fletcher
Slabface
Contemptuously Underestimated
Posts: 19
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Post by fletcher on Feb 3, 2008 17:00:14 GMT
Well, Slovenia is selecting their song tonight after getting rid of most of the dud songs over the past two nights. I'm trying hard to be enthusiastic. The other selection processes are well underway though. Azerbaijan has been welcomed into the Eurovision family and will be putting forward a song and performance based on this piece of musical magic. The big news today is from Ireland. The rest of Europe should be quaking as Ireland is putting forward a MAJOR star from the island... As for the UK... so secretive!
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Post by Robbing the Dead on Feb 3, 2008 17:14:18 GMT
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Post by QuincyMD on Feb 11, 2008 12:07:14 GMT
....according to the morning papers - Scotland are set to go it alone in Eurovision from 2009.
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Post by jetsetwilly on Feb 11, 2008 12:26:38 GMT
Has anyone explained to them that it's not like X-Factor? That if a Scottish person enters, they won't win because no-one in Scotland can vote for them. Unless they're planning a mass exodus to Berwick Upon Tweed to vote.
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Post by Adrian on Feb 11, 2008 13:08:49 GMT
Deja Vu!
Amazing schlager pop from Sweden! Naturally it didn't get through. But! It has it all: wind machines, strutting, synchronised dancing, not 1, but 2 key change moments!!
Hurrah for Vel-vet.
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Post by David on Feb 11, 2008 13:14:13 GMT
I'm hoping the Scotland story will disappear as quickly as it arrived. If there is a separate Scottish entry, then what is to stop all the other devolved areas of Europe having their own entries - I'm sure most of their TV stations are EBU members. It'll be MADNESS! EUROMADNESS - EUROFOLIE!
But, it would be amusing for a company like STV or Grampian to have to put on the ESC (like they could afford it anyway) and then we'd be in a position where both BBC and ITV were showing it. So, on second thoughts, Scotland for Eurovision!
And as for Saturday's events, Christer Sjögren can take his traditional schlager back to Bavaria, where it belongs. Poor, lovely Velvet, and well done Amy.
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Post by QuincyMD on Feb 11, 2008 13:31:56 GMT
SCOTLAND could soon have its first Eurovision Song Contest entry.
Organisers of the legendary camp competition have given the green light for Scotland to go it alone.
Until now, we have been lumped in with the rest of the UK as a single entry and have even suffered the indignity of ending up with the dreaded "nul points".
But acts such as The Proclaimers, Wet, Wet, Wet, Simple Minds and Lulu - who triumphed for Britain in 1969 with Boom Bang-A-Bang - have now been tipped as Scottish contenders Yesterday, culture secretary Linda Fabiani said: "If this is something one of the broadcasters wanted to pursue, then we would support it.
"There is a huge amount of talent in Scotland and we would be happy for it to be showcased."
Nationalist Euro MP Alyn Smith said: "Having looked into this, I know the door is open for us.
"Other small countries have done it and I will be happy to help any of the broadcasting companies through the process. There is already a precedent because we have a Scottish national football team in UEFA."
Under the rules, any company who are a member of the European Broadcasting Union can apply for an entry.
A spokeswoman for STV said: "There are no plans at the moment but we would not rule anything out."
UK acts have floundered in recent years, with Jemini scoring an embarrassing zero points in 2003. River City stars Laura McMonagle and Jade Lezar came third in a bid to represent the UK in 2006 as City Chix.
Laura said: "I definitely think it would be a good idea if Scotland had its own entry. But I wouldn't do it again."
A Scottish government spokesman said: "There is no reason why we can't bring the idea of a song for Europe into our conversation on Scotland's future."
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Post by David on Feb 11, 2008 13:48:28 GMT
I stopped reading that as soon as I came to the words 'legendary camp competition'.
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Post by jetsetwilly on Feb 11, 2008 14:07:14 GMT
No mention of Welsh girl Jessica Garlick's third place there, for some reason? Can't think why. And interesting to note that the artists "tipped to enter" are just a case of "famous Scottish pop singers" - in which case, England will no doubt be represented by Amy Winehouse, Robbie Williams or Coldplay, while Wales can field Tom Jones.
I would love to see STV's lavish presentation of the contest. Or rather, I'd love to see every other STV programme after they've had the budget cuts to pay for it.
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Post by Adrian on Feb 11, 2008 15:37:46 GMT
Organisers of the legendary camp competition have given the green light for Scotland to go it alone. That sentence is an outright, blatant lie. The EBU - organisers of the contest - have confirmed that as long as the BBC was in charge of Eurovision for the whole of the UK, Scotland will not be participating independently. The BBC have said they are not interested in this, and participation would be for all the UK.
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Post by David on Feb 11, 2008 15:49:05 GMT
Organisers of the legendary camp competition have given the green light for Scotland to go it alone. You're right Adrian, it is an outright, blatant lie - how dare they say Eurovision is camp. It remains to revert back to the only reliable source of news available anywhere: ESCToday.com. Talk of Scotland entering the Eurovision Song Contest as an independent participant seems to be more about political capital and PR than reality. esctoday.com has so far spoken to the EBU and the BBC and whilst Scottish broadcasters are free to join the EBU, Scotland would not be able to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest whilst the UK is represented by the BBC and Scotland remains a part of the country. According to comments from the EBU: "at this time there are no discussions for Scotland to join the Eurovision Song Contest...I very much doubt it will happen at the moment". The national broadcaster for the United Kingdom is the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). That covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The BBC has the contract to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. It has done so every year since 1957 (except 1958) and there are no plans to drop the event. Whilst Scottish channels are free to join the EBU, they would be commercial broadcasters, whilst the BBC remains the national broadcaster in control of the UK's Eurovision Song Contest participation. Furthermore, should a Scottish channel be able to participate, Scottish viewers would in effect have two entries: Scotland and the United Kindgom. They would also be able to vote through the UK for Scotland and vice versa, and that is not possible according to the rules of the competition. At this time, therefore, esctoday.com believes that Scotland will not enter the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, although we will continue to investigate this story further. So there you have it. Their podcasts are rather wonderful too - subscribe at iTunes.
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Post by David on Feb 11, 2008 16:20:10 GMT
Oh, and another thing: I'm very disappointed in the serious lack of discussion regarding the entries for this year's contest. I've been posting them on the front page for the last couple of weeks, so they're very accessible, you know.
To get the ball rolling, my favourites so far are Malta and the Czech Republic. Estonia can piss right off, and Denmark continues to try my loyalties after a wonderful (yet, fruitless) year in 2007.
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Post by jetsetwilly on Feb 11, 2008 16:44:38 GMT
David, I have been very much enjoying your - by which I mean Marija's - updates on this year's entries, but sadly I keep seeing them in work. And since my rubbish employer won't let us have flash on our PCs, never mind a sound card and speakers, there's no chance of me taking in their delights. I just read the reviews.
I will watch them at home so I can opine on the homosapien males at leisure.
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Post by David on Feb 11, 2008 19:32:22 GMT
Don't mind me. I'm just looking for attention.
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Post by mcqueen on Feb 11, 2008 20:47:41 GMT
Don't mind me. I'm just looking for attention. I miss Gigliola. *sniff*
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Post by David on Feb 11, 2008 22:02:14 GMT
If you read the last Marija missive, you may see something to your advantage.
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Post by Adrian on Feb 12, 2008 21:46:33 GMT
Oh, and another thing: I'm very disappointed in the serious lack of discussion regarding the entries for this year's contest. David, that's champion. I love all the Eurovision blogs etc., but I have a mighty time trying to keep up. I like it all in one place - and where better than lowculture. I'm on Albania's earnest-fest now. The only thin g I've liked is the presenter saying "Successa". I am bound to love Andorra for its cheapy campness, and I quite like Malta's Vodka although I haven't a notion what she's singing (and Claudio Faniello's Caravaggio was robbed).
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Post by jetsetwilly on Feb 12, 2008 22:11:51 GMT
What in cock was going on with Estonia? And isn't the chorus the Banana Splits theme?
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Post by Nicholas on Feb 13, 2008 8:50:44 GMT
Oh, and another thing: I'm very disappointed in the serious lack of discussion regarding the entries for this year's contest. David, that's champion. I love all the Eurovision blogs etc., but I have a mighty time trying to keep up. I like it all in one place - and where better than lowculture. I agree - it's great to see it all on LC, but I haven't yet had time to work out what I actually like. That will happen soon. I did think MF on Saturday was a tiny bit disappointing, although I admit I missed a great big chunk of it, which may have been the good bit. In fact, to be honest, I only saw the results. Proper discussion (ie ranting) is likely to start in the very near future.
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Post by David on Feb 14, 2008 11:39:50 GMT
Oh Estonia. "The Verka Effect". Ugh.
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Post by David on Feb 15, 2008 15:49:40 GMT
So anyway, Adrian, there are some very nice entries for tomorrow night, aren't there?
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Post by David on Feb 15, 2008 16:00:36 GMT
Ireland's Eurosong is on next Saturday. Stand by for the Turkey (in all ways). This picture speaks a thousand words: And the sad thing, is that the boy at the front has the following biography:
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Post by David Hunter on Feb 17, 2008 10:42:13 GMT
I'm surprised there's all this talk about Scotland having it's own entry and no one has mentioned Pif Paf Pof!
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Post by David on Feb 18, 2008 15:36:05 GMT
So, here we go, courtesy of the BBC Press Office via esctoday. There is a clip of Loveshy's entry at www.myspace.com/loveshyofficial, which sounds like a demo for a Girls Aloud album track. Anyhow: Soloists: Michelle - Woo (You got me) Andy Abraham - Even if Girl Groups: Loveshy - Mr Gorgeous The Revelations - It's You Josephs Vs Maria: Rob McVeigh - I owe it all to you Simona Armstrong - Changes The BBC press release states: Soloists Chart-topping songstress Michelle Gayle who goes head to head with The X Factor’s Andy Abraham, both hoping they’ve got what it takes to fly solo in this year’s contest. Girl Groups Lively pop duo LoveShy compete with soulful motown sensations The Revelations whilst aiming to strike a chord with the voting public. Joseph v’s Maria Rob McVeigh and Simona Armstrong won the hearts of the British public as Joseph and Maria hopefuls, but which one will hit the right notes and get the votes this time around? More information about the show This year the judging panel – which will be headed up by Terry - will have an even more important role. After each performance the panel of three judges will decide which act from each category will go through to the next round to compete for the public vote. If the other two judges can’t agree on which act should go through, Terry – with his expert knowledge of Eurovision will have the deciding vote. The judges will also pick a ‘wildcard’ to go through and all four acts will return for the second show. The two acts with the lowest public vote will immediately leave the competition and the remaining two will sing again for their chance to go to Belgrade for the 53rd annual sing-off. Eurovision: Your Decision will also feature a performance from Katrina formerly of Katrina and The Waves with a new remix of her 1997 Eurovision winning hit ‘Love Shine a Light’. Comments from the hosts: Terry Wogan said: “A turkey is one of the contenders for this year’s Irish entry; for the past few years, we’ve been picking a turkey for the U.K. Let's hope that the British public will make the right decision this year, and give the UK's entry a fighting chance against the Eastern Bloc, in Belgrade in May.” Claudia Winkleman said: "I'm very excited to be taking part this year. Standing next to Terry in a floor length sequin lime green outfit will top the evening for me. Plus if we can choose a great act and then win in Belgrade then even better.”
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Post by pauliepoos on Feb 18, 2008 15:52:32 GMT
I want Simona to win, regardless of the song.
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