009, that finished fifth. You can't blame it all on bloc voting, politics,etc.
I think you should have a go at writing one.
DA
Thank you. The first sensible suggestion I've heard all day. People seem to be forgetting that the BBC are in the business of making entertaining television, not trying to win a song contest.
I said somewhere else that "Sporty Boogie" (the big video for that week's run of Boogie Beebies on CBeebies) was better than any of the six finalists for the 2007 UK entry. At the time, I strongly felt "Sporty Boogie" sung by Pete Hillier should be our Eurovision Song Contest 2007 entry!
Thank you. The first sensible suggestion I've heard all day. People seem to be forgetting that the BBC are in the business of making entertaining television, not trying to win a song contest.
TR
The reason we don't usually do well is not only because we consistently don't take it seriously, but because we treat the competition with utter contempt.
I find it disgraceful that some people here describe the Eurovision Song Contest as an opportunity to laugh at the "funny costumes" and "silly accents". Just because a country has a different national costume, or different culture to us, it's something we ridicule. It's utterly xenophobic.
Sure, occasionally some countries send joke acts - but the Eurovision Song Contest is a party where occasionally Russia or Finland turn up wearing a fancy dress costume and everybody enjoys it, pats them on the back and gets them a drink. The United Kingdom is the drunken lout that turns up every year uninvited, slags off the party's host saying it'd be better at his gaffe, mouths off at everybody for having funny accents and spills drinks all over the settee.
Graham Norton I could just about tolerate if he would just shut up during the opening titles, when the presenters are speaking, during any performances and during the half time acts. We don't need him 'translating' what the presenters are already saying in English.
I despise Cox and Mills as well and their contempt for the competition. If the commentary disappeared, nobody would notice. People could make the cruel jokes themselves - "she looks like a fat Jessie J", brilliant, how original, what a beacon of public service broadcasting. Not.
Lets those of us who enjoy the delights of the competition as much as the rest of Europe watch the competition as it was meant to be.
I find it disgraceful that some people here describe the Eurovision Song Contest as an opportunity to laugh at the "funny costumes" and "silly accents". Just because a country has a different national costume, or different culture to us, it's something we ridicule. It's utterly xenophobic.
Sure, occasionally some countries send joke acts - but the Eurovision Song Contest is a party where occasionally Russia or Finland turn up wearing a fancy dress costume and everybody enjoys it, pats them on the back and gets them a drink. The United Kingdom is the drunken lout that turns up every year uninvited, slags off the party's host saying it'd be better at his gaffe, mouths off at everybody for having funny accents and spills drinks all over the settee.
Graham Norton I could just about tolerate if he would just shut up during the opening titles, when the presenters are speaking, during any performances and during the half time acts. We don't need him 'translating' what the presenters are already saying in English.
I despise Cox and Mills as well and their contempt for the competition. If the commentary disappeared, nobody would notice. People could make the cruel jokes themselves - "she looks like a fat Jessie J", brilliant, how original, what a beacon of public service broadcasting. Not.
Lets those of us who enjoy the delights of the competition as much as the rest of Europe watch the competition as it was meant to be.
NG
The mistake that the BBC has made for years is that they've over thought the selection. Their aim is to get 'a good Eurovision song' when everyone else just tries to get a good song.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
What they need is lots of good songs and get the public to vote on the best.... none of this vote for 'what will work in Eurovision' nonsense
What he said...
The complication is that the UK has the reverse situation of most other European countries. In the UK record labels see Eurovision as a kiss-of-death, whereas in many other countries record labels force artists to enter their national pre-selection if they want an album release...
Sweden's model would never work in the UK - but it is an interesting case-in-point. Eric Saade (who came 3rd last year with Popular at the ESC) represented Sweden on his second attempt. Loreen (who won this year) represented Sweden at her second attempt. She competed in Melodifestivalen last year - but her song didn't get through Andra Chansen to the final. However the song was a hit - and she really surprised people with her live vocals. She entered this year - and won MF.
Dima Bilan entered for Russia twice. He didn't win on his first go, but did on his second.
We don't take the long view. But at the end of the day - Eurovision is a blip on UK TV screens. For other countries its their only chance to compete as equals with other countries on the world stage - and is hugely significant.
noggin
Founding member
Or the BBC could just try a bit harder to get a contemporary artist and decent, memorable song. The ratings wouldn't be anywhere near as high if we weren't actually taking part. The voting's the most exciting bit (when we're getting a few points of course).
The mistake that the BBC has made for years is that they've over thought the selection. Their aim is to get 'a good Eurovision song' when everyone else just tries to get a good song.
So they've tried established acts with fans across Europe, camp to appeal to the contest's gay following and they've tried getting poppy song writers to write a song for a talent show winner. It's almost all done badly, and we've not really had a choice over the act for years.
What they need is lots of good songs and get the public to vote on the best.... none of this vote for 'what will work in Eurovision' nonsense
What he said...
The complication is that the UK has the reverse situation of most other European countries. In the UK record labels see Eurovision as a kiss-of-death, whereas in many other countries record labels force artists to enter their national pre-selection if they want an album release...
Sweden's model would never work in the UK - but it is an interesting case-in-point. Eric Saade (who came 3rd last year with Popular at the ESC) represented Sweden on his second attempt. Loreen (who won this year) represented Sweden at her second attempt. She competed in Melodifestivalen last year - but her song didn't get through Andra Chansen to the final. However the song was a hit - and she really surprised people with her live vocals. She entered this year - and won MF.
Dima Bilan entered for Russia twice. He didn't win on his first go, but did on his second.
We don't take the long view. But at the end of the day - Eurovision is a blip on UK TV screens. For other countries its their only chance to compete as equals with other countries on the world stage - and is hugely significant.
NG
Graham Norton I could just about tolerate if he would just shut up during the opening titles, when the presenters are speaking, during any performances and during the half time acts. We don't need him 'translating' what the presenters are already saying in English.
There are occasions when Graham is obliged to talk over the hosts - particularly when it comes to voting matters - as the BBC have stricter rules than the wider EBU and he has to give more detail than the hosts do (and try and obliterate any mention of SMS voting - as it is still taboo in the UK...)
I despise Cox and Mills as well and their contempt for the competition. If the commentary disappeared, nobody would notice. People could make the cruel jokes themselves - "she looks like a fat Jessie J", brilliant, how original, what a beacon of public service broadcasting. Not.
They're just lazy. No homework, no wit, nothing original to say. Really miss Paddy. He was brilliant.
Lets those of us who enjoy the delights of the competition as much as the rest of Europe watch the competition as it was meant to be.
And watch on other European broadcasters...
noggin
Founding member
Graham Norton I could just about tolerate if he would just shut up during the opening titles, when the presenters are speaking, during any performances and during the half time acts. We don't need him 'translating' what the presenters are already saying in English.
There are occasions when Graham is obliged to talk over the hosts - particularly when it comes to voting matters - as the BBC have stricter rules than the wider EBU and he has to give more detail than the hosts do (and try and obliterate any mention of SMS voting - as it is still taboo in the UK...)
Quote:
I despise Cox and Mills as well and their contempt for the competition. If the commentary disappeared, nobody would notice. People could make the cruel jokes themselves - "she looks like a fat Jessie J", brilliant, how original, what a beacon of public service broadcasting. Not.
They're just lazy. No homework, no wit, nothing original to say. Really miss Paddy. He was brilliant.
Quote:
Lets those of us who enjoy the delights of the competition as much as the rest of Europe watch the competition as it was meant to be.
And watch on other European broadcasters...