Eurovision

We've sadly been sending crap entries for years, it's probably so the BBC can make sure they don't have to host it (just like My Lovely Horse).

PatSharpsMullet wrote:

Chocolate-Milk wrote:strawberry floating hell, no wonder we got zero. This guy can't sing for toffee.

That's a bit harsh on toffees.

Not sure it is.

Listening to the Ireland song again and it's actually pretty good. I can't believe how bad they stage managed it.

Not sure why there's so much commentary around the UK doing badly. Given the quality of our entries we can hardly claim to be taking it seriously, and ultimately most people see it as a crappy contest that has absolutely no prestige or kudos associated with winning it.

The commentary can be quite funny so I tuned in briefly when it was on. In summary:

- Ukraine's was the best song I heard
- France was poor and nowhere near being as good as the judges seemed to think it was
- Italy was okay but not worthy of being a winner
- Azerbaijani woman was smoking hot
- Netherlands was probably the worst one I saw
- Giant purple woman presenting looked out of place and a bit odd

If people care so much about the UK winning, we need to stop sending bland, forgettable songs and do something unique or interesting.

Spain is actually the worst performing country in the last five years with a Big Five spot so we cant even claim to being mistreated.

The thing we need to change is staging. We have staged one entry right in the last decade, Lucie Jones. Now to be fair to detractors of the contest, its true Lucie should have done better than 15th. However it had the combo of three important things, good song, good staging, fantastic singing. James Newman basically had a good song but none of the other factors, in a year sadly Europe turned its back on pure pop bangers. In another year, Malta would have win, instead they settled for 7th.

BMG need to rustle up an established artist next time, and we need staging that tells more of a story, either literally or through cuts. Its a TV show, never forget that.

You're spot on about staging, as someone who never watches it, the most memorable songs were definitely those with interesting things going on with the performance.

Its such a shame it was that song that got the nil points, because theres no way thats our worst. I do genuinelly feel for the guy. I'd strawberry floating love a crack at directing a new entry.

To be fair though, it wasn't just the stage...he sang it really badly, poor bloke. Nerves I guess.

Really don't think the song is that bad. Decent enough pop song, if a little dated in feel-i can imagine it being a bit early 10s.

Despite it's failings, our entry was still better than some of the previous tracks we've entered, i still remember the godawful track poor Josh Dubovie was made to sing (you could tell in the interviews beforehand that he knew he was doomed)...

narrator: but it didn't sound good to anyone else

I still remember after Dubovie people bringing up the same old nonsense

'Boycott the competition!'

One of the worst songs ever made.

Also, I think much of continental Europe's popular music culture is quite different to British popular music culture. They seem to be able to effortlessly produce slightly trashy but still pretty good music/performance without being too self-conscious about it. Which kind of sums up Eurovision.

But there's always the nagging feeling that British entries are forever trying to fit in but never properly understand what it's really about, and it shows. There's just a certain vibe about a lot of Euro-music which isn't replicated here.

The Italians were definitely helped by how massive they apparently are as a band on the continent. Didn't realise it until after the fact as I'm an ignorant Brit

The staging for ours did not suit Newman. Clearly wasn't confident and it showed. At least the German one was hilariously "so bad it was good".

Benzin wrote:The Italians were definitely helped by how massive they apparently are as a band on the continent. Didn't realise it until after the fact as I'm an ignorant Brit

The staging for ours did not suit Newman. Clearly wasn't confident and it showed. At least the German one was hilariously "so bad it was good".

This tends to be the case for most acts that do well, they tend to be big already, we have a tendency to send someone new so are always on the back foot.

I liked our song I think it was decent enough, not epic but decent enough, had it had better staging I think it would have had much more impact.

I really think we would actually benefit from not getting a free pass to the final, if we had to qualify I think it would massivly improve what we send as we would have to put some effort in, and there would be less chance of being seen as just using our wealth to buy an advtantage.

Imrahil wrote:Also, I think much of continental Europe's popular music culture is quite different to British popular music culture. They seem to be able to effortlessly produce slightly trashy but still pretty good music/performance without being too self-conscious about it. Which kind of sums up Eurovision.

But there's always the nagging feeling that British entries are forever trying to fit in but never properly understand what it's really about, and it shows. There's just a certain vibe about a lot of Euro-music which isn't replicated here.

To me thats the mistake everyone is making. Eurovision winners AREN'T trashy, they are credible songs. This year the move away from manufactured pop should be a wake up call to everyone. Keep talking down to European music and you'll get left out. Some of these acts are MASSIVE. Maneskin the other day were the third most streamed artists in the WORLD. James Newman is literally nobody. When we sent Blue with an average pop song, we did much better. Send someone known (who can still sing, sorry Bonnie and Englebert) and we will automatically stand a better chance.

DML wrote:Some of these acts are MASSIVE. Maneskin the other day were the third most streamed artists in the WORLD.

After they won Eurovision.

rinks wrote:

DML wrote:Some of these acts are MASSIVE. Maneskin the other day were the third most streamed artists in the WORLD.

After they won Eurovision.

True, but these artists are also big before it. If lots of countries are sending very famous acts, why do we think we can get away with someone no-one has heard of?

Also, I think the commercial benefits now outweigh the potential downsides. Robbie Williams performing his gooseberry fool new single on the Graham Norton Show, or going global by doing Eurovision? To me thats a strawberry floating no brainer at this point, even if it risks a nil points.

DML wrote:

rinks wrote:

DML wrote:Some of these acts are MASSIVE. Maneskin the other day were the third most streamed artists in the WORLD.

After they won Eurovision.

True, but these artists are also big before it. If lots of countries are sending very famous acts, why do we think we can get away with someone no-one has heard of?

Also, I think the commercial benefits now outweigh the potential downsides. Robbie Williams performing his gooseberry fool new single on the Graham Norton Show, or going global by doing Eurovision? To me thats a strawberry floating no brainer at this point, even if it risks a nil points.

Were the last several eurovision winners widely known before?

Photek wrote:

DML wrote:

rinks wrote:

DML wrote:Some of these acts are MASSIVE. Maneskin the other day were the third most streamed artists in the WORLD.

After they won Eurovision.

True, but these artists are also big before it. If lots of countries are sending very famous acts, why do we think we can get away with someone no-one has heard of?

Also, I think the commercial benefits now outweigh the potential downsides. Robbie Williams performing his gooseberry fool new single on the Graham Norton Show, or going global by doing Eurovision? To me thats a strawberry floating no brainer at this point, even if it risks a nil points.

Were the last several eurovision winners widely known before?

Not sure, lets have a look.

Well Duncan Laurence and Netta were basically unknowns/contest winners.
Salvador Sobral was a touring artist at least, but not to a massive extent.
Jamala, again she had albums, but Eurovision was her breakthrough.
Mans Zelmerloew had won Dancing with the Stars and had two number one albums and a number one single.
Conchita was a pretty famous celebrity in Austria before Eurovision.
Emmelie De Forest was basically an unknown from Denmark.
Loreen much like Mans was well known to Swedes, having been an idol and tried Eurovision qualifying before.

So yes, perhaps the winners are a bit of a mixed bag and maybe I was wrong in some ways, but theres no doubt that a lot of countries do send big stars (Russia specifically) and its not like we have to send Adele, we just have to not send...someone who has never toured Europe!

DML wrote:

Photek wrote:

DML wrote:

rinks wrote:

DML wrote:Some of these acts are MASSIVE. Maneskin the other day were the third most streamed artists in the WORLD.

After they won Eurovision.

True, but these artists are also big before it. If lots of countries are sending very famous acts, why do we think we can get away with someone no-one has heard of?

Also, I think the commercial benefits now outweigh the potential downsides. Robbie Williams performing his gooseberry fool new single on the Graham Norton Show, or going global by doing Eurovision? To me thats a strawberry floating no brainer at this point, even if it risks a nil points.

Were the last several eurovision winners widely known before?

Not sure, lets have a look.

Well Duncan Laurence and Netta were basically unknowns/contest winners.
Salvador Sobral was a touring artist at least, but not to a massive extent.
Jamala, again she had albums, but Eurovision was her breakthrough.
Mans Zelmerloew had won Dancing with the Stars and had two number one albums and a number one single.
Conchita was a pretty famous celebrity in Austria before Eurovision.
Emmelie De Forest was basically an unknown from Denmark.
Loreen much like Mans was well known to Swedes, having been an idol and tried Eurovision qualifying before.

So yes, perhaps the winners are a bit of a mixed bag and maybe I was wrong in some ways, but theres no doubt that a lot of countries do send big stars (Russia specifically) and its not like we have to send Adele, we just have to not send...someone who has never toured Europe!

Are The Darkness still around?