Why do we put forward such awful acts for the Eurovision?

[StopSayingDueDiligence]

I can't abide the Eurovision but for many years I've wondered why we put through such awful acts and seem surprised when we fail?

Didn't we have Katie price one year?

Why don't we put through people like Adele or Rag N Bone Man, Little Simz or Florence of the Machine?

Why can't they represent us?!

What does that have to do with anything?

Ah - didn't see your follow up Purple. He's denied it and if you look at his hands in the clip it doesn't look as though he snorted a line.

I really liked the Italian entry, was listening to it yesterday again. I think it’s a good song and the band performed it with great energy and passion.

Personally I found France awful and I’m struggling to understand why it did so well

The French song is an example of a style popularised by Jacques Brel (a Belgian) and Scott Walker, who is always the example of a British artist singing songs of the same style, and heavily influenced by Brel. I think it's Marmite and I don't enjoy angsty songs, much preferring something uplifting. It's clearly cleverly constructed and had pretty broad appeal though.

@PurpleFlower1983

Sorry that was meant to be in response to the poster who said the winners looked genuinely happy.

There's also the photograph taken showing there was indeed a broken glass under his feet. They are being advised by their legal team to file for libel against the French journalist who started the whole coke thing off.

I loved the French song, and loved the fact that the singer didn't have Botox or hair extensions (or even frizz-ease) and popped a cardy on after her performance.
I started going off her a bit after she announced that they'd won, mind.
The before and after pics of her and Tony Hadley's lovechild (Switzerland seem to be in 1985) were funny though. If ever there was a photo to demonstrate "cat's bum mouth" it was them.

I've always thought this and I think it's because the winning country then has to host.....
I think we just can't be bothered to host it

I think paying our way to the finals is a terrible idea. You go through the camaradie, hope & competition of the first rounds, you get to know the acts, then some random swans into the final? It's a terrible idea! Also the UK just doesn't really get it. Amanda Holden's terrible 'I don't know which language is which' is just so terribly embarrassing. Also it's an incredible competition where nations take a lot of time and effort in really going for it and the UK just gives the impression of not caring. 180 million people watch it so we should care. If it had been, say, a million lights type ballad about always feeling a part of Europe though we are apart for now or something (nod to Brexit) it could've touched a lot of people. I think we generally come across as the kid who did their homework on the bus.

We don’t “pay our way to the finals” - all members of the EBU contribute a proportion of their income in return for membership. Eurovision have decided that as the top 5 countries contribute the most to membership, they should get a free pass to the final. Personally I’d be happy for this to be done away with, but let’s be honest - not all the countries in the big 5 phone it in (1st and 2nd place this year, but also the bottom 2).

I can’t understand how anyone didn’t like France’s entry, but there we are! That’s Eurovision for you.

I’m going to be very sad not to see Freyr next year - he’s fast become my favourite Eurovision entrant.

I’d be interested in the UK sending an entrant that could display traditional culture from the UK - maybe singing in Welsh, Gaelic or Cornish for example? Easy to fob off as other countries not getting it if it results in another nil points, but could also really stand out and gain support for being a bit different.

We’re never going to get off the bottom with generic, forgettable pop (if indeed that’s what we want, the current ‘Europe hates us’ narrative does suit a lot of the powers that be...)

I loved France’s entry. It started off quietly and ordinarily and then the power just grew and grew. And I thought Germany’s deserved a few more points for being quite sweet and catchy . Next year though, Germany should send Rammstein. They’d walk it.

I don’t know who the UK should send, but preferably someone really memorable, who wasn’t at the pinnacle of their career 30 years ago.

I feel sorry for the singers during the voting. Which facial expression are they supposed to have?

Happy = smug, arrogant
Unhappy = grumpy, poor loser
Looking downwards = Bad. Very, very bad indeed.

The Swiss guy was very happy after the jury votes, but obviously didn't have it in the bag and could clearly be seen asking, "We've lost?" after the public vote for Italy was announced. Poor bloke.

The voting was totally brutal this year - I would have been sad too!

@WeAreTheHeroes

The French song is an example of a style popularised by Jacques Brel (a Belgian) and Scott Walker, who is always the example of a British artist singing songs of the same style, and heavily influenced by Brel. I think it's Marmite and I don't enjoy angsty songs, much preferring something uplifting. It's clearly cleverly constructed and had pretty broad appeal though.

Yeah, marmite is a good way of describing it. I listen to all kind of artists and genres from heavy metal to Swedish folk bands but found France’s entry irritating and too screachy. On the otherhand I really enjoyed Ukraine’s entry which in a way had similarities to France. As PP said, that’s eurovision for you

I’m really enjoying this thread btw!!

It's clearly not remotely as political anymore.

I remember back in the political days France used to get no votes at all because their neighbours were ambivalent about them at best. And Italy actually threw a tantrum and left for a few years. And look at them now! And singing in their own languages!

The problem is the UK seems to think its just another version of X Factor and sends X Factor level acts. Where all you have to be is a cheeky chappie, eh?

Whereas other countries send acts that are really well prepared and dynamic. Even if they're quirky, like Iceland, they're really clever. Otherwise they send singers who can blow the house down with vocal power.

The UK has to decide whether it actually wants to be competitive at Eurovision or if it just wants to tick a box, send middle of the road songs with middle of the road vocalists and then whine about it.

And Amanda Holden made a show of the UK, she absolutely did. I'm Irish and thought it was really really bad. We'd never ever let someone go off piste like that. Our vote announcers have a script and by God they stick to it. They are representing the country. Amanda represented an ugly side to her country and displayed it to millions of viewers globally.

You thought France was screechy but enjoyed Ukraine?! DH said it was clearly written as a method of torturing prisoners of war, which I think is about right 😬

I didn't think Barbara was screechy at all - it just wasn't my cup of tea. Voilà.

@SinkGirl

You thought France was screechy but enjoyed Ukraine?! DH said it was clearly written as a method of torturing prisoners of war, which I think is about right 😬

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ukraine was layered and unsual. France had a poundland piaf with added screech. But it clearly appealed to lot of people!!

(I have nothing against France or the French, just the entry!)

Next year though, Germany should send Rammstein. They’d walk it.

This would be fantastic, especially the pyrotechnics! I'd love there to be more rock at the show next year over all the sparkly body suit pop.

I’d be interested in the UK sending an entrant that could display traditional culture from the UK - maybe singing in Welsh, Gaelic or Cornish for example? Easy to fob off as other countries not getting it if it results in another nil points, but could also really stand out and gain support for being a bit different.

They were suggesting we send Morris dancers next year on radio 2 this morning..

UK has sent really shit songs last few years. I think whoever said that its because as a country, we both love it, yet dont take it seriously is the main problem. Theres no shortages of great artists in the UK who could do a much better job.
Very hard to prove that its just because everybody hates us and thats why we didnt win again, when the song and the singer was so utterly crap

Eurovision is unpredictable really, there is a political aspect, and the neighbourly vote. Sometimes a visual feast wins, sometimes simplicity, and sometimes utter nonsense.

Only 12% of the UK population bothered to watch the programme, it's clearly of little interest so why would an established global band/act put their reputation on the line to 'represent' the UK?

Only 12% of the UK population bothered to watch the programme, it's clearly of little interest

What on earth? Do you realise how few programmes get anything like 12% of the population watching them?