NG
Ken Bruce described him as a comedian of the unfunny kind and said he was another one who wont be doing it next year.
I think he's only funny if you've seen him a few times and "get" his act.
Not a great choice for 40 or so countries who have never heard of him.
As for next year - how about a Bollywood inspired number? Be a good change - nice sign of a multi-cultural UK - and being cynical we might pick up some votes from people from the subcontinent living in other countries in Europe ?
noggin
Founding member
wells posted:
noggin posted:
By the way - I see quite a few people didn't "get" the Swedish spokesperson.
He was Bjorn Gustafsson (apologies if that's not the right spelling), who is a comedian who did interval act stuff during their Melodifestivalen selection show. His faltering, nervous delivery, and giving points to Sweden was part of his schtick... But most of Europe didn't seem to know that and just assumed he was drunk, rubbish or both...
He was Bjorn Gustafsson (apologies if that's not the right spelling), who is a comedian who did interval act stuff during their Melodifestivalen selection show. His faltering, nervous delivery, and giving points to Sweden was part of his schtick... But most of Europe didn't seem to know that and just assumed he was drunk, rubbish or both...
Ken Bruce described him as a comedian of the unfunny kind and said he was another one who wont be doing it next year.
I think he's only funny if you've seen him a few times and "get" his act.
Not a great choice for 40 or so countries who have never heard of him.
As for next year - how about a Bollywood inspired number? Be a good change - nice sign of a multi-cultural UK - and being cynical we might pick up some votes from people from the subcontinent living in other countries in Europe ?
ID
Oh, I see.
I can't have been the only person who though of The Cheeky Girls, every time he said "chiki, chiki"!
I'd honestly not heard the UK song at all until the big night itself. And it was totally forgettable. If you'd have asked me 3-seconds after it ended to hum it or whatever, I couldn't. I image that 99.9% of viewers across Europe were similarly underwhelmed.
So, even without "political voting", it was never gonna attract many points. I just about remember that it was a bit pseudo-"70s disco" sounding, but certainly can't remember the actual tune or any lyrics. Beige wallpaper would've been more memorable. Hmpf.
Whatever else people might've thought of last year's uber-camp UK entry (which I dubbed "Eyeing The Fag" (TM) ), at least it was a memorable performance!
Uniform costumes always help. Air stewards/stewardesses is a memorable image. About the only things that stick in my mind from last night are the pirates, and the people with the washing-line and painted-on rosy cheeks.
TVdaz posted:
Only the top 4 countries who donate the most money to the contest get through this way. I think these are the UK, France, Germany and Spain.
Oh, I see.
TVdaz posted:
Spain's was a pile of crap (chiki chiki)
I can't have been the only person who though of The Cheeky Girls, every time he said "chiki, chiki"!
I'd honestly not heard the UK song at all until the big night itself. And it was totally forgettable. If you'd have asked me 3-seconds after it ended to hum it or whatever, I couldn't. I image that 99.9% of viewers across Europe were similarly underwhelmed.
So, even without "political voting", it was never gonna attract many points. I just about remember that it was a bit pseudo-"70s disco" sounding, but certainly can't remember the actual tune or any lyrics. Beige wallpaper would've been more memorable. Hmpf.
Whatever else people might've thought of last year's uber-camp UK entry (which I dubbed "Eyeing The Fag" (TM)
), at least it was a memorable performance!
Uniform costumes always help. Air stewards/stewardesses is a memorable image. About the only things that stick in my mind from last night are the pirates, and the people with the washing-line and painted-on rosy cheeks.
HC
First, a good job by our hosts on the coverage - even though it was getting a bit repetitve watching jib, ped, swooping jib, steadycam, ped, jib cut shots all the way through (bar France when Sven played along with the downbeat Gallic nature of the song and went all 'arthouse' with the shot framing!). I liked the see-thru L.E.D wall and the stage back projection screens added a nice bit of depth to what could have been a rather boring stage performance area.
Second, what was the point of that globe like frame thing hanging from the auditorium roof. If a jib was flying around near it, then fair enough, but it was too far out and too high for the one at the back of the room. Seemed a bit pointless.
Third, the voting. We've been here before, but I hope the words of Sir Terrance has some effect in the corridors of Geneva. Maybe if the BBC got together with France Televisions, ARD and TVE and threatened to cut funding by half to the EBU if something isn't done, that would have an effect.
I have suggested in the past a no more than 6 votes to a land or sea bordering country (I know at this point Noggin is going to pull this expression
!) but after last night's shambles, I think that should only be used as a last resort.
So, heres a good way of mixing it up a bit. A split of the semis would be a good place to start.
Tuesday night all the western European countries take part. Thursday all the Eastern European countries warble, sing, chant and scream. Voting takes place only for those countries taking part in that particular semi-final (and when the results are announced the 'big 4' have a 12 point start on everyone else). From those two semis, the top 12 from each one go through to the Saturday final.
At the final, the Western European finalist countries (inc. those knocked out of the semi-finals) can only vote for the Eastern European finalists and vice versa. Hey presto - political voting is confined to the semi-finalists, and the level playing field is returned to the final night (as it should be)
Second, what was the point of that globe like frame thing hanging from the auditorium roof. If a jib was flying around near it, then fair enough, but it was too far out and too high for the one at the back of the room. Seemed a bit pointless.
Third, the voting. We've been here before, but I hope the words of Sir Terrance has some effect in the corridors of Geneva. Maybe if the BBC got together with France Televisions, ARD and TVE and threatened to cut funding by half to the EBU if something isn't done, that would have an effect.
I have suggested in the past a no more than 6 votes to a land or sea bordering country (I know at this point Noggin is going to pull this expression
!) but after last night's shambles, I think that should only be used as a last resort.
So, heres a good way of mixing it up a bit. A split of the semis would be a good place to start.
Tuesday night all the western European countries take part. Thursday all the Eastern European countries warble, sing, chant and scream. Voting takes place only for those countries taking part in that particular semi-final (and when the results are announced the 'big 4' have a 12 point start on everyone else). From those two semis, the top 12 from each one go through to the Saturday final.
At the final, the Western European finalist countries (inc. those knocked out of the semi-finals) can only vote for the Eastern European finalists and vice versa. Hey presto - political voting is confined to the semi-finalists, and the level playing field is returned to the final night (as it should be)
LI
This years UK entry was one of the best we've had in years, and was instantly the winner on the Your Decision broadcast earlier this year.
My only point, regardless of it probably already being made, is how can a song like ours be LAST when a song such as Spain's be half way up the table?!
I think it's time for the BBC to pull the plug on financing this sharade of political nonsence now. The British has lost interest mostly, and no longer which to pay for a licence that's paying for 25% of an eastern european vote-rigging contest!
Rant over!
P.S. I emailed the contest themselves to see what they make of the current political voting that occurs, and if they plan to do anything about it. I know it's a tricky one to competley destroy, but their reply should be interesting nonetheless!
My only point, regardless of it probably already being made, is how can a song like ours be LAST when a song such as Spain's be half way up the table?!
I think it's time for the BBC to pull the plug on financing this sharade of political nonsence now. The British has lost interest mostly, and no longer which to pay for a licence that's paying for 25% of an eastern european vote-rigging contest!
Rant over!
P.S. I emailed the contest themselves to see what they make of the current political voting that occurs, and if they plan to do anything about it. I know it's a tricky one to competley destroy, but their reply should be interesting nonetheless!
EJ
I think the right song won. To win you can't just rely on your neighbours you need the rest of Europe to vote for you. With the problems there is with the voting I don't want that distract from Russia's achievement.
However this is a contest and for it to be a contest everyone must have a chance of winning. I don't see how this can be withe the current set up.
Andy's sing was alright but was never going to win. However it did not deserve the position it came.
I think if we want to argue about the unfairness of the voting then the UK needs to treat the competition a bit more serious and that I mean in the selection process. Let's have some half decent songs with some decent performers.
However this is a contest and for it to be a contest everyone must have a chance of winning. I don't see how this can be withe the current set up.
Andy's sing was alright but was never going to win. However it did not deserve the position it came.
I think if we want to argue about the unfairness of the voting then the UK needs to treat the competition a bit more serious and that I mean in the selection process. Let's have some half decent songs with some decent performers.
JA
Depends what you mean by "traditional western European". Technically, Finland and Greece have been participants for years, and both of them have won within the past few years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest
yip Greece has been around since 1974. I have just notice that Serbia only joined last year and there won?
Last year was Serbia's first competition on their own - previously they were of course tied to Montenegro and prior to that were of course Yugoslavia.
Personally, I felt that Norway should have won with Ukraine, Iceland and Sweden not far behind.
623058 posted:
JAH posted:
Andrew posted:
They should just split the contest into 2 parts. Western Europe and Eastern Europe, when was the last time the winner was a traditional western european country?
Depends what you mean by "traditional western European". Technically, Finland and Greece have been participants for years, and both of them have won within the past few years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest
yip Greece has been around since 1974. I have just notice that Serbia only joined last year and there won?
Last year was Serbia's first competition on their own - previously they were of course tied to Montenegro and prior to that were of course Yugoslavia.
Personally, I felt that Norway should have won with Ukraine, Iceland and Sweden not far behind.
RM
Well Terry hinted at that last night, you could infer it fromthis perhaps?. Maybe he was just 'tired and emotional' at the time
But on the other hand he claims to love EV in this interview. Personally I think he has exactly the right take on the competition in general!
SOL posted:
Looks like most of us were right about Terry possibly leaving. According to Digital Spy he's considering whether or not to leave.
Well Terry hinted at that last night, you could infer it fromthis perhaps?. Maybe he was just 'tired and emotional' at the time
But on the other hand he claims to love EV in this interview. Personally I think he has exactly the right take on the competition in general!
TT
Well what can I say about the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest the last few years?
2003 Jemini "Cry Baby" 0 points, 26th out of 26
2004 James Fox "Hold On To Our Love" 29 points, 16th out of 24
2005 Javine "Touch My Fire" 18 points, 22nd out of 24
2006 Daz Sampson "Teenage Life" 25 points, 19th out of 24
2007 Scooch "Flying the Flag (For You)" 19 points, 23rd out of 24
2008 Andy Abraham "Even If" 14 points, 25th out of 25
N.B. Although some sites, including this one, quote the UK's 2008 placing as joint 23rd with Germany and Poland, the Eurovision final scoreboard, which I consider and trust as the official source, quotes the UK as 25th.
The styles were as follows:
2003: difficult to describe
2004: male solo ballad
2005: eastern style drums/dance (imitation of 2003 and 2004 winners?)
2006: rap
2007: ABBAesque pop
2008: near imitation of Estonia 2001 winner "Come On Everybody" (Tanel & Dave)
Well if the last six years (2003 to 2008 inclusive) are anything to go by, it seems that whatever we enter, we do badly. I think we need to take our selection more seriously. We need a selection of songs which will impress other countries.
1) What's needed is something that's got simple lyrics, so whatever is you mother tongue, you can quickly pick up the English. The chorus should be catchy and title instantly memorable. One shouldn't need on-screen / website lyrics to pick up the chorus / title. There should also be a catchy, memorable middle eight to break up the song. "Qele Qele" from Armenia's song was instantly memorable, so was "Peace Will Come" from Georgia's song.
2) A catchy tune also helps.
3) Some songs have fared well with the minimum of dancing, but it can help to have arm movents to accompany a ballad. Whatever dance routine is included, it must be appropriate to fit the lyrics and tune.
4) One should be able to remember most of the song after hearing it a couple of times. Within a week or two of "Eurovision: Your Decision 2008", I'd completely forgotten Andy Abraham's song. What impression was that to other countries on the night?
Last night I had the BBCi lyrics / captions up, and just before Norway's song it said:
"Norway's intense selection process included three semi finals, a second chance heat and a grand final."
Evidently Norway must take their selection more seriously than us. Perhaps we should follow in their footsteps. I wonder how many songs people there have to choose from at the outset? Here we only had six, and I don't think that was enough.
If all this doesn't work, how about we go for something bizarrely different no-one's thought of. I don't mean a puppet like Dustin the Turkey! About half an hour ago it suddenly occurred to me someone ought to write a lullaby and submit that to represent the UK. Something similar to the CBeebies goodnight song "The Time Has Come To Say Goodnight" (longer), or the childrens' Christmas carol "Rocking" (its first line is "Little Jesus sweetly sleep"), but again, NOT a Christmassey lullaby for Eurovision. I wonder if a lullaby would impress the other contenders (finalists and non-finalists) in Eurovision? It would certainly be different, and make us stand out from the crowd, if nothing else!
2003 Jemini "Cry Baby" 0 points, 26th out of 26
2004 James Fox "Hold On To Our Love" 29 points, 16th out of 24
2005 Javine "Touch My Fire" 18 points, 22nd out of 24
2006 Daz Sampson "Teenage Life" 25 points, 19th out of 24
2007 Scooch "Flying the Flag (For You)" 19 points, 23rd out of 24
2008 Andy Abraham "Even If" 14 points, 25th out of 25
N.B. Although some sites, including this one, quote the UK's 2008 placing as joint 23rd with Germany and Poland, the Eurovision final scoreboard, which I consider and trust as the official source, quotes the UK as 25th.
The styles were as follows:
2003: difficult to describe
2004: male solo ballad
2005: eastern style drums/dance (imitation of 2003 and 2004 winners?)
2006: rap
2007: ABBAesque pop
2008: near imitation of Estonia 2001 winner "Come On Everybody" (Tanel & Dave)
Well if the last six years (2003 to 2008 inclusive) are anything to go by, it seems that whatever we enter, we do badly. I think we need to take our selection more seriously. We need a selection of songs which will impress other countries.
1) What's needed is something that's got simple lyrics, so whatever is you mother tongue, you can quickly pick up the English. The chorus should be catchy and title instantly memorable. One shouldn't need on-screen / website lyrics to pick up the chorus / title. There should also be a catchy, memorable middle eight to break up the song. "Qele Qele" from Armenia's song was instantly memorable, so was "Peace Will Come" from Georgia's song.
2) A catchy tune also helps.
3) Some songs have fared well with the minimum of dancing, but it can help to have arm movents to accompany a ballad. Whatever dance routine is included, it must be appropriate to fit the lyrics and tune.
4) One should be able to remember most of the song after hearing it a couple of times. Within a week or two of "Eurovision: Your Decision 2008", I'd completely forgotten Andy Abraham's song. What impression was that to other countries on the night?
Last night I had the BBCi lyrics / captions up, and just before Norway's song it said:
"Norway's intense selection process included three semi finals, a second chance heat and a grand final."
Evidently Norway must take their selection more seriously than us. Perhaps we should follow in their footsteps. I wonder how many songs people there have to choose from at the outset? Here we only had six, and I don't think that was enough.
If all this doesn't work, how about we go for something bizarrely different no-one's thought of. I don't mean a puppet like Dustin the Turkey! About half an hour ago it suddenly occurred to me someone ought to write a lullaby and submit that to represent the UK. Something similar to the CBeebies goodnight song "The Time Has Come To Say Goodnight" (longer), or the childrens' Christmas carol "Rocking" (its first line is "Little Jesus sweetly sleep"), but again, NOT a Christmassey lullaby for Eurovision. I wonder if a lullaby would impress the other contenders (finalists and non-finalists) in Eurovision? It would certainly be different, and make us stand out from the crowd, if nothing else!
BR
Well said.
Replacements - I think the fear we all have is Jonathan Ross (probably the favourite) or Graham Norton taking over, neither of which I'd particularly welcome.
Paddy O'Connell would be a good choice - he doesn't take it seriously at all, but he does have respect for it - unlike Terry in the last couple of years. I suspect though the BBC would want someone with a higher profile.
jonty09 posted:
I think the right song won. To win you can't just rely on your neighbours you need the rest of Europe to vote for you. With the problems there is with the voting I don't want that distract from Russia's achievement.
Well said.
Replacements - I think the fear we all have is Jonathan Ross (probably the favourite) or Graham Norton taking over, neither of which I'd particularly welcome.
Paddy O'Connell would be a good choice - he doesn't take it seriously at all, but he does have respect for it - unlike Terry in the last couple of years. I suspect though the BBC would want someone with a higher profile.
:-(
A former member
Harry hill should get it