I know times are hard and friends are few at the moment at the BBC but I'd just wish that they could be a bit more braver and go down the lines of Melfest instead of just having one show to decide who'd represent the UK.
I watched the first Melfest at the weekend there and yet again was completely amazed at how seriously they take the competition as a whole...
I don't think that would be quite right for the BBC yet - better expanding the one off event up to 8 acts, then maybe ultimately 10 or 12, rather than dragging it out over multiple weeks, and making it a showpiece event in it's own right.
I do think the time is right now to put the selection back on BBC1, and I also think the BBC should make more of the Eurovision week by promoting the semi-finals to BBC2.
They done that in 2009 by having the X Factor style show over a few weeks and look what happened... we came 5th!
Obviously the BBC barely have the budget to rebrand its main channel, let alone plow lots of money to get the UK to win Eurovision. Improvements are being made year on year... slowly and steadily. Things couldn't get much worse than when Electro Velvet were internally selected a few years ago.
I am pleased with our song this year. The BBC are taking it more seriously which is nice, but what made my ears p**** up was when they said there'd be no LED Screens this year. What? So no elaborate backdrops? Are they getting back to basics and just focusing on the songs? Unless I've misunderstood.
I am pleased with our song this year. The BBC are taking it more seriously which is nice, but what made my ears p**** up was when they said there'd be no LED Screens this year. What? So no elaborate backdrops? Are they getting back to basics and just focusing on the songs? Unless I've misunderstood.
Correct! Not sure if that’s the “official” reason but I’d guess it’s to stop the style over substance of recent years involving elaborate use of screens.
The stage looks great, but a lack of screens may limit performances from becoming unique. I believe that 2010 was the last Eurovision Song Contest with no background screens. They could create effects with LED lighting strips similar to the background ones used on the programme tonight. Plus there's nothing stopping countries setting up mini screens as part of their staging. We'll have to wait and see
As for the songs for the UK. I thought that this year was one of the strongest in recent years. Storm wasn't my favourite when listening to all 6, but on the night SuRie showed her strengths as a performer, got the crowd on her side, demonstrated the varied approach to the soft verses and powerful repetitive chorus. Here's hoping for a left side finish this year.
The BBC is going in the right direction and I hope they continue to do so in the absence of Guy Freedman.
It's not perfect: the BBC has never got Eurovision staging and made blunder after blunder in previous years, and Terry Wogan's evolution from genial taking the piss to downright hostility in later years damaged the UK public's perception of the contest in a way we haven't yet recovered from.
However, if you compare what was on show tonight versus our piss-poor efforts in the 00s - where you either had a novelty act or the "quick, throw a big name at it, that'll do it, never mind the song" routine, this is so much better.
I don't think we could sustain a Melfest style extended show yet, and I do feel it's still a BBC2 show in terms of scale, but hopefully if we can regain some respectability for the contest and start to get some decent results, we could attract some big names back. The generation growing up now with the Eurovision at a real peak, with Graham Norton laughing with the show and who are used to cool artists collaborating with more mainstream acts (and therefore don't have the same snobbery as many who grew up in the 90s indie scene) will probably be the one that grows up and sorts it out.
The stage looks great, but a lack of screens may limit performances from becoming unique. I believe that 2010 was the last Eurovision Song Contest with no background screens. They could create effects with LED lighting strips similar to the background ones used on the programme tonight. Plus there's nothing stopping countries setting up mini screens as part of their staging. We'll have to wait and see
As for the songs for the UK. I thought that this year was one of the strongest in recent years. Storm wasn't my favourite when listening to all 6, but on the night SuRie showed her strengths as a performer, got the crowd on her side, demonstrated the varied approach to the soft verses and powerful repetitive chorus. Here's hoping for a left side finish this year.
Even with the screens as a backdrop in recent years it's become quite common for countries to use a screen of their own as part of their staging too so I don't think it'll make a huge difference.
It's a good effort but best chance of a left side finish is if the graphics department flip the scoreboard. Talking of which I assume Eurovision are sticking with the new scoring system - still not a fan of that but if it is to remain would rather it was the public votes rather than the jury votes which were revealed country by country.
I am pleased with our song this year. The BBC are taking it more seriously which is nice, but what made my ears p**** up was when they said there'd be no LED Screens this year. What? So no elaborate backdrops? Are they getting back to basics and just focusing on the songs? Unless I've misunderstood.
Correct! Not sure if that’s the “official” reason but I’d guess it’s to stop the style over substance of recent years involving elaborate use of screens.
Yep. Oslo 2010 was the last screen-free show - and all the better for it. More interesting staging, and more intimate shots because you didn't have to shoot for a screen.
The winner was certainly the best received in the hall - but somehow what we heard on some songs, sounded better than what the viewer heard. A friend at home commented he couldn't understand how the BBC managed to struggle to translate live music to the audience at home. Having now heard the differences in the broadcast, I'm wondering the same...