Time to pull the plug on Eurovision?

Chillwithcian

Is it just me or does the eurovision get more embarrasing, cringeworthy and more trashy with the most horrible music ever to be heard by the ears of mankind?

Is it fair to say that this has just turned into a political block love affair bewtween former soviet countries?

Wasn't Terry Wogan's comments on the UK/Ireland and that horrible woman in the green room dressed like a princess pretty amusing but at the same time quite sad.....

I think all of the major countries should pull out (or have two seperate comps) this is just focking ridiciouls

Ponster

How about a rule that states that you can't vote for a country with which you've either been invaded by, ruled by or at war with in the past 20 years

NIBBS

the only way it could continue with any credibility at all (becuase to be honest I thought it was moving in the right direction last year with Lordi - wether you like their music or not it wasn't a political vote for Finland.....)
anyway back to the point the only way would be to completely change the format and have musicians from the countries voting for the best songs - cause right now it's so far from a song contest it's sad...........last night was the worst yet I think........what amazed me most was Marty Whelan still being shocked on country no 39 not giving us a vote, if Ireland are just going to try and send over people that have no chance in the world of keeping us in the top 10-20 you may as well pull out anyway, because even if voting on best songs we'd have come nowhere last night.....

Doctor J

They're not going to change the format. About one billion viewers and votes at about 60c each = a very tidy profit, even if only 1% of the viewers vote. I don't think there's any reason for the Irish to get in a huff over the dismal display last night. The song was ****, the performance was ****, it was twee and forgettable and had nothing that would appeal to the kind of people who are actually spending money voting for this crap. It was a modern interpretation of what Dana did 30 odd years ago. The Eurovision is all about entertainment, about being catchy, fancy dances about mild titillation and putting on a show. The Irish entries for the last few years and been dull, insipid and getting further and further away from the kind of thing that's winning. It would appear that it's kids who are voting. Kids don't listen to twee ****e about blackbirds. Remember how they took the piss out of Mael Mordha a few years ago and then Lordi win with something similar? The people who decide what the Irish entry is haven't got the balls to try something different and need to cop the **** on, stop trying to live on whatever legacy is still there. The competition has changed, if they ever want to win or even do well again, the Irish entry needs to change too and change drastically. Time so find someone at least moderately attractive, who can do more than an awkward shuffle you'd be embarassed to see in Copperface jacks or get down on one bleedin knee, show some flesh, add a beat and put out something that will give people a laugh or at least get their toe tapping.

The_Hustler

I thought the UK had the right idea but they didn't do much better

RE*AC*TOR

In the current format, I cannot see Ireland, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland winning.

Yes, the Irish song wasn't great, but it wasn't the worst song of the night either.

I think we should follow Italy's example.

Nordie

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

In the current format, I cannot see Ireland, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland winning.

Yes, the Irish song wasn't great, but it wasn't the worst song of the night either.

I think we should follow Italy's example.

What did Italy do???

KOD

Eurovision is the biggest load of crap ever! Our song was far from the worst and at least it reflected our culture as opposed to half the contestants that didn't even sing in their native language. The people that vote are mostly brown-nosers licking up to their neighbours. Look at the Irish vote, the only reason Lithuania and Latvia got our top votes is because the huge numbers of their nationals in our country. [Not opposed to them being here but last night was tactical voting; and it's not racist to point that out.]

Why should we bother wasting our money and insulting our performers by sending them to a contest that they've already lost before beginning.


Pull the plug on it.

RE*AC*TOR

Nordie wrote:

What did Italy do???

Italy pulled out of the eurovision in 97. Haven't competed since. Political voting was deemed the reason.

Sonnenblumen

KOD wrote:

Eurovision is the biggest load of crap ever! The people that vote are mostly brown-nosers licking up to their neighbours. Look at the Irish vote, the only reason Lithuania and Latvia got our top votes is because the huge numbers of their nationals in our country. [Not opposed to them being here but last night was tactical voting; and it's not racist to point that out.]

Why should we bother wasting our money and insulting our performers by sending them to a contest that the huge numbers of their nationals in our country.


Pull the plug on it.

You're wrong: "mostly brown-nosers licking up to their neighbours" is racism

Your wrong: " the huge numbers of their nationals in our country" is xenophobic" is 'racism lite'

Your wrong: " the huge numbers of their nationals in our country" is race based prejudice

Q: Did Ireland waste money on your education?

Lemming

Sonnenblumen wrote:

You're wrong: "mostly brown-nosers licking up to their neighbours" is racism

Ehh ... where exactly in that statement is a racist remark? I could call you a "dumb f*ck" but that doesn't mean it's racist. There is no remark singling out a trait of a given ethnic population in that remark. Simply the comment that most of the people voting are sheep.

Your wrong: " the huge numbers of their nationals in our country" is xenophobic" is 'racism lite'

Your wrong: " the huge numbers of their nationals in our country" is race based prejudice

Racism-lite? Is that like throwing an egg at someone's head instead of a brick? :rolleyes:

Get off your moral horse. The poster was correct in his assessment of why the top votes were going where they were going. As Noam Chomsky commented at his talk in Trinity College a couple of years ago; "Facts Matter. Even when we don't like what they say". We don't have facts per-se to show the voting demographic in this country, but it's a fair pinch to say that the large numbers of eastern european nationals living here are voting for their own countries or their neighbours. Nothing racist in it. Unless you then attach a remark like "Id jus wish dey'd f00k off home n'stop stealin' our baleedin' jobs" in which case you move from being a dumb f*ck to a dumb racist f*ck.

Q: Did Ireland waste money on your education?

Evidently money was wasted on yours. You've shown you haven't a clue what racism is and is not. It's like governments claiming a burglar is a terrorist now. Every criminal is a terrorist so they can try them with harsher powers. You'll break the speed limit and become a "terrorist", etc. Same thing with racism. It's become the new bogeyman accusation to call people.

On a side note, I didn't see the Eurovision last night because I couldn't be arsed and had better things to do.

Sonnenblumen

MOD EDIT: Take a banning to cool off Sonnenblumen!

Lemming

Sonnenblumen wrote:

Lemming-you're such a modest person and how lucky the sheep must feel for you to leave them all alone to take time out and share your blah blah or is it bleat bleat logic with others.

Spare me with the high hills wooly vision.

I didn't see the euro but I can smell a sheep shagger a long way off.

I guess that nail I hit on the head in with the hammer must have hit a nerve on the way in .... Good.

Mossy Monk

I enjoyed what I saw of it. I suppose you don't have to watch it if you don't like it.

Sonnenblumen

Lemming - it does exactly what it says on the tin.

dajaffa

Ban dancers (well anyone on-stage who doesn't contribute with an instrument or their voice) and introduce a new voting system where its a combination of the jury + public vote, a la strictly come dancing + the like.

BRING BACK JOHNNY!

JC 2K3

KOD wrote:

Eurovision is the biggest load of crap ever! Our song was far from the worst and at least it reflected our culture as opposed to half the contestants that didn't even sing in their native language. The people that vote are mostly brown-nosers licking up to their neighbours. Look at the Irish vote, the only reason Lithuania and Latvia got our top votes is because the huge numbers of their nationals in our country. [Not opposed to them being here but last night was tactical voting; and it's not racist to point that out.

Dervish sang a song entitled "They Can't Stop the Spring".....

Nevyn

Bulgaria should have won.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx9btAB-4-0

lordgoat

"Lemming-you're such a modest person and how lucky the sheep must feel for you to leave them all alone to take time out and share your blah blah or is it bleat bleat logic with others.

Spare me with the high hills wooly vision.

I didn't see the euro but I can smell a sheep shagger a long way off."

Whoever said the above hasa really covered themselves on glory, you actually feel this strongly about eurovision to mount a personal attack on someone. Fair play.

Anyone who watches eurovision for music and not comedic entertainment needs to lighten up. The only way to enjoy this is get a group of friends over, a few bottles of spirits and everyone pick a country or two and shots when you're country gets 12 or 6 points.

That and terry wogans banter should see you through... Also a note on the irish entry. I thought last years was pathetic but John Waters you have infact 'bettered' it. Is there anything you can't do? (Well apart from save his marraige with Sinead O Connor...)

run_Forrest_run

the Irish entry was woeful. A seasoned group like Dervish...she could not sing at all, tone deaf and as flat as a pancake (musically ). Anyway who picked Dervish to represent us? Not the public anyway.

In fairness the winner has an excellent voice and was probably one of the better songs there.

I agree with Reactor, join Italy and pull the plug.

Question: But would we be still giving out if Ireland had won it??

DarkJager

KOD wrote:

Our song was far from the worst and at least it reflected our culture as opposed to half the contestants that didn't even sing in their native language.

Thats exactly what was wrong with the Irish song. Nobody gives a **** about our culture, and they certainly showed they don't care about a woman who sings like a cat being raped. Its not about culture anymore, its about being completely off the wall, having a flashy stage show and a good song behind it. Look at the **** we've sent over the last few years:

Donna And Joe: A crappy ballad
Brian Kennedy: A crappy ballad
Dervish: A steaming pile of ****

Its time to wake up and realise that we are never going to get past last place again if we keep this trend up. Next year IMO, we need to send an act (possibly rock) with a pyrotechnic stage show and some eye candy dancers. Its the only way we're going to get anywhere with it.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

i wouldnt like to see it go, its so funny!!! i mean last year, lordi with their terrible lyrics: "the day of rockening" and "the arockalypse". i only seen 4 songs this year, thought the uk's one was really funny!!

crybaby

Dervish really were terrible but in fairness to the band it was largely down to the lead singer, you could barely hear her and in general her performance was terrible

Its a fairly ridiculous competition now at this stage, if we want to win it with the way it is now we would need to send some sort of novelty act like Richie Kavanagh or whoever did the Jumbo Breakfast Roll song, all these soppy weak ballds really dont fit the format of the thing anymore

Its a pity that no one takes it serious in the slightest bit, it actually does have the potential to be amazing if people were interested in making good music for it

Doctor J

The visual highlight of the performace was her walking off to get a bodhran. Last year it was yer man getting down on one knee for a verse. There's much to be said about the effort that goes into the Irish performace

masterK

Why can't we go back to the old format of groups writing songs, sending them in then having the top 8 or so perform and let the public pick the winner (singer and song). Instead RTE decide either who will represent us or what song they sing. We should really enter as RTE instead of Ireland in future.

BaZmO*

crybaby wrote:

Its a fairly ridiculous competition now at this stage

It was always a ridiculous competition and we're slating it now that we aren't winning. And asking for the rules to be changed just so that we have a better chance of winning is silly.

DarkJager wrote:

Thats exactly what was wrong with the Irish song. Nobody gives a **** about our culture, and they certainly showed they don't care about a woman who sings like a cat being raped. Its not about culture anymore, its about being completely off the wall, having a flashy stage show and a good song behind it. Look at the **** we've sent over the last few years:

Donna And Joe: A crappy ballad
Brian Kennedy: A crappy ballad
Dervish: A steaming pile of ****

Its time to wake up and realise that we are never going to get past last place again if we keep this trend up. Next year IMO, we need to send an act (possibly rock) with a pyrotechnic stage show and some eye candy dancers. Its the only way we're going to get anywhere with it.

Didn't a crappy ballad with absolutely no stage dancers and showbizzy malarky win it this year? And wasn't Donna and Joe's song an uptempo ditty?

Anyway, for a nation of people that claim we don't give a flying fook for the Eurovision we certainly all have very strong opinions on it.

I think the reason why we've been doing so badly over the last few years is down to one simple fact, the quality of the songs that we are sending over.
If the song's were good enough we'd have a chance instead of this constant second guessing of what we think the Europeans will go for.

And as for people complaining about the Eastern Block countries voting for each other, funny how it's only a problem since we aren't winning it anymore.

RTE need to stop using the audience of the Late Late Show to pick the song, I'd think we'd have a better chance then.

RE*AC*TOR

BaZmO* wrote:

And as for people complaining about the Eastern Block countries voting for each other, funny how it's only a problem since we aren't winning it anymore.

Its only now a problem since about 20 more of those countries got into the competition and telephone/text voting became de rigeur.

BaZmO*

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

Its only now a problem since about 20 more of those countries got into the competition and telephone/text voting became de rigeur.

That's fair enough about the Eastern countries but the point I was making was that neighbours always voted for each. Down through the years it was hilarious listening to Terry Wogan giving out about the likes of the Cypriots giving top marks to the Turks and vice versa.

The fact of the matter is that Europeans have an appalling taste in music and that fact is showcased every year in the European Song Contest. And unfortunately we've sunken to their level by trying to second guess what they'd like to hear rather than just sending over a good song.

Just looked at the Irish performance on Youtube and it's hilarious. Total brainwave to have giant flowers on the screens behind the performers, it really did make them look like leprechauns.

monkeyfudge

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

In the current format, I cannot see Ireland, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland winning.

But out of that bunch Germany was the only one to submit a decent song but it wasn't the type of song that fits in with Eurovision.

Stop sending over shi*te and the block voting really won't matter.

Look at the UK.. they usually give us a good few points, but not this year because it was absolute unmitigated bilge! And the Irish entry was clearly the worst song of the night and deserved it's place on the score board...

I know I'd hate to hear the music charts in Albania if they thought our song was worthy of 5 points.

It really should go back to songwriters submitting a tape of their song sung by the musician of their choice... I wrote one once... RTÉ said no to me...

Alanthroneus

okay ... if we each build a rocket. attach it to the side of the country blast off and aim to land somewhere in the vicinity of Serbia we may have a chance to win.

whiskeyman

pull the plug? Not a chance!!!
It's huge now in Eastern Europe, as they've cracked what the public want! Asking to pull the plug is just a way out because we're crap at it now and it's a total fall from grace. We have to move with the times!
We should enter Podge & Rodge or Dustin and then we'd probably win... then watch the Eurovision hysteria come back to these shores!

Just checked something - half of all the viewership on Sat night in the UK watched the Eurovision!

po0k

It needs more necrolesbocest.

lordgoat

archipelagic icicles - That's all i'm saying

Lilygilly

I was at the Eorovision in Helsinki at the weekend. I have to say that while our song wasnt that great, it definitley did not deserve getting only 5 points. Now I believe it sounded very flat on the tv, couldnt tell live, but even still, Chris Doran put in a shocker of a performance when he took part and he still got 8 points!!!!!!!
Also I have to say that many of the press we were speakin to complemented us on at least doing our own thing and not prostituting ourselves the way Donna and Joe did.
The problem with the Eurovision is definitley the voting system, but as the person already pointed out there is huge revenue in it. I cant even remember the song that won and I was there.
What was even more shocking than the result on Saturday was the result of the Semi Final. If you marked out the countries that qualufied you can clearly see a dividing line between East and West. Switzerland and Denmark demonstrated all that the Eurovision is today and they did not qualify totally based on bloc voting.
I also met Johnny Logan over there and rumor amont big wigs in RTE is that they may approach him to enter next year, and while he is totally reverred in the world of Eurovision, I dont know if he could get over the political votes!!!

Who you gonna call?

AidoCQS

Thaedydal wrote:

Bulgaria should have won.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx9btAB-4-0

Yeah, you liked that too, that was nice

Here is the plan, stop the progress towards peace in the north, stop that maddness immediately. The Eurovision is on the line

Next Munster can claim independence followed by a little civil war where Cork finally declares independence from the rest of Ireland. A few bombs in Dublin should see the re-establishment of the pale, and lets build a 'Peace wall' around it while we are at it - its only a matter of time before the outer burbs realise its not worth the commute. Leinster can separate from Connaucht, Donegal from Ulster, they have always been talking about Independence from both, let them have it. Who is the next Slobo - Cowen would fit the bill, Arkan and his Tigers - McDowell & the PD's, organized crime, well that’s a toss up between Ferris & Bertie, let them kill each other over it. Throw in a few concentration camps and mass graves.

We can all kiss and make up in a few years and then create a voting block whereby

Cork, the Independant republic of.
Munster (Limerick still under UN control).
Connacht (Rumours Osama is in the mountains up there).
Leinster (location of all the concentration camps)
Dublin (Under constant sniper fire for twelve months)
Ulster And don’t forget Donegal

all give each other 12 points. Its our only chance.
If Yugoslavia can do it, why cant we?

aidan24326

What exactly is the purpose of eusrovision at this stage? Does it have one? Other than to give Terry and Marty the chance to snigger and sneer for a couple of hours while the rest of us cover our ears at the crimes against music blasting from our tv.

There was a time when you van tune in expecting to even a few half-decent songs. These Eastern European countries are not only dodgy voters they're musically disabled.

Kudos to all the girlies in hot outfits though

cailinoBAC

I thought Bulgaria should have won too. Or Belarus, but I´m biased. As for Ukraine, he/she got votes (ok, forgetting about the political voting too) because he is a superstar in Eastern Europe. That song sounds like it was written in 5 minutes but in general they´re good to sing along to. The drag character is just a comedy invention though, it´s like if we entered someone from gift grub. Or Father Ted.

impr0v

only good thing to come out of the eurovision: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf1f5V_PeYY

still enthralling, and able to fill one with a nationalistic pride.

bget

i think any one who is calling the eurovision a load of sh** and what not should keep any other comments to themselves and leave the discussion to people whio actually like the competition. While i will admitt that political voting does happen i'll also say live with it.. In the past when it was decided by judges the same thing happened so now instead of a couple of people who think they are all high and mighty decided what polical vote to make the citizens themselves are.
On the note of Irelands entry, no disrespect intended, but it was predictable that it would not do well in eurovision. the eurovision has become all about specticle and not directly about the song.. The closest we have come recently was in the semi final of your a star a few years ago jean elliott had a song that could have won eurovision because it was up beat and catchy and could easily have been dressed up to make a real specticle out of it but instead who did the irish public choose to send??? a man, singing a slow song standing on the middle of the stage on his own!!!! That was a huge mistake.
I think if Ireland are to compete competitively at eurovision level again a new committee which fresh ideas needs to be set up in Ireland and all if any influence from Linda Martin has to be ceased NOW!!! She does not know what she is talking about