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!

It’s a crap song trying to be ‘edgy’ and failing desperately. Thinking it’s a shit song and a shit staging doesn’t make people homophobic 🙄 We’ve been discussing Eurovision all this week and the general consensus of my friends, both gay, bi and straight is that it’s embarrassing and cringeworthy.

BTW, ‘pearl clutching’ is a nasty, outdated misogynistic and ageist phrase.

In the late eighties drag queens at my local gay pub would regularly perform "Making your mind up" It's definitely camp, as were many artists/songs.
Eurovision always had a huge gay following even decades ago, having Eurovision parties at gay clubs etc.

I’ve just watched it on YT for the first time. The very start and end notes reminded me of a Pet Shop Boys song (It’s a Sin, maybe?) but the song itself was like a Stock, Aitken & Waterman special that they’d give to one of their less successful acts.

I don’t have an issue with the act itself. I think it’s going for some shock value, which is a bit boring now, but there’s nothing that male heterosexual artists don’t do with female dancers. It’s only a shame that Terry Wogan isn’t around to give his opinion on it.

What I do have an issue with is a young woman being confined to her hotel for her own safety. I hope she doesn’t have an awful time of it. She’s a brave girl.

What has him being gay got to do with it - I don’t care what he is - the song is awful and he didn’t perform it well.

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and could not disagree more.

Definitely.

Did they all miss the female performer twerking in a thong in 2022? Plus the milkmaids from whatever year that was!

I watched a-bit of the semi finals, windowsman95 literally gets his cock out and there were a few other questionable performances 🤣🤣🤣

Strange everyone’s not keen on a gay man using sex to sell but female pop stars seem to do it all the time and it’s fine.

I've watched Eurovision for decades, I enjoy it less and less. It always used to be camp but happy family entertainment. These days a lot of it is unnecessarily sleazy overtly sexual. Perhaps that's because it how the music industry is these days.
I haven't seen any specific criticism of our entry so I'm not sure what that is, but my own view - it's become far too much about promoting causes and rights. So much this year about sexuality, gender fluidity, which yes, it's great to have a platform for acceptance. But most people just want to watch music performances and enjoy the meaningless fun, not have political messages forced into every performance.

🤣🤣🤣

Would it be considered the same if it was a load of half naked female dancers? yes I'd say it would in this day and age.

Please reconsider your use of "pearl clutching" and "hysteria" both so often used to dismiss women's feelings.

Sorry his name is windowsman95? Like Windows95?

I don't think I'd mind it so much I'd they'd cleaned the grouting

Sleaze is boring. More talent would be appreciated. Anyone can get their kit off and prance around like a sex starved goblin. Sick of tits 'n' dicks. Some decent music would be a nice change though.

I'm younger than you (not by much) but if you're bored by it, that's fine. Say that you're bored with it but the Eurovision has ALWAYS been camp, whether intentionally (as has been the case in more recent years) or unintentionally (either by the performers appearance or a silly dance routine or the name of the song even)

Yeah 🤣 go watch his performance

Because mums net is a cesspit of homophobia and transphobia

It isn't camp so much, just overtly sexualised and not appropriate for children to watch anymore.

I think the song is a bit boring but maybe in the context of Eurovision it will seem better.

I think there’s a lot of silly pearl clutching about the song/ dance routine. But it doesn’t mean the song is any better

Olly Alexander openly said he wants his performance to be as gay as possible. It's not as gay as possibly, it's as sexual as possible. I don't care if it's two men, two women, man and woman the dancing just isn't appropriate for a younger audience who in the past have enjoyed eurovision

It probably has always been camp but started off unintentionally so.

It’s meant to be just a laugh really - of course many of the songs are crap but it’s not meant to be taken that seriously!

I went to a Eurovision semi-final in 2014. Conchita (Wurst, not whatsisname @Sharptonguedwoman - as you either knew or could have found out with a very quick google) almost blew the roof off, and we were standing near one of the Polish performers, who was being incredibly suggestive. My pearls remained unclutched, it was entertainment.

Eurovision has always had this suggestive side, and to whatever extent, has reflected values/trends of the day. I didn’t much like Olly Alexander’s performance, but mainly because I found the weird angles and odd bits of crawling across the ceiling very distracting. That and the song being very run of the mill.

It’s not really “as sexual as possible”. It’s some guys doing some groin thrusts - which is more silly than anything.

Ive definitely seen much more sexual routines but somehow when women are sexualised that’s ok?

I missed Eurovision this year, but one year wasn't there a guy in a dress with a beard?

I haven't heard anyone pearl clutching. Is this the Tory press by any chance?

How did you miss it, it hasn’t been on yet..