Eurovision - Live watchalong.

[elisi]

Graham is on grrrrreat form! :D

Opening is fabulous. And they have three ladies hosting? In a variety of colours!

The two older girls are both doing a shared Eurovision chat with their friends.

My parents are still here. My mother doesn't understand... any of it. (It's all very silly and over the top? *g*)

The little movie things reaching across the world are LOVELY! <3

1. Slovenia - Um. Air violin?

2. France - Well that was a thing. Biiiiig ballad

3. Israel - Bouncy middle eastern boyband. But fun. :D

4. Estonia - Not terrible, just not that interesting. (And the girl cried an actual tear!)

5. It's us!!! - I had not seen nor heard it before. Main reaction: Now that was FUN! Different and distinctive and enjoyable. Yes, I like it. :D

6. Armenia - I was told it'd be a night of ballads. Bells! And keychange! And everyone dressed as if they were from Nightvale (according to Miss M). ETA: Graham's comment: 'Oh! That was worse than I remembered...'

7. Lithuania - Round and round and round. Miss M: 'It's got all the cheese...' Graham: 'Get a room you two.' He will neither confirm or deny whether or not they're dating.

8. Serbia - This year's Conchita, according to Graham. Apparently she's terribly popular. I can see why. Holy crap this is BRILLIANT!!! This is what Eurovision is all about!!

9. Norway - Darcy thinks it's rather David Lynch. Rather srs, but heartfelt. Graham thinks they're dressed like they work in a futuristic hospital... Not a bad song, though.

10. Sweden - I can see why it's the frontrunner. VERY good.

11. Cyprus - very nice, but not exciting.

12. Australia - Perfectly serviceable.

13. Belgium - Whoa. Best song by far! Like, I want to buy it. Darcy said it was like Pet Shop Boys plus Daft Punk plus Franz Ferdinand. (And too good for Eurovision.) Damn.

14. Austria - Aaand, it's 1969. ;) V. cosy? And now my mother screamed when the piano set on fire.

15. Greece - Biiiig ballad. But not as big a ballad as Rise like a Phoenix.

16. Montenegro - Um. Very nice, nothing to add.

17. Germany - Slick, but not exciting.

18. Poland - Very inspirational story. Wish the song were better.

19. Latvia - This is the other favourite, I think? V. dramatic.

20. Romania - 'Don't leave your children behind'. Aw.

21. Spain - A ballad with a CAPE! And a sparkly dress and dancing.

22. Hungary - Srs bsns song. Nice harmonies.

23. Georgia - Seems to have escaped from sci-fi movie. Or dystopian fantasy.

24. Azerbaijan - Not bad, but DANCERS!

25. Russia - More of an anthem than a ballad. Very strong. (Mr Putin - you know your stuff.)

26. Albania - If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all.

27. Italy - Operatic Pop Trio according to Graham. ... SO ITALIAN. Now they're singing about 'Amore'. And they can sing! (My mother likes it! *g*)


Wooooo! I am v. happy with the winner. (Liked the Belgian one *more*, but it wasn't all that Eurovision.) And the Swedish winner was so adorably happy. <3



PS. Sorry 'bout vanishing, Darcy wanted his laptop back. Will reply to comments tomorrow...

Comments

[speakr2customrs.livejournal.com]

The Slovenian girl's headphones have been superglued to her head; not only did she wear them in the semi but also in the trip to the Spanish Riding School.

If I ruled the world no-one French would ever be allowed to sing in public. Their entry was... beyond dreadful.

But the Israeli entry is worse. Indeed, it's worse than the Black Death.

[elisi]

The Slovenian girl's headphones have been superglued to her head; not only did she wear them in the semi but also in the trip to the Spanish Riding School.
Well she is certainly dedicated to her art.

And we rather enjoyed France & Israel! :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Estonian girl looks like my niece when she is the sort of mood that S2C describes as making you feel it best to be in a different room to her!

[elisi]

But she cried a real tear!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It was the first time I'd heard the UK one, too - and I thought it fun.

I actually really rather like the Lithuanian one -it was about the best thing in their semi on Tuesday - and his polyester suit sort of grows on me!!

[elisi]

Yes, fun & distinctive. :D

And not bothered about Lithuania - I didn't find it catchy.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

We have retired to the settee with booze and munchies - so only I have access to a keyboard...

S2C HATES the Serbian one - I like the chorus but could do without the shouty bit with the disco beat.

[elisi]

We're all in the front room, most of us on the sofa. I'm on Darcy's laptop, Miss M & Impish Girl on tablets.

S2C HATES the Serbian one - I like the chorus but could do without the shouty bit with the disco beat.
It is EVERYTHING Eurovision should be.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Do you think Norway employed Eeyore and Marvin the Paranoid Android to write their entry?

[elisi]

Possibly... Marvin must have done the costumes.

[ruuger]

I was actually wondering if this is the first year with a non-white host. I can't at least think of any from previous years.

This year's Conchita, according to Graham.

That was my first thought as well when I heard the song.

(My sister called this song the Eurovision version of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way")

[elisi]

I was actually wondering if this is the first year with a non-white host. I can't at least think of any from previous years.
Also no male presenter! Has that happened before? Go Austria!

That was my first thought as well when I heard the song.
It was truly fabulous! Your sister is spot-on!

Also hello! I was wondering where you were!

[endeni]

OMG the Serbia singer was just explosive! *_* (But I can also see the appeal of Sweden LOL)

[elisi]

Yes, she was something else. Hurrah for awesome big girls! :D (And pretty boys...)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Swedish one was really well staged.

Sadly the Australian one was very average. But as they aren't allowed to hold the next one at home, even if they win, my daughter's friends plan to all vote for it so they can go and visit my in-laws for Eurovision 2016 is less relevant!

[elisi]

Yes, the Swedish one was v. clever. (And the song was good too.)

And heh. The best laid plans and all that...

[endeni]

Belgium was awesome too! (But I'd still put Serbia at the first place...)

[elisi]

Really? I wouldn't be surprised if Sweden won. Serbia was fun, but the song itself was not terribly catchy.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Belgium was good, wasn't it? Very Lorde.

Austria clearly don't fancy holding the event 2 years in a row...

[elisi]

For a second I read that as 'Lordi' and nothing made sense...

And heh.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

So far I only like Belgium.

The Norwegian boy was pretty, though.

[elisi]

Sweden was good also. But yes, Belgium was something else.

And heh. Looks count. ;)

[ruuger]

Is it just me, or did the singers for Slovenia, Norway and Germany sound exactly the same? They all had the same Lana del Rey-esque nasal sound.

[elisi]

If I could remember them, I'm sure I'd agree! ;)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Latvian girl is clearly a Stargate villain - but she is a Stargate villain who can sing.

S2C rather hopes she wins so that she can come out at the end with flashing eyes and say "Kneel before your god!"

[elisi]

S2C rather hopes she wins so that she can come out at the end with flashing eyes and say "Kneel before your god!"
That would have been awesome! :D

[ruuger]

A ballad with a CAPE!

The Finnish commentators actually started the hashtag #viittaviisut ('capevision') in the semifinals because it seemed like half the contestants had capes this year :D

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The BBC semi-final commentators picked up on the same thing. It is weird the way there is a sudden wave of one or another costume type.

Was it 2012 or 2013 that was the year of silver dresses?

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Hungarian is S2C's favourite - after the semi he actually did go and find it on YouTube.

I wish I could remember what it reminds me of...

[elisi]

That was the terribly serious one... Yes, it was rather good. But Belgium was by far my favourite. :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Azerbaian! After I saw them in the semis I knew for sure that Spike didn't die at the end of Not Fade Away but is now gainfully employed as a dancer...

[elisi]

*dies*

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Italy - look - its Brains from Thunderbirds!!
with 2 other blokes.

[elisi]

I never knew Brains could sing...

[endeni]

/And the Swedish winner was so adorably happy. <3/ - Aw, indeed he was.
Eheh, I'm also v. proud Italy ended up in the top 3. ;)

[elisi]

Yes, they did very well, and deservedly so. :)

[freddiepig1302.livejournal.com]

Awesome review of Eurovison, thank you

[elisi]

Thank you! It's essentially the internet equivalent of scribbled notes on a napkin, but it's so much fun! Very happy you enjoyed! :D

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Georgia was by favourite, possibly for reasons beyond just the song.

I also rated Belgium and Latvia, but it was kind of obvious during the semis that Sweden were going to be hard to beat. I hated the Russian one in the semis, but it was certainly better on a second listen.

I think the countries that are pre-qualified for the final should at least perform in the semis, they are at a disadvantage when the rest of the songs are familiar to the voters.

[elisi]

Georgia was by favourite, possibly for reasons beyond just the song.
Yes, it was rather... striking.

I also rated Belgium and Latvia, but it was kind of obvious during the semis that Sweden were going to be hard to beat.
According to Buzzfeed, EVERYONE loved Sweden.

I hated the Russian one in the semis, but it was certainly better on a second listen.
It was a very good song, and she sang it very well. Also she was clearly desperate to be liked - apparently she spent most of the contest in tears. Poor thing. (Not that I wanted Russia to win, obviously.)

I think the countries that are pre-qualified for the final should at least perform in the semis, they are at a disadvantage when the rest of the songs are familiar to the voters.
Possibly. Although I'm not sure people would have warmed to ours even if they'd seen it before...

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Eurovision - bringing the smiles with every show!

Now I wanna hear the Belgium routine!

*HUGS*

[elisi]

Smiles and tears and 'What were they THINKING???'

:D

[kemnefrew.livejournal.com]

I missed it 😐

[elisi]

I'm sorry. :( Although I'm sure it's on catch-up. And that way you can skip all the voting...

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Belgium, France, and Israel :)

[elisi]

Darcy liked France! It was very... French. And the drummers were nice. (Were they drummers? *questions own memory*)

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

All I know about this is that France got humiliated again and is being whiny about it, and one entry sounded really like Lorde, in the opening anyway ;) Glad you had fun! ^_^

[elisi]

Pft, France did better than us. I think... It wasn't a bad song, but it was 2nd up, and that's a bad place to be.

I posted the best song, although you should also check out Sweden (who won). It was a good winner.