Eurovision 2020 (now featuring Eurovision 2021)

do start that thread, it will be fun!

(and it will probably find its course, even if you’re not quite sure of the premise)

Done! A thread for pop with Arabic influences from the Balkans, Transcaucasia, North Africa and the Middle East

Also discovering a few great Chalga and Manele tracks!

20% attendance (3,500 people) allowed at every show:

https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-fieldlab

Dutch TV showed the 1970 edition (also held in the Netherlands) late last night, as part of the buildup to this year’s contest.

the whole affair was over within 75 minutes, no frills that I could see, and frankly (and quite surprisingly to me) poor quality almost across the board. guess I liked Katja Epstein best, and of course it’s quite fascinating to see Julio Iglesias make his international debut.

turns out it’s on YouTube as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNoNzN12ecU

Okay, four hours to the first semifinal! And it'll actually be properly streamed over here thanks to the Peacock service.

Jesus, the announcements almost killed me. I was so sure Ukraine were going out.

Yeah that was rough

Go_AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Jesus, the announcements almost killed me. I was so sure Ukraine were going out.

Yeah I was about to explode on that front. Whew, in a word. (My four faves from this bunch all went through -- them, Lithuania, Belgium, Malta. Shame about Australia, especially given some of the trash that DID go through.)

Either they saved the best three till last, or the drink was kicking in. Or probably both. I wasn’t bowled over by Lithuania, but perhaps I was still in warm up mode at that stage. Something seemed to go horribly wrong for Ireland - the staging at the end can’t have been what was planned, which may account for why she buried her head in her hands instead of graciously receiving such applause as there was. Predictions-wise, I got a better than usual 9/10: undervalued Lithuania, overvalued Macedonia’s appeal to the “musical theatre” niche.

Ukraine superb, Russia very good, Israel pretty decent, the rest more or less forgettable.

Azerbaijan and Ukraine my favourites

I'm guessing Australia may have lost out a bit on not being actually present today nor on Saturday -- voters may have preferred all participants to actually be on stage?

Iceland cursed 🙁

Iceland's Eurovision contenders Daði og Gagnamagnið had promised BBC Newsbeat a "more is more" approach, full of lights, colours, pyrotechnics and "sassiness".

But in an emotional Instagram video, band member Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson tells of his sadness that they will not be able to perform live after he tested positive for Covid.

"I'm healthy. It's difficult because we've worked so hard and I really wanted this and it's been so long in the making,” he says.

The band will stay in the competition but previous rehearsal footage will be used for Thursday's semi-final and, if they qualify, the final on Saturday.

previous winner Duncan Laurence has also tested positive - won’t be able to perform on Saturday or present the trophy to this year’s winner.
quite concerning, it seems to spell trouble within that heavily tested and regulated ESC bubble

read monitored for regulated, I guess

(Laurence was there at Tuesday’s semis as well)

Iceland deserve to be cursed. But yeah, the news is definitely troubling.

I love love love the costume reveal in the Russian entry

Eefje de Visser’s album Nachtlicht is excellent. This, not so much.

so is last year’s Bitterzoet!

and in a similar vein, S10’s Vlinders album, which I love even more

(it was on my EOY ballot last year, I actually considered campaigning for it by saying try if you like the stuff on ShariVari’s Central/Eastern European & Central Asian Pop thread)

Definitely some dull stretches in the SF today but a lot of said dullards didn't go through, happily. Most of my faves did -- Iceland, San Marino, Albania, Serbia -- and while I'm sad Denmark didn't make it (the crowd chant was amazing!) Finland getting in was great because those characters know exactly what to do in the green room and I am looking forward to further LOLs, not to mention what happens when they go up against Maneskin.

I don't know how I've lived my life without seeing Ukraine's entry from 2007 until today. Truly one of the greatest things I've ever clapped eyes on

Hello everybody!
My name is Verka Serduchka
Me English nicht verstehen!
Let's speak dance!…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfjHJneVonE

I was impressed at how there was a nip slip and nobody even thought it worth mentioning (although here I am mentioning it)

Jed, our wonderful Ukraine representatives this year covered it, too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKDXxNKfu9M

Thanks!

Denmark's was the best by a mile, no wonder it didn't get through.

J'ai rencontré l'homme dans la rue, et c'est un con

the Danish entry was amazing by Danish standards, which means hey, it was quite nice actually. it not going through was karma for all the utter crap they have inflicted upon us throughout this century

is there a thread for Eurovision countries whose entries are your own personal nails on chalkboard?

I think I might have missed Denmark's entry last night, which ones were they? Pretty much anything would've been better than Portugal getting through, though, ugh.

is there a thread for Eurovision countries whose entries are your own personal nails on chalkboard?

Ha, I was wondering about a poll for the opposite - countries whose entries tend to be your faves. For me I def get amped up about seeing what Azerbaijan and Ukraine have to offer but I've never checked back to see if they are really the most consistently good entries or if I just ~~feel~~ like they are. Obv some countries have longer Eurovision histories than others, but I reckon people could even make a case for Australia's consistency (never my favourites but I don't think I've disliked any of their entries, unless something's eluding my mind).

over the years France have had countless low-key great entries which inevitably finish mid-table, and they don't seem to mind

I think I might have missed Denmark's entry last night, which ones were they?

They were the very 80s duo who ended the performance section -- the song's just all right but the performance was amazing. Really should have gotten in over a couple of those other entries.

thought the Danish song was a bit rubbish sorry (performance was good but having a good song is more important)
Czech Republic should have got through.

the Danish entry was amazing by Danish standards, which means hey, it was quite nice actually. it not going through was karma for all the utter crap they have inflicted upon us throughout this century

Only remotely good Danish entry was tall inspirational Viking dude from a few years back.

Classic: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, France, San Marino, Greece, Bosnia

Dud: Denmark, Poland, Germany, Switzerland

This year's picks: Ukraine, Bulgaria, San Marino

excited for tonight!

hoping 1) Azerbaijcan or 2) Ukraine will win, but there’s plenty of others I like.

(Ukraine possibly the best Eurovision country of the 21st century - I also have a lot of time for Albania)

I'm 5 mins behind. I need a boring one to ffwd through to catch up with Twitter.

Not seen any of the semis etc

Hooverphonic representing Belgium. Kind of like if the UK managed to get Portishead.

I liked their last year one, an inoffensive Bond thing.

I was about to say Boring Belgians In Black.

Portugal have a left-wing government...I expected better

Quite strong entries so far - by now we've normally had some snoozefest man in a hat

NB I haven't got to Portugal yet

Guess what?

I blame myself...

"Get Brexit Done"

Fucks sake why have we got this
I still can't get over the 2020 one being called 'My Last Breath'

I can’t I see this. And nor should you. pic.twitter.com/pSZ3ODSyWX

— Attitude (@AttitudeMag) May 22, 2021

heehee