U.K. Eurovision entry! A lot of pearl clutching

[Colourofspring]

The outrage and comments I have seen about Olly Alexander’s performance is baffling to be honest. So much pearl clutching! Eurovision has always been completely camp and outrageous and yet suddenly he has been portrayed as some kind of disgrace and not representative of the UKs ‘values’ (what the fuck does that mean anyway?)

I like the song, I have seen him perform live at Glastonbury with years and years, he’s good live. Yes he’s openly gay - so what? Surely UK values should be based around tolerance and acceptance and not hysteria because his performance is considered risqué. Would it be considered the same if it was a load of half naked female dancers?

I am heterosexual but not offended by it - it’s just a performance - I hope he wins as he’s a nice guy!

So much pearl clutching!

After the second semi-final Israel is actually one of the favourites. They appear to be polling extremely highly with the public. Possibly as a reaction to knowing the quite young woman is being pretty viciously bullied. (I'm not a fan of Golan and don't like much of what I've read that she's said. But the way she's being treated by the people she's surrounded by makes me very uncomfortable, tbh.)

Possibly because there is far, far more public support for Israel in Europe than most people realise. We're currently living through an era where people won't voice their feelings but will make private moves to voice them. As currently seen in actual important situations like the Irish referendums and for non-consequential things like voting in a silly song contest.

Eurovision has always been totally camp. That's part of the fun.

A gay man should be able to express himself as he wishes. Just like heterosexual artists do.

It really is time for the UK to shake the effect of Brexit and 14 years of Tories as the past few years seem to have empowered every nasty little individual who took it as a green light to voice their homophobia, racism, xenophobia and misogyny...

This is not who we are as a nation. The UK used to have a reputation for fairness, creative innovation and tolerance and we need to go back to that.

Yea, the problem is tho that if Israel do win, they will, as a country, see it as support to continue their bombing of Rafah.

I agree re the bullying of the young girl tho- it’s shit and totally wrong.

For all of the above I refer you to the 2014 Polish entry- celebrating bring a milkmaid.

This. It's changed. The dancing and outfits being sometimes a bit skimpy or suggestive and any combination of male, female, trans, or however they identify performing is absolutely fine in my book.

However I sat down to watch the semi with my DC last night (8 -12) and some of the acts were not family friendly viewing due to how overtly sexual they were. It's just not necessary.

Something about the modern camera techniques makes it even worse. The camera was practically up one woman's ass as she bent double in a thong in a rehearsed move. The Irish one is forgettable dirge other than its attempt at a satanic porno, and the UK's just a shite song, with 'look how edgy we are in our codpieces and explicit writhing' choreography. Live cameras do not zero gravity make. It was like a media students' bad homage to virtual insanity.

I am in 2 minds about watching the final. And I have watched it since the early 90s. We might just watch on Sunday on catch up so we can fwd some of it.

I saw his performance (didn't watch the show but heard some criticisms so went and had a look) and thought the song was "OK, not great", the staging was interesting, though - like a lot of Eurovision in recent years - it was a tad over-sexualised for me. His voice is all right but he's not a great singer.

The thing is, for those of us old enough to remember watching Sandie Shaw doing 'Puppet on a string' (I was 8 and always watched Eurovision with my Mum), Eurovision has changed massively. It was a very family-friendly show and the young adults wouldn't be seen dead watching it back then. And it was all about the song and not about the elaborate staging and effects that dominate the context now - each act brought a conductor, who conducted the orchestra while they sang - have a look at ABBA's entry and their conductor came in dressed as Napoleon! It's also worth looking at old clips from then and looking at the audiences - almost all middle-aged, middle-class people dressed as if for a 60s or 70s wedding.

Some time in the late 70s, it started to be cool in an ironic sort of way and that continued such that now, it's mostly the young 'uns that watch it.

I was listening whilst driving yesterday to some young presenters talking about how marvellously "inclusive" Eurovision is now. I suppose it is - but only of a small number of specific groups. Lesbians aren't very visible, nor disabled people and the age profile of entrants is decidedly un-inclusive.

Not when he did Eurovision! His two performances there (I remember them vividly, because dancing was never Cliff's forte) were very grandma-friendly.

Are we talking about the staging where he's in a grotty men's toilet with several scantly dressed, writhing men? I found it off putting. I wouldn't like a woman singer writhing around with scantily dressed women in a bog either. The song is fine, but why he had to be in a toilet which looks a bit....um...sleazy. It will appeal to some.

I am obviously not the target market. I cant stand Madonna either. I liked some of her songs, but always hated the writhing in videos even years ago when I was a young lass and she was too.

Eurovision is full of the weird and wonderful and testosterone left the building years ago.

Exactly

ds1 calls it gay Christmas 😀

I agree with all of this especially point 5. Years and years were fab. A shame he’s gone downhill, he is talented

I love Eurovision .. watch it every year … support the UK act etc

I do think that the song is weak, the routine poor, his performance at the semis was not good, and I’ve not found him a great Eurovision Contestant - Sam Ryder set the benchmark on “how to be a Eurovision Contestant”

I doubt an Israel will win … my money is currently on Switzerland (I rarely get it right)

It's really just a man dancing with a few topless men. It's really no different to what you'd usually see female artists do. Either with half naked men or women.

Do people really believe if a child sees a gay person their sexual orientation will change?

i was told that if i talked to ds1 being gay that i would turn him gay…and that he would grow out of it, this was about 10 years ago

I think you’re probably right. Don’t have an issue with people protesting against her though. If she’s shared her views…

There is a difference in a performer who happens to be gay and lets wheel out the token camp person to see how box ticking we can be

I always wanted to be Sandie Shaw. Didn't happen.

Just listened and I really like it! But what is the chorus reminding me of - possibly an 80s song - it's going to bug me now.

Cliff Richard sung in a suit I believe at Eurovision and barely moved.
He didn't have the toilet set up Olly has or any thrusting dancers. I was only about 4 back then so maybe I missed him being outrageous

Some of it might be though. That's the thing. I've never been to Israel but my impression of it from their media is that it's quite a strange country in terms of how it's citizens see their place in the world and how they are seen by others. There is a lot of censorship and what looks to my eyes to be, a concerted effort of online propaganda on forums, twitter, tiktok, etc. Both into and out of Israel.

But I think that there are a lot of people all over the world, who don't actually object to what is happening in Gaza. Who do quietly agree with Israel. Who might think that it is sad that innocent people get killed but that it's a necessary type of sad. And we now live in a type of society where those views can't be aired. And while I absolutely don't agree with those views, I also know that if they can't be aired, they will fester and grow. This weeks it's votes for a boring song. But what will it be a decade from now?

Just watched this for the first time - I am a big Eurovision fan but listen to the songs rather than watch them before the final. My verdict? The song is just rubbish...really dull and not suited to his voice at all. The video is just...too much. Not because he is gay but because it is way over the top. Simulated sex acts would not be appropriate for either sex imo. The dancers are really good and if this were toned down a bit, it could actually be impressive. Song still sucks though.

its like all the silent tories every GE but on a much more dangerous scale.

Totally agree.

Nothing wrong with silliness and camp (doesn't have to be so desperately overtly sexual though) but this bloke tries to be some kind of political commentator and makes a tit out of himself every time he opens his mouth.

Is anyone old enough to remember Hot Gossip in the 70's? This video is a rip off of the Starship Trouper routine - except the song was better. If anyone has never seen it, look it up on YouTube.

Just waiting for the comments of "nobody likes us" once results are in and ignoring the crappiness of the song.

Got it - it's 'Wild World' by Maxi Priest.