View Full Version : Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Its on right now!!!!!
Anyone watching and what does everyone think?
I think Eurovision is pants. It gets worse every year. The same countries vote for each other out of loyalty. Because we're an island we get virtually no points.
I'm not being bitter and saying we should win. Our acts are always bad, I definately wouldn't vote for them.
Did you see the acts that are hoping to win then?
Nope, I was asleep :lol:
I only tune in to watch the results. I'm fascinated by the score boards and going to each country :rotfl: Random
Lol, Terry Wogan was head judge tonight :lol: Made me laugh
CrazyLea
01-03-2008, 21:36
It's all politics these days. *yawns*
However, I do still watch :p And have watched this thing tonight. I think Michelle should go through. Andy deffo has the better voice but it's a boring song and not very Eurovisiony!
I hope Michelle gets it I even like that song
CrazyLea
01-03-2008, 21:39
I know I was shocked I liked it :lol:. Something about it, don't know what :lol:.
Plus its full of energy and good dancing whcih eurovision always has and then our country normally lacks
WOOOOOOOO! Michelle has to go through it is a very eurovisiony song!
i liked andys but michelles is better, catchy and full of energy!
i love eurovision, me and my mum watch it together every year!
:( I love Andy and all he has a great voice and it was a good song but not really for Eurovision, mind you some of the other countires look terrible.
I thought Michelles would of been great.
I think Andy is loved my the audience cos of the X factor so had a better chance
StarsOfCCTV
01-03-2008, 22:23
Andy's song is nothing special, the Eurovision is so political, we're never going to win it anyway! :p He just won because of the X Factor...he didn't sing that well..he kinda annoys me :p
Chloe O'brien
01-03-2008, 23:22
The songs were better this year than in previous years. Michelle was more catchier for Eurovision than Andy's but I think he got the more votes because of being in the X-factor, not that it will make any difference we will still get crappy marks as it's all political no-one will vote for the UK because of the war in Iraq and all the eastern european countries all vote for each other regardless of how bad their songs are.
No one will beat Irelands entry of Dustin the Turkey, to get beat by that
must be embarrasing.
It was on in the bar but i wasnt really paying much attention.
No one will beat Irelands entry of Dustin the Turkey, to get beat by that must be embarrasing.
Would I be right in assuming that Ireland is not taking it too seriously this time round then? Mind you, remembering last years winners, the turkey is a vast improvement. :rotfl: I agree with the fact that it is all political these days, once the Eastern block countries got in, they will make sure that they are the winning countries.
I think Irelands are crazy
Reminds me when one of the eastern europes countires sang 'We are the winners of eurovision'
Some other countries enteries this year:
Greece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL_sQty2IMA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL_sQty2IMA
Romania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhTzxeXe5MU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhTzxeXe5MU
Cyprus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqe5ZSsCi-s"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqe5ZSsCi-s
I quite like the entry from Greece and Cyprus, did not warm to the one from Romania.
Lets listen to the Irish!!!!!
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Z28STzFIFBU&feature=related
The Irish must surely be extracting the michael :eek: This is just awful and I don't even find it remotely funny. :thumbsdow
Denmark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT85mwVcsVs&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT85mwVcsVs&feature=related
Norway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0PC341jCw&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0PC341jCw&feature=related
Moldova:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSmlLTTezY&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSmlLTTezY&feature=related
Lithuania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp7kfXpcG20&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp7kfXpcG20&feature=related
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 13:21
TBH its all political now, i dont know why we even bother entering, (please at least get more points than the turkey) lol
StarsOfCCTV
02-03-2008, 14:40
We should've entered Sooty and Sweep :lol:
We're never going to win, but it's good fun, does anyone know when's it going to be on/what day? *please not Saturday* :o
CrazyLea
02-03-2008, 14:49
Omg Sooty and Sweep would have been awesome!!!
And it will be a Saturday. Has been for how many years now :p. And Casualty will be taken off. This is off the Eurovision website. Looks like it will be a Sat.
Welcome, Europe!
In May, the eyes of Europe will be focussed on Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. A record of 43 countries take part in the 53rd running.
First Semi-Final
Tuesday, 20th of May
Second Semi-Final
Thursday, 22nd of May
The Final
Saturday, 24th of May
StarsOfCCTV
02-03-2008, 15:06
NOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :crying: :crying:
:p
It better be good :lol:
The Irish must surely be extracting the michael :eek: This is just awful and I don't even find it remotely funny. :thumbsdow
We have won it too many time.. and the irish public voted for the turkey :lol::lol:
just a bit of info on Dustin.. he got the majority of spoiled votes in one of our General Election for Prime Minister.. in fact he got more votes than the guy who actually won :rotfl::rotfl:
Awww I love Eurovision I'll be watching.....maybe I should book that day off work :lol:
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 17:14
it is actually quite scary to think the irish voted for dustin lol
Mine you its scary to think what we voted for last year!!!!
At least this year we chose better, I think maybe we will get more points but I still think Michelle would of been the better choice
CrazyLea
02-03-2008, 19:31
Me and my dad liked last years :lol: Yes we were the two who voted many times :lol:. Joke. I didn't phone :p. But did like it.
"We're flyyyying the flag, all over the worlddddddddddd, flying the flag for youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu".
I didn't like it when I first heard it though. It grew on me. So maybe Andy's will grow on me too :p.
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 19:34
its just a joke now we may as well have entered mr blobby or worse the spice girls cos we are never gonna win even if we entered with the best song in the world
Was it Schooch last year?
StarsOfCCTV
02-03-2008, 19:44
Yeah. I liked the song to begin with, then I just got sick of it :p Mind you, it wasn't as bad as..Daz? :lol:
its just a joke now we may as well have entered mr blobby or worse the spice girls cos we are never gonna win even if we entered with the best song in the world
:thumbsup: We should enter Mr Blobby
its just a joke now we may as well have entered mr blobby or worse the spice girls cos we are never gonna win even if we entered with the best song in the world
:thumbsup: We should enter Mr Blobby
I would vote for him :rotfl:
What are the rules for who can enter anyway?
StarsOfCCTV
02-03-2008, 20:36
How come the UK is allowed to enter every year but every year we come near bottom? :p
How come the UK is allowed to enter every year but every year we come near bottom? :p
Cos we pay money or soemthing to do with money, I know that much, if we never were in it every year we wouldnt have it on our TV's I know that much
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 20:45
we come almost bottom every yr due to politics now we havent won since 1997 with katrina and the waves - love shine a light
I still cant blieve we won in 97 I thought we last won in 81
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 20:53
the UK came second bottom (with ireland at the bottom) we had 19 points last year
the UK came second bottom (with ireland at the bottom) we had 19 points last year
That was an improvement from nil points :lol:
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 20:57
we did better the year before with daz simpson - teenage life
the UK came second bottom (with ireland at the bottom) we had 19 points last year
That was an improvement from nil points :lol:
That was a very big improvement. Perhaps our Andy can do it this year :clap:
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 20:59
ill be surprised with the song we have, it needs a lot of work to eurovision it up
di marco
02-03-2008, 21:17
i never watch the programme where we decide whos gonna go in eurovision but i always watch eurovision! i know we arent gonna win and its mostly rubbish but thats whats so good about it!
we did better the year before with daz simpson - teenage life
Did we? I thought we only got 12 points?
Edit: Just checked we got 25 points that year
*-Rooney-*
02-03-2008, 22:27
we did better the year before with daz simpson - teenage life
Did we? I thought we only got 12 points?
No we came 6 from the bottom with 25 points
:lol: Oh my god, your all going to think Im eurovision obsessed
The semi-final is love now on BBC3, Estonia were insane!!!!
*-Rooney-*
20-05-2008, 20:27
has the uk been on yet
No we dont have to go in the semi-final, we are put straight through to the final
StarsOfCCTV
20-05-2008, 20:34
Why are we always in the final?
I have no idea, maybe something to do with money? But if we wernt in the final, I dont think we would have the eurovision airing over here
Sorry guys, Ireland isnt in the final
Sorry guys, Ireland isnt in the final
That was the biggest joke ever.. I would have been shocked if Ireland made it
Well they did get booed a bit
It was still quite funny, although it would have been madness for it to get through. Like i say last year they went traditional this year they went for the plain ridiculass
*-Rooney-*
21-05-2008, 12:06
i missed it was it really bad ??
Well it wasnt bad in the sense of awful singing, but it was a big joke really
The next semi-final is on tomorrow, BBC3
Whooo Latvia got through :lol:
Anyone else watch?
I have no idea, maybe something to do with money? But if we wernt in the final, I dont think we would have the eurovision airing over here
Eligible participants include Active Members (as opposed to Associate Members) of the European Broadcasting Union. Active members are those whose states fall within the European Broadcasting Area, or otherwise those who are members of the Council of Europe
The qualification for participation includes the necessity to have broadcast the previous year's programme within their country, and payment to the European Broadcasting Union a participation fee in advance of the deadline specified in the rules of the Contest for the year in which they wish to participate.
Here is a list of all those in the final tomorrow:
Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croatia
Denmark
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Israel
Latvia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Chloe O'brien
23-05-2008, 22:49
As much as a good singe Andy Abraham is he has not got a cat in hell's chance of winning.
I know :( On the up side, Finland said they liked us :p
As much as a good singe Andy Abraham is he has not got a cat in hell's chance of winning.
It's not that bad, and the bird from Sweden, just how much Botox has she had?
As much as a good singe Andy Abraham is he has not got a cat in hell's chance of winning.
It's not that bad, and the bird from Sweden, just how much Botox has she had?
Shes won it before in 1999
i find it quite bizarre Eurovision now. Its gone a bit to political i feel. Akthough it is nice seeing the not so well known countries doing well proving they are competition.
Pity theres no Dustin the Turkey i reckon he could have been quite entertaining.
I have spoken to other foreign people on another forum that watch Eurovision and they do like our song, a few have said that their vote would be for us :eek: So its not a bad song
*-Rooney-*
24-05-2008, 00:06
i dont know why the uk even bother entering now its a waste of time, its all about politics :(
I know I know, but it wouldnt be the same if we didnt enter
*-Rooney-*
24-05-2008, 00:11
yeah its not the same if you dont see the united kingdom close to the bottom on the scoreboard isnt it lol
Lol, We have slightly better though last year.
Plus tyou just have to laugh it at all
I love it
Spains looks very odd this year
di marco
24-05-2008, 06:56
i cant believe im going to miss it! :(
:eek: WHy?
I'll have to keep you updated :D
I think di marco is off tonight to see the musical Lord of the Rings, if I remember her post in How was your Day thread. Eurovison is surely to be repeated tomorrow, isn't it?
I didnt think it was unless its repeated on BBC 3 sometime
Okay so this is what I thought of Eurovision so far:
The hosts, lol they are awful no offense, they just try to be funny and they are not.
The opening act was pretty crazy, not a bad song though, it wasnt half long too though!
Romania: I thought it was a really nice beauitful song, I really liked it. Was this the one in 2 languages though, Italian
being one of them?
UK: Well thats us, no bad, I like it and Wogan said it was our best entry in years.
Albania: Was she 16? It was okay, I just got a bit bored
Germany: I couldnt make up my mind if I liked it, it was a good song, I just wanted it to be a little faster I think.
Armenia: I liked this one, I think I liked the music more, I like the tempo as well :D Really liked it, wanted to dance now
Bosnia & Herzegovina: lol Loved it, It was crazy, just loved it. Thought this was the start of eurovision
Israel: Nice song, quite liked it not as much as others though
Finland: Not for me, it was alright but didnt like it
Croatia : lol I know I shouldnt laugh as they are older men, but It made me laugh, I liekd the music, kinda liked it
Poland: Really liked this balad :D And where does she get her teeth done :p
Iceland: oooo I like, Catchy and bopy and dynamic :D Reminds me of some older song though
Turkey: Meh not fussed, alright tune, just not my thing
Portugal: Love this one, the music and the song, one of the best so far :D
Latvia: WHoooooo Loved this one :lol: Its just tooo funny, very catchy and funny :p Great theme as well Hope they win lol!
An update :
Sweden: Catchy song it was good :D She did scare me though, like the colour change, he was scary!
Denmark: hmmmm not sure, not that keen, reminds me of the song, Celebrate good times c'mon! Nice tune though
Georgia: It was okay, those guy dancers were scary!! ALright song, dont thnk it will get laods of voted though, cool
costume change though
Ukraine: whooo liked loved this one, great voice and song, I like the dancier numbers :p
France: lol at the beards and shades throughout!!! Very strange, very very odd, okay tune, but different and interesting,
just didnt like it much
Azerbaijan: Scary high pitched guy!!!!! Another odd one
Greece: Like this one :D Love the catchy song and the dancing, more up-beat :D Great song :D
Spain: haha lol, way too strange but you gotta laugh, it just confused me, another different one, It grows on you in a
werid way though. Very odd!
Serbia: Really liked this one, great song and music, seemed really emotional, another great ballad, very good
Russia: really good this one :D Not a fav though, but great song. Tiny ice rink though lol !
Norway: Love it! Love it! Great song, one of my favs, Its seems more modern and current styles, just love it, I would actually but the single to this song :D
My favs are Armenia, Iceland, portugal, Latvia Ukraine, Greece, Servia and Norway
Also liked Bosnia and Croatia, kinda :lol:
I just voted for Norway :D
omg what had that swedish bloke been smoking! that was hilarious!!
i like the iceland and latvian entry! and UK of course
:lol: He was Hilarious, he just couldnt talk!!
Okay so we have come last with 14 points, Joint with Germany and Poland
I cant believe France and Spain got more points that us :eek:
Russia won, I would of prefered Greece to win over them
Chris_2k11
24-05-2008, 23:10
we've done fabulous as always
If you wanted to know who we did get points from we got 6 points from San Marino and 8 points from Ireland
Can you remember who we voted for, Abbie?
Yes I can, well I know we gave 7 points to Norway :D Who I voted for :p
Cant rememeber who we gave 8 points to
10 points to Latvia (whoooo the pirates :p loved them )
12 points to Greece
*-Rooney-*
25-05-2008, 01:12
thanks for the updates as i missed it, as i predicted last place oh well theres always next year
Behemoth
25-05-2008, 01:16
If you wanted to know who we did get points from we got 6 points from San Marino and 8 points from Ireland
Good old Ireland. At least political voting did something for us.
*-Rooney-*
25-05-2008, 01:18
yep we can always rely on ireland
Plus they would of heard of Andy too, right?
Behemoth
25-05-2008, 01:28
Edited title for clarity.
StarsOfCCTV
25-05-2008, 02:13
I might watch the eurovision on the bbc iplayer I think. Just the singing mind. :p
Chloe O'brien
25-05-2008, 02:49
I don't know if the Uk pay to enter this competion or not but if they do they should seriously consider withdrawing their funding. Andy Abrahams had a decent song one of the best in years and yet we finish bottom again due to political issues. Andy or other singers representing the UK do not deserve to be treated this way.
I would predict that in future no Western European country will get anywhere near the top because of political voting; I used to enjoy Eurovision before the Eastern European countries were taking place, since then this competition has gone abosulutely bonkers and lovely entries like the UK, Greece, Norway and Germany don't get a chance. :angry: Eurovision will become Eastern Eurovision one day. :(
Sir Terry Wogan said he may quit as the BBC's Eurovision commentator, as the UK entry sung by former X Factor finalist Andy Abraham finished in last place.
Sir Terry cast doubt on his role after saying this year's results showed it was "no longer a music contest".
Abraham received 14 points for his song Even If, as Russia won with 272 points.
Sir Terry, who has commentated on the competition since the 1970s, said: "Russia were going to be the political winners from the beginning."
He told viewers: "I think it's tremendously disappointing from the point of view of the United Kingdom.
UK'S EUROVISION RECORD
2008 - Andy Abraham, 25th place
2007 - Scooch, 22nd
2006 - Daz Sampson, 19th
2005 - Javine, 22nd
2004 - James Fox, 16th
2003 - Jemini, 26th
"Andy Abraham gave, I think, the performance of his life with a song that certainly deserved far more points than it got when you look at the points that Spain got, that Bosnia-Hercegovina got - some really ridiculous songs."
Sir Terry said his producer, Kevin Bishop, was stepping down after this year's contest.
"He and I have to decide whether we want to do this again," he said.
"Indeed, western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in because their prospects are poor."
Sir Terry said Andy Abraham gave "the performance of his life"
Abraham received six points from San Marino - who were taking part for the first time - and eight from Ireland.
Germany and Poland also received 14 points each, but they officially finished above the UK because their top scores in a single round were higher.
Russia received the maximum 12 points from former Soviet states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, as well as Israel.
But Sir Terry was generous about the Russian song, Believe, performed by Dima Bilan.
"Let's not take it away from him, let's congratulate him," he said.
The UK has only finished in the top 10 once in the last 10 years - but has finished outside the top 20 four times in that period.
While he is still alive, we can't have somebody else doing this, he just cracks me up with his comments :lol: It would not be the same without him :thumbsdow
Behemoth
25-05-2008, 12:36
I don't know if the Uk pay to enter this competion or not but if they do they should seriously consider withdrawing their funding. Andy Abrahams had a decent song one of the best in years and yet we finish bottom again due to political issues. Andy or other singers representing the UK do not deserve to be treated this way.
As far as I know, the UK and three other countries provide the funding for Eurovision, so they gain an automatic place. The whole thing is political.
DaVeyWaVey
25-05-2008, 13:49
The UK might as well not bothering entering - it's all political and like Terry Wogan said "it's no longer a music contest" so what's the point? Terry should do himself a favour and quit and the UK should not bother entering. It's just a waste of Saturday night TV, when something decent could have been shown, if you ask me.
The Uk enter as they provide funding as well As France, Germany and Spain I think- Western Europe countries
Wogan send it last last that he may not come back - he kept saying now we have to deceide whether we want to do it again
StarsOfCCTV
25-05-2008, 19:33
The UK might as well not bothering entering - it's all political and like Terry Wogan said "it's no longer a music contest" so what's the point? Terry should do himself a favour and quit and the UK should not bother entering. It's just a waste of Saturday night TV, when something decent could have been shown, if you ask me.
Totally agree. Why are we funding something that we can never theoretically win? :rolleyes:
I still think we should enter, I mean other countries need us!!! Thanks to us we garentee that they dont come last!
StarsOfCCTV
25-05-2008, 19:38
I still think we should enter, I mean other countries need us!!! Thanks to us we garentee that they dont come last!
:lol: Fair point
get out now is what I say. let the idiots vote for their neighbours, see what mug will cough up the readies to keep this camp sham of a contest going.
THE Eurovision Song Contest was branded a “farce” last night as Britain’s Andy Abraham came last — amid claims of political voting.
Host Terry Wogan hinted he may QUIT, saying the show was no longer about music.
Furious fans called for Britain to boycott the contest, while MPs urged the BBC to axe its coverage.
Nearly ten million tuned in to see former binman Abraham, 43, perform Even If on Saturday.
But the singer — who came second on ITV1’s X Factor talent show in 2005 — was joint last out of 25 finalists with just 14 points.
Russian Dima Bilan won, helped by high marks from ex-Eastern Bloc countries.
His ballad Believe — by US star producer Timbaland — scored a massive 272.
Wogan told viewers: “It’s a disappointment, considering Andy Abraham gave the performance of his life with a song that certainly deserved more marks than it got.
“You have to say that this is no longer a music contest.”
The veteran TV host, who has been Eurovision’s commentator for 35 years, added: “I have to decide whether I want to do this again.
“Western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in, because their prospects are poor.”
One fan wrote on an internet message board: “Pull the plug on it. Now we have the Eastern Bloc competing and voting only for their near neighbours, it’s time for Western Europe to give it a miss.”
Another wrote: “It would be better to leave the countries in Europe to get on with it in their old-fashioned way.
“We could have a talent show with America and Australia.”
Lib Dem MP Richard Younger-Ross called on the BBC to withdraw its funding for the show.
He said: “It is clear that the voting is based on countries supporting their friends. It no longer has anything to do with music.”
Mr Younger-Ross has tabled a Commons motion slamming the competition as “a joke”.
Some of Britain’s top stars supported Wogan yesterday.
X Factor judge Simon Cowell said: “It’s all about politics, not the best song.
“It’s a bit empty and meaningless. I don’t know one person who plans to buy the Russian entry.”
TV host Bruce Forsyth said: “It’s so biased. It’s a farce.”
Some 43 countries entered the 53rd Eurovision in Serbian capital Belgrade.
It was expected to be watched by 100million across Europe.
A BBC spokesman said: “We are disappointed for Andy. It was a great song and performance.”
Bookmakers gave Abraham odds of 66-1 before the show.
From The Sun
Could not agree more with any of those comments. Let's start something with the US or Australia and leave the Eastern Europeans to it
So very true. Eurovision hasn't been a contest about the songs entered for a very long time and the number of political votes are astounding. Pull the plug on funding and let them get on with it, I say.
But if we pull out and not enter, not even try to get in through the semi final way, that means we couldnt watch an vote right?
StarsOfCCTV
26-05-2008, 12:59
To be honest I wouldn't miss it if it was no longer on! :p
*-Rooney-*
26-05-2008, 13:26
i wouldnt miss it either, watching a load of foreign songs that i cant understand is something im sure i can live without - quite happily to be honest
Eurovision, was it on?
Sorry, I haven't watched this in year.
Would I miss it if the Uk withdrew - not at all.
parkerman
26-05-2008, 18:33
Italy haven't taken part for years. It's about time we joined them!
Italy haven't taken part for years. It's about time we joined them!
I wouldnt what happened to them, and they havent voted either?
JustJodi
26-05-2008, 19:54
I think BBC should pull the plug on this, my partner said he remembered when it was about MUSIC and the songs,, me and my friends said it was POPPYCOCK,, it was all about politics,, had nothing to do with music at all.:thumbsdow
I love the idea of getting together with the Americans and the Aussies, yea at least these countries would be FAIR, when it comes down to music,, oh yea lets do something like that :cheer: BBC are you listening :cool:
hehe, we should write to them :p
StarsOfCCTV
26-05-2008, 21:43
There's a group on facebook against it. I've joined it. :p
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2325709619
Here is a link to the petition...http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/politicalvoting/index.html
Chloe O'brien
28-05-2008, 10:58
The Beeb should pull the plug on the UK entering Eurovison, why should decent singers have to suffer for political reasons. If the UK or any other country entered a really bad song then fine don't vote but Andy Abrahams song was quiet good. The UK should withdraw their funding now and let the Eastern countries vote for each other until their hearts content.
JustJodi
28-05-2008, 11:10
I agree with u Chloe and with the UK fundings gone they will feel the pinch???:searchme:
BTW which country originally started EUROVISON ???
The Contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. Eurovision has also been broadcast outside Europe to such places as Australia, Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United States, despite the fact that these countries do not compete. Since 2000, the Contest has also been broadcast over the Internet, with more than 74,000 people in almost 140 countries having watched the 2006 edition online.
In the 1950s, as a war-torn Europe rebuilt itself, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)—based in Switzerland—came up with the idea of an international song contest whereby countries would participate in one television programme, to be transmitted simultaneously to all countries of the union. This was conceived during a meeting in Monaco in 1955 by Marcel Bezençon, a Frenchman working for the EBU. The competition was based upon the existing Sanremo Music Festival held in Italy, and was also seen as a technological experiment in live television: in those days, it was a very ambitious project to join many countries together in a wide-area international network. Satellite television did not exist, and the so-called Eurovision Network comprised a terrestrial microwave network. The name "Eurovision" was first used in relation to the EBU's network by British journalist George Campey in the London Evening Standard in 1951.
The first Contest was held in the town of Lugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956. Seven countries participated—each submitting two songs, for a total of 14. This was the only contest in which more than one song per country was performed: since 1957 all contests have allowed one entry per country. The 1956 Contest was won by the host nation, Switzerland.
Britain has won 5 times in the history, 1967 Sandie Shaw with Puppet on a String, 1969 Lulu with Boom Bang A Bang,
1976 Brotherhood of Man with Save Your Kisses For Me, 1981 Bucks Fizz with Making Your Mind Up and 1997 Katrina and the Waves with Love, Shine a Light. Ireland won in 1970 with Dana singing All Kinds of Everything, 1980 Johnny Logan with What's Another Year and Johnny Logan again in 1987 with Hold Me Now.
The programme was first known as the "Eurovision Grand Prix". This "Grand Prix" name was adopted by the Francophone countries, where the contest became known as "Le Grand-Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne". The "Grand Prix" has since been dropped and replaced with "Concours" (contest) in these countries. The Eurovision Network is used to carry many news and sports programmes internationally, among other specialised events organised by the EBU. However, the song contest has by far the highest profile of these programmes, and has long since become synonymous with the name "Eurovision".
You have to admit, the idea to unite all countires to participate in somehting like this sounds great and was a great idea, its just a shame thngs have changed
Well i must say, i think Andy Abrahams song was a bit oldfashioned, the same with swedens entry Charlotte Perrelli. But ooh, i really liked Portugal, she was a great singer and i voted for her so many times, but that really didn`t help.
I Agree that the contest is getting ridicolous, but still it is fun and its only once a year!.....
Last month, Andy Abraham joined the likes of Daz Sampson, Scooch, Love City Groove and Jemini on the long list of British failures at Eurovison. Unlike his peers, however, the former bin man actually had a pretty decent tune! Putting the political voting and Terry Wogan grumbles behind him, Abraham has just released a "feel-good" soul/pop album made up of his own material. We caught up with Andy to see whether he's managed to get over the Eurovision hangover.
Has the whole Eurovision experience started to sink in yet?
"Well I suppose it's sunk, hasn't it? It's definitely sunk."
Do you have any regrets about agreeing to perform at the event?
"Not one iota. I got to sing to so many people. That was a bonus for me. When I go out on the street, people say: '[The Eurovision voters] didn't like us'. That is really nice. It makes me feel as if people were there with me and wishing me the best."
Were you shocked when the votes started coming in?
"Even in Serbia, the people themselves were shocked. It was a strange one. They need to do something to make it more of a song competition, as opposed to what's been happening."
What do you think of Terry Wogan's suggestion that there was an element of racism involved in the voting?
"Terry Wogan is definitely the voice that knows Eurovision, he has been doing it for something like 30 years now. He's seen the changes and knows what's good for it and what's been bad for it. Now, he's very upset by the situation and wishes it was back to the way it was before. I was surprised that Terry said stuff like that."
What was it like backstage? It looks pretty bonkers!
"All the contestants and delegates were great. Lovely people, I just got on great with everyone. Even though some of them were a little scary - like Sweden, with all the plastic surgery, or at least that's what it looked like to me. That was a bit over the top."
What did you think of the Russian winner?
"As much as I congratulated him for winning, for me, there was better songs. I felt that it fell way short of some of the more memorable songs on the night. The likes of Denmark, Switzerland, my song, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Iceland and even the Serbian song, which was really nice."
You've just released your new album Even If. Are you excited to be putting Eurovision behind you?
"I am very much excited. It would be lovely for it to have the same impact as [my debut] The Impossible Dream, but as I've put it out on my own label, it probably won't. Releases on indie labels take a while to circle around with the general public, but I'm hoping, whether it takes one or two years, that it has the same kind of impact."
Does the record have the same up-tempo vibe as the single?
"It is very much a real feel-good album. It's like an anthemic album that people can get their teeth into, and have a sing-song to. It's a great enjoyment album, because there's not really many of them about at the moment. It's soul/pop."
You've avoided covers on this album. Does that mean you're prouder of this record?
"It's personally more rewarding, definitely. I'm really, really happy to have been a part of an album that's very, very close to me."
Your X Factor mentor Sharon Osbourne has just announced that she's leaving the show. What do you make of the news?
"It won't really be the same to me. I'm not sure if I'll even bother watching it. I like the fact that you never know what Sharon's going to be getting up to, or what water she is going to be throwing over Louis. For me, it's going to be a bit strange. I find Dannii a bit bland. Sharon's got a bit more to her."
Are you not a Dannii fan then?
"[Sharon] has got so much more experience, she's been through the business and seen so many more high profile acts than I'm sure Dannii has. I wish Dannii well, but for me, Sharon will always be the main person."
Even If is available to buy now.
Juries are to return to next year's Eurovision Song Contest in a move to stamp out tactical voting.
Sir Terry Wogan quit his commentating post earlier this year because of the apparent decision of some countries to vote together.
The 2009 final in Moscow will now feature votes from both viewers and a jury.
Wogan had called for a return to juries after Russia won this year's competition, having received the maximum 12 points from former Soviet states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, as well as Israel.
He accused the contest of becoming "ridiculous" and said he did not want to preside over "yet another debacle".
Eurovision executive supervisor Svante Stockselius said: "Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times before they make up their minds.
"In Belgrade, we saw a difference in judgment of the public and the back-up juries, and we believe a combination will make the show more interesting."
This will hopefully make it a song contest again, giving hope to Western European acts. :thumbsup:
di marco
17-09-2008, 07:51
im glad thats happening, maybe now itll be slightly fairer
Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is to help select Britain's next Eurovision song entry.
Webber is being lined up as a lead judge or mentor on a Saturday night TV show hosted by Graham Norton, reports The Sun.
An insider said: "Millions of Brits watch the Eurovision but always leave disappointed that we’ve done so badly.
"So next year we’re going all out. Graham’s been drafted in to host and Lord Andrew will give his important input, possibly as part of a panel or as a mentor.
"There is likely to be a public voting element to it as well. Next year really could be the year Britain comes out on top."
Eurovision bosses yesterday announced that juries are to be reintroduced to the competition in a bid to stamp out tactical voting.
That should help Britain.
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