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Recapping the Big Five’s first technical rehearsal, alongside hosts Denmark. And yes, we’re going to mention the UK entry and talk about the strange feeling of having a decent song at the Contest, so strap yourself in.
Eurovision Insight Podcast: Daily Chat from Copenhagen, Monday 5th May
Hosted by Ewan Spence, with…Samantha Ross (ESC Insight)
Steven Newby (ESC Insight)
Benny Royston (Metro)
Paul Jordan (Dr Eurovision)
Don’t miss an episode of the Eurovision Insight podcast by subscribing to the RSS feed dedicated to the podcasts. iTunes users can find us in the iTunes Store and get the show automatically downloaded to your computer.
“You took me up the cascade” “Yes, €7 for a cognac and a 3 course meal” eh? What happens in Yerevan stays in Yerevan? 😉 😀
Germany has a good band in need of a much better song, I was so disappointed with the results of their final this year.
P.S. Is your ESC2014 guide out yet? I went to buy it on amazon earlier but could only find the last 3 years.
I’d love it to be in Bristol too if Molly wins but it would have to be in a pub! The largest city in the UK without an arena…
I seem to be the odd one out but as a song I prefer “Is It Righ” to “Children of the Universe”, which sonds a tad old-maidish to me. Everytime I listen to the song, I think of Sunday coffee with my aunt Gertrud, crochet tablecloth and carnations included. On the other hand, I never watch rehearsals and thus I will believe you guys for the moment.
Btw, it is not Elaiza but Ela-eeza. 🙂
UK will not win, because the voting patterns will not help them. It will reach the top 5 and that is it.
Azerbaijan is the song that will most probably get that 6, 7, 8 pts.
@ Shevek
What about Lena and the voting patterns?
Togravus, Germany has close cultural ties with Eastern Europe, I sadly believe that ESC will stay away from any country to the West of Germany. I sort of am hoping that Molly proves me wrong next Saturday.
@ Shevek, we don’t have close cultural ties with Eastern Europe, except for many Polish immigrants. 🙂
Austria does, and how do they generally fare in ESC?
And I too hope that Molly will win, only because it will prove that every country can win ESC with the right song.
Togravus, perhaps not cultural, but my experience tells me that when things get crazy in Eastern Europe, the DAX is the first one to lose steam. I am not judging, I am just saying that ESC will stay in the realms of the the two major voting blocs – Scandinavia and the former Soviet nations/contries 95% of the time.
@togravus: and Turkish immigrants, but they’re not going to be much help to you this year.
Togravus, perhaps not cultural, but my experience tells me that when things get crazy in Eastern Europe, the DAX is the first one to lose steam. I am not judging, I am just saying that ESC will stay in the realms of the the two major voting blocs – Scandinavia and Eastern Europe 95% of the time
Oops, sorry. It came out twice!
@ Peter
Those watching will probably mainly vote for Greece this year (as I will do although I have neither Greek nor Turkish heritage). I expect Greece to win the German televoting. 🙂
Gosh, I need to try not to start doing a massive write-up here, but there was one thing here I felt compelled to comment on – and that’s the point about Eurovision guaranteeing cross-promotion of the winning artist.
The problem with that is, it makes a song not in English very difficult to win (as if it wasn’t hard enough already!) and then apart from that, it makes styles of music which are very domestic and loved without being commercially relevant very out of place.
Eurovision’s never going to be perfect, but it needs to maintain that balance between presenting pop music that’s going to make stars, and presenting music you’d never hear anywhere else unless you travel. If Sergej Cetkovic did win and the broadcasters were obliged to cross-promote him, (putting aside whether he wants it or not,) then you’ve got a very tough job on your hands trying to commercially market Balkan ballads by an old crooner to a British audience. I’m sure it’s a lovely initiative and it has all the best intentions, but ultimately, a scenario like that is a waste of a public broadcaster’s time and money until we reach that utopian political state all those African-tinged world peace songs bang on about.
And then there’s the far worse fate for Eurovision, that it becomes a world stage for homogenised pop music where you could listen to all the songs without knowing their country of origin and struggle to put a song to a flag. If that happens, the contest will pretty much implode into permanent cultural irrelevance after 2 or 3 years attracting the same demographic this year’s Greek entry is directed at.
The only way to truly get the best balance of quality music and diversity and attract much greater talents to Eurovision is to…
*deep breath*
…do away with the voting altogether.
Yes to a three act superfinal for Germany. I basically like the format, but space for nested choices both blunts negative voting and ensures it goes to the best alternative.
Ben, the promise of cross-promotion for the winner does not influence voting in the contest itself. And it is for the artist, not just their competition entry. The artist is not compelled to fit the anglophone mainstream, although they might want to use the opportunity that way. On the contrary, it compels promoters to increase awareness of new music in otherwise inaccessible markets.
It is though, as you say, an expensive way to attract talent. And probably less attractive in practice than it seems in principle.
As an asode. What happened to juke box jury 8 with the big 6?
JBJ is always Tuesday night – it’s not Tue night, but we might push to Wednesday morning!