Delta Goodrem representing Australia in the Eurovision

[Dogladyloveswine]

Delta Goodrem is an existing pop star, worth $24 Million. I thought the Eurovision was meant to be for singers who weren't already pop stars.

I mean, why don't we just send the Rolling Stones then? Or Ed Sheeran? Where does it end? 😳

She’s a trouper, that’s for sure. Honestly I don’t think she could embarrass herself no matter how she placed. I’m not and have never been a fan but she’s a great performer and has more than proven herself.

I remember the name from the 00s but couldn’t tell you a single song name, has she been relevant at all since then? Surely she’s middle aged now. I don’t think it’s equivalent to the Rolling Stones somehow, most people actually know who they are…

@RaincloudSundae average viewing figures in the uk are 7-9million for the main show, that’s not an insubstantial number.

@InLoveWithAI give it a go, you may be due how much it’s changed since you last watched. Those of us who love it appreciate it for its whole self, not individual song entries. Yes it’s camp, over the top, sometimes weird but that’s why we love it. It’s well aware of itself and no one takes themselves too seriously, it’s just fun.

@RaincloudSundae and @1in3willgetcancer yes one of the reasons Terry Wogan retired was because of frustration at the bloc voting. EBU took note and the voting process was changed to include jury voting. It’s not perfect but it does make a difference.

@PersephonePomegranate yes Boy George featured in the song for San Marino, it was a very small feature! They didn’t get through the semifinals.

I absolutely love Eurovision. I am slightly frustrated by the UK voting this year as you can no longer phone in, you have to vote via the official website and make a physical payment with your votes. This was previously just charged to your phone bill and I think will deter a lot of people from voting.

Im also not convinced that continuing the covid implemented rule of only the primary singer having to be live and all other vocals being on a backing track makes for a good competition. Really helped define the good singing entries when it was all live, they are all much more produced sounding now. (Except Cyprus who I don’t understand how they are in the final with those weak vocals)

She is indeed middle aged! Should we report her?

😆

Gosh, she's only 41, and beautiful! Maybe a little jealousy from that last pp.

That's interesting. So it's to make people pause and think of the cost before they vote? Wasn't there some enquiry about the mass voting for Israel last year from people who hadn't even watched the show? Did lots of those votes come from the UK?

I suppose they just typed without thinking (I’ve certainly done that on occasion) but we all either get older or die. (It’s just the rules, I didn’t make it up.) And it’s a particularly thoughtless thing to say about a cancer survivor… in a world where middle aged women are often considered irrelevant at best. I mean, how dare she keep showing her face in public at her age!

I don’t follow her at all but yes, I think she’s always been stunningly attractive and I believe she’s been prominent in Australian culture throughout her career. Just because we don’t hear anything about her in the UK doesn’t mean she’s not a successful artist.

Anyway… as you were!

Last years Eurovision entrant, the beautiful Dami I’m, actually came 2nd place last year.

and Bucks Fizz won in 1981

What's the relevance? Bucks Fizz were put together for Eurovision. Cheryl Baker had previously been in Co-Co, which was a UK entry in 1978.

I'm not sure Buck's Fizz were famous before Eurovision. Weren't they a created group for it? Cheryl Baker sang as part of Coco a few years earlier. And now I've got The Bad Old Days in my head as an earworm.

@SwedishEdith that will no doubt be an unintended outcome but is actually due to BT no longer facilitating premium rate phone lines so it’s the only option for paid voting in the UK. The voting window is too small for text votes to be processed by uk phone networks and can’t comply with the EBU regulations.

Voting can’t be free in the UK (even if the bbc wanted to cover the cost) as it has to be the same for all voting countries to maintain fairness. It also prevents bot voting which was one of accusations levied against Israel last year. They have also reduced the number of votes allowed per person from 20 to 10.

The issues with voting for Israel last year were technically within the rules but not within the spirit of the competition so things have been put in place to help prevent a repeat.

She's definitely NOT middle aged - she's younger than me!

41 is objectively middle aged. But age is unimportant and it's great for a successful, talented woman to be on this stage competing against all ages of performers.

Has everyone forgotten Sir Cliff and Lulu or tge New Seekers?

No. You clearly haven't read the thread.

Getting a little glimpse of various Eurasian countries was what made it special. Adding Australia to that ruined it and it should never have been allowed and really if they can’t physically host the event then what was the point of adding them?

If the Middle East or Asia-Pacific held a song contest I don’t think it’d be right for the UK to be asked along regardless of how much they loved it or any ties they have to competing nations.

Erm….loads of countries send established musicians. We might win occasionally if we followed suit!

Do you really think that adding Australia is what ruined Eurovision?

For me what’s wrecked it has been the wars.

Yes I do think that allowing Australia to join when it doesn’t belong has ruined Eurovision. It isn’t the only thing that’s ruined it, others have mentioned additional changes that have also been detrimental, but it’s still a big one imo.

Australians should know their place really.

My tip would be to put your fingers in your ears when their middle-aged singer is on tonight. Don’t let those upstart colonials ruin it for you.

I don’t care if it was Australia, Ghana, Uruguay or Canada who was invited to join. I don’t think that any of them belong in Eurovision for the very same reason. I don’t know what her being middle aged has to do with it though. I didn’t mention her age, which isn’t an issue and I’m also 41 and therefore middle aged so why bring that up in response to my post?

And Israel then?

My advice stands though. Just ignore them. I’d say the same if they were from Ghana. Don’t let them ruin it for you. They should know when they’re not wanted.

Israel is part of Eurasia and a full member of EBU.