Eurovision Song Contest 2017

dogcat

We will again have 43 countries competing at this year's Eurovision in Kiev. Ukraine. Portugal and Romania will return to the contest, meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina will not take part.

Songs from several national finals have been released, including those in Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Belarus. Slovenia, Italy and Germany have also (partly) released the singers that will compete in their NFs. Five countries have already told us who'll be singing for them, DiHaj for Azerbaijan, Blache (Elle Devlaux) for Belgium, Hovig for Cyprus, Jana Burčeska for Macedonia and O'3GNE for the Netherlands.

It's been heavily rumoured that Louis Walsh will announce the Irish participant tonight on the Late Late Show. Any thoughts on who it is?

Oh and guys, I recommend you watch these two songs/performances, you may like them, and their artists are vying for ESC

dogcat

Ireland will be sending Brendan Murray, from band Hometown. He'll have an interview on the Late Late soon.

Prepare yourselves for another flop guys!

Richard Hillman

Absolute bull****. The same little clique of Walsh, Linda Martin and Gail Kaneswaren picking their own acts and songs again. Same thing every year.

I remember posting after the Eurovision the hit-rate of this clique and the amount of times they have selected the Eurovision winner. I'll try root it out



Edit.

Here you go
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057546165/237/#post99740089

yerwanthere123

Thanks for starting the thread OP, I was thinking about it but thought I'd get shot down!

Disappointed but unsurprised to see the tripe that we'll be sending again, but obviously it emphasises just how little RTE actually cares about Eurovision these days. Now if the song turns out to be amazing I'll be quite happy to be proved wrong... but I have my doubts :pac: If nothing else, it'll still be enjoyable to see all the usual "bloc voting!!!1!" spiel when Ireland fail to qualify.

I wonder when Ireland get overtaken by Sweden might it encourage RTE to make a serious stab at things again? They need one more win to equal our seven. Loreen will be returning for Sweden this year, really looking forward to seeing what she'll bring

Richard Hillman

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Thanks for starting the thread OP, I was thinking about it but thought I'd get shot down!

Disappointed but unsurprised to see the tripe that we'll be sending again, but obviously it emphasises just how little RTE actually cares about Eurovision these days. Now if the song turns out to be amazing I'll be quite happy to be proved wrong... but I have my doubts :pac: If nothing else, it'll still be enjoyable to see all the usual "bloc voting!!!1!" spiel when Ireland fail to qualify.

I wonder when Ireland get overtaken by Sweden might it encourage RTE to make a serious stab at things again? They need one more win to equal our seven. Loreen will be returning for Sweden this year, really looking forward to seeing what she'll bring

Block voting and the new popular excuse of "Russia fixed it" :pac:

Mr.Nice Guy

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

I wonder when Ireland get overtaken by Sweden might it encourage RTE to make a serious stab at things again? They need one more win to equal our seven. Loreen will be returning for Sweden this year, really looking forward to seeing what she'll bring

Sounds like they will be equalling the record then.

Absolutely pathetic that RTE enlisted the help of one of Louis Walsh's crew. When's the last time Louis Walsh had a hit group? How well did Six work out?

I don't expect us to win any time soon, but ffs at least try to be competitive. At least try to send a good song and artist.

It will be the usual bullsh*t when it flops as well with corporation lickspittle Marty Whelan fuming about how it is an injustice we didn't qualify and how he was certain Brendan should have gone through. "Hold your head up high, Brendan. Shur you did us all proud up there."

Fact is if you throw your weight behind mediocrity then you are going to end up with mediocre performances.

realdanbreen

Young murray seems like a nice lad but that voice might not appeal to everyone?

Say Your Number

I thought we were going to take the idea of last year's winner and send Gráinne Seoige singing a song about the famine

dogcat

Current odds on Betfair:
1. Armenia 7/2
2. Russia 29/5
3. Sweden 31/5
4. Georgia 54/5
5. Australia 64/5
6. Estonia 76/5
7. Slovenia 76/5
8. Norway 83/5
9. Denmark 88/5
10. Hungary 25/1
11. Poland 26/1
12. Azerbaijan 271
13. Italy 27/1
14. Netherlands 27/1
15. Romania 28/1
16. Serbia 28/1
17. Spain 28/1
18. UK 31/1
19. Germany 31/1
20. France 35/1
21. Ireland 37/1
22. Lithuania 37/1
23. Finland 39/1
24. Ukraine 39/1
25. Latvia 43/1
26. Malta 43/1
27. Belarus 45/1
28. Belgium 47/1
29. Cyprus 47/1
30. Moldova 47/1
31. Greece 51/1
32. Israel 51/1
33. Bulgaria 56/1
34. Iceland 56/1
35. Czechia 61/1
36. Albania 66/1
37. Austria 66/1
38. Switzerland 66/1
39. Croatia 75/1
40. Montenegro 75/1
41. Macedonia 85/1
42. Portugal 94/1
43. San Marino 94/1

jaykay74

dogcat wrote: »

Ireland will be sending Brendan Murray, from band Hometown.

Was there any competition to pick him or was he just picked by Louis ?

Rainman16

I watched our singer for next years contest on the late late. He's terrible, he has that iratating weak, pissy voice.

No hope again next year.

yerwanthere123

It's amazing we didn't even get to the new year before knowing we're already sunk for next year's Eurovision :pac:

murpho999

When will RTE realise that doing the same thing over and over again will always being the same result?

The Late Late Show and its audience should not be involved in picking Ireand's song. Totally wrong demographic.

jackinthemix94

Loreen isn't even guaranteed - she is just going into the national finals.

Look at the contenders:

http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=sweden_melodifestivalen_2017_participants_revealed

Imagine if Ireland could have even one of them!

I might throw a few quid on Sweden winning again.

Definitely not filled with confidence seeing Louis Walsh responsible for choosing a song. 25 years ago maybe but he has zero relevance to modern music now. Knowing Louis it's probably gonna be a shíte boybandy ballad with a cheesy Stock Aiken Waterman-esque medley thrown in at the end for no discernible reason. You'd wonder when RTÉ are ever gonna learn their lesson and do a Eurovision selection properly. (To be fair I was a fan of Molly Sterling in 2015 but I enjoyed the song in spite of its selection method).

Don't wanna be too hard on Brendan Murray himself, I'm sure he's a nice lad and I hope he does well but his voice definitely wouldn't appeal to everyone.

Justforfun

Watched part of the Late Late of Friday. Heard Brendan Murray sing. Anybody else think he sounds like one of the Chipmunks?

Justforfun

I thought Brendan Murray sounded like a chipmunk. Has his voice broken yet?

RobertKK

Agree, he sounded like a chipmunk and unless the chipmunks are the flavour of the month we haven't a hope.
It is not even a good voice for a ballad.

I would love if Loreen had a song as good as Euphoria - probably one of the best ever winning songs.

Rainman16

I think its time we stopped taking part in the Eurovision. In the last 3 years we have failed to qualify and the year before that we came dead last in the voting. The best we have done in the past 15 years was bloody Jedward

There was a time when the contest was for us, but in recent years its just been one embarrassment after another

We should have known the game was up when we were sending Dustin the feckin turkey.

Enough is enough

Ally Dick

We haven/t been the same in the Eurovision since we put forward Dustin the turkey. What a horrible crass way to bring the competition into disrepute. We let ourselves down, and also we gave the two fingers to the competition with that one. Since then we have tried every crass formula known to man to do well in the competition. Everything bar find a decent songwriter to write a catchy decent song. Instead we get the like of Gail Kaneswaran writing a song for a girl and everything is judged on how everyone is "tryin' really hard". No. It's not about everyone trying hard. It's all about a good song that catches the imagination. No need for oiled up drummers or other gimmicks

dogcat

Rainman16 wrote: »

I think its time we stopped taking part in the Eurovision. In the last 3 years we have failed to qualify and the year before that we came dead last in the voting. The best we have done in the past 15 years was bloody Jedward

There was a time when the contest was for us, but in recent years its just been one embarrassment after another

We should have known the game was up when we were sending Dustin the feckin turkey.

Enough is enough

That's a ridiculous statement. The Netherlands competed for nine years without qualifying, then they came ninth and second.

yerwanthere123

Same discussion every year. We just need to send decent songs that are capable of having cross-Europe appeal, something we haven't done in about 15/20 years. It's really that simple.

realdanbreen

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Same discussion every year. We just need to send decent songs that are capable of having cross-Europe appeal, something we haven't done in about 15/20 years. It's really that simple.

The difference this/next year is that we are starting off with a hard on the ear singer!

RobertKK

realdanbreen wrote: »

The difference this/next year is that we are starting off with a hard on the ear singer!

The embarrassment when the whole of Europe are talking about Ireland and our chipmunk.

learn_more

The question is did anyone not think he sounded like a chipmunk

JP Liz V1

So Lulu Walsh and Linda Martin are back again in the "Eurovision" camp :rolleyes:

mansize

Louis sending one of his boys, yeah...

Go Harvey Go

murpho999 wrote: »

When will RTE realise that doing the same thing over and over again will always being the same result?

The Late Late Show and its audience should not be involved in picking Ireand's song. Totally wrong demographic.

I can't see things changing in the foreseeable future, alas.

Let's not forget, RTE are afraid of having the host the Eurovision again. Doing so four times between '93 and '97 did put a strain on their finances, after all...

Rainman16 wrote: »

I think its time we stopped taking part in the Eurovision. In the last 3 years we have failed to qualify and the year before that we came dead last in the voting. The best we have done in the past 15 years was bloody Jedward

There was a time when the contest was for us, but in recent years its just been one embarrassment after another

We should have known the game was up when we were sending Dustin the feckin turkey.

Enough is enough

But nor can we just pull out. It's too easy a thing to do, and the rest of Europe would in all likelihood accuse us of sour grapes if we did.

(I'm well aware that there have been plenty of withdrawals in recent years - but these were due to financial concerns or politics, rather than unhappiness at failing regularly. Plus, the countries concerned came back at the first opportunity.)

GavRedKing

He sounded like a terrible version of James Blunt which is never a good starting place at all.

Its typical nepotism though and as long as it continues, the result or lack thereof, wont ever change.

lertsnim

The embarrassment? Most of Europe sees this contest as a joke just like we do.

Go Harvey Go

lertsnim wrote: »

The embarrassment? Most of Europe sees this contest as a joke just like we do.

Sweden certainly doesn't.

I don't think Italy does either, otherwise it probably wouldn't have returned in 2011 after over a decade away (plus it's finished in the top ten in four of the six years since, including second in '11 and third in '15).

yerwanthere123

lertsnim wrote: »

The embarrassment? Most of Europe sees this contest as a joke just like we do.

That's just it though, they don't. Most countries have national finals with semi-final rounds too, like Melodifestivalen for example, where their biggest and best performers and songwriters take part. Most of Eastern Europe send their biggest stars, where partaking in Eurovision is seen as a huge honour. Most of the people they send already have a large fanbase across a lot of Eastern European countries, hence why they always score well amongst their neighbours. It's exactly the attitude like yours as to why Ireland find themselves in the position they're currently in.

yerwanthere123

First song!

Albania

We probably won't be heading to Tirana in 2018, that's for sure :pac:

ebbsy

dogcat wrote: »

We will again have 43 countries competing at this year's Eurovision in Kiev. Ukraine. Portugal and Romania will return to the contest, meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina will not take part.

Songs from several national finals have been released, including those in Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Belarus. Slovenia, Italy and Germany have also (partly) released the singers that will compete in their NFs. Five countries have already told us who'll be singing for them, DiHaj for Azerbaijan, Blache (Elle Devlaux) for Belgium, Hovig for Cyprus, Jana Burčeska for Macedonia and O'3GNE for the Netherlands.

It's been heavily rumoured that Louis Walsh will announce the Irish participant tonight on the Late Late Show. Any thoughts on who it is?

Oh and guys, I recommend you watch these two songs/performances, you may like them, and their artists are vying for ESC

I've voted for the top bird. Multiple times.

Two more entries have been confirmed:

Belarus:
A somewhat frantic folksy number. The lack of polish and abundance of energy is actually quite charming. I hope they don't go translating it to English though, it would lose a lot of its charm if they do that. Doesn't hold enough appeal to be a contender but might make it into the final:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIo43HKOUmg

Georgia:
Passable Bond theme. Zero points for originality but it should do well enough. Not sure the organisers will care for those political backgrounds though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw5uyq60sTk

dogcat

Deleted User wrote: »

Two more entries have been confirmed:

Belarus:
A somewhat frantic folksy number. The lack of polish and abundance of energy is actually quite charming. I hope they don't go translating it to English though, it would lose a lot of its charm if they do that. Doesn't hold enough appeal to be a contender but might make it into the final

The song is in Belarusian and will be the first time we'll hear the language in the competition

Stevecw

UK entries, gets chosen on Friday.
http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/23/who-could-represent-the-uk-at-eurovision-2017-the-you-decide-contenders-6399424/

Skid X

Stevecw wrote: »

UK entries, gets chosen on Friday.
http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/23/who-could-represent-the-uk-at-eurovision-2017-the-you-decide-contenders-6399424/

Lucie Jones (ex X Factor, now doing musicals) wins the UK Selection

Finland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoG3IT9klo

A rather nice ambient number. Not bad at all. Some viewers may find it a bit dull but the juries will probably appreciate the quality of the vocals and the arrangement. I don't think it's a winner but I'd like it to do well.

yerwanthere123

Finally listened to everything picked, Finland by far the best so far, loving the piano solo! It's going to be another year of misery for the UK I feel, I'm thinking a bottom right finish for them. It could pick up a few jury votes alright but I can't see much love from the public. Not to worry though, they've now got the Brexit excuse on top of the usual "everyone hates us!!!1!" spiel :pac:

dogcat

The allocation draw was done, and here are the results:

First Semi-Final
First half
Montenegro
Finland
Georgia
Portugal
Belgium
Sweden
Albania
Azerbaijan
Australia

Second half
Cyprus
Slovenia
Armenia
Moldova
Czech Republic
Latvia
Iceland
Greece
Poland

Italy, Spain and the UK vote here

Second Semi-Final
First half
F.Y.R. Macedonia
Malta
The Netherlands
Serbia
Denmark
Russia
Romania
Hungary
Austria
Ireland

Second half
Switzerland
Estonia
Israel
Bulgaria
San Marino
Lithuania
Croatia
Norway
Belarus

France, Germany and Ukraine voting here

Stevecw

dogcat wrote: »

The allocation draw was done, and here are the results:

First Semi-Final
First half
Montenegro
Finland
Georgia
Portugal
Belgium
Sweden
Albania
Azerbaijan
Australia

Second half
Cyprus
Slovenia
Armenia
Moldova
Czech Republic
Latvia
Iceland
Greece
Poland

Italy, Spain and the UK vote here

Second Semi-Final
First half
F.Y.R. Macedonia
Malta
The Netherlands
Serbia
Denmark
Russia
Romania
Hungary
Austria
Ireland

Second half
Switzerland
Estonia
Israel
Bulgaria
San Marino
Lithuania
Croatia
Norway
Belarus

France, Germany and Ukraine voting here

That's a really bad draw overall. No UK to vote for us and a lot of strong countries who always do well in our semi final.
Also I see there's 19 in sf 2 & only 18 in the 1st one.

Need something amazing to get through and hard to see that happening.

yerwanthere123

Switzerland

Methinks they will stay in the semi final.

dogcat

France

France are shooting up the odds

dogcat

dogcat wrote: »

France are shooting up the odds

Mmmm, it's a decent enough entry but I don't think it has as much "mainstream" appeal as last year's did. It's not gonna be a nul pointer but I doubt it will be a serious challenger either. I'd guess it will finish somewhere mid-table.

Meanwhile, hier ist Deutschland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpESkcTVdkk

Oh dear, a second rate version of David Guetta and Sia's "Titanium". Not good.

Given that they finished bottom last year with a song that was better than this, and bottom the year before with a song that was better than the one last year, it could very well be a hat-trick of consecutive last place finishes for the Germans (has that ever happened to any country before?!).

dogcat

Nope, no country came last three in a row, but Austria and Malta have come last twice in a row before apparently.

dogcat

Spain

A little bit of drama here, since Mirela won the televoting, with Manel being third in it, but the three jurors got to pick over the televote. Two of the three jurors went with Manel, and apparently one of those two jurors has been heavily promoting Manel's song on his radio station.

dogcat

Italy
Italy's going with this masterbop

The studio version pales in comparison to the live, which has a dancing gorilla, but since RAI blocks uploads of its content to YouTube, I'll link the live performance.

http://www.raiplay.it/video/2017/02/Francesco-Gabbani---Occidentaliaposs-Karma---Sanremo--556a6501-fbfd-4fb0-98fa-86359fc8ae2a.html

Italy's now third in betfair odds.

learn_more

murpho999 wrote: »

When will RTE realise that doing the same thing over and over again will always being the same result?

They do realise this

Two quite strange entries there from Spain and Italy.

The Spanish one is ok in parts (the verses are fine, and the strange instrumental bit after the chorus is irritatingly catchy) but the chorus itself brings the rest of the song down. "Clap your hands and do it for your lover" is nursery rhyme stuff.

Italy's pretty much the last country I would have expected to send something a bit bonkers with a dancing gorilla! As daft as it is though, the song itself is actually very catchy. The biggest obstacle for me is that his voice is a bit grating, but overall it certainly beats most of what's been submitted so far.

Finland is still the standout thus far for me though; I suspect it may be a "Calm Before The Storm"-esque entry that won't be fancied at all beforehand but then comes to life in the semi-finals.

My personal ranking at the moment:

1. Finland
2. Italy
3. France
4. Belarus
5. Spain
6. Albania
7. Switzerland
8. United Kingdom
9. Georgia
10. Germany

Caoimhgh1n

Although I quite like Timebelle, I feel that Ginta Biku would have done better with the visuals and French lyrics.

I feel Circle of Light would have went down better than Blackbird for Finland, Norma John is a very good singer though.

Again, I feel like Wildfire is slightly better than Perfect Life for Germany.

Don't like Georgia's song at all. Tako is a good singer though, but the song is awful.

Spain's song is awful. None of the songs in the selection were that good though.

I very much like Requiem by Alma for France.

I love Botë by Lindita. Sadly they're changing it to English.

I can't tell whether I like Francesco's song for Italy.

Lucie Jones was the best out of a bad lot for the United Kingdom.

I like Belarus, simply because it stands out and is quite cheerful.

1. France
2. Switzerland
3. Albania
4. Belarus
5. Finland
6. Germany
7. U.K.
8. Italy (Can't decide if I like it or not)
9. Spain
10. Georgia