Eurovision 2023

[CliveW]

God, was Mel Giedroyc annoying!

 

[Voyager EMH]

If only Uzbekistan would enter and come up with a good song for their wonderful singer, Nargiz Zakirova

 

[Orikoru]

I see we returned to our usual level of performance in this then...

 

[sunshine]

I enjoyed it, thought the UK song was excellent. The votes are well odd and obviously cultural difference come in to play. Liverpool was amazing but it still feels like europe saying up yours to us regardless of what we generally put up, not sure how Sam Ryder did so well last year.

This seems a classic stereotype prepetuated by Terry Wogan... UK song is always excellent but nobody votes for it because the Europeans don't like us. Instead they all vote for each other for political reasons.

The reality is there is no conspircacy theory, everyone votes for the songs they like most, and people have a different taste in music.

Rich's comment reflects why UK finished in the relegation zone:

I thought the UK song was drivel and poorly performed.

 

[Neilds]

Liverpool was amazing but it still feels like europe saying up yours to us regardless of what we generally put up, not sure how Sam Ryder did so well last year.

If this thinking is correct, what have Ireland done to upset Europe? They have won it the most times in the past and now cannot get past the semi finals.

 

[Orikoru]

This seems a classic stereotype prepetuated by Terry Wogan... UK song is always excellent but nobody votes for it because the Europeans don't like us. Instead they all vote for each other for political reasons.

The reality is there is no conspircacy theory, everyone votes for the songs they like most, and people have a different taste in music.

Rich's comment reflects why UK finished in the relegation zone:

There are definite neighbourly vibes in the voting though, that isn't imagined. Scandinavians voting for each other, Eastern European countries voting for each other, etc. UK don't have many allies in that respect.

 

[larmen]

There are definite neighbourly vibes in the voting though, that isn't imagined. Scandinavians voting for each other, Eastern European countries voting for each other, etc. UK don't have many allies in that respect.

I like to think of it as ‘Scandinavians like Scandinavian songs’, … same for Balkan, Iberia, Benelux, former USSR, … . Countries might have split, but they still listen to similar cultural art.

How Cyprus and Greece differed this time I can’t explain. Goes against my theory. But as far as I understand Cyprus is 2 halves, maybe it was the other half’s song.

 

[sunshine]

There are definite neighbourly vibes in the voting though, that isn't imagined. Scandinavians voting for each other, Eastern European countries voting for each other, etc. UK don't have many allies in that respect.

That’s just because the song is in a language they understand, or draws on a traditional type of folk music that is part of a shared regional heritage.

 

[Reemul]

I like to think of it as ‘Scandinavians like Scandinavian songs’, … same for Balkan, Iberia, Benelux, former USSR, … . Countries might have split, but they still listen to similar cultural art.

How Cyprus and Greece differed this time I can’t explain. Goes against my theory. But as far as I understand Cyprus is 2 halves, maybe it was the other half’s song.

The Cyprus song was sung by an Australian this year

 

[Dando]

Sweden “win” and host next year on the 50th anniversary of abba winning

 

[nickjdavis]

That’s just because the song is in a language they understand, or draws on a traditional type of folk music that is part of a shared regional heritage.

But quite often they are not...sometimes sang in English and often a song that isn't shaped by heritage whatsoever but is a basic pop/rock/ballad/novelty song.

I like to think of it as ‘Scandinavians like Scandinavian songs’, … same for Balkan, Iberia, Benelux, former USSR, … . Countries might have split, but they still listen to similar cultural art.

I'm afraid that you don't get much cultural art at Eurovision.

 

[Crazyface]

I didn't watch most of it but turned over and saw the last couple of acts. When I first heard our entry way back I really liked it. Catchy. Nice pop sound. Last night it didn't even sound the same song. The sound was all wrong. I was just falling asleep but what I did see the staging and performance was just a bit dull.

Personally I'll be happy NOT to have it and Liverpool rammed down my throat by the BBC from now on

Agreed. It's a good pop song and should have done better. I stopped listening after about 1 minute. She performed it very poorly. Oh and the Liverpool thing.

 

[Crazyface]

I rather enjoyed the Belgian song by the Belgian 'Boy George'. Strong late 80s/early 90s vibe about it. That aside I concur 100% with your assessment. Spectacularly bonkers but the songs and acts mostly garbage. Didn't think Mae Muller did herself justice - though the song itself was OKaaay...and I wondered whether she sang it 'live' and 'unauto-tuned' when a lot of the performances seemed anything but.

There seems to be a few people questioning if she sang the song. For such a powerful voice she hardly moved her mouth

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

There seems to be a few people questioning if she sang the song. For such a powerful voice she hardly moved her mouth

I have been told the performers must sing live the lead part, but harmonies and ‘multi-tracked’ lines are recorded. So a few times you could hear her singing but her lips weren’t moving…and that’s because what we were hearing was not the lead part.

A classic example of this was Karen Carpenter. She’d sing the lead plus often two, three or more harmonies and ‘fill’ parts, and that’s why the Carpenters sound was as rich with her singing as it was. So watching videos of Carpenters live, you know she’s singing the main part live, but often you hear her voice but lips not moving, or not moving in synch.

 

[D-S]

Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice as you can hear on this when it is isolated

 

[backwoodsman]

Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice as you can hear on this when it is isolated

Fair enough.
(But on the other hand, you have to consider the songs she chose to use it for ...)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice as you can hear on this when it is isolated

Invariably pitch perfect.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Fair enough.
(But on the other hand, you have to consider the songs she chose to use it for ...)

That's the same for all singers though. Know your style and range. Karen Carpenter's voice was beautiful but clearly she would have useless at death metal