To not get the hype about Eurovision

[Karcher]

Just that really? Whenever it comes around each year theres so much hype, chatter and media coverage about it. But yet it's always made out to seem like 'Eurotrash' and a competition full of tacky performances and terrible songs.

The other day I was listening to the radio and the hosts were talking about Eurovision and mentioned how the U.K. usually places quite poorly in the competition, but that last year we (the U.K.) actually submitted a good entry for once and it came in second (yes I know the song and I do like it!). There was a discussion about how the panel who select the song are trying to choose better songs and artists to enter the competition with the aim to place higher in the results going forward.

Who chooses the artist and song entries each year, and why has the U.K. historically gone with such bad choices? What has prevented them from submitting a good song (equivalent to last years') during the previous years?

I heard the U.K.'s entry for this year on the radio this morning and while I don't mind the song, it sounds a bit dated and not nearly as good as last years song, although better than most of the previous entries from the U.K.

AIBU to not get the hype over the whole Eurovision thing?

It’s always good to start your own thread about something you don’t get to show how quirky you are.

Why don’t you go off and look at the numerous articles and TV programmes that have already been done about Eurovision which could answer a lot of your questions?

We sent rubbish songs for many years because we mainly had a public vote to select from various different songs and the UK public invariably picked shite ones. So that didn’t work.

Then, a panel started picking vaguely famous people like Bonnie Tyler and Englebert Humperdinck and Blue to sing the song for Europe. That didn’t work either.

The number of countries eligible to vote has increased so UK has to compete against a lot more people than for instance when Bucks Fizz won in 1981 or Katrina in 1997.

Until Sam Ryder last year, no decent contemporary act would go near the competition as they were afraid of getting nul points. It looks like Sam has shown the way forward.

Quite like the new entry and suspect it will at least get a few points!

In terms of songs chosen, the UK have only just caught on to the fact that the pure level of exposure for the song and artist is a HUGE opportunity.

Repeatedly sending naff acts and then asking about why we do badly is a very British attitude. In Turin last year, foreign Eurovision fans were hugely happy for both us and the Spaniards, for finally sending something decent quality (Spain have also been dire).

I think people get hung up on the fact that entrants often reflect niche culture (five or six songs off the top of my head last year related to local folklore, customs or sentiments), and therefore gets written off as niche weirdness.

But as someone who loves travelling Europe, where else could you see a song about Bretton folklore, a song about a mermaid legend, and a high tempo gypsy folk tribute to the cultural relationship between Moldova and Romania?

Also, Britain thinks cheesy and camp are the same thing, which they definitely aren't.

(lastly, I wish the sodding juries understood this also - Moldova deserved a lot more points for their song being a very effective version of what it is!)

I view it as something I know a lot of people enjoy, not something I watch, think it should be on a commercial channel because advertising could raise a lot if not all of the costs.

A bit like my view of opera, not my taste either.

Watch the Netflix movie called Eurovision is epic

I don’t get the hype over football but that doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t like it.

I think @LadyHarmby is spot on. Just because you don't enjoy Eurovision @Karcher doesn't mean that you can't understand why it is so popular.

DD (22) loves Eurovision. She is going to see Sam Ryder in a couple of weeks.

Give the wolf a banana.

Most of the people I know in RL that hate Eurovision haven't ever actually seen it.

It's fun and doesn't take itself seriously. The songs are always a mixed bag of shite/good/great and you never know what is coming next. What's not to like?

(But I don't know why we spent so many years sending shit entries either)

It’s gay Christmas! Over the top, cheesy, fun, inclusive. Love it.

Basically because for waaaay too long they let the public vote on which songs to send. And the public, for reasons unknown, always seem to choose the most dire one (Scooch anyone?). A few years back there was a song I really liked (Freaks) and I loved the version by Maid (I liked the other guys too) but the public chose a boring generic pop song. Freaks might not have been everyone‘s cup of tea, but it was different and catchy, and that‘s what you need at Eurovision, to stand out.

I don‘t love our entry this year, as in I wouldn‘t choose to listen to it at home, but it is catchy and I think it could do ok. Probably not win, but not nul points either.

So the moral of the story is: don‘t let the public anywhere near it!

... It's just fun?

That's really all there is to it.

I don't really get it, but I do find the scoring strangely hypnotic and rather enjoy weird jokes the presenters make.

Gay Christmas is the best description. My friends treat it as some form of religion with travelling to the host city like a trip to Mecca. They are really disappointed it's Liverpool this year. They actually booked hotel rooms in the 5 touted cities (refundable) because they are that dedicated. Bonkers!

It was ABBA's launchpad. So it must be good! 😊

I love it. I've held eurovision parties in the past and we always cook some food from the host country. Its just brilliant and silly and it doesn't matter that we don't do well, for me it's about coming together with friends and music. Also Terry Wogan used to make it for me. His comments were ace.

I've been to Eurovision three times, visiting different European cities and enjoying the culture, the amazing atmosphere and just experiencing 'Europe' at it's best - I often say that if the world was a bit more 'Eurovision' it would be a happier, more inclusive place. Everybody is welcome at Eurovision (unless you're Russian.... 😏).

Yes, it can be political but it's also batshit and funny and fluffy and exciting and quirky. Some of the music is honestly brilliant! Listen to one of the albums from previous years with all the songs on and you might be pleasantly surprised. I think it's unfair to say the UK always send shite songs and performers over - James Newman was far from terrible and his 'Nul points' were harsh. SuRie was an absolute legend, the way she dealt with the stage invasion. Every Italian I know absolutely loathed Manneskin, who won in 2021 for Italy.

The amount of basic hard graft that Sam Ryder put in last year was INSANE - he toured, he promoted, he shook hands with anyone and everyone, he is a genuinely LOVELY and very talented performer and everyone in Europe really liked him and the song was fab. He's proved he's no one trick pony either.

I like Mae's song, it's catchy, it's fun. It's going to be liked by a lot of younger Eurovision fans. It'll definitely get some points, but I don't think we'll win. Who knows who will - the clear favourites never do that well either so it's anyones guess. That's another thing to love about it. Give it another try!

Because it's a cycle of negativity.

UK sends bad acts.
UK gets null points.
BBC asks around if anyone fancies it... "Erm, sorry, busy mate".
BBC gets their also-ran Brit School roladex out and finds a dozen young artists who are willing to take a punt for the exposure.
BBC spends £6.47 on staging.
UK gets null points.

NEVER underestimate the staging. Germany's staging last year was a rug. And it somehow took longer to clear away than our mega cage thingy. And the came last.

Ive long has a theory that BBC didn’t want to stage the contest so deliberately sent shit songs for years. Then last year they had a change of heart.

I think countries sometimes deliberately send bad acts because they don't want the expense of having to host it. (E.g. Ireland sending Jedward, not once but twice.)

Also, British music already has a massive global presence. The good British artists get picked up by major labels so they don't need Eurovision to get famous. Artists from smaller countries have fewer opportunities to make their music heard on a global stage.