Eurovision 2006

[ejp626]

The weirdness is over for another year.

This was the first year I watched Eurovision, and it definitely lived up to and down to all my preconceptions. Half the songs are in English to get cross-over votes and the other half are defiantly native (with a bit of Riverdance or Abba thrown in as part of the routine).

Most of my previous knowledge of Eurovision comes from the TV show Father Ted where he is chosen to go to Eurovision, since Ireland is sick of winning and paying to host the competition (apparently there is a bit of truth behind this joke, though this year they put forth a serious contender who was solid but not flashy enough). France was really dire, and came pretty close to scoring nil points (6 total maybe). And they were still ahead of Malta who scored 1. The UK entry was some dreadful hip-hoppy thing by a 40-year-old. The joke just didn't translate at all. But really, given the UK's unpopularity in Europe right now, there isn't much point in putting too much effort in.

Eurovision is not a serious musical contest in any sense, but is decided mostly by the smaller countries voting in blocs. One of the best entries musically was a country song by the German group, but it didn't even finish in the top 10. Nonetheless, the runaway winner was definitely interesting - a heavy metal group from Finland that dresses up sort of like Gwar. Expect even more gimmicks next year.

It really is weirdly compelling. Anyone else watch and have any thoughts?

[sidewinder]

It was the best comedy programme so far this year. The BBC1 coverage traditionally has a totally hilarious super-cynical commentary by Terry Wogan which points out the various voting cliques e.g. Former-USSR Block, Balkan, Viking, Iberian, Greek Islands etc. The whole thing ceased to be a real competition at least 10 years ago and is now a total joke. At least the Warhammer/AC/DC clones representing Finland did something half-way original (well - in Eurovision terms ) for once.

And as for the Albanian 'suspenders' theme and the German cowboys..

The episode of Father Ted was not far at all from the truth. Who wants the expense of hosting this charade when you can let one of these quangos foot the bill. France and UK should always enter some crap so ensure it stays that way.

Edited May 21, 2006 by sidewinder

[sidewinder]

Here's Lordi, from Finland..

[sidewinder]

and the crap-rap from the UK :

[sidewinder]

A bunch of ageing baldies from Lithuania:

didn't realise Bill Clinton was in their lineup.

Edited May 21, 2006 by sidewinder

[sidewinder]

Texas C&W from Germany..

[sidewinder]

A ballerina popping out of the piano during the Russian 'turn':

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Thanks for those posts, Sidewinder. I don't think I've watched Eurovision since the late 60s. Now I remember why.

MG

[Swinger]

Finland won! YES!

At last. We've waited for 40 years and finally we won!

[Alexander Hawkins]

Best comedy yet this year? Too right! Genius. Wogan was absolutely brilliant.

I thought the Lithuanians were hilarious. Finland too. I was disappointed to see the Maltese, French and Israelis getting votes. All brilliantly diabolical.

[Niko]

from my German perspective it was somewhat depressing, the second time in three years we had a song that was really fine with me musically (Max Mutzke in 2004 and Country this year) and didn't win anything... that Estland, Lithuania and Latvia support each other I understand, but that Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia etc give all their votes to each other I can't accept - if they like each other that much why didn't they stay together... (Musically Bosnia which was 2nd or 3rd in the end was not great but somehow okay with me while Crotia which ended up in the top 10 (?) was incredibly crappy)

if you've seen it in the 60s the last time you don't know it, as it has fundamentally changed its flavour since in 2004 all those (20 or so) new countries joined in - much more flutes and drums, and naked flesh since then - and they don't seem to write songs in these countries but rather ballet performances where someone is singing... Lithuanians were great, I found Spain a lot better than their 20th rank...

i shouldn't take it that serious...

Edited May 22, 2006 by Niko

[Dmitry]

that Estland, Lithuania and Latvia support each other

Estland, Lettland, etc - I know that these were the names the Nazis called these occupied countries or is that how they're still called in German?

[couw]

that Estland, Lithuania and Latvia support each other

Estland, Lettland, etc - I know that these were the names the Nazis called these occupied countries or is that how they're still called in German?

These names -- Lettland, Estland, Livland, Kurland, Samland -- stem before those times and are still used in German. Remember that Germany once reached these territories and that many German families have their roots there.

[tonym]

Finland won! YES!

At last. We've waited for 40 years and finally we won!

National holiday then?

[Fer Urbina]

It was the best comedy programme so far this year. The BBC1 coverage traditionally has a totally hilarious super-cynical commentary by Terry Wogan which points out the various voting cliques e.g. Former-USSR Block, Balkan, Viking, Iberian...

Gotta stop you there. Portugal didn't give a single vote to Spain

Having watched Eurovision in Spain before I came to England, I don't think you brits really appreciate how good Wogan is.

F

[Daniel A]

I was astonished that Russia actually got a lot of votes from Estonia et al.

[Niko]

that Estland, Lithuania and Latvia support each other

Estland, Lettland, etc - I know that these were the names the Nazis called these occupied countries or is that how they're still called in German?

sorry to offend you... while writing I realized that I had to write the countries' English names but didn't realize I had already gotten one wrong... what Estland means is (*surprise*) land of the Ests which is not an especially imperialistic way to name it... i am to dumb to read the country's official website http://www.riik.ee/et/ but they sure don't call their country Estonia themselves - rather looks as if they call it Eesti. besides, as couw remarked many German families (including that of my girlfriend) come from that region and you just don't call the place where you (her grandparents) were born by its new name but by the name it used to have when you were young (that doesn't have anything to do with wanting it back!)...

niko

[Dmitry]

that Estland, Lithuania and Latvia support each other

Estland, Lettland, etc - I know that these were the names the Nazis called these occupied countries or is that how they're still called in German?

sorry to offend you... while writing I realized that I had to write the countries' English names but didn't realize I had already gotten one wrong... what Estland means is (*surprise*) land of the Ests which is not an especially imperialistic way to name it... i am to dumb to read the country's official website http://www.riik.ee/et/ but they sure don't call their country Estonia themselves - rather looks as if they call it Eesti. besides, as couw remarked many German families (including that of my girlfriend) come from that region and you just don't call the place where you (her grandparents) were born by its new name but by the name it used to have when you were young (that doesn't have anything to do with wanting it back!)...

niko

I wasn't offended in the least, just curious of the Baltic countries names in German.

Lithuanians don't call their country Lithuania, they call it Lietuva, Finns call theirs Suomi, etc.

Danke, camarad.

[Alexander Hawkins]

I appreciate how good Wogan is (just on this one show, mind you ). He's a f*cking genius on this one night a year!

[Alexander Hawkins]

I appreciate how good Wogan is (just on this one show, mind you ). He's a f*cking genius on this one night a year!

[Swinger]

Finland won! YES!

At last. We've waited for 40 years and finally we won!

National holiday then?

No

Lordi has been covered quite a lot in Finnish newspapers in the past few days.Most people can't still believe that we won and even though there are people who don't like his music,they are truly happy that one of our "national trauma" has been lifted

Something about this true identity and remaining anonymous...

Not all respect Lordi's wish to remain anonymous.He has stated in many interviews that he will not remove his mask just to please the press.One newspaper has already published his real face and his fans are furious.Now what this tells about newspapers? Some newspapers are ready to do anything to increase their sales...

Now they are trying to decide where the next Eurovisions should take place.Helsinki seems to be the only place where they can accomodate all the bands,tourists and press .Surely Rovaniemi would be a exotic place but they don't have any capacity to book all the bands etc..

[Fer Urbina]

I appreciate how good Wogan is (just on this one show, mind you ). He's a f*cking genius on this one night a year!

That's right, (and a bit of a mistery too)

I wish they let him do the World Cup too

F

[Alexander Hawkins]

The World Cup with Wogan would be incredible. If any BBC execs are reading...

[Claude]

Something about this true identity and remaining anonymous...

Not all respect Lordi's wish to remain anonymous.He has stated in many interviews that he will not remove his mask just to please the press.One newspaper has already published his real face and his fans are furious.Now what this tells about newspapers? Some newspapers are ready to do anything to increase their sales...

It's difficult to be famous and anonymous at the same time

The names are available on Wikipedia anyway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordi The page had to be locked because of "vandalism".

As with most other past Eurovision winners, the descent back into anonymity will not take very long ...

[Swinger]

Something about this true identity and remaining anonymous...

Not all respect Lordi's wish to remain anonymous.He has stated in many interviews that he will not remove his mask just to please the press.One newspaper has already published his real face and his fans are furious.Now what this tells about newspapers? Some newspapers are ready to do anything to increase their sales...

It's difficult to be famous and anonymous at the same time

The names are available on Wikipedia anyway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordi The page had to be locked because of "vandalism".

As with most other past Eurovision winners, the descent back into anonymity will not take very long ...

You have good point there.The magazine (it's not a newspaper in any way, I must correct this one) that printed his face on the cover of the magazine is called Seiska.It's a Finnish equivalent to British "The Sun"---> Lot's of pictures and "sensational,scandalous" news.

And you are right are descenting back into anonymity...who really remembers some Eurovision winners in the long run unless they've been exceptionally different than the other competitors?

Btw. Do you have any trashy magazines in Luxembourg?

Edited May 25, 2006 by Swinger