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Eurovision Time!!!
- Thread starter Queso
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dynamicv said:Is anyone else watching the Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final at the moment? I quite liked the Slovenian entry.
Not sure what that Bulgarian backing singer was about though. Beard and high heels, not a good look
I wish we could watch this in the States.
(and, yes, I'm familiar with bittorrent)
iGary said:
Yep. Every country in Europe puts forward an act that performs a song. Then all the people in each country do a phone vote for the ones they like the best (you can't vote for your own country).
They take the acts with the most phone votes in each country and give them points. 12 points for the favourite, then 10 for the next one, then 8, then 6,5,4,3,2,1. They videolink to each country in turn and ask them who they voted for. It gets very tense, and there's always shockers like all the Scandinavian countries always giving each other 12 points and stuff. Once they've gone round every country the one with the most points wins, and that country hosts the contest the following year.
The voting is completely stupid, because Monaco (pop. 34000) gets the same voting power as Russia (pop. 150 million). But..
It's camp as a row of pink tits, and great fun just to get drunk to with a bunch of friends around. And it gets 600 million viewers a year.
i'm hoping for a Lordi (the finns) walk through for today ... that would simply be too hilarious
it's a little bit unfair since they are perhaps too well known already (i think it's the first time _ever_ since i have songs from a song contest artist before the contest)
it's a little bit unfair since they are perhaps too well known already (i think it's the first time _ever_ since i have songs from a song contest artist before the contest)
Actually, I like Eurovision. It's acts that embarrass their respective countries, and all the songs are cheez, but despite the horrible songs and ridiculous outfits, there's something about it that draws people to the television, and it's sort of fun. Just take it that way, don't take it too seriously, and you really will enjoy it even if you don't admit it.
It's like watching a car crash or something...........eyes glued to the screen.
God I wish I watched that!
It's like watching a car crash or something...........eyes glued to the screen.
dynamicv said:Oh God, here come Finland's entry!!!
He's got WINGS!!!!! And their guitars have fireworks coming out of the end!!! There's the winner!!!
God I wish I watched that!
You might yet. I believe they're talking about a US version, where instead of countries competing against each other it would be all the various States. If I was you I'd write to your Congressman to try to make sure this never happens...MacBookDJ said:I wish we could watch this in the States.
Jaffa Cake said:
Jaffa Cake you have no soul
I think a bit of Eurovision style nonsense is exactly what the Americans need. It might get them to lighten up a bit and stop taking themselves too seriously.Abstract said:
The main contest is on tonight, so you may get to yet. Check your TV schedules.
Abstract said:
simply google lordi... you gonna find enough pictures to anticipate the contest even more
no not this year
i used to watch the eurovision every year but this year i was really looking forward to it to see Kate Ryan. Personally i thought she would win the final, obviously they choose rubbish instead of some decent songs. The eurovision has become nothing but a bunch of political voting and REAL talent is not valued more. So no more eurovision for me. I am english but i think belgium should have won or at least had a chance to go through.
ipodml
i used to watch the eurovision every year but this year i was really looking forward to it to see Kate Ryan. Personally i thought she would win the final, obviously they choose rubbish instead of some decent songs. The eurovision has become nothing but a bunch of political voting and REAL talent is not valued more. So no more eurovision for me. I am english but i think belgium should have won or at least had a chance to go through.
ipodml
The problem is, I can't imagine the American singers going in for the 'nonsense' element I can see them taking it way too seriously, and then the charm is lost. I can picture it being more towards the American Idol type of contest than Eurovision...dynamicv said:Jaffa Cake you have no soul
But don't fret, Miss Jaffa Cake and myself will be watching tonight. We're getting snacks in and everything.
Jaffa Cake said:The problem is, I can't imagine the American singers going in for the 'nonsense' element I can see them taking it way too seriously, and then the charm is lost. I can picture it being more towards the American Idol type of contest than Eurovision...
But don't fret, Miss Jaffa Cake and myself will be watching tonight. We're getting snacks in and everything.
Yeah, you're probably right. They'll probably turn it into some massively important grudge match, with all the red states voting for each other, the blue states doing the same, and nobody ever voting for California.
Actually, that's not too dissimilar from how the voting works over here
It wouldn't take long for the little voting blocks to establish themselves, that's for sure. I can imagine Alaska and Hawaii giving each other 12 points every year, just to show the mainland States...dynamicv said:
That's not fair. We're not the worst ones. I'll admit that we're sympathetic to our neighbours, but if the song sucks it gets zero points.dynamicv said:
And the points are based on the peoples votes. It's not like the outright cheating that some of the countries has been doing. In 2003 there was a report that claimed Cyprus, Greece, Kroatia, Russia, Macedonia, Malta and Romania had a deal to give points to each other no matter what the phone votes said. A French representative said that he had received offers to be in on the deal, but refused and as a result were told that France would be given zero points by Cypros no matter what the phone votes said. link (norwegian)
Not to start a flame war or anything.
I'll be watching tonight.
I'm sure there would've been if more European countries had more active members here on macrumors.Blue Velvet said:Over Eurovision!
This is semi-serious business to some people. I'm with max_altitude on this, it's one of the comedic highlights of the year.
gekko513, I wasn't picking on Scandinavia there. Just using you as an example of the bloc-voting that goes on. I've always argued that it's an argument for the break-up of the UK into several smaller countries just to get more votes, as it obviously works for the old Yugoslav states (smilie necessary here I think ). The thing is, I don't actually care who wins. I just love watching the acts perform and seeing them get all tense when the votes come in.
I wasn't aware of that scandal though. That's truly shocking. Firstly because it means some people take Eurovision seriously
). The thing is, I don't actually care who wins. I just love watching the acts perform and seeing them get all tense when the votes come in.I wasn't aware of that scandal though. That's truly shocking. Firstly because it means some people take Eurovision seriously
Don't forget either that the rule that you can't vote for your home country only applies if you actually live in your home country. If you're a Swede living in Norway, for example, there's nothing to stop you picking up the phone and voting for the Swedish Entry.gekko513 said:
I have heard stories of certain Eurovision-fanatics who live near a national border 'hopping over' into a neighbouring country to register their vote. Probably just an urban myth but you know how seriously some people take the whole thing...
Those dastardly Germans!gekko513 said:You mean like this [bbc]?
Actually, I remember his song. Fat lot of good the vote-rigging plot did him, he finished seventh.