A question for EU lovers. Why do our ‘friends’ in Europe never give us any points in Eurovision?

[surferjet]

Eurovision is known for being politically driven - friends vote for each other bla bla bla, so why do we always do so terribly?
We clearly have no friends in Europe then?
I just wish we’d pull out of this nonsense of a contest & let them get on with it.

It just makes me feel we are doing the right thing moving away from the EU as there are just so many things we do not have in common

It really comforts me to know that, even though I didn't get a vote, and my livelihood and family-life are currently at risk post-Brexit, there are dedicated UK voters who based their vote on a feeling they get from watching Eurovision.

The whole direction of the contest changed when the Eastern Europeon countries entered. Their musical history and heritage are totally unlike the other long standing participants. Some of the artists who represent Eastern European countries are huge stars in their part of the world and their Eurovision songs are played on the radio and become hit records in many countries before the contest takes place. All this has completely skewed the voting. To get anywhere in Eurovision, you need a big international hit. The last time we finished top 5 was with Jade Ewen, who toured Europe with Andrew Lloyd Webber and got the song out there. We are never going to pick up votes if the first time our song is heard seen by the majority of voters is at the Final.

juggling - Did I say I based my Brexit vote on Eurovision? No I did not.
What I am talking about is firstly the great outpouring of grief many felt when they realised we were leaving in that they felt more European than British and that they identified as European!
I talked about feeling European or not and I can't say I do.
Secondly, as has been said Eurovision changed dramatically when all the 'new' Eastern European countries joined and that goes for the EU too.

I don't buy into the 'it's all political, everyone votes for their friends' mantra. It's just sour grapes from the UK because they always come last.

Yes Sweden always vote for Norway but that's because they are culturally very similar and have similar music tastes. Eurovision songs are on the radio here (in Sweden) constantly and inevitably the scandinavian ones are on the most as that's what the listeners request.

Likewise I have a friend from Bosnia who I sometimes watch it with. There was one from Croatia which to me sounded a bit shit, and other brits were pulling the 'politcal' card when it got 12 points from the surrounding countries. But my friend was crying with laughter during it. She understood the words and the humour and said it was brilliant.

I'd love to hear a Leavers explanation for the fact the country that won isn't even in Europe, if it's all about politics.

Or the fact the country that won last year came last this year.

It's a kitsch music competition with very little logic to the votes.

The whole net is generally a catchy, quirky, ridiculous song.

We suffer from the double whammy of shit songs and no allegiances when it comes to voting.

Whilst I don't think we have, or even deserve, great allies in the EU, I don't think there's any merit in saying this is an example of why it's good that we are leaving.

In fact I think that is pretty desperate.

Although, given TMs Facebook offerings today; desperation seems par for the course.

^^ 'Whole net' should be 'winning song'!!!

The year we first won, 1966, was when we entered Sandie Shaw, who was hugely popular at the time. A few years later we entered Cliff Richard, again a mega star in the country and he came second. One year we entered Lulu who was a joint winner, but again was a big star. Most recently we've either entered has beens or people no one has heard of, with rubbish songs and then wonder why we don't do well.

It was Katrina and the waves who won for us in the 90s... well after walking on sunshine was a huge hit. The year before, we entered Gina G. Never heard of before or since - lots of nul points. still remember her song, and dance routine, though

Oh, and the year Cliff Richard came in second - he actually won, but General Franco fixed the results so he only came in second!

And I assume the reason we send in has beens and nobodies with shit songs is the Father Ted reason... the British Eurovision officials really really don't want us to win it.

Gina G did respectably well at Eurovision: she finished in the top ten.

And here, in a nutshell, as a big problem with the referendum vote.

People voted Leave because we don't get many votes in Eurovision.

And they wonder why we might consider them a bit thick...

Since Eurovision has nothing to do with the EU, and certainly nothing to do with the Referendum held in 2016, I'm curious as to how this thread ended up here ?

Or did I misunderstand the referendum question, and it was actually asking if the UK should remain a member of the EUROVISION, not the EU ?

The very existence of this thread suggests that some of that 52% were in fact voting to spare the UK any exposure to Eurovision in the future.

It just makes me feel we are doing the right thing moving away from the EU as there are just so many things we do not have in common.

Jesus Christ. This might be the stupidest brexiteer comment I've ever read.

Jesus Christ. This might be the stupidest brexiteer comment I've ever read.

Apart from the existence of this thread

And here, in a nutshell, as a big problem with the referendum vote.

People voted Leave because we don't get many votes in Eurovision.

And they wonder why we might consider them a bit thick...

Quite

I'd be surprised if it were political.

I lived in Athens during one of the Eurovision contests. Several of the songs were played regularly on the radio and artists from other countries appeared on tv shows to hawk their entry. Viewers were familiar with the songs before they heard them on the night. The UK can have quite a different type of music too. What's popular here isn't necessarily popular elsewhere.

Equally, there is a lot of movement of workers between other countries so there will be votes for the home country from ex-pats.

We can hardly isolate ourselves from Europe then complain no one likes us.

Please tell me this thread is a nod-nod-wink-wink act of self-deprecation.

Please tell me this thread is a nod-nod-wink-wink act of self-deprecation.

I wonder if it should be moved to Telly Addicts ? After all it's got nothing to do with the referendum this forum is intended for discussion about

I think we usually have crap songs in the Eurovision, so that would explain why nobody voted for us previously.

This year we had a fairly decent song, but everyone hates us because of Brexit. At least we didn't come last. The worst thing would have been if we'd come first, there's no way we can afford to host it.

But the winners weren't even European, Israel is in the Middle East! The whole thing is weird anyway, the music is rubbish!

Our songs are always miles better than any song in the top half of the table.

We’ve been coming near bottom for years now so nothing to do with Brexit.
They just don’t like us.

And the pile of absolute shite that won it this year. WTF?

Surferjet when was the last time you had your hearing tested?

Even if you personally happen to believe that the (at best) mediocre stuff we’ve been sending to Eurovision this century is actually better than Rise Like A Phoenix, Euphoria, The Common Linnets, Only Teardrops, Satellite, Fairytale, Salvador Sobrel, Sebastian Tellier, and that catchy number from Belgium two years ago, the UK record-buying public appear to disagree with you.

What does Eurovision have to do with the EU?