Eurovision Reaction Thread

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I have been arguing about it for half an hour at work. :(

Comments

A question for the oldsters

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

When did the perception of Eurovision as 'camp' get so entrenched here?

The most unedifying aspect of the post-match reaction here hasn't been the "oh it's all bloc voting" stuff (which explains which countries are likely to win but not why specific winners and losers do well or badly) but angry reactions about how voters who hated Scooch "don't understand" what Eurovision is "about".

Looking at the last two years, I think we need a return to the jury system, said jury to consist of jel_bugle and NO OTHER.

the tipping (the velvet) point

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

= dana international surely?

(wasn't that the first year of viewer-voting? which made it clear "who" was listening)

one MASSIVE thing in favour of serbia -- the song itself WASN'T camp, it was an impassioned, very well-performed power ballad --- "I CAN'T LIE TO GOD"

scooch got exactly what they deserved, seeing as their song screamed "you gheys you will vote for anything" -- maybe they placed one higher than they should, as the irish entry was i think less cynical, and (once you strip out understandable weariuness at dilddly diddly celticry) better

(also just tactically: "MY SONG IT WILL RECREATE THE AMBIENCE OF A TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT" = who the hell is going to think mmm lovely transatlantic flight)

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

I think there's something else here though, the Scooch song sort of went past 'straight' 'camp' (haha now there is a category for you) and into specific Brit 70s Are You Being Served innuendo-camp which doesn't translate AT ALL! I tht it was grebt obv but I hearted my last transatlantic flight a grillion years ago so I get what i deserve.

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

it was a fixture in the gay calendar (so to speak) years before dana-I, but i guess that capped it for the general audience yes

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

So maybe the hackle-raiser in the reaction is mainstream appropriation/misplaced protectiveness of gay culture? ("Camp" = "People acting a bit gay") Hmm. I used to watch it religiously (I think maybe not during my adolescent rock phase - I have no memories of RIKKI or RYDER) because unsurprisingly I loved the VOTING AND POLLING!

"who are these ofays, these keepers of yesterday's blues"

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

in old-fashioned ghey agenda terms sat had a TREMENDOUS result obv
(plus also big smack in the chops for nortonesqaue scenester body fascism) (good)

(not that she wasn't cute) (also i liked that she held up proceedings for ages at the end to CHANGE INTO LESBIAN SNEAKERS)

(and didn't wear her glasses second time either! YEEEEOOOOOWS!)

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Yes as someone who's been wittering on about "Eurovision Factor" on other polls I actually mourn the decline of the WTF vote (the most obvious example this year being Malta's 12 for the UK!)

mini-me factor

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

malta = GB's mini-me
cyprus = greece's mini-me

way more complex stuff going on the balkans -- oedipus factor combined with "let's not mention the RECENT CIVIL WAR we used to be chums" factor -- and the former soviet union

Re: mini-me factor

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

But unlike Greece we never give Malta any points!

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

but how far outside UK does the camp aura spread?

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Hard to say. On the one hand, Ukraine did very well, on the other hand, a lot of "New Europe" doesn't seem to care - this is why I think the whole "b-b-but Eurovision is meant to be [x]" is so infuriating.

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Also as an entry in an international contest with zero commonwealth states, "Flying The Flag For England All Over The World" = :-000000

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

COMMONWEALTH SONG CONTEST!

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was my Dad's reaction (and he's not even interested in Eurovision).

Scooch on the radio this morning actually admitted they were "just having a laugh, really". There's your reason right there why we flopped again (as I predicted in a poll ages ago - can't remember if it was on this community or the eurovision one now).

I missed most of the final this year - only tuned in after the voting had started. I agree with mark s that the winning song is a decent ballad, sung by a great singer who gave a committed performance.

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

aren't malta and cyprus in the commonwealth?

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Yeah okay, good point!

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

ph34r my obscure pseudo-political grouping knowledge!

would you like to know who the countries in the European Economic Area but NOT the EU are?

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I can't actually remember how it went but I always thought Dana International was just rather boring, sex change aside?

Also tactically: Europe hates us almost uniformally still 'hey, hey, hey, how about we sing something that, with a few words changed, could be straight out of a National Front rally? That'll get the French on board!'

[NB: this is a Le Pen visit reference and not me being a racialist]

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I felt very sorry for the French: they finally decide to let go and do a wacky number and it was totally painful.

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

i kind of liked it! it was "old skool komedy musik" the like of which is v.uncommon these days -- ie actual "amusing" musical tricksiness involved in performance (cf two ronnies comedy numbahs for english equiv)

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

emma hated it, but i loved it. it really reminded me (musically speaking) of something that i still haven't worked out what.

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

But why was it half in English? Was it the precise ratio of foreign language that you're allowed on French airwaves because if so, that is jolly clever.

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

It was way better than the other potential French entries - I would provide the youtube links but my eyes would fall out in horror etc

Re: the tipping (the velvet) point

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

That was awful really, wasn't it? I only got through the first thirty seconds on YouTube.