Eurovision 2008..

I think its about time something changed within Eurovision (as you can tell, my husband and I take Eurovision very seriously, we love it) and I think its time that there were 2 Eurovisions, one for Eastern Europe and another for Western Europe. Surely every year Spain doesn't think that Andorra has the best song, and vice versa. The UK is one of the only countries that doesn't vote politcally as a whole...

I also think that maybe its time that the UK pulled out, before the UK invaded Iraq we did well, in 2002 we came in 3rd with a great song. We even won it in 1997...its a waste of money these days as even if we have a FANTASTIC sone, it doesn't do all that well.

I would like the UK to win as I would quite like to attend the show one year...however, it probably won't happen...

I agree.  The political voting is really annoying.

I asked DH how much he thought it would cost for us to go see Eurovision live and he said our marriage, so I don't think I'll be going ever

There has to be a better way to count the votes.  I just googled the population of Andorra and it is about 70,000.  Not 7 million, not 700,000 but 70 thousand. 

Let's say that 10% of a country actually votes for Eurovision, and let's be generous (and consistent) and say that first place vote getter gets 51% of the votes.  So for Andorra, there is about 3,600 behind their 12 points. (10% of the population is 7,000 votes and 51% of those votes is 3570, so I rounded up just a bit.)

Now, let's look at the UK, population about 60 million.  Based on the same formula, it means that there are about 3 million votes behind their 12 points.  It seems fair to me that the point value should be based on number of votes.   It makes sense that you can't vote for your own country, but I would be interested in seeing what would happen if the number of points was linked to the actual number of votes.

But then maybe I am taking this all too seriously?

There has to be a better way to count the votes.  I just googled the population of Andorra and it is about 70,000.  Not 7 million, not 700,000 but 70 thousand. 

Let's say that 10% of a country actually votes for Eurovision, and let's be generous (and consistent) and say that first place vote getter gets 51% of the votes.  So for Andorra, there is about 3,600 behind their 12 points. (10% of the population is 7,000 votes and 51% of those votes is 3570, so I rounded up just a bit.)

Now, let's look at the UK, population about 60 million.  Based on the same formula, it means that there are about 3 million votes behind their 12 points.  It seems fair to me that the point value should be based on number of votes.   It makes sense that you can't vote for your own country, but I would be interested in seeing what would happen if the number of points was linked to the actual number of votes.

But then maybe I am taking this all too seriously?

Yes, I agree. Thats another thing. Why do the votes of a country like Andorra hold the same weight as the votes of a HUGE country with a HUGE population like Russia.

(okay, love this debate but going out now...hope it gets better later!!!)

It annoys me that we put a lot of money into paying for the competition and never get any votes for stupid geographical and political reasons, rather than musical reasons. I think all countires entering should pay the same.

Apparently Germany isn't happy either:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKL2559834020080525

What's the solution though?  East and West Eurovision?  I don't think that's really a good solution because it would create an us vs them mentality.

In the earlier days of the contest the U.K. didn't do too badly, although admittedly there were fewer countries taking part then.  But look at our record:

U.K. 1st place:  1967, 1969*, 1976, 1981.

U.K. 2nd place:  1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1968**, 1972, 1977.


*  Joint winner, it was a 4-way tie!
**  Lost by only 1 point.

What's the solution though?  East and West Eurovision?  I don't think that's really a good solution because it would create an us vs them mentality.

Yes, but it is that way already! Apparently the Russian singer is a HUGE star in Russia and his videos and music are hugely popular on Russian MTV, now Russian MTV is beamed to all the Russian states, and former Russian states, so thats a HUGE advantage.

So Celine Dion won for Switzerland, why can't Kylie sing for the UK?

Apparently France, Germany and the UK put the most financial backing into Eurovision.

I find it then quite ironic that those 3 countries do practically the worse every year.  Surprised no one's left yet, but with Terry Wogan & his producer cutting out, I seriously hope that'll trigger a leaving fest of some other countries.  Might send a message.

Apparently Sweden was also pissed at Russia's win...if we can get the Nordic countries to get angry, then there's a real chance at Eurovision reform.

I only wish it was in english so i could know what they were singing about.

A tip I learned from watching Welsh TV--if you put the subtitles on, you will get a translation.  It won't catch all the phrases, but you will get the general idea. -a nice little trick! Won't help this year, but you can try it next year.

I have decided to boycott the damn thing from now on. I know its always been mildly political but it just got stupid this time around. Even Sir Terry has mentioned stepping down and he's been the commentator for 30 years! That says something. I mean even the embarrassment that were scooch last year did better! Come on now, it was never going to be about music. They should have a panel of judges who vote countries off and then run a televote. The only amusement I got out of it was listening to Sir Terry correctly predicting all the soviet/nordic blocks voting for each other.

 

Here's an interesting article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7418940.stm

Oh I can't believe I missed it this year! :\\\'(  I have loved watching Eurovision in recent years since I moved to England - purely for the camp silliness of it all.  I suppose I could have watched it - I was in Paphos, Cyprus at the time, on vacation with DH and my in-laws, but it really wasn't their thing & we were doing something else.

On Sunday morning, the version of The Times that they get in Cyprus had a little article about it, but didn't say who won - maybe it went to press before the thing finished Saturday night.  It was interesting because other European countries were depicted as being critical that the UK (Terry Wogan, etc...) doesn't take the contest properly seriously as it should.  Give me a freakin' break!

Latvia was robbed, IMO!

http://www.eurovision.tv/event/artistdetail?song=24514&event=1470

I think the UK does take Eurovision seriously, but what's wrong with a sense of humour? I loved Scooch.... 

It wouldn't be the same without Wogan. 

It wouldn't be the same without Wogan. 

It might be better!! I think Graham Norton should do it.