One thing that might have influenced the decision to go to MediaCIty rather than do an OB is the flags issue from Brighton. The BBC were wrongly credited for the appearance of several EU flags in the hall
But what's the problem with those flags? The same flag is used by the Council of Europe, in which the UK will remain even after Brexit. The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to be a celebration of European unity -- and that's precisely what the 12-star blue-and-gold flag symbolizes, regardless of Brexit.
To be diplomatic, any large scale event which brings a significant amount of exposure and tourism is going to open itself up to political protests relating to the host nation.
The event itself can claim to be apolitical all it likes, but there is no escaping politics when we're talking about something the scale of Eurovision.
And they do shine a light on situations that otherwise go ignored. Israel is probably about as complicated as it gets though.
One thing that might have influenced the decision to go to MediaCIty rather than do an OB is the flags issue from Brighton. The BBC were wrongly credited for the appearance of several EU flags in the hall
But what's the problem with those flags? The same flag is used by the Council of Europe, in which the UK will remain even after Brexit. The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to be a celebration of European unity -- and that's precisely what the 12-star blue-and-gold flag symbolizes, regardless of Brexit.
That's all well and good but that wasn't the reason there were a group of people handing out hundreds of the things to anyone who would have them. It was a political stunt and not something I entirely approve of when it comes to the ESC. I'd have said the same if Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees Mogg were outside the dome burning said flags. There's a time and a place and it's not at Eurovision.
I was too busy eyeing up a lady walking by who I thought was rather attractive... only to realise it was none other than Emmelie DeForrest!
Last edited by JamesM0984 on 2 February 2019 1:20pm
To be diplomatic, any large scale event which brings a significant amount of exposure and tourism is going to open itself up to political protests relating to the host nation.
The event itself can claim to be apolitical all it likes, but there is no escaping politics when we're talking about something the scale of Eurovision.
And they do shine a light on situations that otherwise go ignored. Israel is probably about as complicated as it gets though.
This is very true. I had no idea for example about the appalling human rights record of Azerbaijan until they won in Dusseldorf.
One thing that might have influenced the decision to go to MediaCIty rather than do an OB is the flags issue from Brighton. The BBC were wrongly credited for the appearance of several EU flags in the hall, but it was infact a pro-Remain pressure group who were handing large amounts of them out in the queue outside the Dome along with a number of "B******s to Brexit" stickers. I do have to confess admiring their "Thank EU for the music" and "I will never give up on EU" etc. T Shirts, mind you.
The warm-up man had us do some "tests" before hand, but we were told to only wave flags at certain times as they were blocking camera angles . That said, they were still extremely obvious in the stalls, watching the show back when I got home the next night.
Personally, I sometimes question why the Brits take flags to their National Final. It's not something I really see go on at any other NF.
True. But I do suspect the BBC considered the risks of anti Israel demonstrations when picking a venue.
Surprised Anna didn't make it DTF, but I can't complain about the four who are still safe. I felt Wiktoria didn't do herself many favours by not blow drying her hair properly, she looked a bit of a mess on the reprise which might at least harm record sales domestically.
A bit too Linnea Deb heavy for me, but can't fault the production. SVT leading the way again.
Also - I notice Wiktoria had a corded mic. Presumably a waterproof one so she didn't get fried, but wouldn't wireless be safer in that instance?
Last edited by JamesM0984 on 2 February 2019 8:40pm
Also - I notice Wiktoria had a corded mic. Presumably a waterproof one so she didn't get fried, but wouldn't wireless be safer in that instance?
A dynamic wired mic will only have the voltage produced by the coil in the mic moving to the sound. No external power is required. A wireless mic has to have a power supply for all the transmission circuitry as well.
Furthermore, the cost of wireless kit is much higher than a wired mic if you're expecting it to get trashed.
JM
JamesM0984
Ah I see. I was thinking that a short circuit could travel down the XLR and potentially into the mixer, but it didn't look like a mic that needed Phantom power.
That said, she'd have a battery pack on her for her IEMs but I assume that would be in a pouch - which is how we got round the issue when I was in a production of Singing In The Rain a while back.
JM
JamesM0984
ICYMI: Tonight's hilarious, but well-crafted, interval act...
Ah I see. I was thinking that a short circuit could travel down the XLR and potentially into the mixer, but it didn't look like a mic that needed Phantom power.
That said, she'd have a battery pack on her for her IEMs but I assume that would be in a pouch - which is how we got round the issue when I was in a production of Singing In The Rain a while back.
Also - I notice Wiktoria had a corded mic. Presumably a waterproof one so she didn't get fried, but wouldn't wireless be safer in that instance?
A dynamic wired mic will only have the voltage produced by the coil in the mic moving to the sound. No external power is required. A wireless mic has to have a power supply for all the transmission circuitry as well.
Furthermore, the cost of wireless kit is much higher than a wired mic if you're expecting it to get trashed.
Surprised Anna didn't make it DTF, but I can't complain about the four who are still safe. I felt Wiktoria didn't do herself many favours by not blow drying her hair properly, she looked a bit of a mess on the reprise which might at least harm record sales domestically.
A bit too Linnea Deb heavy for me, but can't fault the production. SVT leading the way again.
Also - I notice Wiktoria had a corded mic. Presumably a waterproof one so she didn't get fried, but wouldn't wireless be safer in that instance?
Isn't everyone missing the point?
A Radio Mic would have been more likely to fail due to water ingress than a dynamic cabled mic?
The use of a cabled Beta58 (or similar) wasn't a personal safety issue (though you'd have to sense check the way the dynamic mic was connected to the wider sound-world), it was more to mitigate against a loss of vocals surely?
A Beta58 will survive pretty much everything after all...
I'm assuming the heavy use of foldback wedges was also there to avoid a reliance on RF IEM receivers?
JM
JamesM0984
Wiktoria definitely used IEMs on the (dry) reprise - she was clearly seen having them fitted. Whether she used them on the first run I'm not sure.
The wired mic was definitely used for vocal pickup - from what I saw she wasn't using one of those ear clip-on mics you often see at Eurovision. It stuck out because you almost
never
see wired mics now on these sort of shows.*
*although watch the opt outs on the semis and you will - Ola Melzig mentioned on the blog last year that broadcasters can't bring their own wireless AV gear on-site as all spectrum is very carefully managed for obvious reasons. So the BBC coverage must use completely wired gear.
