So this is finally over, have a(n un)happy DST over in Europe in a few hours time.
This makes me realize I might as well just excel in more simple concepts for WV rather than trying to do something incredibly over-elaborate - the only Photoshop work here is trying to center the banner texts each and every time, and align them right (WV 196 ain't kidding, I like symmetry, although this is not what it's supposed to allude to...). And also a little bit of the logo work; the rest of it was made in GIMP (it was easiest to prepare a background on there faster when Photoshop wasn't opening, but not the effects with the layering system that has to be merged in most of the time or bust). And the scoreboards, 100% Excel. Hence why the weird ordering, borders here and there... but it's easier to sort it and get it out on time in a specific order.
The only dramas of this edition were a couple of disqualifications of main entries that were only realized later (both cases being NF songs, the back up entry to one of which literally won everything by a fucking landslide); the late final LL that I didn't think through about because I was seeing a movie that night (which idk if it's even worth it just to see my government name on the end credits); my inbox getting jammed like three times; and me ranting about my upcoming EiC trip's failures on Discord. It all could've been way worse and I could've slipped into my .net habits all over again (one of them cracking out in the form of me writing longposts after the edition I host ends), but once again I am happy to have handled it well. Thankfully I've cleared most of the obstacles related to planning for EiC, and this edition has ended, so that's two big things out the way.
The other day I was looking at the WV database to look for whether anyone has scored anything as huge in a semi as 176 fucking points. I have not renewed my search since as I've forgotten about it so y'all can fill me in on whether this is actually THE biggest semifinal win margin of all WV time, but in my era, it pretty much is. Congratulations
, I am so sorry for not having contributed and/or having loved the song enough to vote for it in the first place, but it's got to be pretty deserved, right? Finally a Gabor77 win in these trying times. I can't say I don't miss my once-stan country I ran for for 4 editions, imagine if I did still not forget all the rules and continued with Hungary, my 5th entry would've been "My Sharona" by Paddy and the Rats. Your guess is as good as mine how well would've that done, I'm not gonna force it on Gabor to try it for himself.
As for the Hungary final score, people told me I won with a landslide, well you haven't seen a
true landslide until THIS edition, have you??
I know this is already becoming a novel but just like, 2.5 more paragraphs, bear with me. Because I have GOT to thank ALL of you who voted "Musica", my beloved non-mainstream summer jam of the year that I discovered too late to be a summer jam proper, by a wonderful(ly basic?) underrated Italian pop artist of his time, Nyco Ferrari. I gotta thank all very few of you:
=69 points (nice). Another 25th place for me as host, but honestly I'm just glad I escaped last. Even escaped Place of Real Winners (tm). And that there are people who have legitimately liked that song.
And of course shoutout to:
- Sardinia. One of the prettiest things I've heard all year.
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. Will never live my life for the next few days without "yalla yalla yalla yalla yalla yalla habiiiiiiiibiii" in my brain. Would've also been a deserved winner.
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; once again I'm an idiot who doesn't know taste because several times I've tried to talk John out from sending this, and what do I fucking know, it actually is not boring and very beautiful. We're both a plonge each, him and I.
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, sorry for the heart attacks during the semifinal result show. You'll see why when you read Excel but you were literally qualifying
by the skin of your teeth even if without placing 12th, with mostly points in the 7 through 1 range, and the only 12 you got in the semi was me in REJU
When I tell you I was happy to see this qualify when the last votes came.
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, the Place of Real Winners recipient. Another song that's sometimes way too stuck in my head (how could you not love "destiny arriiii-HIIIIIIII-iiiiiives", sometimes I just like listening to this pleasant singer-songwriter stuff without giving it points in contests because they still haven't tapped into my heart enough, but if I were weaker willed, I would've given in crying and 12ing this. xemotioncat
Thank you all for making this edition possible. Wishing you a safe travel home from Italy's word learning institute, and maybe see you in Budapest 198...
[
EXCEL]
congratulations on your win, Gabor. Winning with this amazing song certainly pays the effort of having sent many strong entries throughout your WV career! 
, not sure but I think it is the 6th time I get it, and that is all to you guys, thank youuuu so much 
And is that Uzbekistan celebrating Christmas in 4th place I see? Iconic
