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Original poster

To think Eurovision is no longer about the talent

167 replies

misszebra · 12/05/2024 18:20

Following from a discussion seen in lots of threads. I was so disappointed at the clear political motive behind the jury and popularity votes this year. Switzerland did fantastic, but IMO the image of Switzerland as the 'neutral' country might have been behind a lot of the jury votes at least, although I am glad he won over some others.
Germany were the best by miles I felt, Isaak has such fantastic raw talent and didn't need the circus around him to prove it.

Does anyone else think a lot of the votes were due to politics?

Its a shame to see clear talent pushed under the rug...

OP posts:
RoseBucket · 12/05/2024 20:04

It’s always been about the politics, also no country should be able to pay for a place.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 12/05/2024 19:59

I agree with you in principal ( about the obvious politics of the voting) BUT I also think a genuinely brilliant song or performance will overcome that - see Sam Ryder- through it doesn’t mean the rest of Europe still dont hate us 🤣 An average UK song/ performance, like sadly that of Olly Alexander’s ( and I loved him in Its a Sin) will get 0 points , when if he’d been from another country I think he would have placed slightly higher.

Best song/ performance won though- I think it’s got little to do the politics of Switzerland being neutral in this case. I’ve never heard of the Swiss singer and there were clearly singers that may have been stronger musically ( Germany, France etc) BUT his performance was amazing- hitting those notes, in tune whilst moving so much/well and to boot the song was quite interesting and very Eurovision- a bit of Freddie Mercury, crossed with Mika, a kind of pop, disco, rap fusion with even some operatic undertones. There might have been other songs more my personal taste but definitely a deserving winner, unlike other years!

BMW6 · 12/05/2024 19:48

OP I've been watching Eurovision for over 60 years.

It's always been a bit political but has reached extremes now and is not a Song Contest but a Who Can Be Most Vulgar Festival of Fetish.

I wish we'd pull out of it altogether.

decionsdecisions62 · 12/05/2024 19:42

It's clearly political and that's why we always get nil points.

AprilDecember · 12/05/2024 19:29

Your fave Germany came a very respectable 12th, largely thanks to these supposedly political juries you are complaining about. Such a variety of countries and genres have won recently that the politics argument holds little water.

PossumintheHouse · 12/05/2024 19:28

misszebra · 12/05/2024 19:25

not to be taken as offensive - I mean these countries have much more positive vibes (Nigeria etc) and their music is always so great

So you miss Nigeria?

Original poster
misszebra · 12/05/2024 19:25

not to be taken as offensive - I mean these countries have much more positive vibes (Nigeria etc) and their music is always so great

OP posts:
Original poster
misszebra · 12/05/2024 19:24

NeelyOHara1 · 12/05/2024 19:20

Expanding it into a World Song Contest might refresh things a bit?

that would be fantastic! would love to hear from the more developing countries I think they would shine and put a good show on

OP posts:
ticktickticktickBOOM · 12/05/2024 19:21

It's always been political.

Completely.

NeelyOHara1 · 12/05/2024 19:20

Expanding it into a World Song Contest might refresh things a bit?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 12/05/2024 19:15

the80sweregreat · 12/05/2024 18:34

I think it's had its day tbh.
Even the UK presenters sounded jaded last night and the political shenanigans are just ridiculous.
I liked the two lady presenters , but it was so drawn out with the televote and they could have sped that up a lot.

That was exactly what I felt about it overall. Dated. I won’t be watching again.

Elebag · 12/05/2024 19:12

There's always been political voting. Certainly since the 90's.

Original poster
misszebra · 12/05/2024 19:10

yes I agree sam ryder was fantastic. deserved his spot 1000%

OP posts:
NotJohnMajor · 12/05/2024 18:50

I wish they'd do a 'back to basics' version without all the crazy staging. I'm not really interested in video production skill or whatever you'd call it.

the80sweregreat · 12/05/2024 18:38

Sam Ryder deserved his place that year as it was a good song.
I liked Mae muller too last year, but it didn't do as well.
I still think they should ditch it though , but clearly someone is making money from it ..
( the phone companies maybe ?)

DesperateDelia · 12/05/2024 18:35

The only voting recently that was about talent was Sam Ryder coming second. No way would they usually vote for the UK. And even that could be seen as political as the UK were openly supporting Ukraine in the war (but Sam had a cracking song and voice)

PossumintheHouse · 12/05/2024 18:34

Look at the top five this year. Every one deserved a place based on their performance.

the80sweregreat · 12/05/2024 18:34

I think it's had its day tbh.
Even the UK presenters sounded jaded last night and the political shenanigans are just ridiculous.
I liked the two lady presenters , but it was so drawn out with the televote and they could have sped that up a lot.

tigger1001 · 12/05/2024 18:33

It's never been about the talent and has been political for a very long time.

Funnywonder · 12/05/2024 18:33

Ah, just noticed you already said that @atotalshambles🤣 Things moved on while I was crafting my post!

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 12/05/2024 18:32

It's never really been about the talent imho.

Funnywonder · 12/05/2024 18:31

Back in the 70s/80s, I remember my dad cackling every single year at Greece and Cyprus giving each other a reciprocal douze points. Turkey got nul points from both of them. No matter what the acts were like😆

T'was ever thus.

ssd · 12/05/2024 18:29

I was having this discussion with dh earlier on. I can't remember eurovision being so camp and ridiculous. I remember seeing Abba and they were just really good. Bucks Fizz were cheesy but fun. Now we have guys trying to look like they are in a gay porn film. And girls flashing bits we don't need to see.

And thats before we even get to the voting nonsense...

Abouttimeforanamechange · 12/05/2024 18:28

Does anyone else think a lot of the votes were due to politics?

The voting has always been political!

atotalshambles · 12/05/2024 18:26

It's never been about the talent OP! i remember watching years ago with Terry Wogan and he would always know who would vote for who (Greece would give Cyprus 12 points and vice versa) but nothing to Turkey etc.. The politics were always there. I think the change is the vibe - the politics are overt now. I found yesterday to be uncomfortable but also quite interesting. It was interesting to see how Israel got 12 points from the UK audience. I think that politics is run by who makes the 'most noise' which I think the audience were voting against rather than the hideous Israeli government. Interesting times.

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