Eurovision Song Contest 2016

[mistique]

I don't know if anyone else other than Honeykid and I watch it - but even though we might as well get a thread for it :D

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/691560127112028160/1SSNbsZ6.png

[honeykid]

I'm 40 minutes into last nights semi final. I think this is Armenia and it's very Eurovision. One of my favourite so far.

[honeykid]

I'm loving this San Marino entry. They better get through.

[honeykid]

Just watched Russia. I can see why you think it will do well. It's OK, but it feels like to was put together by committee to win. It's kind of soulless.

[Chypmunk]

It's Eurovision - most of them are soulless :D

[honeykid]

Cynic. :D

I like Austria. It's a bit of a simple throwback. I think it being in French helps that.

[mistique]

Just watched Russia. I can see why you think it will do well. It's OK, but it feels like to was put together by committee to win. It's kind of soulless.

I think it was fine, but I was mostly impressed with the visuals.

[honeykid]

Azerbaijan is one of those songs which is OK, but you keep waiting for it to burst into life. Sadly it never happens and just ends up being a disappointment.

[honeykid]

I think it was fine, but I was mostly impressed with the visuals.

Well, as someone tweeted last night, it won last year. ;)

[-KhaN-]

Best song in history of Eurovision:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnqF5PLP2w

[mistique]

Azerbaijan is one of those songs which is OK, but you keep waiting for it to burst into life. Sadly it never happens and just ends up being a disappointment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dix6XJ_Uo-w

I am a fan of it - but I belive this was the song where last night, I found it difficult to hear what she was singing :(

[honeykid]

I liked Montenegro at first, but it goes on too long which, for a 3 minute song, isn't a good sign.

Iceland is another who's been looking and listening to previous winners a little too much.

[honeykid]

Bosnia and Herzegovina has only just started but I'm loving the costumes and staging. Now this is Eurovision. Even if the song is crap, be mental!

Yep, I liked that. :yup:

Khan, it's not the best, but I was a big fan of it and hoped it'd do really well. I still like it. I liked the official video, too.

Malta next. Almost always pretty girls from Malta. I don't know why.

[mistique]

I'm looking forward to this one from Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDabiss5VZn14&v=2EG_Jtw4OyU

[honeykid]

Malta song was OK. Very Eurovision as was the dancer. Thankfully. :D

[-KhaN-]

Khan, it's not the best, but I was a big fan of it and hoped it'd do really well. I still like it. I liked the official video, too.



I liked it because of the lyrics, man went to make some points and he used a big stage to do so, even in the song he says he has no ambition for high position.

[honeykid]

Moldova, Croatia, San Marino, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia and Austria. I'd like to see them all make it

[Aphex]

Why are Australia and Israel participating? They're both not in Europe. And apparently Morocco also participated once but I believe that was a one time thing.

[honeykid]

Australia because they're huge fans. Last year was supposed to be a one-off as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations. This year it's just profile, I'd assume. I've never understood Israel being in it, but it meant we had Dana International, so that's OK. I wouldn't have Turkey in it, either.

[honeykid]

Holy crap! France isn't singing in French. :eek: Wow. Is this the first time?

[Aphex]

Why not Turkey? Geographically speaking half of the country is in Europe. It makes more sense for them to be in it than for Australia or Israel.

[honeykid]

As usual, the most out there/craziest acts didn't make it. I expect Thursdays to be a more sedate affair, but I hope not.

Shame to see Moldova, San Marino and B&H not making it through. :( Especially when the horror which is Netherlands made it. I knew it would. :mad: Oh well, at least there'll be three minutes when I can go to the loo on Saturday. :D

[honeykid]

Why not Turkey? Geographically speaking half of the country is in Europe. It makes more sense for them to be in it than for Australia or Israel.

Indeed it does, but they're not European, IMO, so it's a no from me.

[Aphex]

Indeed it does, but they're not European, IMO, so it's a no from me.

But what does it mean to be European? If their location is Europe, they're not European? You mean European ethnically? Or culturally?

[honeykid]

Geographically I don't think of them as European. They're a bridge between two continents.

[Thursday Next]

If the UK votes leave will we still be allowed in the Eurovision song contest? :)

[CiCi]

If the UK votes leave will we still be allowed in the Eurovision song contest? :)
If Israel, Turkey and Australia all are, then we will be :D praying we don't leave anyway.

And I forgot this started around this time of year! It's such a guilty pleasure, but I love it :lol: :love:

[honeykid]

I love it, but it'll never hit the heights of the 70's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddQb_pm7KsM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFuGZdUYpak

Look at some of this stuff! If that's not entertainment, you don't know you're born.

[Chypmunk]

Like the Ukraine entry ... better than the favourite (Russia) in my humble opinion ... but who's turn is it to benefit from the 'bloc' voting this year?

Hope the Belgian entry does well. Liked the Aussie entry too.

Caveat: Nothing I actually like ever does well ;)

Wife's pick would be the Norwegian entry :eek:

[mistique]

Wife's pick would be the Norwegian entry :eek:

I can't even remember it :p

My favorites this time was Australia and Lithuania.

But sad to see that Denmark, didn't make it to the finale :(.

[Thursday Next]

I liked the Belgian one and that was about it. Although I missed the first part. Ireland's was awful, not surprised they're out.

[Cobpyth]

What did you think of the Belgian entry, Honeykid? :p

[mistique]

I liked the Belgian one and that was about it. Although I missed the first part. Ireland's was awful, not surprised they're out.

Ireland disapointed me. I was even looking forward to it because I used to be a Westlife fan when I was younger.

[honeykid]

What did you think of the Belgian entry, Honeykid? :p

I loved it. One of only two entries in the entire 2nd semi that I really liked. Bulgaria and Belgium. I said to my g/f, if either of those didn't go through I was voting out in the referendum. Seriously. Those two songs screamed Eurovision. If they didn't make it, what the hell could?

I was disappointed that Denmark didn't make it too, mistique. It was a pretty good song, but the reason I wanted it through so much was because of the dad dancing third man. He was great. He was part of a trio but he just did his own thing. I started singing this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkg8sokmRXk

Luckily for me, my g/f loves me regardless. :D

I was pleased to see Australia make it, too. Again, the song was OK but that was a proper Eurovision dress.

Lastly, while I'm not a fan of musicals or Broadway showtunes, that opening was fantastic! That should be an entry. I'd vote for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6qSt8Qp9ck

[mistique]

I was disappointed that Denmark didn't make it too, mistique. It was a pretty good song, but the reason I wanted it through so much was because of the dad dancing third man. He was great. He was part of a trio but he just did his own thing. I started singing this.

lol, I never noticed that :lol:

[honeykid]

He was great. :) Is this group famous in Denmark or just chosen for Eurovision?

Looking forward to tonight. I always spend Eurovision with my sister so, as much as I'd love to do a live commentary during it, I shan't be here.

Hope everyone who's watching enjoys it and we get a good, proper Eurovision winner and not something like Russia, Hungry or, worse case scenario, the Netherlands. :eek: Bloody country music. They nearly did it last time they tried that.

I've not heard any of the big five other than the UK and the clips shown during the semi's, but it looks like France might be boring.

[mistique]

He was great. :) Is this group famous in Denmark or just chosen for Eurovision?

The group is not famous, but they have apperently been together as a group since 2012. I've never heard of the group Lighthouse X before the Eurovision.

But the people in it - well two of them - are famous.

Johannes Nymark is a famous actor, though it's within the last couple of years he has become well known in the danish public, after he appeared on the danish version of Dancing with the Stars. Funily enough he was competing against his boyfriend Silas Holst, who is a profesional dancer. I saw Johannes in the musical Hairspray earlier this year :).

Søren Bregendal - is a famous singer/actor. In the early 2000s he was in the boyband C21, which I was fan of :D. Later on he has been in a tvshow and a couple of movies, though of the ones I've seen, I think he's a pretty horrible actor.

[Chypmunk]

Yay ... so pleased Ukraine and Australia filled the top two positions. Purely from a monetary point of view I wish it had been the other way round but I'm a few euro richer so can't complain :)
Pleased Belgium got a respectable finishing position too.

The new voting system certainly mixed things up lol ..... showed exactly how the jury and public votes can be extremely disparate at times (*cough* Poland *cough*). Can't say I'm a mad fan of it though as now we know how it works there won't be so much of a buzz surrounding the jury votes in future as the emphasis has shifted to the final one-off awarding of massed points from the public votes. I'd much rather they gave each public vote alongside the jury one each time though I can understand that might not be possible due to timing issues.

Am still wondering just who would have hosted the next one had the Aussies won it though as they stated that it would not be held in Australia no matter what the outcome :confused:

[Mr Minio]

> EUROvision
> Australia participates

Next thing we see is an explosive performance of ISIS

[DalekbusterScreen5]

As somebody from the UK, I'm furious that the rest of Europe continue to hate us and refuse to say why.

I'm not sure what we're supposed to have done wrong.

[mistique]

I had hoped Australia would have won. They had the best song in my opinion. And yes it would have been fun to see who would host it if Australia had won.

[DalekbusterScreen5]

I had hoped Australia would have won. They had the best song in my opinion. And yes it would have been fun to see who would host it if Australia had won.
It is said it would have been Germany, with the BBC here in the UK second if they refuse. Totally unfair - we're supposed to be friends with Australia yet they not only betray us by not giving 12 points to our entry but also don't make us their number one choice to host if they won.

[mistique]

As somebody from the UK, I'm furious that the rest of Europe continue to hate us and refuse to say why.

I'm not sure what we're supposed to have done wrong.

I'm not sure what place UK ended up, but l know you didn't get very far. I don't think it was a bad song, but I don't think it was that special. Though I don't think you deserve to get that few points.

I guess it's punishment for once sending Jedward to the Eurovision :D.

[mistique]

Here's a question for the people from the UK:

I found this article on Buzzfeed called "19 Times Graham Norton was Really Sassy During Eurovision 201 (https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/15-times-graham-norton-was-really-sassy-during-eurovision-20)6" (https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/15-times-graham-norton-was-really-sassy-during-eurovision-20) - as you can see it shows his comments from the Eurovision. Now I do know who Norton is, and I love watching his talk show and it his sassy comments on there are brilliant.

But I'm personally used to a commentator on Eurovision which is more neutral. I mean the danish commentator would never say something like “...Now forgive me, maybe I am just getting old and grumpy, but there isn’t a single thing about this woman that doesn’t annoy me...”

I think this bothers me because I don't like people influencing what I think about the various artists, I would like to make my own decisions of who I like and who I don't like.

I'm thinking this might just be a cultural difference, but what I just wanted to hear, is how you feel about Norton as a commentator? Do you enjoy the 'sassy' comments?

[DalekbusterScreen5]

I'm not sure what place UK ended up, but l know you didn't get very far. I don't think it was a bad song, but I don't think it was that special. Though I don't think you deserve to get that few points.

I guess it's punishment for once sending Jedward to the Eurovision :D.

Thankfully that was Ireland, not us.

[DalekbusterScreen5]

Here's a question for the people from the UK:

I found this article on Buzzfeed called "19 Times Graham Norton was Really Sassy During Eurovision 201 (https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/15-times-graham-norton-was-really-sassy-during-eurovision-20)6" (https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/15-times-graham-norton-was-really-sassy-during-eurovision-20) - as you can see it shows his comments from the Eurovision. Now I do know who Norton is, and I love watching his talk show and it his sassy comments on there are brilliant.

But I'm personally used to a commentator on Eurovision which is more neutral. I mean the danish commentator would never say something like “...Now forgive me, maybe I am just getting old and grumpy, but there isn’t a single thing about this woman that doesn’t annoy me...”

I think this bothers me because I don't like people influencing what I think about the various artists, I would like to make my own decisions of who I like and who I don't like.

I'm thinking this might just be a cultural difference, but what I just wanted to hear, is how you feel about Norton as a commentator? Do you enjoy the 'sassy' comments?


I don't think he's sassy enough. Terry Wogan took it further.

[Chypmunk]

I'm not sure what place UK ended up, but l know you didn't get very far. I don't think it was a bad song, but I don't think it was that special. Though I don't think you deserve to get that few points.

I guess it's punishment for once sending Jedward to the Eurovision :D.
God knows I'm not proud of it but the terrible twins actually represented Ireland, not the UK :blush: Much preferred it when we put forward Dustin myself :D

[Swan]

Jedward. :laugh::mrt:

[Chypmunk]

I don't like Norton's commentary myself, so much so that I even tolerate our smug Marty on RTE in preference. Wogan was much more subtle yet at times cutting imo. Interesting how the UK have used Irish people to do their commentary for quite some time now - just another way of distancing themselves from the whole thing I guess.

[Chypmunk]

https://shazgood.wordpress.com/files/2008/02/dustin-the-turkey.jpg
Best Irish Eurovision entry ever!!!! :D :D :D

[Thursday Next]

But I'm personally used to a commentator on Eurovision which is more neutral.

Nah, we're used to a commentator who takes the mick out of the whole thing.

[christine]

Nah, we're used to a commentator who takes the mick out of the whole thing.

has to be done! seems weird to me how anyone can take so many countries picking sh*te songs with unimpressive singers without taking the piss :rolleyes:

[Chypmunk]

has to be done! seems weird to me how anyone can take so many countries picking sh*te songs with unimpressive singers without taking the piss :rolleyes:
Dustin.
Was.
Not.
Sh*te.


Ok, he was really and it was the Irish way of saying we don't want to win 'cos we can't afford to be hosting it :D

[-KhaN-]

Eurovision gets more about politics with every damn year...

[DalekbusterScreen5]

Eurovision gets more about politics with every damn year...
Next it'll be each country voting for a party to represent them.

[honeykid]

I'm with those who think Graham isn't cutting enough. I love Eurovision and I thought this years was the best production in ages. Maybe the best yet. But, by Christ, too many of the songs were a struggle to get through one after the other. Taking the piss out of it all is the best entertainment there is. I think this is a cultural thing, though. We don't take it seriously. Even the people who love it (like myself) don't take it seriously, whereas in other European countries, it's a big deal and this really is among the best stuff. Big hits that have already been #1 and heard all over.

It could be quite interesting to see what would happen if we took it seriously for a decade or so. Coldplay, One Direction, Adele or whoever.

I honestly don't care where the UK ends up because there's no pride in it for me but, for once, I did think we deserved to do better. There were an awful lot of warbling mediocre songs this year (including the winner) and it should've been above all of them on merit. Hopefully a lot more countries will take notice of the 'how to win Eurovision' song and next year will be much better.

The finale was exciting, my sister was literally on the edge of her seat because she wanted Australia to win so much, but I agree that it might make the first half of the voting seem pointless as anything else other than a guide.

Belguim and Bulgaria were by far the best and it was nice to see Belgium do well and it was nice to see Germany and Spain do some fairly Euro stuff.

I'm slightly surprised to see that Germany would be the first choice if Australia had/does win. I'd have thought London would've been the choice, what with the amount of Aussies there.

As for Poland making such a huge jump, I think that just illustrates what I was saying about the movement of a nation population around Europe and how it affects Eurovision. I quite liked Poland this year because of his coat and the fact that he looked like he was going to cry at any minute. But it wasn't a good song. Decent, but not good.

[mistique]

Thankfully that was Ireland, not us.

Oh, well then damn you Ireland :p