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Eurovision

(297 Posts)
nellflanders Wed 08-May-24 07:45:19

Having just watched the first semi finals of Eurovision I was shocked at how it has changed. Once a competition to find the best song it now seems that the musical composition is irrelevant and the main focus is on the sometimes hideous and overtly erotic performances by the so called artists wearing very little.. Time to call it a day as I fail to see how it can be taken seriously.

MayBee70 Tue 14-May-24 12:35:02

It was a rubbish song, his voice wasn’t great and the dance routine was crude and unpleasant. I, too think it deserved the score it received.

Callistemon21 Tue 14-May-24 10:15:53

Unpleasant post whatever you thought of the performance, Yoginimeisje

Yoginimeisje Tue 14-May-24 10:11:16

Oily got a well deserved 0 from the public vote and about 18 from the countries vote, so stayed right at the bottom of the board, where it needed to be. What a disgrace for the UK!

MayBee70 Mon 13-May-24 13:44:42

Listened to the French song again. Still can’t hear a tune in it and his voice goes off key a few times. Still love the Latvian song though.

Oreo Mon 13-May-24 11:14:28

Haha, full of existential angst, just as a good French song should be.

Joseann Mon 13-May-24 11:11:58

What a messy quote?????
a chanson so quintessentially French it might as well be performed by a beret-wearing bicyclist holding a baguette".

MissAdventure Mon 13-May-24 11:11:00

grin

Joseann Mon 13-May-24 11:10:01

Oreo

Was his lover female Joseann cos that would make a refreshing change in Eurovision song this year 🤪

😂 good point

I did read a funny comment from some critic who described it as a "chansonso quintessentiallyFrenchit might as well be performed by aberet-wearing bicyclist holding a baguette".

Oreo Mon 13-May-24 11:00:31

Eloethan

I watched a few of the entries in the "run-up" to selection. Those I saw I thought were dire and gave up in the end. I agree that the whole thing has become ridiculous - with over-the-top costumes and stage effects that are presumably necessary because most of the songs are so awful.

Olly Alexander did not seem to be much of a singer. I also thought that the dance routine in our entry was lewd and not at all entertaining (though am I right in thinking
the setting was meant to be a locker room rather than a toilet?). Another country did something that actually seemed quite satanic and I couldn't understand why the audience was so enthusiastic.

Eurovision has never been noted for its musicality or originality, but it has reached a new low.

Having said that, I did see the winning song and thought it was quite good. I liked Sam Ryder's entry too and thought he should have won.

Sam Ryder was really good and the song too, and yes he should have won and the strange Ukrainian song got the sympathy vote, but would have been better coming somewhere in the top five if they wanted to be political.
I agree completely with all you say.

MissAdventure Mon 13-May-24 10:59:56

🤭

Oreo Mon 13-May-24 10:56:12

Was his lover female Joseann cos that would make a refreshing change in Eurovision song this year 🤪

Joseann Mon 13-May-24 09:57:49

The one I didn’t understand was France, which seemed very popular but I found dull and dreary.
Oh my goodness, Maybee70, that one had me in tears. So French, the words so full of pain! I think it was meant to be dreary, and oh so full of desperation and self-pity, because his lover had gone away never to return. In the lyrics he can't stop himself, though he knows it's stupid, arranging a meet up, and even if his lover doesn't show up he will carry on waiting forever. All the usual romantic stuff, which got to me probably because I did the same to a French fiancé 45 years ago. (He used to play Jacques Brel, "Ne me quitte pas" down the phone to me back in London to woo me back! 🫢 )

MayBee70 Mon 13-May-24 09:34:09

I usually listen to the songs on utube but only heard them for the first time in the semis this year. On listening to them the second time in the final both Croatia and Switzerland were growers, Switzerland more so. The one I didn’t understand was France, which seemed very popular but I found dull and dreary.

Chestnut Mon 13-May-24 09:27:46

Well I just checked out the winning song properly and can't make sense of it, a load of strange words against a tuneless background. I always think if any song were sung in a room with a piano what would it sound like, would there be a song there or just a load of nonsense?

I really am struggling to understand modern music at all. There never seems to be a recognisable tune or understandable words. Lyrics seem to be full of anger or hate and they are always about me, me, me. Never expressing love for another person, or what can I do for that person. It's always me and my anguish.

Eloethan Sun 12-May-24 23:39:28

I watched a few of the entries in the "run-up" to selection. Those I saw I thought were dire and gave up in the end. I agree that the whole thing has become ridiculous - with over-the-top costumes and stage effects that are presumably necessary because most of the songs are so awful.

Olly Alexander did not seem to be much of a singer. I also thought that the dance routine in our entry was lewd and not at all entertaining (though am I right in thinking
the setting was meant to be a locker room rather than a toilet?). Another country did something that actually seemed quite satanic and I couldn't understand why the audience was so enthusiastic.

Eurovision has never been noted for its musicality or originality, but it has reached a new low.

Having said that, I did see the winning song and thought it was quite good. I liked Sam Ryder's entry too and thought he should have won.

Dickens Sun 12-May-24 18:29:44

DrWatson

I found this thread having seen a bit of the wretched tripe, we accidentally saw a few mins when changing channels, and by 'good fortune' (?!) saw the UK entry. A bit later on, we caught the round-up, a few seconds of each country's effort.

Indeed it is supposed to be a fun thing, I doubt that many would be expecting much in the form of a decent melody and memorable lyrics these days.

I hadn't seen even highlights for a few years, just a brief clip of the winning effort on the news, but I found this year's stuff quite depressing, some clever staging for a few, but in general a very long parade of utter tripe.

Did someone say they LIKED our 'performer'??? Ye gods. A talent free zone, either no voice or it was drowned out by the 'music' (?!) that was crashing away. Just before the end, I see that the voting now adds 'Public Vote' to the tedious delivery from the Juries round Europe.

At least the public votes bit doesn't take long, but I nearly had an accident. When it came to the announcement of the public vote for the UK, Graham Norton said "should be quite a large number" (those at the top of the board got 2 or 3 hundred). The presenter tried to keep a straight face when saying "No points", and I nearly wet myself laughing.

Apparently the public around Europe (the World?) weren't that enthusiastic for whatever gay assignations were being portrayed! Oh dear.

I can recall when performers like Sinatra, Nat King Cole, or Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, etc, relied on a good song and musical arrangement, didn't need to take their clothes off or have 42 dancers to distract attention?! I wonder if any country might try that method?!

I can recall when performers like Sinatra, Nat King Cole, or Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, etc, relied on a good song and musical arrangement, didn't need to take their clothes off or have 42 dancers to distract attention?! I wonder if any country might try that method?!

I suppose the point is that there's a different perception now of what constitutes a "good song and musical arrangement".

Music, like language, evolves. Don't forget, Beethoven was once thought of as 'revolutionary' when he started to introduce dramatic changes to the accepted ideas of harmony and melody etc.

Of course, we still listen to Beethoven - I'm not sure we'll be listening to Nemo in a couple of hundred years.

On a personal note, I don't quite know what to make of Eurovision. It becomes more OTT every year - maybe that's inevitable for an event that relies on the visuals as much, if not more, than the music. Dunno... maybe it's just entertainment!

Callistemon21 Sun 12-May-24 17:26:13

Thanks!

GrannyGravy13 Sun 12-May-24 17:25:36

Olly got votes from the jury’s but didn’t get enough votes from the public to register.

Callistemon21 Sun 12-May-24 17:19:22

I assume that is the reason for the Nul points

He must have got some points as he came 18th, not last?

Sorry, I didn't watch it all 😴

glammagran Sun 12-May-24 17:15:49

Last watched ESC in 1981 or 1982.

MissAdventure Sun 12-May-24 16:12:57

The uncut version of Relax (the video) is quite a sight for sore eyes 🤭

Dinahmo Sun 12-May-24 16:04:29

Apparently the final was available to be watched in 137 countries - surely that was a good thing?

Remember when Frankie Goes to Hollywood's song "Relax" was banned by the BBC for a time? I enjoyed that and the various performances that were shown. YMAC - before Frankie... was less explicit and sung at many celebrations, even today.

However I thought that Olly's song was not up to much and was appalled at the staging. I doubt it did the UK's reputation much good and I assume that is the reason for the Nul points. I checked the credits and not a female listed.

Many of the female singers were channelling Taylor Swift and Beyonce with their minimal clothing. The problem for us is that we are getting bored with it.

Too many drum machines.

My own choices were Croatia, France and Nemo.

Was anyone awake to see the Abba piece?

JaneJudge Sun 12-May-24 15:50:59

No one has ever found themselves inside a photo booth at the back of a woolworths

Dickens Sun 12-May-24 15:11:51

Joseann

Because he is on a "journey" (another irritating word) to "find himself". He meets challenges along the way because it is suh a dizzy ride. A bit like going round in circles until he breaks the code!
I disliked the costume too.

Because he is on a "journey" (another irritating word) to "find himself".

... weren't we all?

Jut didn't make such a song and dance about it. Literally.

I know it's a bit mean, but when I hear anyone say that they are trying to 'find themselves', my toes curl.

Dickens Sun 12-May-24 15:07:25

MissAdventure

What was the point of him being on the wobbly thing, though?
His knobbly little knees under his awful skirt certainly weren't shown to their best advantage (assuming they have a best anything)

My mum wore skirts like that with cardigans and matching jumpers circa; 1970.

His knobbly little knees under his awful skirt certainly weren't shown to their best advantage (assuming they have a best anything)

😂

My mum wore skirts like that with cardigans and matching jumpers circa; 1970.

😂😂😂