Heaven knows I'm miserable now..

[communistworkethic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6244153.stm

[Little Green Man]

Woooogaaan, Wogan, it was really nothing...

[TANGODANCER]

The Eurovision, that once great bastion of others nation's musical culture, instrumentation and tradition, is nothing more than a cheap waste-of-time pop concert. Most nations sing in English and emulate British and American rock and pop. Gone is the magic of international diversity and imagination, and the beauty of mental imaging of far off lands. Add that to the blatantly political voting and only Wogan's tongue-in-cheek humour makes it even worth watching. As a music lover I used to really look forward to this event. Now, it's just Childrens Hour to music.

Rant over. Carry on voting.

[Backgammon]

I heard this on the news....

Odd, very odd. It would be good to see Mozza perform a track about a prostitute working the rainy streets of Salford during the 1980's, while all the other acts are singinging about flowers while dressed as bumble bees.

Maybe having Morrissey involved might encourage the other nations to enter songs with a bit more social commentry... Perhaps the French entry might be entitled "What the 'ell are freedom fries anyway?"

[Henrik's fan club]

Frankly, Mr Wogan

[Batman]

Let's all mock his patriotism.

[hisroyalgingerness]

there was plenty of social commentary on the last one, he was talking about schools and the state of our education system



right?

[superloop]

Childrens hour!!!! Did you see the freaks dressed up like "scary monsters" who won last year?

[TANGODANCER]

Childrens hour!!!! Did you see the freaks dressed up like "scary monsters" who won last year?

Exactly. What did it have to do with Swedish music? More like "Alice Cooper in Monsterland" or "Lord of the Things meets Kiss"

[Dujon]

Oh, come on, TANGO, lighten up a bit; Eurovision is the funniest thing on television, I wouldn't miss it for quids.

I know it's not what it used to be and perhaps that should be lamented - but it's still funny. Of course TW's commentary helps a fair bit.

[TANGODANCER]

Oh, come on, TANGO, lighten up a bit; Eurovision is the funniest thing on television, I wouldn't miss it for quids.

I know it's not what it used to be and perhaps that should be lamented - but it's still funny. Of course TW's commentary helps a fair bit.

Hey, I'm not having a paddy and smashing the keyboard Dujon. There are enough pop shows around to make anyone laugh without the Eurovision. Wogan kills me and I wouldn't watch at all but for him. I just remember some of the good French, Spanish, Polish and Portugese entries of years ago and miss all that for wannabe top of the pops stuff.

[Dujon]

. . . Wogan kills me and I wouldn't watch at all but for him. I just remember some of the good French, Spanish, Polish and Portugese entries of years ago and miss all that for wannabe top of the pops stuff.

No worries, TANGO, as in some respects I agree with you. One year we had a different feed for some reason (perhaps ol' Terry was a bit poorly) and it did highlight the inadequacies of the rest of the 'show'; it just wasn't the same.

[eric snookes]

Childrens hour!!!! Did you see the freaks dressed up like "scary monsters" who won last year?

Exactly. What did it have to do with Swedish music? More like "Alice Cooper in Monsterland" or "Lord of the Things meets Kiss"

Er, I think you'll find that Lordy Lordy (maybe one too many Lordy's there), winners from last year , are from, wait for it, Finland.

So, you're right.
What the hell did it have to so with Swedish music!

[communistworkethic]

It's very much got something to do with the Finnish music scene though. Death Metal and that ilk are very big in Scandanavia, so it is reflective of what the youth are listening too.

[TANGODANCER]

It's very much got something to do with the Finnish music scene though. Death Metal and that ilk are very big in Scandanavia, so it is reflective of what the youth are listening too.

But the Eurovision Song Contest wasn't just supposed to be about youth; it was about European root music; at least when it started out. As I said at the start, it's now just a glorified pop concert with political voting and almost everything sung in English.

[communistworkethic]

It's very much got something to do with the Finnish music scene though. Death Metal and that ilk are very big in Scandanavia, so it is reflective of what the youth are listening too.

But the Eurovision Song Contest wasn't just supposed to be about youth; it was about European root music; at least when it started out. As I said at the start, it's now just a glorified pop concert with political voting and almost everything sung in English.

and "boom bang-a-bang" shows what link to English root music? Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson weren't chuntering along to a lute or a harpsichord were they?

[TANGODANCER]

It's very much got something to do with the Finnish music scene though. Death Metal and that ilk are very big in Scandanavia, so it is reflective of what the youth are listening too.

But the Eurovision Song Contest wasn't just supposed to be about youth; it was about European root music; at least when it started out. As I said at the start, it's now just a glorified pop concert with political voting and almost everything sung in English.

and "boom bang-a-bang" shows what link to English root music? Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson weren't chuntering along to a lute or a harpsichord were they?

Then again, it isn't the "Englishvision Song Contest" is it? Our own pop music was hugely American oeientated soon after World War II. There's a wide gulf between "pop" and "popular music" worldwide. Folk, Jazz, Country, Blues, Light Classical, Latin, Easy Listening and World Music all come under the "popular music" heading. Originally, it was all about a chance to see a broad spectrum of diversified music and instrumentation of other countries. Get beyond brass bands (and without going back to Dowling and court music) and our own musical heritage is almost all classical and folk if anything.

I will add: This is in my opinion.

[communistworkethic]

and how often have any of these "root music" tracks won? They may have entered but they failed and in a competition that is about making something that translates across the whole region then something folksy in Polish probably aint gonna cut it. that's before we get in to the politics of voting.

[TANGODANCER]

and how often have any of these "root music" tracks won? They may have entered but they failed and in a competition that is about making something that translates across the whole region then something folksy in Polish probably aint gonna cut it. that's before we get in to the politics of voting.

Well, I guess "Death Metal" does translate better across the whole region. Depends what floats your boat I suppose. Then again, Bucks Fizz and all the rest and girls whipping their skirts off translates something (not sure what musically though). I was never so much concerned who won against the pleasure of hearing the whole spectrum. That was my point. I made it, said it was my opinion, and stand by it. I also already mentioned the joke voting. We've all come to accept that. Guess, like fine-art, your musical tastes and mine are light years apart, if you'll pardon me using your description.

[hisroyalgingerness]

i've heard Flat 13 are going to hit it with their social commentary "my dobber"

"you're the one for me, my dobber
I couldn't love any other
Smile darling, show those yellow teeth,
That burp baby, it's a keep
If it annoys you I will scratch you
When you fall in love with me I'll catch you"

It's beautiful