How to Win Eurovision: A Musicologist Speaks

[Lethevich]

I wonder if Texas could get an entry.

They let Israel in, so I don't see why not.

[Gurn Blanston]

They let Israel in, so I don't see why not.

Excellent! I will start on next year's winner immediately! 



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Now playing:
Hanover Band / Oslo Cathedral Choir / Kvam  Hirsti (S) / Watkinson (M-S) / Murgatroyd (T) / George (B) / Goodman (Violin) - Bia 776 Op123 Missa Solemnis in D part 05 - Agnus Dei

[knight66]

Sara's explanation was ace Gurn, but you will not automatically get a pass through to Eurovision night. There are elimination rounds and I think there were about 27 songs in the final out of something like 42 countries. Imagine how dire some of the dropped ones must have been.

Last night I think only two or three were in other than English. The first song was written and sung by a young Finnish guy. His English sounded perfect, his song extraordinarily wordy and with an eco-political slant. Unless you spoke English well, as an audience member you would have been clueless. The French song was in Corsican and the French announcer was the only one who did not announce the votes in English. I thought it very odd that, hosted in Germany, when it came to the voting, the announcer for Germany spoke in English to the German Arena hosts.

As an aside, the French singer was 21 or so and was put forward as the youngest professional tenor in Europe. He was singing a little Bocelli-like, but will lose his voice unless he gets lessons very soon. He was tightening his throat muscles to push for the top notes and singing off the hard palate. No two consecutive notes were obtained in a consistent way.

The best part of it was the imaginative use of the arena back wall. Although dire to listen to, the production given to Jedwood was very striking.

Good luck with your song Gurn. One last point to qualify Texas will have to secede from the USA, I assume that is not a problem.

Mike

[Sylph]

I am not spinning it. No one in the Western part of Europe managed the equivalent of giving all the four top markings to the usual suspects. Our commentator was predicting accurately the likely pattern.

If you can't accept it, well, it does not matter to me; the thing is over and that....is...that.

Yes, as I've said, they did give 12 points to their neighbours in the Western Europe too. There was San Marino to Italy... The diasporas were strong too. Like Italy giving 12 to Romania. Or Sweden to Bosnia.

But, anyway, this cheesefest is about "how rubbish the songs are", as The Guardian put it. Everything else is irrelevant. It's much more political than the European Parliament will ever be. Last year Germany won because they were the only one who had the money to pay for it. Now it goes to Azerbaijan, they have oil and gas so it shouldn't be a problem to shell out some cash.

[Sylph]

That all sounds absolutely freakin' dreadful..... I wonder if Texas could get an entry. I mean, we're as large as Europe. And easily as odd.

Those were the years when ethnic was the thing. LOL. This one was tipped for the win to:

http://www.youtube.com/v/GdAdBRsn0Ok

[knight66]

It's much more political than the European Parliament will ever be. Last year Germany won because they were the only one who had the money to pay for it. Now it goes to Azerbaijan, they have oil and gas so it shouldn't be a problem to shell out some cash.

Yes it is odd how the world turns. I have no doubt that Ireland did not really want it back again at this point. I wonder when Azerbaijan pays out on the promised bribes, and how?

[Florestan]

A real drippy song won. As usual all the Eastern block voted for their neighbours.

Yes, but add Scandinavia as well.

Each time a former USSR, former Yugoslavia or Scandinavian country announced its vote, I tried to guess whom they'd vote for. I was correct in 9 cases out of 10. 

They should change the rules so that no country could vote its direct neighbors --- or even better, its regional neighbors.

[matti]

The geopolitical and sociological observations one can make watching the voting are far more interesting than listening to the musical content of even the best of the entries. I find it comforting that neighbouring countries are on friendly terms and not hostile. If Luxemburg gave France zero points, would you not be worried? An attempt of invasion could be the next step!