Eurovision 2011

[Eoin247]

Oh god. Our entries are getting worse every year. I mean Dustin the turkey was bad but jedward are potentially a step lower.

I miss our 90's entries.

[Mark]

Sorry to dampen the moment but we're probably not going to win because of political issues with countries not liking us. It happens every year, and imo labour is to blame (tony blair).

[Sammeth.]

Sorry to dampen the moment but we're probably not going to win because of political issues with countries not liking us. It happens every year, and imo labour is to blame (tony blair).

While we probably won't win, I do predict we will come in the Top 5 this year. Don't forget, whilst political voting used to be quite a big issue it has been reduced since 2009 thanks to the reintroduction of juries, which means that 50% of the vote is televoting, and 50% is made up from the countries jury which is made up of music professionals of all ages and genders and all that crap.

We've entered a group known around Europe and a pretty good song. We have pretty good odds to be up top.

Cannnnn't wait.

[Eoin247]

While we probably won't win, I do predict we will come in the Top 5 this year. Don't forget, whilst political voting used to be quite a big issue it has been reduced since 2009 thanks to the reintroduction of juries, which means that 50% of the vote is televoting, and 50% is made up from the countries jury which is made up of music professionals of all ages and genders and all that crap.

We've entered a group known around Europe and a pretty good song. We have pretty good odds to be up top.

Cannnnn't wait.

I didn't know there used to be judges? I thought it was always televoting before now.

[Sammeth.]

Televoting was introduced properly in the 1998 contest. Before then (i.e. 1956 - 1997) each country had a jury which determined where the points would go. Now we have both, so the jury votes purely on the song itself to try and deter any televoting prejudice. Works well in my opinion, public still get to have an opinion but we don't get overwhelmed by politics.

[PriceTags]

LOL, they will get all the girls voting them though. I always want the young people in because that Norway dude who won a couple years back, only won cause the girls voted him cause they thought he was "hot" and "cute".

I always put Alexander Rybak's victory down to the magic of the song rather than his looks. I'm a fine one to talk, but he's not all that, really.

As for this year, I think there's a really weak bunch of songs, with the only stand-out being France's 'Sognu', which is an opera type song in Corsican. If Blue nail it, I think we could win - also, look at our odds - Bet365, SkyBet, Tote, Betfred, Sportingbet, Paddy Power, Unibet, William Hill and Extrabet all have the UK as the second favourite - out of 43. This could be blamed on the trend that when the UK sends something decent, a disproportionate amount of money is put on it by British gamblers, though.

I'm not imagining Lena will do too well this year - her song's not as instant as 'Sattelite' and is just too 'weird'. But it's good.

[Eoin247]

Televoting was introduced properly in the 1998 contest. Before then (i.e. 1956 - 1997) each country had a jury which determined where the points would go. Now we have both, so the jury votes purely on the song itself to try and deter any televoting prejudice. Works well in my opinion, public still get to have an opinion but we don't get overwhelmed by politics.

Yeah, i believe it is a good idea. Makes it more about the songs and singing again.

I wonder if we crossed a line by having entries that are already well known. Correct me if i'm wrong but up until now hasn't it pretty much always been unknown people representing countries?

[Chris]

Yeah, i believe it is a good idea. Makes it more about the songs and singing again.

I wonder if we crossed a line by having entries that are already well known. Correct me if i'm wrong but up until now hasn't it pretty much always been unknown people representing countries?

Thats what I was thinking, by entering well established artists our chances have definitely improved.

Anyway, I probably wont be watching it cause I lost interest years ago. :L

[Sammeth.]

Yeah, i believe it is a good idea. Makes it more about the songs and singing again.

I wonder if we crossed a line by having entries that are already well known. Correct me if i'm wrong but up until now hasn't it pretty much always been unknown people representing countries?

The UK seem to have a tradition of sending lesser known artists to represent us, bar Cliff Richard, Lulu etc. Other countries don't seem to care, and often send in acts that are well known in Europe, for example Lena who won last year, Abba represented Sweden and Celine Dion has represented Switzerland before. So its a good line to cross I think, especially if it will give us an upper hand

[PriceTags]

Sorry to dampen the moment but we're probably not going to win because of political issues with countries not liking us. It happens every year, and imo labour is to blame (tony blair).

In 1997 when we last won, some people credited Tony Blair with the victory . I believe too much importance is placed on politics as far as excuses for not doing well are concerned. Ever since we last won, the three British entries which did well (1998 - 2nd, 2002 - 3rd and 2009 -5th) did so because they were good songs which people felt they could vote for. Out of tune girlbands (with Sophie from CBBC and Jenny from Atomic Kitten in them), a grooving granny in a silver trench coat, a 30odd year old man with four school girls, air hostesses with unfunny innuendo, a nervous looking 16 year old in a tracksuit, and no less than three reality TV rejects with mediocre songs (Jessica Garlick doesn't count because hers was quite good and got the result it deserved) do not Eurovision winners make. The less said about Jemini and Josh Dubovie, the better.

Yeah, i believe it is a good idea. Makes it more about the songs and singing again.

I wonder if we crossed a line by having entries that are already well known. Correct me if i'm wrong but up until now hasn't it pretty much always been unknown people representing countries?

I think the international level of success Blue had is overestimated and overplayed by fans and the BBC. They had a large following in Italy and minor success elsewhere, but they've been promoting on various European TV shows and in clubs and massive outdoor show, however, sending an act with international success will help. For example, Dima Bilan who won in 2008 (and came second in 2006) is very well known in the former USSR. People will blame the mass votes for him on the Easten Bloc wanting oil and protection, but it's simply because they know them. Also, remember that Russia sent t.A.T.u in 2003, and they probably got their placing on name alone. In 2008, again, Germany got 12 points from Bulgaria, because one of the members of No Angels is a judge on Bulgarian Idol. In 2009, using Andrew Lloyd-Webber on stage was also probably a factor in getting Jade's placing.