DrWatson
I found this thread having seen a bit of the wretched tripe, we accidentally saw a few mins when changing channels, and by 'good fortune' (?!) saw the UK entry. A bit later on, we caught the round-up, a few seconds of each country's effort.
Indeed it is supposed to be a fun thing, I doubt that many would be expecting much in the form of a decent melody and memorable lyrics these days.
I hadn't seen even highlights for a few years, just a brief clip of the winning effort on the news, but I found this year's stuff quite depressing, some clever staging for a few, but in general a very long parade of utter tripe.
Did someone say they LIKED our 'performer'??? Ye gods. A talent free zone, either no voice or it was drowned out by the 'music' (?!) that was crashing away. Just before the end, I see that the voting now adds 'Public Vote' to the tedious delivery from the Juries round Europe.
At least the public votes bit doesn't take long, but I nearly had an accident. When it came to the announcement of the public vote for the UK, Graham Norton said "should be quite a large number" (those at the top of the board got 2 or 3 hundred). The presenter tried to keep a straight face when saying "No points", and I nearly wet myself laughing.
Apparently the public around Europe (the World?) weren't that enthusiastic for whatever gay assignations were being portrayed! Oh dear.
I can recall when performers like Sinatra, Nat King Cole, or Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, etc, relied on a good song and musical arrangement, didn't need to take their clothes off or have 42 dancers to distract attention?! I wonder if any country might try that method?!
I can recall when performers like Sinatra, Nat King Cole, or Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, etc, relied on a good song and musical arrangement, didn't need to take their clothes off or have 42 dancers to distract attention?! I wonder if any country might try that method?!
I suppose the point is that there's a different perception now of what constitutes a "good song and musical arrangement".
Music, like language, evolves. Don't forget, Beethoven was once thought of as 'revolutionary' when he started to introduce dramatic changes to the accepted ideas of harmony and melody etc.
Of course, we still listen to Beethoven - I'm not sure we'll be listening to Nemo in a couple of hundred years.
On a personal note, I don't quite know what to make of Eurovision. It becomes more OTT every year - maybe that's inevitable for an event that relies on the visuals as much, if not more, than the music. Dunno... maybe it's just entertainment!