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.

Olly and boxers in boxers in a box!

@thecatsthecats I'm very jealous of you seeing Dadi Freyr - he played near me last year but I couldn't persuade anyone to go. Probably should have just gone alone. I did see Keiino in 2019 though, a few months after eurovision - saw a post on facebook saying they were at a small venue near me that night and, on that occassion, was able to grab a friend. They were great.

A flamingo or a poodle?

Or pink Chewbacca as I've also seen it referenced as.

Such a shame about Switzerland - I really hope the staging doesn't cost them too much, and if they do lose then I hope it is to Italy, Ukraine or Armenia (or UK!!) and not to Croatia.

However, a lose for Switzerland may make them come back stronger in 2015 and a win next year would mean Eurovision 2026 would be hosted in Switzerland (possibly even Lugano?) on the 70th anniversary, which would be pretty cool. Although I can only imagine the views from the conspiracy theorists who thought last year was rigged to coincide with the the Abba anniversary.

I love Croatia personally, but I always appreciate a bit of rock in Eurovision.

I think it would be nice to see a new country win, especially one that has been such an underdog for so long.

I think Switzerland still has a chance of winning the jury vote, I just don't know how the public will take to it.

It's a very open year.

Yes pink chewbacca is probably the most fitting description @RedToothBrush 😆

Also its lovely to see both the UK and Ireland bringing great staging and sitting in the top ten of the odds.

Must be the first time since Jedward and Blue, and the quality of both entries is definitely higher this year.

I liked 'Dizzy' very much when I heard it.
I must spend more time listening to the entries as I get more out of it when I'm watching the show if I know the songs.

This has to be a wind up.

Surely?!

Apparently not.

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/ormjakt-i-eurovision-village

Marvellous 🙄

What is the actual date??

11th May. Next Saturday.

Thanks!!

Just watched the 30sec rehearsal clips of all the act but the big five.

In Semi 1
There's four I have questions marks over the vocals: Poland, Azerbaijan, Australia and Slovenia. All are going to have to step their game up to avoid being eliminated.
Croatia's second rehearsal looks considerably better than their first.
The staging for Ireland looks fab, but it seems to be heavily reliant on camera work too. I'm not convinced that's a good thing.

In Semi 2
It pains me to say this but I think a few of my fav songs aren't quite hitting the mark for me.
Firstly Belgium. Those vocals aren't right. He's shouty and straining his voice too much. I'm worried. It's such a great song but it failing.
Secondly both Switzerland and The Netherlands have released clips which have puzzled me: they get to pick which 30 secs to release so I'm finding what they picked slightly concerning. Both seem to have picked the last 30secs of their rehearsals - what should be the climax of the song. This is an odd choice tbh. It's like selecting the reveal of the whole book on the blurb on the back of a book. Its really odd. Why? For Switzerland the middle bit is the bit with the fancy vocals but hmm. Doesn't sit well for me.
For the Netherlands, it's almost been pitched that the 'ode to his father' is the sensitive reveal part of the song. Except it's been revealed now. Why? Not only that but Joost isn't quite getting the sincerity pitched right. It feels false and not authentic. I note that the rehearsal performance has english subtitles for this clip - presumably for the TV audience. So yes it feels ever so slightly lackluster.
Finally Albanias song is slightly slowed down and somehow managed to fall flat on its face as a result.
But yes, much more in this semi which aren't quite hitting the heights they should from the rehearsal clips.

Rubbish uk song sadly. Of course Iceland are doing that they always hate Israel

And now for something you really wanted to see.

Scooch return with a Eurovision song to advertise easyJet. 'All aboard the Orange Plane'.

Is it as bad as it sounds?

Well quite frankly, yes. Yes it is THAT bad. So if you are feeling like slagging off Olly Alexander, don't. We could have selected this instead...

I was sure it was on tonight and was all set for a night of wine, cheesy music and nattering away with you Eurovision fans. I have fond memories of watching it with my parents (especially my Mam) and the excitement when Ireland would win every year.

Turns out it's next weekend and I'll be away. I can record it, I guess. Won't be the same though . I also love the retro programmes where they look back on past Eurovisions - right back to black and white TVs and the days before video link when each country would give their votes (from one to twelve points) by phone.

I'm flying out with Easyjet (offical airline of Eurovision). I'm expecting... something.

I'm not. I'm also flying easyJet. They cancelled my original flight on Tuesday due to a lack of demand! It was a massive pain because I then had to find an additional nights accommodation after everything had been booked up.

Oof. You aren't wrong about some of the vocals being ropey. Damn.
I liked Azerbaijan as well.
The staging for many isn't doing it for me. Will probably help having MN's wit watching on the night.
Here's the link for anyone else wanting to do Saturday morning Eurovision-revision.
Eurovision 2024: Watch the rehearsal videos (eurovisionworld.com)

So, experiment - what I can remember five minutes after watching...

1. there was a woman astride a red horse
2. Bontempi Shoulder-Padded Orphan "from me: to my parents" is uber-cringe
3. The code bloke with the pink fluffy (magnetic?) boots does the revolving circle well (poor Olly, assume he's not then?)
4. the windows egg guy hatching from the egg
5. there were some nice white lit wings on one and some nice white light effects on another
6. firefighter woman did pyrotechnics
7. Ukraine climbed a mountain

The guy from Azerbaijan sounds like he's singing about Benidorm and now I've seen it, I can't unsee it. Weirdly, the San Marino entry really does sing about Benidorm!

Baa-ram-ewe! Curses. I cannot unhear it now either!

The Big Five draw for which half of the Grand Final they will perform in today.

This year is slightly different - six countries will draw first half, six countries will draw second half with the remain thirteen drawing producers choice. The producers will then choose what order they will be in for the Grand Final.

Olly Alexander and the German entry Isaak have done their second rehearsals this afternoon and have made their draw after completing that.

Both have got the first half of the draw. (This leaves four first half draws left).

Sweden had drawn their their exact position a few weeks back and got 1st position on the night.

Italy, Spain and France will all draw later this afternoon after their rehearsal.

Just to clarify the UK will be in the first half of the Grand Final. Exactly position tbc early hours of Friday morning.

Btw, the second rehearsal clip for the UK has been released.

Let's just say between EU worship by Joost (the EU flag is technically banned from the arena as it's not a national flag - this was strictly enforced in Liverpool) and Ollie's really VERY raunchy performance and the number of acts with nudewear this year, there's gonna be complaints!!!

Spain draw producers choice.
France have drawn second half.
Just Italy to do their 2nd rehearsal and draw now.

Best comment I've seen about Olly Alexander's performance

Interviewer: "So how gay are you going to go?"
Olly: "Yes"

Apparently not all the rehearsals have gone to plan. Windows95man had a 'mare:
https://www.reddit.com/r/eurovision/comments/1cjjs6u/windows95man_got_trapped_in_his_denim_egg_during/