Eurovision 2013

[Britcan]

So the first Semi-Final of Eurovision 2013 was last night and NS doesn't appear to have a thread for it yet. I'm sure many people here watch Eurovision so I decided to make a thread where we could discuss it.

I'm not massively enthusiastic about any of the acts this year but Albania's entry is my favourite of those I've seen. I don't think I can spot a winner yet. What are your opinions on this year's acts? Which do you like and which do you think will win?

[Conservative-England]

I think Denmark will win the Grand Final with Ukraine, Norway, Russia and Finland in the top 10.

[Britcan]

I think Denmark will win the Grand Final with Ukraine, Norway, Russia and Finland in the top 10.

Denmark's entry does seem strong, I'd definitely be surprised if it finished outside out to the top three.

[Kemalist]

I've not listened to all of the entries; but the Finnish and Greek ones are really cool.

[Soviet Russia Republic]

*goes to listen to the Russian pick*

*bangs head on desk*

Who picks these songs?!

[Britcan]

*goes to listen to the Russian pick*

*bangs head on desk*

Who picks these songs?!

Your song last year did pretty well. Try being British, we've apparently not learned that picking acts from 30 years ago is a bad idea.

[Larban]

Yeah I think Denmark have a pretty good entry, but like they said last night the wall of sparks is a bit too much like the end of a winning songs' performance :S maybe they should change it. Anyone know who's competing at tomorrow nights semi's?

[Britcan]

Yeah I think Denmark have a pretty good entry, but like they said last night the wall of sparks is a bit too much like the end of a winning songs' performance :S maybe they should change it. Anyone know who's competing at tomorrow nights semi's?

http://www.eurovision.tv/page/malmo-2013/about/shows/semi-final-2

[Conservative-England]

*goes to listen to the Russian pick*

*bangs head on desk*

Who picks these songs?!

Your song last year did pretty well. Try being British, we've apparently not learned that picking acts from 30 years ago is a bad idea.

Why don't the BBC just let the public choose like they used to. Or if they don't want to have a whole different show, why don't the winner of The Voice be the UK's Eurovision entry every year?

[Vorshka]

I like the Greek song

[Britcan]

Your song last year did pretty well. Try being British, we've apparently not learned that picking acts from 30 years ago is a bad idea.

Why don't the BBC just let the public choose like they used to. Or if they don't want to have a whole different show, why don't the winner of The Voice be the UK's Eurovision entry every year?

To be fair, it didn't go much better when we picked them. I would try and imitate what Finland did in 2006 and send in a completely over-the-top rock or metal act.

[The Archregimancy]

A rhetorical question: why do we whine about Eurovision in Britain?

Is it any wonder we do badly when we're caught in this curious neverland between simultaneously declaring that we don't really take it seriously while complaining that nobody loves us and it's all political block voting.

On the first point, is it any wonder we do badly when we pick such utterly shite songs, and have recently picked acts that are almost as shite (though note that picking Bonnie Tyler to perform isn't totally stupid; she may be a has-been here, but Ms Tyler's last 8 albums have been top 40 hits in Scandinavia, Germany, and France, so there's some method to the BBC's madness).

On the second point, what makes us think we're unique ? France haven't won since 1977; Spain haven't won since tying for 1st in 1969; Italy haven't won since 1990 (though didn't enter for a longish while). In fact, since the expansion of the contest in the wake of the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, and the introduction of pre-qualifying in 1993, the only two "big five nation" winners have been the UK in 1997 and Germany in 2010 - when Germany had what was clearly the best song on the nigth. Since Israel's victory in 1998, Germany have been the only winners from outside the Balkans (including Turkey), Scandinavia (including Finland), or the former USSR. So there's absolutely no grounds for thinking we're in any way uniquely unpopular.

So we pick crap songs, we generally send crap acts, and every other non-Scandinavian Western European nation is in precisely the same boat as we are.

So again, what are we whinging about?


Edit:
And block voting clearly only gets you so far....

Acts representing Austria, Montenegro, Croatia, Cyprus, Serbia and Slovenia were knocked out of the competition.

Well, there goes most of the usual former Yugoslavia block vote, which someone manages to transcend political differences every year.

[Esternial]

I'm happy Belgium made it to the next round, but I don't want us to win.

We should save our money, not spend it.

[Horusland]

Double post? Aw..... Sorry, Eurovision.

[Horusland]

I am very surprised that most of former Yugoslavia was in the same semifinal, but they all were eliminated. Especially the dupstep song.
But anyway, hoping for Romania to get to the final so that they can internationally make fun of themselves. Again. It's what we're best at right now.

But seriously speaking, I like these entries: Finland, Germany, Norway, Montenegro and Ireland.

[DrakoBlaria]

The Greek one is retarted in so many ways... but we are still gonna get a 12 from Cyprus

[Britcan]

I am very surprised that most of former Yugoslavia was in the same semifinal, but they all were eliminated. Especially the dupstep song.
But anyway, hoping for Romania to get to the final so that they can internationally make fun of themselves. Again. It's what we're best at right now.

But seriously speaking, I like these entries: Finland, Germany, Norway, Montenegro and Ireland.

Montenegro's performance was very amusing. It was ridiculous, even for Eurovision.

[Horusland]

I am very surprised that most of former Yugoslavia was in the same semifinal, but they all were eliminated. Especially the dupstep song.
But anyway, hoping for Romania to get to the final so that they can internationally make fun of themselves. Again. It's what we're best at right now.

But seriously speaking, I like these entries: Finland, Germany, Norway, Montenegro and Ireland.

Montenegro's performance was very amusing. It was ridiculous, even for Eurovision.

The Russian grandmas with the giant oven last year were better.
But I liked Montenegro's song, not the performance/video.

[Britcan]

Montenegro's performance was very amusing. It was ridiculous, even for Eurovision.

The Russian grandmas with the giant oven last year were better.
But I liked Montenegro's song, not the performance/video.

That was the sort of thing you'd expect from Eurovision. I was genuinely surprised when a pair of spacemen walked onto the stage.
I'm not a fan of dubstep so I found the song pretty meh. Apparently the lyrics are quite odd though.

[The Blaatschapen]

I'm happy Belgium made it to the next round, but I don't want us to win.

We should save our money, not spend it.

Then vote for Anouk, you get to have the party next door and not have to pay for it

[Churchilland]

I've only heard Britain's entry, so far, and I found it rather well... Apparently Russia's entry looks like one of the Kardashians...

[Saruhan]

How the hell did Ireland and Belgium beat fucking Montenegro and Croatia? For that matter, how the hell did the Netherlands get in at all? Christ Europe, what are you doing,



Also, Russia, what was that communist hippy bullshit? In English, at that?

[The Blaatschapen]

How the hell did Ireland and Belgium beat fucking Montenegro and Croatia? For that matter, how the hell did the Netherlands get in at all? Christ Europe, what are you doing,



Also, Russia, what was that communist hippy bullshit? In English, at that?

What are you so surprised about. The Dutch finally sent a good singer (though perhaps with a song that's a bit too sleep inducing in my opinion).

[Saruhan]

How the hell did Ireland and Belgium beat fucking Montenegro and Croatia? For that matter, how the hell did the Netherlands get in at all? Christ Europe, what are you doing,



Also, Russia, what was that communist hippy bullshit? In English, at that?

What are you so surprised about. The Dutch finally sent a good singer (though perhaps with a song that's a bit too sleep inducing in my opinion).

I thought it was pretty boring (it being the 349th fucking ballad might have had something to do with it) but to be picked over the Balkans is just... And it wasn't even in fucking Dutch, like it's just European idol for most songs, at least Estonia stood to it's guns and won

[Britcan]

What are you so surprised about. The Dutch finally sent a good singer (though perhaps with a song that's a bit too sleep inducing in my opinion).

I thought it was pretty boring (it being the 349th fucking ballad might have had something to do with it) but to be picked over the Balkans is just... And it wasn't even in fucking Dutch, like it's just European idol for most songs, at least Estonia stood to it's guns and won

Cut the Dutch some slack, they're usually awful at Eurovision. If any song shouldn't have made it through it is the Lithuanian one.