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Telly addicts

Eurovision 2024

852 replies

RunningAndSinging · 01/03/2024 11:01

Anyone interested in the build up this year? I have been more aware this year as the songs are announced. I like Croatia, Ireland and Finland. Dizzy is hopefully going to do well which makes it exciting - Olli Alexander should be good performing live and he is well known in Europe.

Just reading about the controversy with Israel’s entry and I see that Iceland might send a Palastinian singer.

Ukraine have been the favourites for a while but Croatia is just ahead of them now.

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ZiriForGood · 02/03/2024 00:58

CharlotteStreetW1 · 01/03/2024 23:51

Absolutely not (we'd never get through!) but given the Big 5 pay more, they should get the same exposure as all the other acts as they've all been heard at least once all the way through (plus recaps) before Saturday night.

Sounds like wanting to have your cake and eat it.

Sandytoxic · 02/03/2024 06:34

Ah, my people! I was in Vienna when Mans won, and the atmosphere was just electric. Got to one of the afternoon shows in Liverpool last year, where I was in lurv with Voyager. Sadly I wont make it to Sweden this year, and looks like I have some TV catch ups to do!

MariaVT65 · 02/03/2024 06:49

Lunde · 01/03/2024 23:27

I love Måns and Heroes was a great song

However I really loved him as the interval act with "Love Love, Peace Peace"

Omg Love Love Peace Peace was amazing 😂

Petra Mede also does a great job, glad she is hosting again this year.

I am yet to listen to Dizzy.

I always like what Moldova bring!

And last year’s highlight for me was seeing Verka S at the beginning 🎉

NatMoz · 02/03/2024 07:12

I listened to Dizzy this morning. Definitely got a Eurovision vibe!! Switzerland however, do have something quite similar.

I've not really heard many of the songs at all this year. I usually support UK and Ukraine regardless (family are Ukrainian). Seeing Eurovision in Liverpool last year was amazing for that very reason 😍.

RedToothBrush · 02/03/2024 08:10

Dostadning · 02/03/2024 00:18

Oh no, red! You think bottom half? You know your stuff. Damn.
I thought him being well known and it having a synthy Pet Shop Boys vibe would work in his favour. Off to listen to Croatia.

It's weak compared to a lot of the other entries.

There are quite a number of full on 'europop' type electric funk entries this year. I've not seen all the entries yet (including above mentioned Switzerland) but there four I can think of off the top of my head that sort of fit into this category (Switzerland would make it five and as I say it's possible there's more). The Pet Shop Boys vibe is a thing this year.

The Croatian entry is the best of the bunch and I think the fav. On the night it will take those votes first. It's fun and cheeky and has a nod to the Polish milkmaids. And watch out for dancing cats on the backdrop. This is Semi 1.

In Semi 1 you also have Windows95man for Finland who is doing something which is fun but less full on than last year's Finnish entry.

I expect both to probably qualify for the final.

Then in Semi 2 is the Netherlands with Europapa. Think Europop with EU flags in the official video and a subtle dig at the Brits. (Lyrics say I'm in Europe til I die and then it says I don't need fish and chips. I'm a little baffled as to how it's not political. EU flags are technically banned from Eurovision - only flags from participating countries are allowed and the Brits enforced this last year - , but I don't know how they will stop it this year!) Personally I think it's weaker than the above two but it's certainly in the same vein.

I do query whether it will qualify. It's border line for me but Semi 2 is definitely the weaker and from what I've seen so far there aren't so many 'fun/crazy' entries for semi 2 so it will probably scrape through on that vote as a result.

Then there's the British entry which is a more grown up song which is more polished in the sense that it's commercial and produced. It takes itself way to seriously. The lyrics are more complex and I have my worries about vocals and performance on the night again. I think we could have similar issues to last year tbh - overproduced and staged to the detriment of a TV performance. I've watched a lot of excellent British live performer on stage over the year and a huge number have issues translating this for a TV studio performance. Even the greatest acts can suffer the problem and it's something I've long felt real pain over and it upsets me to see.
And quite frankly it's just less fun and not as Eurovision compared to the other three I mention here because it does take itself more seriously.

Inevitably with 4 Europop entries in the final, and the Croatian one being the fav it's going to impact on the British entry. Last year Germany had an entry which was heavy rock and wasn't terrible, but was directly comparable to the Finnish and Australian entries which also had that heavy rock vibe and it just looked bad by comparison and just bombed. It didn't look as fresh and fun by comparison. I really feel this is the ultimate issue for Dizzy.

I have a problem that every time I hear it, I get Dizzy Vic Reeves in my head too. This isn't good. It's a problem with our entry not being a) original enough b) fun enough. DH comment was a scything "it sounds like Scooch". It doesn't but I do get his point too though I can't really explain why.

With this also in mind, I'd keep an eye out for big ballads in contrast. If there's a bunch of Europop silly entries and less big ballads in contrast, expect that big ballad to do better than you expect.

I'm going to sit down later this weekend and watch all the entries I think.

As a side note: I AM worried about the Israel entry issue. I do think that could blow up more before the event or at one of the semis yet. If everything does go to plan and there's no further issues, I fully expect it's going to totally bomb in the voting (remember the semis are televote only - there is no jury vote anymore for the semis). It's semi 2, the weaker of them. This probably will save the headlines mind, as the issue will be resolved before the night of the final as most people don't watch the semis.

RunningAndSinging · 02/03/2024 08:48

Hopefully Olly Alexander will do some live performances before May. Lots of the other videos we have are from the live competitions from each country so we know what to expect. I remember being disappointed with live Gina G back in the day. A great song on the recording but just didn’t translate quite right on the night.

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RedToothBrush · 02/03/2024 11:42

As of this morning Croatia is the fav.

Thats shifted massively this week. (Ukraine were fav before).

Top ten are currently:
Croatia
Ukraine
Iceland
Italy
Belgium
Sweden (who havent yet made their final selection!)
UK
France
Switzerland
Lithuania

The UK were fav at one point, so its dropped a lot.

RunningAndSinging · 02/03/2024 12:52

I have been listening to the podcast and they had Mustii on from Belgium this week. His song a quite good on first listen.

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RedToothBrush · 02/03/2024 13:18

I'm liking Belgium actually. It's well done and well balanced between fun and musically good. It should fair well with the judges.

I have to say I don't think Croatia will win. It's too like last year's Finland and theres too much competition in that same bracket.

I'm looking at Italy and France as potentially benefiting from that at this stage - but there are a few more to be confirmed as entries so I'm reserving my judgement at this stage.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 02/03/2024 14:33

ZiriForGood · 02/03/2024 00:58

Sounds like wanting to have your cake and eat it.

I'm really not but I can see why you would think that. To my mind it's having the cake but not being allowed to eat it.

The acts and the fans don't care who pays for it, I'm coming at it from the point of view of the artists.

Sure they get to go straight through but bearing in mind most "casual" fans are only likely to watch the semis and the final, the Big 5 are then at an immediate disadvantage and I don't think that's right. I think they should get to perform live as the interval acts during the semis.

Everyone knows many Eurovision songs sound absolutely shocking on a first hearing but invariably turn into "growers", even by the end of the semis if that's all you're watching (although I'm still not loving Croatia yet!).

I may be wrong but this is the Eurovision hill I will die on.

Love love peace peace✌😊

RedToothBrush · 02/03/2024 15:46

I think the big five should perform at all the semis even if they aren't voted on precisely because it puts them at a disadvantage not to.

(Plus I'd get to see another three acts for my cheapo ticket!)

Dostadning · 02/03/2024 17:18

The big five - it comes down to quality (Sister, Sister Germany what were you thinking?) and promotion: Lena was a slam dunk with Satellite because it was already a hit in Europe, lots of airplay, everybody knew it by the time the finals came round. Similar to Arcade/Think about things/Soldi.
I'll be very surprised if Dizzy hasn't become well known by May.

mathanxiety · 02/03/2024 18:45

I've listened to all the songs selected so far. My current favorites are Ukraine, Italy, Moldova, and Luxembourg.

I don't think Dizzy has what it takes. It's old fashioned and lacking in pace compared to other dance/ club entries. (Speaking of which, does anyone see shades of Jimmy Savile in the singer for the Netherlands?)

RedToothBrush · 02/03/2024 19:00

Dostadning · 02/03/2024 17:18

The big five - it comes down to quality (Sister, Sister Germany what were you thinking?) and promotion: Lena was a slam dunk with Satellite because it was already a hit in Europe, lots of airplay, everybody knew it by the time the finals came round. Similar to Arcade/Think about things/Soldi.
I'll be very surprised if Dizzy hasn't become well known by May.

The UK entry has been the last one announced for the last few years.

This year it's been released the week of the big fan concert in the Netherlands when interest is high and the fans are starting to get excited.

I do think it's earlier in the cycle. Not by much but it seems strategic nonetheless.

Jellykat · 02/03/2024 20:07

Disappointed in Dizzy, i was really excited when i heard Olly was doing our entry, but the song is pretty bland and doesn't go anywhere, such a shame!

RunningAndSinging · 09/03/2024 19:55

Olly Alexander is going to sing live on Saturday Night Takeaway. Let’s see how that goes.

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RunningAndSinging · 09/03/2024 20:34

I thought that was promising. Despite Ant and Dec’s shenanigans he wasn’t put off and I think it was a strong live performance.

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Dostadning · 09/03/2024 20:55

I think he should place top ten if it has enough airplay

I also think he should have a monk's habit on in the first three seconds of the It's a sin type bars then do a reveal.

Finally, I think he should perform on a rotating platform that looks like either a disc or the globe with Europe prominent.

That, as Harry Styles can testify, is harder than it looks.

Add some techno dancing and some pyrotechnics or flashing lights and we're good! Grin

Not that I've given it much thought, you understand! Easter Wink

Olly Alexander (Years & Years) - Dizzy (Vevo Studio Performance)

Olly Alexander - Dizzy. An exclusive performance for Vevo. Watch more Olly Alexander videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkb9W6ortowOWZkvq...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3m1Rq4OGaA

Jellykat · 09/03/2024 21:39

Nope, its not even growing on me.. the only good thing about his performance with Ant and Dec, was the vintage Vivienne Westwood outfit!

RedToothBrush · 09/03/2024 23:04

Had chance to listen to most of the entries now.

Theres a lot of dance / party tracks this year.

I think this favours anything thats NOT in that vein though the red hot favour is now clearly Croatia.

Meanwhile, since the UK entry has been released, its bombed on the betting. Its now 13th favourite.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 10/03/2024 11:23

The more I hear, the more I think this is truly shocking year. Even Sweden's entry is dire.

The only one I really like so far is Italy 🇮🇹

Yirk · 10/03/2024 12:39

Nope, wasn't impressed with the Ant and Dec performance, sorry Olly, the song just isn't strong enough.

wurtle · 10/03/2024 12:43

My favourite is Windows95man. Very good lyrics and singer.

goldenlloyd · 10/03/2024 13:35

Sandytoxic · 02/03/2024 06:34

Ah, my people! I was in Vienna when Mans won, and the atmosphere was just electric. Got to one of the afternoon shows in Liverpool last year, where I was in lurv with Voyager. Sadly I wont make it to Sweden this year, and looks like I have some TV catch ups to do!

Yes to Voyager! While I love Eurovision and download the odd song most years, last year gave me Voyager and Vesna (Czechia) and I am a genuine fan of both now. I don't think last year can be beat for many reasons, but I'm not expecting anything as good as them!

SheldonsOneWordEurovisionesque · 10/03/2024 14:25

Yirk · 01/03/2024 15:28

Dizzy didn't do it for me sadly, dont think it will be a winner !

Twasshite 😠

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