Sadly, Dustin the Irish Turkey will not be taking the Eurovision Song Contest final stage tonight, after being eliminated in the semi-finals. But there’s still plenty to look forward to - awful Europop, truck-drivers key changes by the bucketload, hosts who can mangle an autocue in two languages, and some fairly bizarre pieces of surrealist theatre to accompany the inane tunes.
After making the sacrifice of sitting through both semi-finals, I can inform you that the only half-decent song amongst them this year is the French entry, “Divine”:
Apparently, the song was produced by Daft Punk, so there is actually a modicum of musical talent involved. But the “Big Four” - the UK, France, Germany and Spain - have had increasingly little chance of winning as bloc voting between the Baltics, Scandinavia, and the former members of the Soviet Union becomes increasingly obvious. According to Betfair’s market, the Russian song is a strong favourite, with Ukraine a strong second (and, as the dreck goes, one of the least objectionable bits).
But it’s not about who wins and loses, of course…it’s about reminding ourselves that the continent that gave us Bach, Newton, and Plato can also give us power ballads that make Shannon Noll’s version of “What About Me” look like art. So grab a beverage or several and enjoy!
By the way, in deference to Western Australians on the blog, could people refrain from discussing the final results until they have been broadcast there?
Great minds, etc., Rob - I was just simultaneously putting up a Eurovision post.
However I couldn’t disagree with you more… I thought the French entry was shite. Go the Divas! (Particulary Albania, Portugal and Georgia…)
My take here:
http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/25/eurovision-song-contest-2008-year-of-the-diva/
“May I also add, if SBS are reading, that next year I think we want to see more Julia Zemiro and less of the Pommie commentary…”
Gosh, Mark, everybody wants to see more of Julia Zemiro but how is that relevant to Eurovision?
Oh, i just got it.
Use any opportunity to spruik her because she is so yummy.
She’s been doing the pisstake promos for Eurovision on sbs, joe2, and introduced it last night lying languidly on a couch with a cocktail by her side. So it’s not just general Julia Z lovin’ but actually relevant!
I sadly missed that bit Mark. I quite like the idea of an Aussie commentary. Julia would be good and more work for Roy and H.G. perhaps?
Turn on your tv, joe2! She’s on right now.
She’s our “chaperone”…
I too wonder why the Europeans are so hopeless at pop music. The Brits managed to take the great musical art form of the 20th century - the American folk forms of the Blues and Country - and do something interesting with it. (The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin). The Europeans, by contrast, have nothing to draw on but their own sense of kitsch. They are just never going to be funky, just clunky. And the power ballads - kill me now.
Mark, if we’re picking divas, Mark, I would have gone for the Ukrainian song well before the ones you mention…
As far as stage acts go, keep an eye out for Bosnia
You can view all the Aussie Twitter Eurovision chat using the Twemes hash tags.
http://twemes.com/ev
and
http://twemes.com/eurovision
Mark, when I worked at SBS they got rid of Terry Wogan one year and the complaints went through the roof. Terry is very popular. So Julia’s intros are noice compromise.
Is that a Serbian KD lang singing? Why is it those girls cant dance?
Oh goody here come the hosts.
My God he’s spiffy the guy innit?
Terry’s no longer doing the commentary, casey! They’ve got two unknown Brits. So ditch them and bring on Julia! Everyone’s a winner…
Rob, I did list Ukraine among my faves. But I really liked the Portuguese entry, and the cheesiness of the Georgian song - which is obviously something of a reflection of what’s going on there at the moment. Albania’s tops for me - I like it when they do songs that actually reflect local musical traditions and I thought the singer was ace.
Malta as I said had a good voice but awful song.
Weirdest from last night would be a tie between the Latvian pirates and the Croatian 75 year old rapper.
Sir Terry, Mark.
See link with EXTREME spoiler warning.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2025086/Eurovision-Song-Contest-Sir-Terry-Wogan-questions-his-future-as-British-entry-Andy-Abraham-limps-in-last.html
No, the unknown Brits were only for the semis (as I’m sure you’ll have worked out by now). Wogan’s on now. Not sure I see the appeal of Julia, with or without Wogan, however …
Oh, ok.
We’ll work out how to inculcate you into the cult of Julia Z (as well as all the Wogan fans) later on, Brett, I guess!
the vignettes are … wierd … Bosnia and Herzegovina are just whacky! this is why i watch!
“Bosnia-Herzogovina: as the announcer said, I don’t know what they’re on, but I want some. Weird dude with four brides in veils and a clothesline with nappies.”
Helen spotted the talent, previously.
I just loved Bosnia. Cabaret-style. Very kooky. Good stuff. That’s my running commentary for now.
Robert Merkel:
Well. at least Eurovision Song
ContextContest is a darned sight more honest than a 21st Century election in Australia - and a hell of a lot more fun too.b.t.w., when did Terry Wogan pick up his knighthood? The ‘why” is obvious.
the finnish entry is sub-80s metal.
lordi were heaps better. (was in finland about 5 months after they won and there were billboards advertising ‘LORDI COLA’ all over helsinki).
Yeah, Finnish metal has sounded better, but that was catchy. My second choice of the night (after Bosnia).
WHAT THE HELL IS THE HEFF DOING RAPPING FOR CROATIA?!?!
Loved Croatia.
er, Miss Poland - Do you reckon her dress will fall off?
Thank God. It made it. phew.
Croatia, nice work.
But why oh why this bloody dancing, spinny, thingy?
Are they cheaper by the dozen or by default when you register for Eurovision?
iceland says to me: this is my life, i am viking coming to kill your entire village. do u know way nearest to discoteque please?
Yay for Portuguese divas!
well lets hear the chorus first mark
A bit of an echo of Portugal’s former colonial empire in the backing singers/dancers?
I like, Tyro…
Pirates coming up…
and latvia’s historical association with piracy in the Caribbean is???
I dunno. But their choreography seems a bit more elaborate than in the semi. Tactics?
Have not seen pirate work like that for ages!
wow, sweden’s entry is some sort of plastic surgery disaster?
She won in 99 apparently…
I think Denmark should have pressed Princess Mary to enter.
I mean - what a hypocrite! He’s not actually wearing blue suede shoes.
denmark’s entry is pretty limp. i love the flat cap and braces. EEEYYYY-UP!
Not as hot as julia but..
He’s apparently a reality tv winner - Danish Idol or whatever - and his career aspiration is to become a cop.
Watch for the Georgian costume change!
This has been a good year so far. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Iceland; all quite good. Croatia and 75 Cents wasn’t bad, either.
She was born without sight btw.
OMG shades will help peace happen.
What a new idea.
Luv Georgia.
I think Boris Johnson was one of the backup singers/dancers for Georgia!
Silver sparkly dresses getting progressively smaller as the night toes on…
ukraine’s entry is pretty good pop music but i’m sure i first saw it on a GLBT Mardi Gras float sometime in the late eighties … or was it at a NYE RAT party?
i’d have to rate the ukraine entry the most competent pop music so far.
There was some discussion last night about concerns re homophobic Belgradians outside the venue - seems like the Eurovision is a bit of a queer party. Most apt, I guess, since it’s very camp in all sorts of ways.
I think that was Ukraine’s answer to Danii Minogue!
“Silver sparkly dresses getting progressively smaller as the night toes on…”
Oh hells, peeps, are starting to look at feet.
Where is Hetty when we need her?
[Where is Hetty when we need her?]
She’d have heart failure with Junior Eurovision
the french entry is pretty good, actually! i really quite like it!
the french entry was definitely the most musically interesting entry so far. apparently he was criticised by conservative french commentators for singing in english.
what the hell is going on with the Azerbaijani entry?!
Azaberbaijan rocks.
I think Azerbaijan are trying to cover all bases - metal and diva - with a bit of a Manichean S&M touch.
I suspect Miranda Devine would condemn them.
A touch of Bowie in the vocals?
A little bit of heaven and hell in all of us Tyro Rex!
What’s with the booing? I quite liked them.
OMG! Are those people kissing teenagers? !!!!
Rob, I withdraw what I said about the French entry - worked better than in the vid they showed (or excerpted) last night.
I condemn Greece except for engines.
joe2 at 50 - heh! Freudian slip evidently…
Spain is a tad odd…
I think he borrowed Silvio Dante’s hair from the Sopranos. That could be a risky move…
the russian entry is horrible. i can’t believe it’s the favorite. robert’s right, only the french entry really deserves to win.
The Russian bloke’s interpretive dance is almost as good as Julia’s
No one else liked Albania?
Why didn’t those lovely “convent educated girls” (TM Sir Terry Wogan) from Russia win in 2007? They rocked as did some of the others - I wore out my 2007 tape but this year’s a drqg by comparison.
That man/woman/alien fronting the Swedes is beyond parody - great pegs tough.
they should institute a rule that says you can’t vote for a country that you share a border with.
I liked Denmark. I thought it was a lot of fun, my husband liked Turkey the best, he thought that they rocked tha most. Also enjoyed Norway.
I am not a fan of the diva personally, its all a bit same same. Scantily dressed chick and pumping disco beat.
I was thinking Portugal/Georgia with my diva remark, Rayedish - not the sorts of trashy short skirted pop we’re seeing from the execrable Greek and Armenian entries which are currently scoring highly.
I think I’m going for Azerbaijan now!
Micro-countries should be banned from voting altogether!
You are right Mark, countries suspected of politically voting shouldn’t have their votes counted.
Those presenters have the worst French accents evah!
Le plus mauvais accent Francais tourjours!
Rayedish: that’s nearly all of them!!
Loved the hesitant Swedish guy!
Remember - no spoilers on the final tally to allow our Perthling friends to enjoy the excitement of waiting for the entirely predictable results!
[Remember - no spoilers on the final tally to allow our Perthling friends to enjoy the excitement of waiting for the entirely predictable results!]
Too late, I heard who won on the 6pm Commerical Radio news, but it’s still fun to watch the voting regardless.
Tyro Rex,I know but the meager scores remaining would be more interesting!
Well, Frank, we had a specific request from Anna Winter not to spoil Perth’s party…
[Well, Frank, we had a specific request from Anna Winter not to spoil Perth’s party…]
Far enough, but I’m just p;ointing out that the MSM tend to announce the winner before the telecast.
But back to the event, I much preferred it when they used to have the live orchestral backing the acts rather than pure backing tracks, except for the live vocals you’d almost think they’re miming the whole song. Even the Italian San Remo, after several years of using pre-recorded backing, have reverted to performing with a full orchestra.
Well, im guessing that huge Armenian vote (considering how totally crap the song was) was effectively a big ‘euro-finger’ to Turkey.
i’d also like to know how some of these countries qualify as “europe”.
[i’d also like to know how some of these countries qualify as “europe”.]
The Rules are explained here:
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/rules-2008
Oh and the SBS website has a HUGE spoiler.
yeah, so ‘EBU’ (European broadcasting union) members can enter, I knew that already, still doesn’t make Azerbaijan, Armenia, Israel, etc “Europe”. I have a strict definition of that, excuse my schoolboy geography pedanticism. If Azerbaijan and Armenia, why not Iran? If Israel, why not Lebanon?
Here is the History of Eurovision by Country.
http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=45
Ive done a wee post over at Chez Latte which touches on the geopolitical implcations.
Agree Tyro (way above). Im trying to Limewire the French entry. Wow - Ive never heard a song on Eurovision I actually liked before.
Not since Abba anyway.
Watching Eurovision last night made me realise what good songwriters we have here. Is just me or is our ‘All School Spectacular’ better than some of those songs? I mean how did that Latvian pirate song make it into the finals? I didn’t watch the semis but now I’m curious as to what didn’t make it!
Mark, TyroRex, Zarquon, Amphibious [somewhere in 62+];
Russia’s entry was alright but not as fascinating as Armenia’s. Wonder if the former deputy-boss of Gazprom sent Eurovision one of his “mid-Winter greetings to the Ukrainians” and they immediately saw the wisdom of following HIS choice of winner?
Tyro Rex [32]:
Latvia has a Hanseatic history. The Hanseatic League relied on ships for trade. Some of the Hanseatic trade was with England. Pirates used ships. Many pirates spoke - and sang - in English. And they went to the Caribbean.
See? It’s obvious.
Do you want me to go through it again for you? It’s no trouble; I don’t mind. :-).