Eurovision song contest

[George 1978]

Re: Eurovision song contest

Morocco was in the 1980 competition and they were obviously the wrong side of the Mediterranean to be in Europe.

This year's contest has comparisons with 1979-1980 - in 1979 Israel hosted it and won it but due to the cost and the 1980 ESC being on a Remembrance Day, they defend their title the following year. The 1980s contest was hosted by the Netherlands who came 12th the year before. It is ironic then that the final contest of this decade is hosted by Israel and next year will be hosted by the Netherlands - just like the final year of the 1970s and the first year of the 1980s.

[darren]

Re: Eurovision song contest

One thing that irks me a bit is having israel and australia in it.

Only euro countries in a eurovision song contest.
one thing i did notice is you have more than just each jury voting between 1 and 12 points.

Did i see right or was there something called a public vote.

When did that come in.

[Moonraker]

Re: Eurovision song contest

I watched the scoring session only and avoided listening to the music, as I find it absolute rubbish. For the UK things were not looking too bad as we were 3rd from bottom! Then at the final stage of scoring a new score system was introduced in which peoples' votes were included. UK ended up in last place. Surely we've learnt our lesson.

[George 1978]

Re: Eurovision song contest

Not watched it in years. Well not since the 80's.

I won't ask the reason why...

No, I am surprised as it had been mentioned everywhere and everyone. Mind you, in a Brexit-alike way, I wouldn't blame the BBC if they refrained from submitting an entry next year or any future years for that matter, but would still do the voting and would otherwise have an "outsider's" perspective of the contest. The UK was successful in the 20th century and not so in the 21st, while with Norway and some other countries, it was the other way round.

For a moment, I actually thought that Manchester City's goals earlier on would have outnumbered the points that Rice would have received.

[staffslad]

Re: Eurovision song contest

I didn't realise it was on until last night when my wife mentioned it. As per usual I didn't bother watching it. I popped my head into the lounge to see that my wife had switched to another channel. It has really far less to do with song quality than just voting for favoured countries, though it has been like that for a long time. At least Terry Wogan's barbed commentary made it amusing, but now there is absolutely nothing that would make me tune in.

[battyrat]

Re: Eurovision song contest

Not watched it in years. Well not since the 80's.

[George 1978]

Re: Eurovision song contest

I seem to be the only person who watched it...

[George 1978]

Re: Eurovision song contest

So we have reached that time of year again - this year, it is hosted in Israel (cf Dana International and Milk and Honey). The last time the UK hosted, Israel won, so I wonder whether it could be the other way round?

Graham Norton would never replace Wogan completely, and I am far too young to remember when Aspel, Pete Murray or David Jacobs doing the commentary - I believe that Tom Fleming (who was more used to doing Royal Family commentary also did a stint circa 1972). And I really miss Colin Berry announcing the UK results in his traditional BBC way (his last stint was the year before Jemini, lest we forget), but I have always accepted Rylan Clark-Neal in anything that he has done, and I shall look forward to his stint announcing the results.

I am looking forward to various countries performing this year such as the Czech Republic (love the video if not the song), Germany (ditto) and Norway - I have done my homework already viewing the relevant YouTube clips. It maybe the trainspotting of music programmes, but when it comes to our "divorce" from a political perspective at this moment in time, I do believe that we need to keep a grip on anything that keeps us linked to continental Europe. I am usually "biased" towards Scandinavian or Baltic countries in the recent past, but I don't care - lots of people have unusual hobbies these days!

And I believe that this year's FA Cup final will uphold enough interest on BBC 1 from a ratings perspective for the contest, just like the FA Cup did for last year's Royal Wedding - I have found that a strong schedule with two unrelated annual events that are so close to each other can really help in the ratings. I don't support Manchester City or Watford, but I would probably watch the FA Cup by virtue of the close scheduling of the Eurovision Song Contest.

In a nutshell, I am hoping that the UK total will be in three figures at the end of the day (i.e. well over 100 points) even though we are no longer in Bucks Fizz or Katrina and the Waves territory anymore. As winning entries almost get telephone number-sized totals in points thanks to jury and telephone votes, it is a lot more competitive than ever these days.

Best wishes to Michael Rice and I hope that he does us proud!

[Twocky61]

Re: Eurovision song contest

Poor Terry Wogan having to host Eurovision; he could do much better than that. He was wasting his talent there

[staffslad]

Re: Eurovision song contest

Terry Wogan used to have a lot of fun over countries always voting for each other, but I think it also got to him a bit over the years.

[Twocky61]

Re: Eurovision song contest

Most of those obscure countries promote nepotism

Incest is the name of the game

[staffslad]

Re: Eurovision song contest

The only reason I would occasionally watch it was for Terry Wogan's wonderfully entertaining commentary. I haven't been tempted at all to tune in since he stopped working on the show, and after his sad death and obviously no chance of his resuming duties, the likelihood of me viewing it again is extremely low. Even my wife, who used to watch it every year, has now abandoned it.

[Elbmek]

Re: Eurovision song contest

not watched in decades, its a politcal farce and perpetrated by a commie BBC.

[darren]

Re: Eurovision song contest

its strange no longer seeing terry wogan doing it.

In some ways im surprised its still going.

Too many countries vote for other countries just because theyre beside eachother or does this still go on.

[zabadak]

Re: Eurovision song contest

it will take at least two years to get out of the EU

Almost - there is a two-year limit