Eurovision 2024

[RunningAndSinging]

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.

not about the songs anymore just who can be the most outrageous

Yes and no.

You'd expect to see a rough pattern of voting. Switzerland didn't do as well as you might expect finishing after Armenia for example.

Equally it shows that the Netherlands WERE on for a good public vote showing despite criticisms of Joost's vocals.

Israel cleaned up most of the available 12 points, but The Netherlands STILL got a higher public vote score than Croatia.

I'd argue that would have really split voting and Croatia would not have finished 2nd.

couldn't agree more, I didn't mind the song but the performance was way inappropriate & I am in no way a prude.

I have been out/away and missed SF2 and the final. I may try to catch up, but I really didn't think much stood out this year. From SF1 I thought the staging for Dizzy was going to alienate a large section of the audience and it made it impossible for Olly to sing properly. Moving whilst singing live without affecting the sound is very difficult. The best sound is produced with excellent posture whilst standing with your knees soft. That's why your average popstar/group often sings over a click track at live performances.

'The Non-political Song Contest'

https://www.politico.eu/article/ebu-accused-of-handing-gift-to-enemies-of-europe-by-banning-union-flags-in-eurovision-final/

EU accuses Eurovision bosses of handing gift to ‘enemies of Europe’ with flag ban
“I will seek explanations and clarifications,” vows European Commission VP Margaritis Schinas

The European Broadcasting Union’s decision to ban EU flags during Saturday’s Eurovision final was a gift to “the enemies of Europe,” Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said.

“It’s mind-blowing, what the EBU did,” Schinas told POLITICO's Brussels Playbook after the song contest’s widely watched conclusion was overshadowed by political controversy.

The commissioner said the EBU’s decision to for “the first time” exclude flags other than those of participating countries was ill-timed given next month's European election, and at a time when thousands of Georgian protesters were massing in the streets of Tbilisi in support of the democratic values the EU represents.

A spokesperson for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also criticized the EBU’s move, saying: “It is certainly regrettable to ban the flag that is the flag of all the EU members and other Council of Europe members taking part in the contest and often flies alongside national flags on public buildings.”

Schinas told Playbook: “I cannot find the logical explanation for why the EBU is doing this. And what does this serve?”

“Less than a month from the European elections, who wins from banning the EU flag from Eurovision?” the commissioner added. “Only the Euroskeptics and the enemies of Europe.”

A spokesperson for the EBU said the Eurovision flag policy this year was “the same as in 2023,” with fans only permitted to bring flags of “participating countries and the rainbow/pride flags.” But recordings of last year’s event clearly show scores of EU flags in the audience.

Schinas said he would raise the matter with EBU management on Monday. “I will talk to them. I won’t let this pass,” he said. “I will seek explanations and clarifications.”

Nemo, a 24-year-old Swiss rapper who sang about their self-discovery as a non-binary person, won Eurovision 2024.

But this year’s competition, held in Malmö, Sweden, was one of the most contentious in its history, unable to escape the specter of conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere.

Ahead of the final, thousands of protesters gathered in Malmö, many waving Palestinian flags. When Israel’s contestant, Eden Golan, took the stage, she received a mixture of boos and cheers.

Nemo, the winner, remarked at the press conference after the show that they had accidentally broken their trophy. “The trophy can be fixed,” they said. “Maybe Eurovision needs a little bit of fixing too.”

Also, re the clever upside-down type of dancing - it would have been so much more impressive to see the full set, so viewers could see that the box they were in didn't actually move.

As a sidebar, this is part of what made Nemo so impressive - all that hurling around while singing very complex vocals. Olly couldn't sing The Code standing still.

This is what annoys me about dance breaks too - especially with the rule change about backing vocals played from recordings.

However, I've always said that sex/sexy doesn't win Eurovision. LGBT votes are more likely to go to song themes than to leering over the singer and dancers.

Some very sexy songs have come second or third, Fuego and Slo Mo come to mind, but I can't think of a sexy winner since forever, unless you count Ruslana who was scantily clad by the standards of the day but had a lot more going on than just that.

Some very fanciable men have won, but they tended to be fully clothed.

Loreen in 2023? I know it wasn’t a dance-around-in-a-leotard number, but I think she met the “scantily clad” criterion. Even if the panini press was the focus of her staging.

Bloody hell - Ruslana was not, "scantily clad by the standards of the day"! It was 2004, not 1904. Sheesh.

By the standards of Eurovision performances of the day, and indeed normal life today, Ruslana had on a sexy Xena outfit. I added on the "for her time" caveat because her outfit looks positively Edwardian by comparison with Bambi Thug in a string thong and the blond lass with the sheer black bodystocking and tiny lace pasties.

That said, I don't think either Bambi Thug or Loreen were running on a "sex sells" ticket.

I don’t think we had anyone in an evening gown this year, did we? I guess Norway’s singer was the closest in her wide-leg jumpsuit.

I think you may have misremembered what Ruslana wore at Eurovision.

It's certainly concerning. I presume EBU had done risk assessments?

Nah, I googled it before I first posted. I'd class it as a sexy look if you're that way inclined, but much more covered up than what counts as scantily-clad these days.

Portugal and Israel were pretty close to evening wear. Ditto Denmark who #wozrobbed in the semi finals.

Yes I agree this is 100% a sexy outfit. A beautiful woman in a leather outfit of cropped top (slashed a little at the boobs) and tiny mini skirt plus thigh high boots, cracking a whip and yelling? Of course it's sexy! (Possibly my favourite winner ever, by the way). She has more skin on show than Slovenia this year, but I guess the naked catsuit was a bit more revealing still. And I guess we didn't see much in the way of G strings early in the millennium, but you can't move for bum cheeks since Chanel.

Portugal and Denmark could be classed as evening wear. I think Israel (and Ukraine come to think of it) were more nighties though.

Sexy it may be. Scantily clad by the standards of the day it ain't!

Irish Independent
Now the EU has released a statement saying it regrets "some delegations" did not behave within the spirit of contest rules in Malmo and during their respective broadcasts.

"We regret some delegations at the Eurovision Song Concest (ESC) in Malmo didnt respect the spirt of the rules and the competition both onsite and during their broadcasts.

"We spoke to a number of delegations during the event regarding various issues that were brought to our attention.

"The EBU's governing bodies will, together with the heads of delegations, review the events surrounding the ESC in Malmo to move forward in a positive way and to ensure the values of the event are respected by everyone.

"Individual cases will be discussed by the event's governing body, the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group made up of representatives from participating broadcasters, at its next meeting."

It comes as RTE's Eurovision boss Michael Kealy spoke of the "vulnerability" of Eurovision after the song contest's most fraught event in its history.

However, Mr Kealy also hopes Bambie Thug's success in the 68th song contest will usher in a Eurovision "renaissance period" for the country.

On Sunday night, after Switzerland's Nemo had been crowned, non-binary artist Bambi Thuf gave advice to those in Ireland thinking about competing in the 2025 contest.

."Just f*king be headstrong. Get your vision on there. Don't take no for an answer. Crack the whip", they said. "You are representing Ireland but you're representing yourself, and your art, and your morals, and your belief... Just f*king take it"

Gate revealed withdrawing from Eurovision was considered "until the last second", and speak out about their experience.

"We experienced that the artist were forced into a political role. We were used in a propaganda machine."
https://www-aftenposten-no.translate.goog/kultur/i/4BqRLV/gaate-vurderte-aa-trekke-seg-fra-eurovision-frem-til-siste-sekund?_x_tr_sl=no&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

And....

The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed in a statement that it will review its flag policy ahead of Eurovision 2025.

So Norway, Ireland, Portugal, UK and Switzerland are KNOWN to have held crisis talks with the EBU and ALL nearly quit.

As it stands it sounds like Joost Klein has admited whatever it is he is accused of, but the Dutch Broadcasters all think it was next to nothing.

Swedish Police think its a clear cut case with the evidence (a confession and possibly video footage) and because its not a serious charge have fast tracked it (suggests he did not hit anyone). And that there is a good chance the prosecutors will be able to go ahead with a case.

This does not necessarily mean that Joost Klein is guilty. Given the nature of everything else coming out, I think theres fair grounds for a defence here. Especially if he did have a contract stating he should not be filmed.

The EBU statement said:
"We regret some delegations at the Eurovision Song Concest (ESC) in Malmo didnt respect the spirt of the rules and the competition both onsite and during their broadcasts.

Well we know that the Netherlands broke the rules after their disqualification during their final broadcast.

We also know that the Belgiums put up and anti-genocide statement during theirs. Twice

And that Bambi Thug complained about Israel's broadcast having broken the rules, and says they were told that KAN had broken the rules only for the EBU to put out a statement that said exactly the opposite.

This also talking about behaviour onsite. Joost Klein is a given but we also have seen multiple incidents of harassment and taking photos without consent.

This is the law in Sweden:
Also, with a new law you are not allowed to take pictures concealed without consent if it is an area private to the subject (e.g. home) or an area intended to be private (e.g. restroom, showers). Publishing a picture of a person is generally allowed, as long as no abuse of personal integrity is involved. Within a journalistic framework (in a publication with a publisher accusable by law) even more freedom is allowed. Use of a picture of a person will require consent if used in marketing or in advertising, other commercial uses might not require consent.

There is an interesting point here going forward to 2025.
Switzerland has some of the strictest laws on taking photos of one or more identifable person in a public place without consent.
This includes taking ANY picture not just for publication or use on social media. This issue can't be repeated next year or there are criminal liabilities.

This is the law in Switzerland:
Swiss civil law contains a general clause for protection of personality rights, which may be restricted only with the consent of the person affected. This applies to the right to the own image, even if a picture is taken in a public space. In principle, any unauthorized picture which aims to depict the person as such is considered an infringement of personality rights (according to the jurisprudence of the Swiss Federal Court). Therefore, just taking a person's photograph is an offensive act and consent must be obtained from any person recognizably depicted as an individual, unless their appearance is merely accidental and has nothing to do with the purpose of the image. Consent can be given expressly (either written or verbal) or implied through actions. It is generally recognized by case law and legal doctrine that consent is implied for pictures of public figures, at least when performing their public functions or activities (not necessarily also in private situations). Consent is also implied for people consciously and voluntarily exposed to the public in some kind of public event. As an exception, predominant and mostly public interests (e. g. public information, science) will allow an unauthorized picture to be admitted.

I have to say, that its interesting to see the Swiss amongst those having issues with photos in Malmo within the context of the above.

This is why I'd really like to understand what really happened to the members of the ,Israeli delegation who were banned for photo taking. I'm inclined to believe they were innocently taking pictures for their'albums' incl. other contestants and someone decided to be an a-hold and complain as permission had not been asked.