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Original poster

To think we have a real chance this year with Eurovision?

161 replies

itsnotmeitsu · 13/05/2022 22:27

I love the Sam Ryder song and the official video. I think that, if it wasn't for politics, he would have a good chance of being in the top five. Whatever the outcome, I think the video for the song should be used for the 2022 John Lewis Christmas advert 🙂. Whatever the outcome, well done Sam > you're brilliant.

OP posts:
PortiaFimbriata · 14/05/2022 11:03

I want to know why everyone hates Spain who've got an almost equally dire record. Or Portugal apart from that one year when everyone randomly loved them. Or why Israel are sometimes so popular with all their many Eurovision neighbours.

CapMarvel · 14/05/2022 11:04

lolliplop · 14/05/2022 11:01

I hate hearing 'everybody hates us'. It's so self-indulgent. As if any other country in Europe even gives the UK a second thought. How often do you spend thinking about Latvia or Croatia? Why would they think about us? Nobody hates us, not even on the radar.

Exactly.

The uk came last in 2021 because the song was fucking dreadful and it was performed by some bloke from down the pub who was out of tune, couldn't dance and was wearing the weirdest jumper ever produced.

Florenz · 14/05/2022 11:05

Why don't we send Adele or one of our top musicians? I've never bought the"political" argument as to why we don't win, British music is the most popular music in Europe. The main reason is because we send crap to Eurovision every year, people see the top British music acts, and see what we send to Eurovision, and they think we're taking the piss.

KittenKong · 14/05/2022 11:06

Tom Jones - can you imagine! We did have Engelbert Humperdinck a while back.

rifling · 14/05/2022 11:10

I don't think everybody hates us at all. I saw an interesting thread on twitter about how the winning songs - at least recently - have all been in a minor key. And the UK always sings in a major key! I really wanted to go with DD (we are in Italy) but couldn't get a ticket unfortunately. Her classmate went to rehearsals and it looked amazing.

DeadButDelicious · 14/05/2022 11:14

I am quietly confident the UK will do quite well this year. It's a good song and he's a really likable fella with an amazing head of hair DH and I think the Ukraine will win though.

BigWoollyJumpers · 14/05/2022 11:15

Ukraine will win. However, we won't be bottom of the table. I would put money on Ukraine giving us 12 points for starters. Crowd reaction in the stadium was very positive for Sam. I predict top five, with Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway.

Caveat, some of the better songs already out, so nothing guaranteed!! How the hell Serbia got through is an absolute mystery for starters.

Crayfishforyou · 14/05/2022 11:35

Yabu.
we still have boris johnson and the tories.
we are doing brexit with no deal.

larkstar · 14/05/2022 11:37

No. No chance of winning. Europe on the whole, dislikes the UK. Everyone is tipping Ukraine - I don't think it's that certain. I think Moldova have a chance...

Dontlickthetrolley · 14/05/2022 11:50

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 14/05/2022 00:50

Ukraine will win and UK will the host next year by proxy.

I was thinking this too. The two foregone conclusions seem to be that Ukraine will win but that they won't be hosting next year, especially as plans have to start being made as soon as the win is announced, as it takes a year to get everything in place. In fact, sadly, there's no guarantee that Ukraine will be in a position to host at all for a number of years - it's hardly going to be top of their priority list, is it?

As to where we will finish, I genuinely think that our previous hopes of triumph over adversity have been just patriotic over-optimism; but this year, the bookies (currently) have us down as coming second. Of the 25 countries in the final, 20 of them are reckoned to have a 1% chance or less of winning. Bookies don't get mega rich by not (generally) knowing what they're talking about, as they quite literally have to put their money where their mouth is.

Thinking ahead to 2023, the rules state that only up to 6 countries are automatically allowed to qualify: the host (if not one of the Big 5) and the Big 5. I suppose it partly depends on whether the country where it takes place is regarded as the (interim) host or whether it is considered that Ukraine is hosting but just in a 'borrowed' location - in the way that San Marino have stated they would hope to 'borrow' a stadium over the border in Italy, should they ever win, considering that the capacity of the Rotterdam stadium was twice as many as SM's entire population!

However, I seriously doubt Ukraine would have the financial resources anyway, let alone the obvious geographical 'issue'. Even amongst countries that are prospering and at peace as normal, the cost of hosting is a killer and a source of fear for all but the few wealthiest nations that also have sizeable populations - hence the existence of the Big 5 in the first place.

I don't think anybody would disagree that, having won in 2022 - largely as a gesture of international solidarity and support - Ukraine's qualification in the final in 2023 should be absolutely guaranteed, but they can hardly turn to the nation hosting/funding it in 2023 and deny them automatic qualification either. That suggests that, unless the rules are changed to allow 7 automatic qualifiers, the ersatz host nation will have to be one of the Big 5. I would guess that Italy might not be a contender, as hosting it two years running would mean a huge cost for them and also maybe seem unfair (should they even be willing, considering reason 1).

Therefore, I propose that the UK should step in as the ersatz host nation for 2023, for the following 5 reasons, which include an absolute minimum of 2 good ones:

  1. If the predictions are right, we will be the highest-placed of the Big 5;
  2. We have a solid history of being the default alternative host, without quibbling, when another country can't afford it/doesn't want to/is unable to - having done exactly that for Eurovision four times in the past, despite not having won the previous year, even though one of those nations pleading poverty was France!;
  3. Our main language is already the language of Eurovision: official rules state that all presenters and people helping with organising and hosting at all levels MUST speak English (along with, ideally, the (main) language of the host country) - and we have by far the largest pool of native English speakers to draw from;
  4. The (initialised) name of our country and our 'national weather' are both already included in the name of Ukraine - if that isn't an undeniable harbinger, I don't know what is;
  5. My family would love to attend the live event, and we don't have passports.
Case closed!!

Point 4 wins the Internet today 👏👏👏

FoxBaseBeta · 14/05/2022 12:23

lolliplop · 14/05/2022 11:01

I hate hearing 'everybody hates us'. It's so self-indulgent. As if any other country in Europe even gives the UK a second thought. How often do you spend thinking about Latvia or Croatia? Why would they think about us? Nobody hates us, not even on the radar.

Exactly! This and the usual Adele comments, do people really think the rest of Europe actually gives that much of a toss about us.

PortiaFimbriata · 14/05/2022 12:28

And as if Azerbaijan and Armenia give a toss about Brexit!

Procrastination4 · 14/05/2022 12:30

Ukraine will win, but I won’t be voting for their song as I dislike it (and that was before I read their totally rubbish lyrics). Sweden will be getting my vote.

Procrastination4 · 14/05/2022 12:31

However, I’m in Ireland and we didn’t even qualify-again! I wouldn’t really vote for our song either, though.

AchatAVendre · 14/05/2022 12:35

rifling · 14/05/2022 11:10

I don't think everybody hates us at all. I saw an interesting thread on twitter about how the winning songs - at least recently - have all been in a minor key. And the UK always sings in a major key! I really wanted to go with DD (we are in Italy) but couldn't get a ticket unfortunately. Her classmate went to rehearsals and it looked amazing.

Thats a good point! I remember last year's British entry for being sung in only one monotonous key except when he missed the note. Nice cheery guy and a fairly good song but no staging and it felt like not much effort was made compared to other countries.

I think in most other countries, selection is based on national contests where people can vote but in the UK in recent years, its been controlled by record companies promoting single male solo artists...

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 14/05/2022 12:51

I don't quite understand the "Ukraine won't win because they won't be able to host next year" posts.

Since when has anyone voted with 'ability to host next year' in mind?

UK will probably win somewhere between 0 and 12 points. The song's a bit dull, really.

DressingGownofDoom · 14/05/2022 12:56

Procrastination4 · 14/05/2022 12:31

However, I’m in Ireland and we didn’t even qualify-again! I wouldn’t really vote for our song either, though.

I thought it was really catchy!

knittingaddict · 14/05/2022 12:56

I sort of wish Russia hadn't been banned and the opinions of the rest of Europe would have been clear to them. On the other hand that would have involved musicians being booed off the stage and no one deserves that.

If the Ukraine entry is half way decent they will probably win and I'm happy with that. Eurovision has been very political for decades now and no reason for it to stop this year.

HappySonHappyMum · 14/05/2022 12:57

The UK are going to win tonight - this thread may be a tide of negativity but every time Eurovision comes around I fill myself full of optimism and hope we do well. We can't control how people feel about the UK or decide their votes for them but we can control how we feel about our entry. Sam has been endlessly positive, full of life and he can really sing. Lose the negativity people - it not about the winning, it's about the taking part!

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 14/05/2022 13:02

The UK are going to win tonight

Being positive is good, but you've got to be realistic too, @HappySonHappyMum ... you'll only be disappointed otherwise!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/05/2022 13:02

The only chance we have this year is coming second last to Russia.

TitoMojito · 14/05/2022 13:04

A chance of not being last perhaps Grin I think a chance of winning might be a bridge too far

HappySonHappyMum · 14/05/2022 13:05

@SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit I may well be disappointed - but I'm still going to enjoy the evening, the costumes and the music and make the most of the madness!

User7493268965 · 14/05/2022 13:05

Hopefully we will be left hand side of the board, it would be good if we got in top five.

ilovesooty · 14/05/2022 13:16

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/05/2022 13:02

The only chance we have this year is coming second last to Russia.

Who aren't competing.