Eurovision 2019

[llewop]

it would be interesting (but inevitable in what it showed) to see maps of who voted for who... many points/votes given to immediate neighbours and allies. Greece/Cyprus, as ever, 12 points swap between them.

Maybe time for the UK to have a 'rest' as Italy did for a number of years: According to Wiki; The Big Four/Five (UK, Germany, France and Spain + Italy to make 5 when they returned), countries pay approximately five to six times the participation fee of a "standard" participating country, effectively subsidizing smaller European broadcasters, thus allowing them to be able to afford entry into the competition. Without the contribution of The Big Five it is estimated that the participation cost for a "standard" country would be double what they currently pay. It could be argued that the show would still be a fun watch, maybe more so, without the frustration of watching another UK artist impale themselves on the inevitable drubbing.

[davek_964]

Evercross said:

Just learned something about the UK's 2019 effort. The song had been rejected as an entry for Sweden this year!!



Check out the writing credits (in small print at the bottom of the screen 3 seconds in) - Youtube. John Lundvik (Sweden's 2019 performer) is third name along.

We came dead-last because we totally cheaped-out on our entry (and the judges and the savvy audience members would have known that).

So would anybody who watched it, because when John Lundvik was first shown, Graham Norton said he also co-wrote our entry.

But don't let that get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.

[FourWheelDrift]

Well Ireland once took part with an obscure B-side from Norway's Nin Huguen and the Huguenotes.....oh no wait, that was a TV show.

[Evercross]

davek_964 said:

So would anybody who watched it, because when John Lundvik was first shown, Graham Norton said he also co-wrote our entry.

But Norton didn't mention that it had been previously rejected as a Swedish entry before being picked up by the UK.

[NRS]

Evercross said:

davek_964 said:

So would anybody who watched it, because when John Lundvik was first shown, Graham Norton said he also co-wrote our entry.

But Norton didn't mention that it had been previously rejected as a Swedish entry before being picked up by the UK.

Is the fact we got some points not an improvement on many years? So disproving the theory?

[LittleBigPlanet]

llewop said:

it would be interesting (but inevitable in what it showed) to see maps of who voted for who... many points/votes given to immediate neighbours and allies. Greece/Cyprus, as ever, 12 points swap between them.

Maybe time for the UK to have a 'rest' as Italy did for a number of years: According to Wiki; The Big Four/Five (UK, Germany, France and Spain + Italy to make 5 when they returned), countries pay approximately five to six times the participation fee of a "standard" participating country, effectively subsidizing smaller European broadcasters, thus allowing them to be able to afford entry into the competition. Without the contribution of The Big Five it is estimated that the participation cost for a "standard" country would be double what they currently pay. It could be argued that the show would still be a fun watch, maybe more so, without the frustration of watching another UK artist impale themselves on the inevitable drubbing.

Saw this yesterday, interesting read (statistical analysis of tactical voting in Eurovision):
https://medium.com/@garethlwalker/eurovision-monte...

[vonuber]

Shakermaker said:

At least the public liked us more than they liked Germany, even if the judges didn't!

I thought their's was much better than ours.

[SGirl]

I think the lack of airplay as a result of not taking part in the semi-finals can't help.

[FourWheelDrift]

LittleBigPlanet said:

Saw this yesterday, interesting read (statistical analysis of tactical voting in Eurovision):
https://medium.com/@garethlwalker/eurovision-monte...

It is odd when historically speaking one country that had it's population repressed and murdered by another should want to give that country douze points. See Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. - https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2019#russia

[Evercross]

SGirl said:

I think the lack of airplay as a result of not taking part in the semi-finals can't help.

In the not-too-distant past the UK entry would be guaranteed airplay on the BBC, and if it was good enough to chart it would be played elsewhere.

I heard the 2019 entry once only on Radio 2 in the entire time from it being chosen as 'Song for Europe' to the contest itself and even then it wasn't the whole thing - just a snippet as an intro to an interview with the singer.

I am convinced it was an intentionally low-key placeholder for the UK designed to make as little an impression as possible in the negative expectation we would be humiliated anyway, because they didn't have the guts to sit it out completely (as Italy did for a few years).

[Miggers]

Hopefully,if Brexit ever comes off,we'll be banned from entering it ever,ever again

[NRS]

Last place, and still get our points adjusted down afterwards!

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-483755...

[cuprabob]

Miggers said:

Hopefully,if Brexit ever comes off,we'll be banned from entering it ever,ever again

As punishment, they will gang together and make sure we win it every year

[Europa1]

Evercross said:

Maybe we cheaped out because we expected to get humped post-Brexit, but self-fulfilling prophecies and all that.

As I said - the judges would have known the origins of the entry, plus 'because Brexit' is a good bit of political spin for what was objectively a compromised entry regardless.

The song wasn't good enough for another country and its performer wasn't the least bit invested in it. Strong enough reason for it to fail.

Edited by Evercross on Monday 20th May 15:04

Brexit has rock all to do with it. How many years pre-referendum did Royaume Uni get a decent score? It's more than 2 decades since the UK last won the thing. Sadly Eurovision is nothing to do with the EU, so even if Brexit happens, the UK will still be saddled with embarrassing itself every year, and paying six figures of licence fee payers' cash for the privilege.

[kev1974]

Europa1 said:

Sadly Eurovision is nothing to do with the EU, so even if Brexit happens, the UK will still be saddled with embarrassing itself every year, and paying six figures of licence fee payers' cash for the privilege.

The BBC maintains that the amount they pay for Eurovision (£310,000 in 2018) is actually extremely good value for money for them to fill 4+ hours of prime Saturday evening BBC1 and Radio 2 schedule, as well as all the other sideshow stuff they spin off from it, on Graham Norton's radio show and so on. I would think they're right, when you start to look at how much cash shows like Saturday Night Takeaway cost ITV, or anything that's got to shell out on high profile presenter talent, or stuff like The Voice that has to make massive royalty payments to whoever came up with it and owns the rights. They also get a load of other stuff from the EBU for their money, such as the Vienna concerts on New Years Day, which fill 5 or 6 hours of TV and radio airtime too. Absolute bargain.

[classicaholic]

If it’s only 310k then I am sure we could have a whip round & put a PH entry in!
Revving various cars to make some sort of tune or perhaps synchronised farting!

[Evercross]

Europa1 said:

Brexit has rock all to do with it. How many years pre-referendum did Royaume Uni get a decent score? It's more than 2 decades since the UK last won the thing. Sadly Eurovision is nothing to do with the EU, so even if Brexit happens, the UK will still be saddled with embarrassing itself every year.

I agree entirely, but Brexit has become the go-to excuse for everything, spouted by people who should and do know better as much as people who don't.

Our song was another country's cast off. The professional judges follow the process and would have known that so the UK sabotaged their chances themselves.

As for the public vote - the chosen performer had the charisma of a drunk in the queue in front of you at the chip-shop. It wasn't essential for him to have film-star looks (although it certainly helped Netherlands this year and Sweden a few years back) but he had zero stage presence.

classicaholic said:

Revving various cars to make some sort of tune or perhaps synchronised farting!

I think James May has the copyright on the first idea (although I'm sure he'd be happy to licence it for a writing credit).

Edited by Evercross on Friday 24th May 11:19