Eurovision Song Contest 2021

odyssey06 · 20-05-2021 12:55PM

forumdedum wrote: »

Colm Wilkinson regretted Eurovision. He stopped what he was doing to represent Ireland in it. Says he was very lucky to get back into Broadway. Very old interview somewhere in the archives. Pre internet.

Interesting, but I'd say Broadway wouldn't care one way or another about EV, I'd say it was more he just wasn't on Broadway.

Beechwoodspark · 20-05-2021 01:07PM

Same. I doubt Broadway would care either way.

Your average American in the 70s/80s (even now really) wouldn’t know or care about EV.

Wonder was Wilkinson just looking for an “excuse” as to why he wasn’t a Broadway hit?

Beechwoodspark · 20-05-2021 01:09PM

saabsaab wrote: »

A giant snake gyrating across the stage and at the end a cloud of confetti shamrocks!

A Technicolor 3D laser snake dramatically extending over the arena as the fiddles flutes uillean pipes and bodhrans go into the stratosphere.

Christy and co triumphantly drenched in sweat at the end

Jaysus it would be something else

odyssey06 · 20-05-2021 01:13PM

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Same. I doubt Broadway would care either way.

Your average American in the 70s/80s (even now really) wouldn’t know or care about EV.

Wonder was Wilkinson just looking for an “excuse” as to why he wasn’t a Broadway hit?

Reading his wiki it seems like there's a bit more going on...
The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, and transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to allow Wilkinson to play the part of Valjean in New York, due to its policy of hiring only American actors unless an actor outside America was an international star

Don't worry the story has a happy ending, Wilkinson gets the role and lots of awards.

Michael Ball and Frances Ruffelle also from musicals background represented UK in Eurovision.

I wonder how many times Lesley Roy has actually performed live on stage to an audience... her background is in songwriting more from what I can tell.
Curious as whether Maps was chosen from a studio tape or chosen from a live performance.

Elmo · 20-05-2021 01:17PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Curious as whether Maps was chosen from a studio tape or chosen from a live performance.

Mini-Disc surely :pac:

20-05-2021 01:22PM

Could enya be persuaded to have a go, songwriting wise. Most he some unreleased track hanging around somewhere.

forumdedum · 20-05-2021 01:37PM

fvp4 wrote: »

Could enya be persuaded to have a go, songwriting wise. Most he some unreleased track hanging around somewhere.

Just send Orinoco Flow, all tracks are the same :-)

forumdedum · 20-05-2021 01:38PM

Elmo wrote: »

Mini-Disc surely :pac:

Get real. It's cassette and well you know it

forumdedum · 20-05-2021 01:39PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Reading his wiki it seems like there's a bit more going on...
The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, and transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to allow Wilkinson to play the part of Valjean in New York, due to its policy of hiring only American actors unless an actor outside America was an international star

Don't worry the story has a happy ending, Wilkinson gets the role and lots of awards.

Michael Ball and Frances Ruffelle also from musicals background represented UK in Eurovision.

I wonder how many times Lesley Roy has actually performed live on stage to an audience... her background is in songwriting more from what I can tell.
Curious as whether Maps was chosen from a studio tape or chosen from a live performance.

I like your research. I just remember an interview when he said he regretted it. Could have been Late Late show

odyssey06 · 20-05-2021 01:50PM

forumdedum wrote: »

I like your research. I just remember an interview when he said he regretted it. Could have been Late Late show

No worries, I'd say he did regret it, because if he's focused on Broadway back then he wouldn't have had those later issues.

On second thoughts, having heard the song maybe he does regret it!

Not quite sure what to make of his Eurovision entry...before my time but it's a bit 1970s country and western to my ears? And that outfit!
I would definitely regret that outfit unless I'm going to a fancy dress as Dr Who.
Pity we couldn't have found a song to match his voice.

Tombo2001 · 20-05-2021 01:51PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Reading his wiki it seems like there's a bit more going on...
The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, and transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to allow Wilkinson to play the part of Valjean in New York, due to its policy of hiring only American actors unless an actor outside America was an international star

Don't worry the story has a happy ending, Wilkinson gets the role and lots of awards.

Michael Ball and Frances Ruffelle also from musicals background represented UK in Eurovision.

I wonder how many times Lesley Roy has actually performed live on stage to an audience... her background is in songwriting more from what I can tell.
Curious as whether Maps was chosen from a studio tape or chosen from a live performance.

And equally - how often has she performed to an Irish audience.

Goes back to an earlier point - how on earth did RTE decide John Waters is the man to write a song for Eurovision.

The more I look at it, the more I think RTE is the problem here.

No visibility and no accountability.

It should just be taken away from them.

Deep down - we'd all like to have a decent song at Eurovision, by an artist we know and respect.

Its been a long period of nothing, from an Irish POV.

forumdedum · 20-05-2021 02:01PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

No worries, I'd say he did regret it, because if he's focused on Broadway back then he wouldn't have had those later issues.

On second thoughts, having heard the song maybe he does regret it!

Not quite sure what to make of his Eurovision entry...before my time but it's a bit 1970s country and western to my ears? And that outfit!
I would definitely regret that outfit unless I'm going to a fancy dress as Dr Who.
Pity we couldn't have found a song to match his voice.

Dear God. However, you would be amazed at the number of singers (pro & amateur) who haven't a clue how to select a decent song for themselves. I know Colm probably didn't choose this song but a lot of singers need advice on this.

forumdedum · 20-05-2021 02:01PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

And equally - how often has she performed to an Irish audience.

Goes back to an earlier point - how on earth did RTE decide John Waters is the man to write a song for Eurovision.

The more I look at it, the more I think RTE is the problem here.

No visibility and no accountability.

It should just be taken away from them.

Deep down - we'd all like to have a decent song at Eurovision, by an artist we know and respect.

Its been a long period of nothing, from an Irish POV.

You can probably sum this up in one word. Click

odyssey06 · 20-05-2021 02:02PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

And equally - how often has she performed to an Irish audience.
Goes back to an earlier point - how on earth did RTE decide John Waters is the man to write a song for Eurovision.
The more I look at it, the more I think RTE is the problem here.
No visibility and no accountability.
It should just be taken away from them.
Deep down - we'd all like to have a decent song at Eurovision, by an artist we know and respect.
Its been a long period of nothing, from an Irish POV.

The Dervish song studio version is ok actually, inoffensive enough.
The live version at the Eurovision was awful.
Rather reminiscent of this year...

There is something going wrong in the song selection or in what happens to the song when it gets into the hands of RTE at the Eurovision.
We're picking and putting through songs and artists that aren't a good fit for a live song contest with an audience, never mind whether it's contemporary or europoppy or oirish sounding.

breezy1985 · 20-05-2021 02:22PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

A different audience that is bigger.

The numbers dont lie.

Devils advocate - what would be the harm in it.

The upside is that at least we could have a song that represents us.

Would there be any longevity to it though. Would the Eurovision audience pay the bills better than a dedicated gig going audience. Also potential fans might stereotype a Eurovision act as being a certain type of pop so if you are hoping to play hard rock/metal venues having Eurovision finalists on the CV might be misleading

gmisk · 20-05-2021 02:24PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I agree, fcuk trying to win it.... use it as an opportunity to showcase Ireland & Irish music (albeit for 3 minutes) in front of an audience of around 200 million people..

We should be going full celtic mysticism etc..... singing in Irish.... fiddles and bodhrans.... trad session etc....

It's a nice idea....but no one is allowed to play instruments in Eurovision...

gmisk · 20-05-2021 02:26PM

Doubt we will see Arcade being sung again if Duncan Lawrence tested positive for Covid.
Also no Iceland (live) as one of them tested positive

breezy1985 · 20-05-2021 02:26PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

Reading his wiki it seems like there's a bit more going on...
The London production of Les Misérables opened in October 1985, and transferred to Broadway in March 1987. Originally, the American Actors' Equity Association refused to allow Wilkinson to play the part of Valjean in New York, due to its policy of hiring only American actors unless an actor outside America was an international star

Don't worry the story has a happy ending, Wilkinson gets the role and lots of awards.

Michael Ball and Frances Ruffelle also from musicals background represented UK in Eurovision.

I wonder how many times Lesley Roy has actually performed live on stage to an audience... her background is in songwriting more from what I can tell.
Curious as whether Maps was chosen from a studio tape or chosen from a live performance.

I think she wrote maps for this. She was picked for a different song last year but it got cancelled so she wrote a new one for this year

odyssey06 · 20-05-2021 02:27PM

gmisk wrote: »

It's a nice idea....but no one is allowed to play instruments in Eurovision...

We did try a kinda Eurovision-y Celtic mysticism "Knights of Tir na Nog" vibe didn't we with Heartbeat in 2014... think needed stronger vocals?

gmisk · 20-05-2021 02:29PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

We did try a kinda Eurovision-y Celtic mysticism "Knights of Tir na Nog" vibe didn't we with Heartbeat in 2014... think needed stronger vocals?

Yeah it wasn't a great song or singer tbh.
I think going mystic celtic etc isn't a bad idea, but need a cracking singer and a good song.

archfi · 20-05-2021 02:31PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

We did try a kinda Eurovision-y Celtic mysticism "Knights of Tir na Nog" vibe didn't we with Heartbeat in 2014... think needed stronger vocals?

Cringetastic
Jaysus:D

breezy1985 · 20-05-2021 02:33PM

odyssey06 wrote: »

We did try a kinda Eurovision-y Celtic mysticism "Knights of Tir na Nog" vibe didn't we with Heartbeat in 2014... think needed stronger vocals?

God I don't remember a single bit of that

odyssey06 · 20-05-2021 02:35PM

archfi wrote: »

Cringetastic
Jaysus:D

Well we've seen a lot of other countries get into the final adopting a similar kinda hydbrid mish mash native mysticism and europop so I can see what they were thinking... with better execution it might have worked.

20-05-2021 03:05PM

Heartbeat was ok musically, if a bit cringe lyrically, but Kasey Smith didn't have the vocal range needed for it (to be fair I think she was able to handle the higher notes at the end, but really struggled with the lower notes in the verses). But even if she sang it note perfect, it still wouldn't have done well with that diddly-idle Oirish staging.

tobefrank321 · 20-05-2021 03:36PM

The Irish song was fine I thought. The staging didn't work. You need the wow factor and that certainly wasn't there.

Its about the whole package. Not that anyone selecting our act gets that.

tv3tg4 · 20-05-2021 03:39PM

We need to send an established act.

Royseven?
Frank and Walters

saabsaab · 20-05-2021 03:40PM

tobefrank321 wrote: »

The Irish song was fine I thought. The staging didn't work. You need the wow factor and that certainly wasn't there.

Its about the whole package. Not that anyone selecting our act gets that.

I liked the staging but not the song. Something went wrong with the voice on the night too.

Elmo · 20-05-2021 03:49PM

They could just send the Celtic Women, I don't particularly think much of their type of music but it fits a pop/celtic mix of music and they can sing in fairness to them.

Ash.J.Williams · 20-05-2021 04:16PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I agree, fcuk trying to win it.... use it as an opportunity to showcase Ireland & Irish music (albeit for 3 minutes) in front of an audience of around 200 million people..

We should be going full celtic mysticism etc..... singing in Irish.... fiddles and bodhrans.... trad session etc....

I Don’t think the qualifiers have that audience

Looks like we’re doomed until we buy in like the UK

FileNotFound · 20-05-2021 04:17PM

saabsaab wrote: »

I liked the staging but not the song. Something went wrong with the voice on the night too.

When she was going through the paper rubbish she was essentially on a treadmill.

Not sure running brings out the best in a singing voice. Thats why all the other acts sing while the back up crew do the running I suppose..

Eurovision Song Contest 2021

Comments