It's not just Sweden that make a big thing out of the selection shows. The majority of EBU broadcasters also make a big song and dance about it to pardon the pun.
For YLE to get Darude on board, well it took me by surprise when I first read it. What are the European broadcasters doing that the BBC can't do?
Last edited by Gary McEwan on 10 March 2019 5:19pm
I've sent several RTPs but they've fallen on deaf ears. Best thing to do is not feed the troll.
Now, here's a thought. With Sweden now on course to match Ireland's record (John's Melfest landslide was bigger than either Loreen or Mans) I can see a scenario where Sweden win or at worst do very well, but the UK, with a song written by the same guy, does very badly.
Is this going to be a "watershed moment" and finally questions might be asked outside the hard-core fan base about the BBC's selection process? The problem is the UK fans are being dismissed as "they're only whinging because it's not Melodifestivalen" - we've seen that on here.
I think there'll be a big gulf in production values.
Sadly such questions probably not going to be asked. A lot of the genreal public will simply think that Europe hates us, we would flop with a Brit or grammy winning song, blah blah. The BBC don't mind this being used an excuse too much for as long as the contest rates well and is cost effective they will keep entering (bar geo poltical issues with Russian for example.)
Last edited by BM11 on 10 March 2019 6:43pm
JM
JamesM0984
Just watching Melfest back as I was out last night. Did the Lynda VT go out with English subtitles in Sweden, rather than Swedish ones? I note on SVT Play the English captions were burned in.
Just watching Melfest back as I was out last night. Did the Lynda VT go out with English subtitles in Sweden, rather than Swedish ones? I note on SVT Play the English captions were burned in.
It was the same live on SVT1 with English subtitles burned in.
JM
JamesM0984
Wow. That's pretty epic to be fair, I know Swedes speak better English than we do but that's still pretty incredible that they can put a VT put in English and the audience will get it.
Christer Bjorkman continues his role, since 2016, as Contest Producer for the Eurovision Finals. He'll work for KAN-EBU in Israel. Confirmed yesterday ...
Christer Björkman to be Contest Producer for the 2019 #Eurovision in Tel Aviv. The #Melfest Executive Producer confirms that he will stay on the Eurovision job, held since 2016, in an interview with @sverigesradio (https://t.co/V5WKejZwyT) before yesterday's final. #DareToDream
Wow. That's pretty epic to be fair, I know Swedes speak better English than we do but that's still pretty incredible that they can put a VT put in English and the audience will get it.
To be fair, a lot of the humour is based on misuse of the English language. A lot of it wouldn't scan in Swedish.
Wow. That's pretty epic to be fair, I know Swedes speak better English than we do but that's still pretty incredible that they can put a VT put in English and the audience will get it.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands have near universal English speaking populations. English is almost an equal-first language there, not even a fluent second language.
In Norway they don't even burn in Norwegian subtitles for English language shows - they are optional (just like English subtitles are here)
Last edited by noggin on 10 March 2019 10:27pm
JM
JamesM0984
I'd agree with that. I met up with two Swedish girls on holiday last year (long story) and they were able to have a completely natural conversation; Swedes especially "get" British humour I find.
Chris beat me to it but, yes, Christ Bjorkman is back. No bad thing and I think it doesn't hurt to have a solid core team with that level of knowledge, expertise and budgetary control that each host broadcaster can call upon.
Do we know who's doing the script as I know that got put out to international tender?
I'd agree with that. I met up with two Swedish girls on holiday last year (long story) and they were able to have a completely natural conversation; Swedes especially "get" British humour I find.
Swedish speakers are usually great with speaking and interpreting other languages as they have 17 vowel sounds, compared to 8 French and 12 English. The way in which the language is constructed makes it easier to learn a language like English (IMO).
The amount of English language programmes transmitted in on Swedish television can't do any harm either, especially to the pronunciation of English.