Eurovision 2023

[NorthWay]

Aaaaaaaaand the qualifying races are on!
The first national semi(?) finals are over and I'm pleasantly surprised with the craftmanship of all the entries so far this year! No stinkers IMO.
Too bad that my favourite "Tresko" did not qualify... .

[KlaxonCow]

I feel it worked out correctly, in the end.

That is, the truth is that Sam Ryder did really win the last Eurovision. But understandably - rightly, even - the public wanted to show Ukraine support, so dumped a ton of votes on them.

But as we can't feasibly host Eurovision in Ukraine - I doubt the EBU wants to be responsible for kicking off World War III when a "stray" Russian missile "accidentally" kills civilians from 50 different countries (because, remember, despite the name, Israel and Australia are also in Eurovision - and many other countries, like America and Japan, do have associative membership of the EBU, in order to provide coverage of the event in their respective countries and might send some cast and crew over) - then it falls to second place. Which happens to be Sam Ryder and the UK - who, from a "this is a song contest" perspective, should have won anyway.

(In fairness, Ukraine actually should have won for this gem in 2021, but the contest was not - in the midst of lockdown - actually staged properly:



So I also consider it a form of moral justice that they were awarded not just support against Russia's invasion, but a belatedly deserved win... albeit for the wrong bloody song. But they should have won it in 2021 anyway, if all was well in the world. As my YouTube comment on that video has it: "Best Eurovision song ever". Which might be slightly overstating it, perhaps - ABBA has to get a shout out somewhere, obviously - but it's definitely in the running, in my opinion.)

[Dio]

Hey, don't knock Il Darknessi.

[NorthWay]

2nd semi over. Still dotting Is and crossing Ts; competently done, but also no winners.

[NorthWay]

3rd semi. I could just copypaste from the two previous posts. No winners IMO.

[RedOktober]

The name has nothing to do with the countries involved.
It was the Eurovision TV station that started it all.

[NorthWay]

National tv is running the yearly view and review shows are up and running again.

Chezh Republic: Watch out for marbles on the floor. Not too bad though.
Oz: Tribute band members musical chairs? (I think I saw both Queen and Soundgarden(?).) Kinda missing a little something overarching that ties it all together.
Greece: For a moment I thought this was the UK entry. A bit forgettable.
Croatia: We're all out of marbles now - total ESC madness. I wish it was a winner. It isn't.
Malta: Sax time. The whole is not more than its parts.
France: Very French this year. Cez Chic! The kind of French that I can like.

[Orava]

Kaariya and cha cha for Finland surely

[(o)(o)]

2nd semi over..

Don't think I've had one of those since Gina G's 'Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit'

Is John Lydon our entry this year? Or was that last year.

Would be rather poignant for him to win since his Nora passed (song was written for Nora)...

Edit: So his entry waas for Ireland, and he did not make it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64519292

[NorthWay]

Friday again and another round of ESC hijinx.

Denmark has a very contemporary sound. Sounds ok.
Ukraine is very American around 2000. Not my thing.
Finland is lovely batshit crazy, but still I think the melody is clear though slightly too forgettable.
Poland sends a bimbo that has stolen the moves and bits and pieces from numerous powerpop girls. Call the music police.
Serbia put me in the mood of a Bond film opening animation. Not sure what to think of it.
UK has a pretty nice popsong. A bit Britney/Spicegirls in style - perhaps I should say Max Martin?

[Orava]

The Finland entry is what happens when you cross a Mexican boxer with Eurovision, the exact purpose of Eurovision.

[Orava]

I have hosted a couple of Eurovision parties myself, a great occasions to get trollied, and have silly drinking competitions.

[NorthWay]

Another Friday, another batch of popcorn at the ready.

Netherlands pulls a visual Bowie (or Cabaret?). Competent-ish power-ballad duet thingie.
Portugal does a ...a ...you tell me. I was thinking of circus, can-can, folk song and a few too many genres in one.
Georgia powered up the wind machines to deliver something bombastic, but not the worst of the lot.
Austria has a fun pop thing that could do well.
Azerbadjan(sp?) has raided the coffers of Crowded House. Easy. Genre mix. Forgettable.
Switzerland does a clone of Rag'n'Bone Man.
Israel is sexy and a lot of pop genres. I wish there were fewer...

[merman]

LOL, BBC Radio Merseyside will be broadcasting an “alternative Scouse commentary”

[Orava]

Eurovision planning advances, tomorrow is a Zoom test so me and my three dispersed children can watch it together. Had to buy a new laptop and all.