Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Yeah I don't love it.

It's slick as you say probably top 10.

Exactly what you expect from Sweden, and that's not a good thing IMO.

The only entry of theirs I've liked in the last decade was Cornelia in 2022, that felt like it had a bit of a soul to it.

They're back to bland empty songs, well produced with flashy staging. It's just so boring at this stage.

Despite being a blatant ripoff of The Weekend’s general style, I think that’s great. Competition-ready staging too. Strong contender in my book.

Good point. <shudder>. Louis is a spent force these days too. In any serious organisation he’d be told “thanks but no thanks” at his Eurovision entry pitch meeting.

Maybe but it’s qualified praise still. I bet in Linda’s mind none of tge current crop of entries are much good which is a more telling tidbit from that article. It reads to me like “I think they’re shîte in general but they’re a novelty act so might do ok. I better say something nice so I don’t sound like a witch myself!”

I agree - "Why Me?" was our worst and least-deserved winner. She was lucky that 1992 was a terribly weak year - it's one of the worst contests of all-time in my opinion. Michael Ball was the best performer there, but he was hamstrung by a bad song. With a better song, maybe a big ballad similar to the song Austria sent that year, he'd have walked it.

"Terminal 3", however, was a great song, and she should have won with that. Had she won in 1984, we'd probably have been spared "Why Me?"

Thing is, Linda's comments are exactly the same every year ahead of Eurosong: "[Insert name of Louis Walsh's act] are young, good-looking, and they can sing. I think they can go all the way."

I don't know what makes my blood boil more - Linda's inane comments, or the media outlets that ask for her opinion every year.

I feel really sorry for Hera. Had Bashar won the Icelandic NF last weekend, you can guarantee he'd be going to Malmö. RUV made no secret of the fact they wanted Bashar to win and it almost feels like they're saying "Well, you didn't send the act we wanted, so tough, we're not going to Eurovision at all."

Regarding Israel, I don't think there is a large Israeli/Jewish diaspora that votes for them regardless every year. Israel didn't qualify in 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 (there was even talk of them withdrawing at the time) but then 'Golden Boy' in 2015 was a real turning point for them in the contest. Since then they've only failed to qualify once (2022), won in 2018 & finished 3rd (2023). They are usually a strong competitive country in Eurovision with well performed songs and only fail when they send sub-par entries.

Their entry this year is very beige. In a normal year it would be a borderline qualifier, this year I'm not sure what will happen....

Personally I’ll be boycotting them. Not even going to listen to the song and I’ll go make a cup of tea while they are performing.

That being said I do feel sorry for the artist really. It’s not their fault that their country’s politics is screwed up right now but I just can’t bring myself to entertain them at Eurovision.