Eurovision 2024

[Hants PHer]

Three things struck me about Olly's performance on Saturday night.

First, his vocals were unimpressive. Compare his singing with the French guy (who was incredible) or, dare I say it, Sam Ryder in 2022.

Second, the song was radio friendly pop, which is fine but hardly stands out. Songs like that don't connect with the public, because they're forgettable. You need a back story, like the winner Nemo's journey, or the Portugal entry in 2017 (the singer had serious heart disease).

Third, the choreography - and let's be honest here - depicted gay pornography. Simulated oral sex, anyone? Audiences will accept revealing costumes and raunchy routines, up to a point, but this crossed a line. We hosted a Eurovision party of 11 people, and everyone in the room said "Yuck, too much, it's supposed to be a family show!"

[Jordie Barretts sock]

I will agree that Olly's routine was overly complex, but did it need to be? No.

Did it need to be overly sexual as well? No.

Switzerland managed to get the non binary message across without simulated sex acts, overly revealing gestures or costume or complicated dance routines. All of which are a distraction not a compliment to the song. And let's be honest here, it is a song contest.

[732NM]

Kamov said:

A song in 2024 with 'rave' in the title and lyrics? RAVE. So so so dated it was painful to me, as she was massively fit.

She was rather tidy, but the song and delivery were dull as fk.

[Evercross]

Hants PHer said:

Three things struck me about Olly's performance on Saturday night.

First, his vocals were unimpressive. Compare his singing with the French guy (who was incredible) or, dare I say it, Sam Ryder in 2022.

Second, the song was radio friendly pop, which is fine but hardly stands out. Songs like that don't connect with the public, because they're forgettable. You need a back story, like the winner Nemo's journey, or the Portugal entry in 2017 (the singer had serious heart disease).

Third, the choreography - and let's be honest here - depicted gay pornography. Simulated oral sex, anyone? Audiences will accept revealing costumes and raunchy routines, up to a point, but this crossed a line. We hosted a Eurovision party of 11 people, and everyone in the room said "Yuck, too much, it's supposed to be a family show!"

Yeah, but it's Olly Alexander - the super talent icon of DEI who has spent the last decade being fawned over by (creepy) producers and critics and being promoted as an aspirational, brave and stunning figure to our modern society.

He's a collection of bad decisions and they led to this. Years and Years were a good band and he was a great vocalist as part of that band, but whoever whispered into his ear ruined him.

[Ken_Code]

My little boy has been listening to the winning song on Spotify. It stands up very well as just the audio, away from the show and the staging, something that a fair few others don’t.

[Mr Pointy]

Ken_Code said:

My little boy has been listening to the winning song on Spotify. It stands up very well as just the audio, away from the show and the staging, something that a fair few others don’t.

The problem is he had to sing live on Saturday without any vocal processing & it showed.

[sutoka]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

I will agree that Olly's routine was overly complex, but did it need to be? No.

Did it need to be overly sexual as well? No.

Switzerland managed to get the non binary message across without simulated sex acts, overly revealing gestures or costume or complicated dance routines. All of which are a distraction not a compliment to the song. And let's be honest here, it is a song contest.

I think everyone pushed the non-binary message, was there even any binary people on stage at all.

I went to art / design school were at least half if not more of the attendees were gay, lesbian. They weren't discriminated against and they didn't feel the need be brave or provocative. Why? Because they were talented individuals whose work stood out regardless of their orientation or persuasion.

Some of the acts thought they could use their orientation to excuse a lack of talent or singing ability. Olly Alexander being a prime example.

[konark]

Hants PHer said:

Third, the choreography - and let's be honest here - depicted gay pornography. Simulated oral sex, anyone? Audiences will accept revealing costumes and raunchy routines, up to a point, but this crossed a line. We hosted a Eurovision party of 11 people, and everyone in the room said "Yuck, too much, it's supposed to be a family show!"

Too gay for Eurovision, that's some achievement! Nul points.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx7ddqv6pqeo

Toxic backstage, who'd have thunk it.

[spikeyhead]

konark said:

Hants PHer said:

Third, the choreography - and let's be honest here - depicted gay pornography. Simulated oral sex, anyone? Audiences will accept revealing costumes and raunchy routines, up to a point, but this crossed a line. We hosted a Eurovision party of 11 people, and everyone in the room said "Yuck, too much, it's supposed to be a family show!"

Too gay for Eurovision, that's some achievement! Nul points.

not too gay, too sleazy.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

Kamov said:

Olly Alexander for me is similar to James Corden, in that I hate Corden but his fan base see him as 'Smithy' first, so anything he does the fanbase sees Smithy, where in real life its James Corden a loathsome cretin.

Olly the fanbase see the character he played in Its a Sin, where admittedly he was amazing and his character was brilliant, but in real life its Olly, a loathsome cretin...
Well that's my take on it.

I also guess, like with Sam Smith, its far easier to tell yourself the people that dislike or criticise you do it because your gay or they, rather than have to face its because your actually a .................unt.

I can't disagree with this.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Me either.

[Evercross]

Kamov said:

I also guess, like with Sam Smith, its far easier to tell yourself the people that dislike or criticise you do it because your gay or they, rather than have to face its because your actually a .................unt.

At the risk of going waaaayyy OT (but I'll justify it as 'Euro'vision because Italy), there is a music festival (actually, a string of nightly concerts over the space of about a month) that I have attended many, many times that is held in the medieval town of Lucca in Tuscany in the height of summer.

This festival has attracted many huge names over the years (Rolling Stones, Elton John, Simply Red, David Bowie just to name a few) and I have seen some massive acts there such as Duran Duran, The Eagles, Oasis, Rod Stewart, and (last year) One Republic.

I of course follow the announcements of acts appearing at the festical on social media and generally there is a flurry of positive comments whenever a new performance is added to the lineup. The audiences are generally a very accepting bunch (one of the most popular acts to appear in recent years was Laura Pergolizzi aka LP - look her up).

However - Italians are no mugs. When the aforementioned Sam Smith was announced there was a deluge of disparaging and humorously critical commentry. They absolutely see through the guy and know that he sings like a goose honking in the fog and his provocative stage costumes are just a shield against the fact that he has seriously let himself go physically.

[Belfast Bap]

Rusty Old-Banger said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx7ddqv6pqeo

Toxic backstage, who'd have thunk it.

The Israeli delegation did not take their seats in the Green Room after their performance as is customary. It is likely that they were occupying another country’s seats.

[Ken_Code]

Belfast Bap said:

The Israeli delegation did not take their seats in the Green Room after their performance as is customary. It is likely that they were occupying another country’s seats.

Or perhaps they were concerned about their safety after the appalling scenes of recent days.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

Ken_Code said:

Belfast Bap said:

The Israeli delegation did not take their seats in the Green Room after their performance as is customary. It is likely that they were occupying another country’s seats.

Or perhaps they were concerned about their safety after the appalling scenes of recent days.

They had armed guards FFS. I don't think that's ever happened (or even been anywhere close to being needed) for anyone else at Eurovision.

[TwinKam]

Belfast Bap said:

Rusty Old-Banger said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx7ddqv6pqeo

Toxic backstage, who'd have thunk it.

The Israeli delegation did not take their seats in the Green Room after their performance as is customary. It is likely that they were occupying another country’s seats.

More likely that they had been kidnapped at gun point...

[FourWheelDrift]

They were there, that photo was probably taken before their performance, during or just before they got there.

[Kamov]

Belfast Bap said:

The Israeli delegation did not take their seats in the Green Room after their performance as is customary. It is likely that they were occupying another country’s seats.

Genuine question, was Hitler right?

[redrabbit]

I doubt he'll be answering, he must have been given a lifetime ban from PH and possibly referred to the police after his revolting posts here and on the Tottenham thread. Utter pondlife.