Year 2 of Lockdown, Day 67 (Eurovision)

[elisi]

In the past I've done live-blogging, so we'll see if I manage that this year...

(It's been three years since we watched it last - we skipped 2019 when Israel hosted.)

It'll be interesting to see what it'll look like, if there is an audience (socially distanced) or... idk. I've not read or watched anything (except the Icelandic entry) so I guess I'll see.

OMG Graham Norton I missed you. <3

The closeness of the audience members makes me worried. Even if I know everyone's been tested up the wazoo...

Nikkie de Jager look amazing, my 15 year old is full of information on the topic of influencers.



1. Cyprus. Um, she has a sparkly outfit. Something something el diablo.

2. Albania. MORE sparkles. But loving the colourful cloud effects.

3. Israel... I want to say something, but I got chatting to the Cherub. The singer seems talented, but um yeah, Israel singing about being set free... (I mean, Israel always sings about peace.) Highest note on Eurovision ever, a B6 was it?

4. Belgium. Oh this is immediately more interesting. Cherub not that impressed, thinks it's too depressing. Black sparkly dress (just so I can remember) & nice band.

5. Russia. Now THIS is Eurovision. The dress, the boiler suit, the... everything.

6. Malta. No tune, but it's fun and upbeat and the staging is like a Warhol come to life.

7. Portugal. Now this is a SINGER. (Love is on my side) Mmm, love his voice.

8. Serbia. Ah Graham. (They seem to have spent most of the past 12 months working on their make up. Less 'Destiny's Child, more 'Destiny's inappropriate auntie'.) Oh god the HAIR. ETA: GRAHAM! ('I guess hairdressers have opened up again in Serbia...')

9. UK. Oh dear. Couldn't we at least have had some hot babes? If nothing else they could hold a tune. Imma gonna go hide behind the sofa now. (I bear him no ill will, apparently he's a nice bloke, but...)

10. Greece. Sparkly Bond girl? SUCH SPARKLE. And invisible ppl! Cheesy in all the right ways.

11. Switzerland. Darcy: He's too fucking good for Eurovision.

12. Iceland. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

13. Spain. (Please let the moon be an egg.) Darcy: Spain not phoning in it this year! We're going to get crushed.

14. Moldova. More sparkly dress. And how long was 'the longest note'? Twitter tells me 17 seconds.

15. Germany. YES THIS IS EUROVISION! Oh Lord, I love it when Germany does... the Germany thing. *waves hands gleefully*

16. Finland. Yeah, some heavy metal. Am liking this. Although join WHAT?

Loving this wander around the commentators' booths. (Finland hand: Join <- brilliant)

17. Bulgaria. Unusual, no glitter, just a SONG.

18. Lithuania. YELLOW. And definite Pet Shop Boys vibes.

19. Ukraine. Mmm, interesting. Loving the cultural/futuristic vibes.

20. France. That is the most French thing I have seen in forEVER. *applauds* Voila!

21. Azerbaijan. Middle Eastern Ariana Grande. (I am not particularly familiar with Ariana Grande's music, I am basing this all on her looks.)

22. Norway. Fallen angel. Here's to big power ballads.

23. Netherlands. That was different. But good different. Here's to earnestness.

24. Italy. More rock, but more stylish than the Fins. And the heels!

25. Sweden. Just... the outfit. The bling! The pop factory did it again. Darcy thinks it's dullsville. And KEY CHANGE!

26. San Marino. This is solid Eurovision to close on. Oh and now there's rapping!

Comments

[owlboy]

i liked the bit with the ocd angel

[elisi]

Neil Gaiman sent him just for us. <3

[owlboy]

:D

[elisi]

<3

[avrelia]

I perpetually try to find joy in Eurovision, but I get bored by the songs themselves. The sparkles and the crazy outfits are great, but I can't hold my attention enough for the whole thing.

[elisi]

Are you by any chance trying to watch it sober?

ETA: Or, less flippantly - watching it on your own? It's such a social thing! We have always watched with the children, and if I were on my own I'd be hanging out on Twitter or Tumblr throughout to get constant commentary. Like, you need someone to discuss Germany's HAND with, y'know?

[avrelia]

I do enjoy reading commentaries and looking at pictures after the event. It the songs themselves I can't master the will to listen to. But you are right, if I had a company to drink and laugh together, it would be a different story.

Russian commentaries were extra depressing to read this year, about our song selection...

[elisi]

It the songs themselves I can't master the will to listen to. But you are right, if I had a company to drink and laugh together, it would be a different story.
I usually try to do live updates, but I don't know if you're able to watch live? There's also Twitter or Tumblr both of which are very entertaining. Although the best thing is obviously watching with real people. You can't make it a family event? It was in our house, so the girls grew up with it. :)

Russian commentaries were extra depressing to read this year, about our song selection...
Your song was awesome!!

[kerk_hiraeth]

I started to lose the avid interest I used to have when the live orchestra rule was removed. Last great year was 1998; coincidentally the last year it was held in the UK (because of an American...) ~ is it ironic that the UK is also the only country that seems to take pride in never failing to take the piss out of Eurovision? *asking for a Canadian friend...

That was also the last year I watched it live; since then I've tried to listen a couple of times (only managed it once this year) before I watch a song, because the performances on the night tend to overwhelm the songs; SONG contest, but the songwriters don't even get their awards on stage anymore.

Now it IS ironic that my favourite Eurovision winners won more because of their performance than their song, though Waterloo was so far in front of the rest of the entries they should have given the awards at the start and then had a 'and here's the rest of the very plucky entries' evening ;-)

Last year I actually listened live was the year Belgium entered a song with the band's own constructed language *which on checking I find was 2003.

Stiil a (nostalgic) fan, but stopped being a fanatic a long time ago. Frankly they should stop calling it a song contest, because the image/gimmickry/performance seem to matter more ~ again spot the irony :-)

kerk

[elisi]

I started to lose the avid interest I used to have when the live orchestra rule was removed. Last great year was 1998; coincidentally the last year it was held in the UK (because of an American...)
Hmmm. Iiinteresting.

is it ironic that the UK is also the only country that seems to take pride in never failing to take the piss out of Eurovision? *asking for a Canadian friend...
Well, if we're going to lose abysmally ANYWAY, I guess it's a way of saying 'I don't care' ahead of time.

That was also the last year I watched it live; since then I've tried to listen a couple of times (only managed it once this year) before I watch a song, because the performances on the night tend to overwhelm the songs; SONG contest, but the songwriters don't even get their awards on stage anymore.
Funnily enough I remember this being an issue with Nocturne? As in, there was very little 'song' and mostly music and people were cross because surely it was about the SONG.

These days it's all about the show, and hey, it's fun and entertaining. As a formula it works.

Now it IS ironic that my favourite Eurovision winners won more because of their performance than their song, though Waterloo was so far in front of the rest of the entries they should have given the awards at the start and then had a 'and here's the rest of the very plucky entries' evening ;-)
Hahahahaha. Accurate though.

Last year I actually listened live was the year Belgium entered a song with the band's own constructed language *which on checking I find was 2003.
Don't think I remember that one, although songs from Eurovisions past tend to vanish after the event. Apart from a golden few.

Stiil a (nostalgic) fan, but stopped being a fanatic a long time ago. Frankly they should stop calling it a song contest, because the image/gimmickry/performance seem to matter more ~ again spot the irony :-)
Well it's called Eurovision. The 'song' part tends to be left out. When i grew up, it was always called 'Melodi Grand Prix' (this is the Danish name). It changes with the times I guess...

And yet, you can have something as simple as just a singer on stage with no effects, and presuming the singer and the song are good enough, you might just win.

[a_phoenixdragon]

I loved reading this! I have not yet seen Eurovision, but MAN do I love hearing about it, lol!

*HUGS*

[elisi]

Like, you have NEVER watched it? Or just not this year's yet?

And I came across an accurate representation:

https://twitter.com/whale4minhyuk/status/1396213591167098881

[a_phoenixdragon]

Never watched it. Not once, alas!

LOL!! Thank you for that! OMG, that is perfect...:D

[elisi]

Oh noes, that is sad. Although I don't know how you'd access it from the US. Although there must be ways... Ah well, it's not going anywhere! :)

[promethia_tenk]

I've never watched it either. I mean, I'm sure you've shoved a youtube clip or two at me over the years.

But it's always entertaining to watch you all react. I almost feel like the reality can't match up to what I'm imagining you watching.

[elisi]

I've never watched it either. I mean, I'm sure you've shoved a youtube clip or two at me over the years.
Yeah, we must have shown you this, which is PEAK Eurovision and will probably never be bettered.

The best winner ever was Fairytale which we will also have shown you. There is everything inbetween, including this year's offering by Germany which is somehow ALSO peak Eurovision. :)

But it's always entertaining to watch you all react. I almost feel like the reality can't match up to what I'm imagining you watching.
Well, Germany shouldn't disappoint.

[ruuger]

I was really surprised by how low the Swedish song scored. It was one of my favourites.

Also, UK getting zero points from both juries and the audience was so cold. Even Finland hasn't gotten zero points since the 80's. Although we have failed to qualify 8 times... :D

(this was actually the second best placing that Finland has ever got, after Lordi (Marion Rung in the 70's also placed 6th) - the best one we've had in the last 20 years was Softengine coming 11th in 2014)

[elisi]

I was really surprised by how low the Swedish song scored. It was one of my favourites.
As someone who hadn't heard any of the songs before (except for Iceland) Sweden came across as perfectly competent, but very popsong-by-numbers.

Also, UK getting zero points from both juries and the audience was so cold. Even Finland hasn't gotten zero points since the 80's. Although we have failed to qualify 8 times... :D
We just buy our way in, so don't have to worry about quality... Also the UK has been a bastard to the rest of Europe for years, so. *shrug* I feel sorry for the poor guy, but am not surprised.

(this was actually the second best placing that Finland has ever got, after Lordi (Marion Rung in the 70's also placed 6th) - the best one we've had in the last 20 years was Softengine coming 11th in 2014)
Yeah, you did good! Darcy much preferred yours to Italy's!