Eurovision Song Contest - The Grand Final

[Majsju]

The so-called "bloc voting" is not such a big deal as poor losers like Sweden are trying to make it look like. What people here in the west misses are that eastern nations have a very different attitude towards the competition. Look at Russia. they sent a superstar, who is extremely popular in all nations that used to be part of USSR, as well as bordering nations. And even silly songs, like Bosnias or Latvias hits on something that is appreciated here.

 

Meanwhile, most western nations sends artists from the C-team. Imagine if the UK sent Morrissey, Ireland U2, France Daft Punk, Sweden Robyn etc...

[Taymist]

That's true Maj, we don't take it seriously the way they do. We have in the past but it has to be said that the political voting is a big part of the reason for that. We used to send big names but even then, bloc votes were an issue.

 

I heard that about Terry. The Radio Times did an interview with him this week and he said he was considering it.

[Corki]

Meanwhile, most western nations sends artists from the C-team. Imagine if the UK sent Morrissey, Ireland U2, France Daft Punk, Sweden Robyn etc...

I think it is about time the west did. Most of the other countries seem to send in the big guns, while we send in some tripe. No disrespect to Andy Abraham, but if I hadn't heard of him, who in Europe will have? And yes, I am not so hot on my European music, but just watching and learning about the entries from the east, they take it seriously. Look at the Russian, who had Timbaland help him produce the song. And after Eurovision, he is probably going to hit America next. Maybe it is time we did, and this attitude that Eurovision is a step in the wrong direction for a career to be removed, then maybe Western countries will start winning.

 

Please note that, while the so called "bloc voting" exists, I think it is the fact we in the west send rubbish entries that is the problem.

[Taymist]

Yeah but originally the emphasis was on it being an AMATEUR contest. Not so much rubbish but an arena for new songs and artists. Look at Bucks Fizz... no-one had heard of them, even in the UK but they had a massive hit and then went on to become a household name. It wasn't meant to be about professional big name artists.

[Majsju]

True, it was not meant to be a competition for big name artists. But that has changed, at least for the nations from the east. And the only thing we can do about it is to wake up, smell the coffee and try to convince our big artists to participate.

Or at least take a new attitude towards what songs we send. I do not think Marija Serifovic was a very well known artist last year, but she did have a song that was by far better than anything else. meanwhile, this year the UK sent a song that could have been top 3 in the mid 80s, Sweden continues to insist on sending songs that reminds of ABBA, etc. There is a massive lack of quality when it comes to western nations contributions.

[Corki]

Yeah, it used to be amateur. But looking through the rules for 2008, I don't think it is part of the criteria anymore.

 

I don't know my 20th century European history that well, but I feel the Eastern European countries take a keen interest in actually winning is because it allows for worldwide and European attention on that country for one week. It allows themselves to show off to the wider world, especially after the hardships they suffered. And I wonder what the possible influx of tourists does for the economy of the winning country in one week...

 

I was under the impression that the new semi-final format was meant to put more Western European countries in the final. That really didn't happen. One way around the problem is split the Semi-Finals so one is for Eastern Europe, and the other Western Europe (probably with Scandinavia). With the 4 guaranteed finalists, and the hosts, give 8 places to Western Europe (bringing it up to 12) and 13 to Eastern Europe. That would give more of a balance. Something would need to be done with the voting. Maybe only those that qualified for the Final can vote. Or do we go back to juries? I can't remember what the bloc voting was like under them.

 

Maybe I should work for ESC...