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?!

Doesn't the winner have to host it next year and so they all try to put in a dud to save on the expense. (Caveat - I got this info from Father Ted)

Doesn't the winner have to host it next year and so they all try to put in a dud to save on the expense.

It's expected, but you can decline to. Four times in the past, a winning country has pleaded poverty (one of them being France!) and, for some reason, it was held in the UK each time instead.

San Marino (rather optimistically) stated this time that, should they win, they would host it from over the border in Rimini. I suppose they've kind of got their wish now, but without all the expense and faff of having to host it themselves. I don't know if it's just the cost for them, or the fact that the whole Ahoy Stadium complex in Rotterdam could accommodate about two thirds of the entire population of SM!

Even the OP though. Adele or Rag n Bone man are not really what Eurovision viewers are looking for. Surely there is someone in the UK who can produce something a bit more unusual and exciting?

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

The fat bloke who represented us this year looked like he was wearing a bloody bin liner! Sack the stylist!

By all means criticise poor clothing, set and staging choices for the entry, but please let's not descend to ad hominem body shaming.

I'm really loving the idea of a folky drum-heavy sea shanty, though. With Stormzy, Dizzee Rascal or Dave rapping in the middle too!!

Yet there are (at least) 4 threads on Eurovision where Eastern European women are fair game. Along with alternative styled teenagers and Russian lesbians. Funny that only fat people can't be bodyshamed but everything else goes. (and I speak as someone decidedly overweight)

Surely the public could send in ? Two minute section of their newly written song produced to the best of their ability - regional tv or council or whoever could narrow it to 3 from each region - then send in and judged by a mixed group of musicians (public can't be trusted not to favour looks or fashion over song quality) So it's a decent song first not the clothes or showmanship. This is the next Eurovision song.

Yet there are (at least) 4 threads on Eurovision where Eastern European women are fair game. Along with alternative styled teenagers and Russian lesbians.
Funny that only fat people can't be bodyshamed but everything else goes. (and I speak as someone decidedly overweight)

I've read just about all of the comments on those threads and I don't recall many actually being nasty about the bodies or natural physical looks of the contestants - but any that there are should also be condemned.

The judging (and good-natured laughing, where fitting) should be about the songs, the clothes, the performances, the staging etc.; if we're only going to focus on their bodies and say who is too fat or plain/ugly or whatever, we might as well have never got rid of Miss World.

Would you seriously expect to see a review of Susan Boyle or Van Morrison's new albums and have the reviewers dwelling on the fact that they don't look like Megan Fox or Tom Hardy?

@TheoMeo

Surely the public could send in ? Two minute section of their newly written song produced to the best of their ability - regional tv or council or whoever could narrow it to 3 from each region - then send in and judged by a mixed group of musicians (public can't be trusted not to favour looks or fashion over song quality) So it's a decent song first not the clothes or showmanship. This is the next Eurovision song.

James Newman is a talented song writer though and still scores 0 points. I actually didn't think the song was that bad and it's not been out of place on the radio 1 playlist.

I don't think the song was that bad but he is a songwriter not a singer.

@TheoMeo

I don't think the song was that bad but he is a songwriter not a singer.

That is true.

It's not a bad song, exactly, but it's dull. Forgettable. That's the kiss of death in Eurovision.

It's not a bad song, exactly, but it's dull. Forgettable. That's the kiss of death in Eurovision.

Yes - to avoid being one of the 16 countries to whom each voting country gives no points, you simply have to stand out. How many of us have bought an OK-ish savoury cake from a bakery near the end of the day, when we know for a fact that, if we'd been earlier and they'd still had all of the delicious soft, sweet and cream-laden goodies available, what we ended up with wouldn't have had a moment's look-in?!