Eurovision 2008 Song Contest

[HB13DISH]

Tonight the Eurovision 2008 song contest will be broadcasted all over Europe and the Middle East.
I used to enjoy it a lot, but over the past several years with the addition of so many new countries, it has become less enjoyable, at least for myself.
It is flattering to hear most of the songs are either in English or they just add few lines in English.
I just wish that they would sing their songs only in their own national language and be proud of it, instead of trying to win few points with a line or two sung in terrible English accent.

Several channels on Hot Bird 13E broadcast this event, but I found that the best picture and sound quality is from the German channel ARD Das Erste.
One thing I don't understand till now is why Italy stopped participating in this event over the past many years. Were they unhappy because they didn't win in a certain year and therefore decided to boycot it or what?
They really had some of the best songs in the sixties and the seventies.

 

[Analoguesat]

Looks like there are two reasons:

1) a lack of interest from RAI

2) according to wikipedia:

"A few years back, when Italy came in a terrible position with a song and performance by one of their most treasured singer-songwriters, Enrico Ruggeri, they took their ball and well home, refusing to play with Eurovision any more. They accused their fellow broadcasters of catering to the masses' lack of musical sophistication and of politicized voting."

 

[Salty25]

Can't blame them, but then I think you can take the whole thing a little too seriously. I think we should try to sent the worst act we possibly can get away with, and on that basis we're doing quite well! 0 point? Yes please, it's a badge of honour

 

[HB13DISH]

Thanks. I think they were right and things just get worse every year.
Give me San Remo Song Festival anytime instead of this fiasco.

 

[Analoguesat]

I predict another eastern European victory again this year - with the UK down in the bottom five.....

 

[T_G]

Unless there is a two headed transvestite wearing a ridiculous horror outfit, that would surely win it ;-)

 

[HB13DISH]

Unless there is a two headed transvestite wearing a ridiculous horror outfit, that would surely win it ;-)

And they accuse the masses of lack of musical sophistication

 

[rolfw]

I'll be watching, unmissable in my opinion.

Unfortunately our entry is dull as ditch water, the guy is a good singer, but the song has nothing going for it, can't do worse than last year's ridiculous retro offering though. . . . . . .Or can it? ;)

 

[normsky]

Watchin it now on my Humax in HD. Is my amp bollocksed or have they cocked up the Dolby Digital signal? All I'm picking up is the vocals. Gettin full surround on BBC1 with same amp.

 

[normsky]

lol. I think they just spotted the problem. seems to have just been corrected.

 

[Salty25]

Bit boring this year, or am I being too harsh? Bosnia was... different.

 

[rolfw]

There were some quite good songs, didn't think the Russian one was too bad, certainly in the top five, the Greek one was good and from memory Iceland wasn't bad either.

Can't see Wogan doing the job again, as his comments at the end whilst mostly being correct (apart from his view that the UK entry was good), will not be welcomed by the BBC and certainly not by Eurovision.

With regard specifically to the UK entry, I like Andy Whathisname's voice, but the song (in my opinion) was the type that artists use to pad out albums, or put in the middle of a concert when they don't have enough good songs to perform, the type you used to fast forward through on your car cassette player.

 

[Analoguesat]

Well another ritual humiliation for the UK with our official placing being last

I think there will be some serious examination by the western European countries as to if its worthwhile taking part until the blatant political voting is changed. Austria threw in the towel this year - they wont be the last.

 

[HB13DISH]

Remembering how boring last year was, I just set my DVR recorder on and watched something else.
Looked in few times during the commercial breaks and wasn't happy about what I saw or heard.
I enjoyed the clips in between the songs. There was some imagination there.
I think that in the future the countries should present their songs ONLY in their native languages, instead of singing in English, as this seems to give them more rating but make the songs less authentic.
If the UK song was in Russian, the group might have gained more points.
My definition of a good song is one that I can hear a thousand times and still want to hear it. Abba's "Waterloo" is just one example.

 

[rolfw]

I'm waiting for someone to produce a voting map, I think the results could be interesting.

 

[12man]

who does the commentator on bbc think he is? blabbering during the songs
total disrespect, most artist are doing the best they can and then him bla bla
switched between bbc and local station (swe) to get the subtext on some songs

 

[rolfw]

Can't remember hearing him talk during the songs, unless it was a slight overlap at the beginnings.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I did like the Estonian singer.