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.

I’m off. Praise be.

Where are you off to Sheld? Are you okay, lovely?
I'm not off but I do pong a bit!

I’m off - not due to work on Eurovis night. 🤞🏽

I’m hoping I’m not called in.

Ive yet to hear anyone’s entry apart from the Netherlands one and ours so everything will be new to me.

I will strive to keep it to one word.

And get a proper toast in for Terry. For once.

Hope you are fine. I don’t pong much either but if I’m called into work I shall kick up a stink nae canny.

I am an eejit. I am glad you aren't working Sheld. Will keep fingers crossed for you. The bloody final is the Saturday before the year 6 SATS on the Monday but
a) we love Eurovision
b) what helicopter mum is still coaching her kid on a Saturday night?!
It will affect sleep though so I might have to rewatch the results with DC on the Sunday.

i have no idea what SATS involve but it wouldn’t be a bad thinks to have a break with the results on Sunday.

You just have to be vigilant if you need it to be a surprise as spoilers are everywhere.

I will keep all crossed that the coaching is uneventful and the Monday goes well. 😊

I have made my playlist of the top 16 on the bookies favourites (plus Armenia thanks to @CharlotteStreetW1)and am giving them all an airing in the car. I like Croatia and Italy more than Switzerland - although it’s OK, and Belgium as my dark horse. I will have a listen to Denmark and see if I will add that one too - thanks @Sandytoxic

There's always a song each year that sounds like a Bond theme tune. I think Switzerland is more like a whole Bond movie in 3 minutes.

After my initial rant, I did the only sensible thing and did some online shopping. So far I've ordered a couple of what I'm calling "japocket" options and a phone pouch thing (which might not be my thing but actually looks quite useful).

Surely though, searching a small bag is easier than going through all my pockets?

Switzerland is now the booking fav after edging Croatia into second.

Switzerland is a combo of dance and pop which I think has broader appeal than some of the more dancey tunes in a field stuffed with dancey numbers. I like it.

It's the entry closest in nature to the British one - so that's us firmly stuffed (our odds have been dropping).

I think Croatia has lots of Eurovision fan appeal BUT I don't think it's got much longevity. I'm fed up of it - and my feeling is other big fans will tire of it before the night. More causal Eurovision fans will like certain nods but yeah it's not quite strong enough for me.

Italy still is a real contender. It's the one that doesn't have the competition from all the dance songs this year. I wouldn't be surprised if it did win.

The Dutch Europapa I think is going to be the club fav and actually still has some chart related traction to go in terms of popularity and public draw before the day. If he can pull off a good performance on the night he may be the outsider to do better than the 4th place the bookies have him. Do I think he can win? I think it might be a big ask.

Been looking at a few of the projections: they suggest Iceland, Ireland, Australia, Moldova and Azerbaijan are the non qualifiers for the first semi and Albania, Czechia, San Marino, Latvia, Malta and Denmark (ouch to Denmark given it's Malmö this year) who are non qualifiers for the second semi. Not sure if I agree. It's a televote only. I can see Israel not getting votes tbh.

The Final televote winner is coming in as the Netherlands with France winning the jury (UK down in 14th overall which I think is generous tbh - it does ok on the jury vote mind). Top six in order: Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine, Croatia, Netherlands and Belgium. (Netherlands interestingly bomb on the jury vote). But the projection is showing its a lot closer than a lot of recent years - there's not a lot in it.

Its still a month off but I might be getting a touch excited.

I really need to re-listen to all the others as I can't get past Italy and Armenia at the moment.

As much as I love Italy, their organisation in 2022 was shocking and Armenia looks like a logistical nightmare to get to.

(Am somewhat bemused as to how Israel are currently in the top ten with some of the bookies - are people really putting money on them?)

I don't want Italy to win purely as I don't fancy a trip to Italy with my friend next year and it'd be a dilemma over whether to try and go. I have my fears about their ability to manage crowds. I've been to gigs all over the world and had mixed experiences. It's really a cultural doubt and it doesn't help when every single Eurovision fan I've heard talk about Italy's last hosting said it was dreadful.

Croatia, Switzerland and The Netherlands definitely work better for me personally which is obviously why I controversially hope the Italian entry should face plant between now and then, thus inhibiting her ability to sing as well as she can. Nothing serious mind. Just a minor trip.

What’s the meaning behind the Netherlands entry? Tried having a google!

In interviews, Klein stated that the song is an ode to Europe and a "letter" to his late father, who taught him that the world has no borders

Europe, let's come together
(Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa)
It's now or never
I love you all (Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa)

Welcome to Europe, stay here until I die
Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa
Welcome to Europe, stay here until I die
Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa

Visit my friends in France or take a long walk to Vienna
I want to leave Netherlands, but my passport is gone
Fortunately, don't need a visa to be with you
So take the bus to Poland or the train to Berlin
I have no money for Paris, so use my imagination
Do you have a euro, please? Say "merci" and "please"
I lost everything except time
So I'm travelling every day 'cause the world is mine

Welcome to Europe, stay here until I die
Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa
Welcome to Europe, stay here until I die
Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa

Euro-pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa-pa
Euro-pa-pa-pa (Hey)
Euro-pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa-pa
Europa (Hey)

I am in Germany, but I am so alone
I am in Italy, but still, I feel pain
I'm running from myself, call for help all day long
Yeah, I even give people money, but there's no one to help me
I don't need escargots, don't need fish and chips
Don't need paella, no, I don't even know what that is
Turn on the radio, I hear Stromae with "Papaoutai"
Won't stop until they say, "Yes, yes, he does that very well, ayy"

Welcome to Europe, stay here until I die
Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa
Welcome to Europe, stay here until I die
Euro-pa-pa, Euro-pa-pa

[Post-Chorus: Joost]
Euro-pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa-pa
Euro-pa-pa-pa (Hey)
Euro-pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa-pa
Europa (Hey)

At the end he then does an outro to his Dad, how he was right about no borders

In the clip above, he says it is the story of an orphan travelling, trying to get his name out there. Dad taught him to have an open mind, no labels, no xenophobia.

I said it wasn't as good as Papaoutai, not having realised he actually mentions Stromae in the song. Papaoutai ("Dad, where are you?") is a song by Belgian singer Stromae (verlan for maestro). His father was killed in the 1994 Rwandan genocide but there was little contact before. Stromae sings about how can he be a good dad when he hasn't had one of his own. It's a brilliant song.

The outro (which iirc is the part Joost wrote) is the best part.

At the end of the day we are all human beings
My father once told me it's a world without borders
I miss you every day is what I secretly whisper
You see Dad I listened to you

It will get lost in translation for non-Dutch speakers/non-nerds but it's more than the boppy pro-Europe/anti Brexit number it initially comes across as, is what I'm saying.

If you put the subtitles on, button next to settings, and put to English you'll get the simultaneous translation of all the entries.

Is it wrong though that I want red in her round-up to describe him as
"Jaunty shoulder-padded Bontempi Orphan" though?!
I'm going to hell

Also me going to hell:
He's come up with the Dead Dad story to cover up a criticism of the EU, its open borders, wealth inequality, lack of public healthcare and Schuman's vision going up in smoke. It's an indictment not an ode.
He got the idea from Verka Serduchka

But but but that completely ignores the 2Unlimited rip off rift in the middle of the song which MUST be talked about!

No, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No There's No Limits!

I've listened to all the entries and the ones I like at this point are (alphabetically) -
Armenia
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
France
Italy
Luxembourg
Moldova
Serbia
Switzerland
Ukraine

Sweden and Denmark are ok.

Cyprus, Malta, Greece all ok.

Ireland? No idea. Maybe there is an untapped taste for that sort of malarkey out there, willing to vote by phone?

Ireland is an established artist with a European following. That's the only possible thing that will save Ireland from failing to qualify again.

I think ya doomed though.

🚨 ‼️‼️‼️ TICKET ALERT ‼️‼️‼️

More tickets on sale right now folks! We've just got tickets for Friday night jury show and seated for Saturday lunchtime (had standing before). Beyond excited!

The tickets I can see are the suite experience. They are not cheap but not really really expensive either.

We got similar tickets last year and they were amazing. They are more VIP than some of the VIP tickets.

We walked past the VIP ticket entrance where there was a massive queue to a little door. At the little door you had someone escort you to the lift. The lift had an operator. Then you were escorted past all the commentary boxes to your suite.

Your suite had a host who was there to serve you drinks in your own private room which had a private balcony which you shared with 12. There were 4 of us.

If I didn't already have tickets, which I'm perfectly happy with, Id do this again in a heartbeat. I'm staying in Copenhagen on the Monday by myself and I'm sooooo tempted but I'd have to get back there after the show. Plus DH might actually murder me as hes home with DS and very envious (He has his own trip abroad by himself later in the summer so he can't complain too much even though I get Eurovision).

Ours are in A and were £180 for Friday and £103 for Sat lunchtime. VIP would be nice but just happy to be there again.

I'm about to put a couple of standing tickets for Saturday lunchtime on Ticketmaster resale if anyone's interested...

Can re-sell from 8th April.