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Fan favourites and the reality of the Eurovision Song Contest Written by on April 11, 2011 | 15 Comments

Over the past decade, fans have become an increasingly visible part of Eurovision. Gone are the days of tuxedos and polite applause, Eurovision today is a raucous event with flags, excitement and the odd person trying to get on camera every year (hint, it usually helps if you have a flag from a country which tends to have a smaller delegation). The run-up to Eurovision fills the internet with fan polls, reviews and heated discussions. Who will win? Who will qualify? Who will fail? Furthermore these discussions also illicit debates on what songs are fan… favourites (note: there is a less polite term which I’m sure many are aware of) .

What is a “fan favourite” though? Well without wishing to labour the obvious point it’s a song which is generally lauded by many Eurovision fans as being a sure-fire qualifier or winner. However when the results are usually in, the song has fared incredibly badly indeed.

Over the decades there have been several examples of this and we will examine some of those songs which the fans have taken to their hearts whilst the juries and voters tore them apart. Why is it that these songs are so popular with those who follow the competition closely whilst the voters seem to ignore such entries?

Some schlager with your boys?

Some schlager with your boys?

Eurovision fans are a diverse bunch. Arguably there might be a stereotypical Eurovision or Schlager sound that they go for but Eurovision today embraces many different genres. There are also many different musical styles that appeal to people. Eurovision always encourages passionate debates. Some lament the fact that Jenny Silver lost Melodifestivalen this year whilst others argue that songs such as Germany’s Taken by a Stranger has its own merits and represents a new direction for the contest. Could it be that the days of key changes might be nearing the end, or even now be something consigned to the history books?

No, but certainly what was a tried and tested formula in the past doesn’t seem to be resonating with voters on the night in the same way that it once did, even if the dedicated fans lap it up.

Why though are fan favourites derided? Surely if the fans are happy and enjoy the music then that’s all that counts? Absolutely but it does seem that fan favourites seem to be out of touch with the reality of the contest today.

Hera Bjork

Hera Bjork

2010 is a strong example. Hera Bjork, hugely popular with fans as a person but also her song, Je ne sais quoi became a firm favourite amongst the Eurovision community. The song can be considered to be an old-school Eurovision song; a love story, big voice, up-tempo and with that all-important key change. Whilst it qualified it flopped in the final coming a lowly 19th place as Lena’s Satellite stormed the contest. Germany’s 2010 offering was well received by the fans but it didn’t have the same fanatical following.

Could it be that the contest has changed and that the loyal fans who follow it throughout the year are the last to realise this? What might have worked in the 1980s or 1990s does not necessarily work twenty years on.

2011 is shaping up to be an interesting year with no obvious winner, unlike 2009 when it was almost pointless even going through the voting process. And yes, the fans are out in force. Norway and Hungary have had a lot of attention and as such are climbing the ranks in the betting odds – which of course reflect the opinion of those betting, not of some master strategist behind a desk in Ladbrokes.

Stella Mwangi’s song for Norway is especially popular amongst many fans and regularly praised on ESC forums. I personally like the entry but can’t help wondering if it might be the fan favourite of this year? It certainly fits the criteria of being a schlager-esque number, with dance rhythm and key changes in the right places. It’s good, but is it the winner that everyone seems to think it is? One Irish webmaster recently described it as “the definition of fanwank”.

Similarly Hungary is a huge favourite this year. Kati Wolf’s “What About My Dreams?” is an uptempo stomper which will no doubt fill the dancefloor in Germany. Some have even tipped it as the winner. Will it get the votes though? Time and time again there have been songs which have been ranked at the top of fan polls and yet have had nowhere near that position in the final shake-up. Fan favourites tend to have a “buzz” about them, so much so that when it comes to the live shows there is an automatic assumption about them, how can they not succeed? Charlottle Perrelli in 2008 showed that being high in the fan polls can mean nothing. “Hero” was saved by the jury vote and flopped in the final.

Eurovision regularly throws up surprises and one of the biggest is usually that one non-qualifier which was not anticipated – anticipated by the fans that is! Imagine the shock if Norway or Hungary fail to qualify to the final this year!

There is of course the rare occasion when a fan favourite does go on to do well. Greece’s Elena Paparizou showed that in 2005. However for the success stories there are always several other examples of failure. For the fans the failure is internalised, almost making the song more legendary than it was before and ultimately even more of a fan favourite.

The beauty of Eurovision is this diversity of opinion, what others may love you might despise and vice versa. This year will undoubtedly bring more surprises and we can all look forward to watching it all unfold in Dusseldorf in just under a months time.

Thanks Paul, and now we’re busy putting together our list of the fan favourite videos for later in the week. Have you got an opinion on what we should be including? Let us know!

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Have Your Say

15 responses to “Fan favourites and the reality of the Eurovision Song Contest”

  1. Chad says:

    Definitely Kate Ryan – Je T’adore

    Quite possibly the biggest travesty in ESC history!!

  2. Samantha says:

    “Fan favorites” aren’t just limited to the uptempo numbers…last year, fans were drooling themselves over Harel Skaat’s “Milim”, and it just failed to deliver on the scoreboard.

  3. Paul Jordan says:

    Good point!

    I guess the same could be said for Chiara in 2009 as well 🙂

  4. Julie Wright says:

    Several:

    The hideous Thane Erotas which I knew was always destined to fail.

    Corinna May in 2002.

    FLY – 2003

    Selma in 2005, also Glennis Grace to a certain extent, and Omar Naber, 2005 quite a vinage year for fanw**k 😉

    Kate Ryan in 2006 as has been mentioned though IMO a very much deserved non-qualifier.

    Andorra 2007.

    This year I predict a non-qualification for Hungary – remember, you heard it here, AND I’ve put my money where my mouth is!!

    Don’t know why some of these occur, I just think Euro fans get these “pets” from some reason and can’t let go!!!!!

  5. Monty says:

    Nice summary, thanks, Paul. I would question one thing though: does being fanwank have to mean it’s assumed it will be a sure-fire qualifier or will do well? It seems it’s taken as read by many that those who like songs of a certain genre, and I’m whole-heartedly considering myself within those ranks, do so whilst thinking they will do well, but in fact I find it quite easy to enjoy a song for all sorts of reasons whilst being able to see it’s not going to. It doesn’t always feel like we’re able to think both. With sites like Facebook making expressing our opinions so easy I see time and time again people saying they like a song only to be told, usually smugly, by others how badly it’s going to do. (Yes, I know that already, thanks, I’m only saying that I happen to enjoy it!) Spotting the fanwank is now becoming as predictable an annual activity as spotting the know-it-all fan.

  6. Paul Jordan says:

    Thanks for the additions Julie – I forgot all about Germany 2002! Cyprus and Belgium are on the list of videos for during the week.

    Belgium 2004 is another one.

    It was more of a pondering article Monty. I guess for me fanwank is a song which everyone is raving about beforehand and then it flops badly so to take your point, yes it has to be assumed that it’s a definite success. Often any criticism is met with staunch opposition 😉

    If Hungary doesn’t qualify I’ll laugh my head off – I *do* like it a lot but I don’t think it’s all that.

    I guess we’ll know soon enough!

    Ps – Julie what odds did you get and where? 😉

  7. Julie Wright says:

    4/1 Paddy Power

  8. Michael says:

    I think “Vampires Are Alive” by DJ Bobo (Switzerland 2007) qualifies as one of these songs with huge publicity in the runup to the contest that flopped miserably on the stage and failed to qualify.

    Now, I’m a big fan of Hungary this year, and I’m really hoping they finish Top 5. But I’m not sure they can win. Of course, I don’t see many of the songs in the 2011 lineup that can win.

  9. Mark says:

    ‘Era Stupendo’ for Switzerland in 2008. Didn’t even qualify, but was really popular with fans.

  10. Martin says:

    Not forgetting of course the fabulous Icelandic entry in Belgrade 2008. Fridrik and Regina did a fabulous job and fared poorly in the final vote. Everyone should have been forced to watch the hilarious video for the song, and had they done so, the result would have been very different.

    And what about Sibel Tuzun in 2006 – great song with great dancers – shame Sibel herself looked so trashy on the night when she can look very attractive.

  11. Chris K says:

    Well done Paul. Very nice article. I always ask the question of which Eurovision star will use the excuse of having a cold to explain their ESC failure. I have a terrible feeling that Haba haba will catch that cold this year.

    Also, I wished we had seen the full picture of you with Lys – magnificent moment comparing legs. : p

  12. Tom says:

    In my opinion,a fanwank is just a song that gratuitously employs the trademark Eurovision techniques to appeal to the fans. I don’t think any song has done this so memorably in recent years as Lithuania 2010. Foam instruments. Up-tempo, with a tempo change at the middle 8. A subtle key change. A ‘money note.’ Hot pants. Sequins in SPADES. A kazoo, for goodness sake. I think the reason this one failed, though, was because of the ambiguity around whether it was a novelty entry or not. The fans don’t like a joke entry, and I feel this act trod a little close to the line and failed for it.

  13. Jasmin B says:

    I have to say Slovenia 2006 – Mr Nobody! Basically beacuse everything else I’d have said has been said…I don’t know how other people felt about that song but I thought it was awesome and should have qualified!!!

  14. Richard Gordon says:

    I’ve been describing the Hungarian song as the ‘Kate Ryan’ of 2011 for weeks now. A few points:

    – It’s quite an ‘ok’ song if you listen to it for the first time, but I can imagine a viewer watching it and not being bowled over by it. It’s quite dated sounded in parts.
    – Hungarian is the most impenetrable of languages in Europe. I’m not sure singing in two languages is a good idea. It’ll leave the voters confused.
    – They’re performing in tough-to-qualify from semi final 1, with few allies they can definitely rely on for votes.

  15. Chad says:

    Hungary and Norway definitely have the biggest potential (along with Sweden) to do a Kate Ryan this year. Also look at Je Ne Sais Quoi last year, yes she qualified but she flopped miserably in the Final

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