Austria AUSTRIA 2014 - Conchita Wurst - Rise like a Phoenix

[QwaarJet]

Exactly this

If he/she sings a joke song, it would fit with the novelty act. But he/she dressing like a novelty act but singing a "typical" song, this doesn't fit

Agreed. Austria have been backed into a corner with this decision, because it means they HAVE to have a gimmick song, or else it just won't work.

 

[Milos-BC]

The song will obviously be in the second plan regardless of the type and quality (or "quality"). That is what ORF knew as well when they selected Conchita. They are just aiming at the "shock/wow" factor, but since better similar acts failed already (DQ for example), I am pretty sure, even now already, that Conchita will pass as was (s)he is walking barefooted over the thorns.

 

[hunty73]

Well Austria have been in since 1957 and won once and come last on several occasions, and apart from 2011 (where they came 18th) they have failed to qualify (taking into account that they have withdrawn a few times in that time) since 2004. Countries who do poorly tend to give up, Andorra, Monaco, France, UK, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and also Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to a certain extent are clear examples of this. Its only a matter of time before San Marino and Montenegro give up (if they don't qualify). Austria like those others one have reached that point of not caring.

I think there is a lot of truth in this.Looking at Belgium this year they did very well and now they have said they will be doing a selection show for next year.So because they did well it seems they have decided to put more effort in.
I think Austria expected to do well this year and failed (the SVT running order didn't help) and have decided they cant be bothered for 2014.
While ESC cant base itself on if countries can be bothered or not, it does lend more to all the cheating that goes on.Slowly more and more countries only half turn up.
More people have come forward today in Sweden about Azer buying votes (and others) and if nothing is done id expect more countries to stay in ESC but put no effort in.

 

[SRBIJA]

I think Austria expected to do well this year and failed (the SVT running order didn't help) and have decided they cant be bothered for 2014.

For real? If they werent bothered to participate, they would just withdraw. Obviously they ar aiming for a qualification with an act that is completely different from their previous one(s).

And do you seriously think that the way to protest against new rules and cheating is to send mediocre songs?

 

[CypriotGirl]

For real? If they werent bothered to participate, they would just withdraw. Obviously they ar aiming for a qualification with an act that is completely different from their previous one(s).

And do you seriously think that the way to protest against new rules and cheating is to send mediocre songs?

And what an "act"

You think that sending a mediocre song which is decent is worse than sending a shameful act like Conchita Wurst? And I don't see any better than "mediocre at best" song coming from him/her.

 

[SRBIJA]

And what an "act"

You think that sending a mediocre song which is decent is worse than sending a shameful act like Conchita Wurst? And I don't see any better than "mediocre at best" song coming from him/her.

Why shameful? Because he is tranvestite and wears a beard? He could easily get rid of it, but he won't because that is his trademark. Read comments on YT for 'Unbreakable' for example. I dont remember seeing any Austrian calling him shameful or something.

And about the song, how can we tell yet? Did anyone expect to hear Valentina Monetta singing that masterpiece after all that we saw from her last year.

And to make it clearer, I was replying to post 103 which said countries will protest against cheating by not putting any effort in.
Not putting any effort in the contest ----> most likely to send an mediocre song.

 

[elvisontheisland]

For real? If they werent bothered to participate, they would just withdraw. Obviously they ar aiming for a qualification with an act that is completely different from their previous one(s).

And do you seriously think that the way to protest against new rules and cheating is to send mediocre songs?

That isn't true. I can still vividly remember the first time we withdrew after ESC 2007, when Austrian broadcaster ORF did not bother to ask the audience who they would send to Serbia either. The result was a piss poor second-to-last place in the semifinals. This gave ORF the leverage to just say "alright, we're out of here." Pretty much using their own choice of entry as the coffin nail who has finally ruined ESC for the Austrian audience.

You see, ever since Austria has returned to the contest in 2011, we have had really poor, if not abysmal national qualifiers. That is down to ORF inviting artists they know and producers literally begging their way into our national finals. In 2011, they had a long-winded internet qualification process, which worked quite well as it brought about dull but reliable Nadine or fun and strange Klimmstein - but they abolished that process in order to cater more to their friends at the ORF. So in 2012, they rather invited nine artists (most of which have really good ties to ORF either themselves or through their producers) and let the audience pick an additional tenth one on the radio. It didn't work and the audience was left to vote either Conchita Wurst or Trackshittaz. We were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The result: last place in the semis. Finally, this year, they did something new: they invited only five of their protected artists and let both an international jury and televoters decide on who should be going to Malmö. Well, they could not have bothered in the first place, since out of the five songs, none were ESC final material.

Now, of course, they are sending an entry without consulting an absolutely powerless audience regardless, just the way they did in 2007, to prove to Austria that the blame is not to be laid on ORF, but on Austria itself. Conchita is that glorified coffin nail in a tacky frock with a tacky beard.

 

[QwaarJet]

Why shameful? Because he is tranvestite and wears a beard? He could easily get rid of it, but he won't because that is his trademark. Read comments on YT for 'Unbreakable' for example. I dont remember seeing any Austrian calling him shameful or something.

And about the song, how can we tell yet? Did anyone expect to hear Valentina Monetta singing that masterpiece after all that we saw from her last year.

And to make it clearer, I was replying to post 103 which said countries will protest against cheating by not putting any effort in.
Not putting any effort in the contest ----> most likely to send an mediocre song.

First of all, he is a drag act, not a transvestite. Secondly, I think people had high expectations for Valentina, as we knew what she was capable of when she was just doing her thing. But there are no expectations for Conchita. It's either a gimmick song which the juries will crap on, or a straight up ballad, that the public will crap on. They have no wiggle room here.

 

[Steffan]

Why shameful? Because he is tranvestite and wears a beard?

Exactly.

 

[FilipFromSweden]

Well, some gimmicks work well but most of them fail hard.
I was looking at a performance and people were standing up and claping.
I think this is going to work out for Austria with their manlady.

 

[FilipFromSweden]

Exactly.

Go back to Russia

 

[SRBIJA]

Exactly.

Go back to Russia lol.

 

[Matt]

I think people are slightly overreacting here. I understand if Conchita isn't your cup of tea but I wouldn't underestimate her odds either. Look at Verka Serduchka, Lordi, Pirates of the Sea etc. Sometimes they do connect with the voters and sometimes they don't. I remember the outcry when Alf Poir represented Austria and he did incredibly well.

And sometimes they flop like Dustin the Turkey did and many others.

Conchita can face either fate but it's a bit premature to say that this is a 100% non qualifier.

 

[anto475]

I think people are slightly overreacting here. I understand if Conchita isn't your cup of tea but I wouldn't underestimate her odds either. Look at Verka Serduchka, Lordi, Pirates of the Sea etc. Sometimes they do connect with the voters and sometimes they don't. I remember the outcry when Alf Poir represented Austria and he did incredibly well.

And sometimes they flop like Dustin the Turkey did and many others.

Conchita can face either fate but it's a bit premature to say that this is a 100% non qualifier.

The difference between Verka Serduchka/Lordi/Pirates of the Sea/Alf Poier and Conchita Wurst though is that their songs were fairly energetic, and judging on Conchita's songs that are out now, we're in for more of an Iris/Despina Olympiou performance I think. Gimmick and slow ballad rarely go well together.

 

[A-lister]

The difference between Verka Serduchka/Lordi/Pirates of the Sea/Alf Poier and Conchita Wurst though is that their songs were fairly energetic, and judging on Conchita's songs that are out now, we're in for more of an Iris/Despina Olympiou performance I think. Gimmick and slow ballad rarely go well together.

This! Conchita is a gimmick act trying to sing "serious big ballads" (with rather limited talents), which is the main issue here. I mean it's no point to compare him to Verka etc. because those were gimmick acts with fitting "gimmicky" type of entries, in the Conchita case he acts all gimmicky but want to be "taken serious" with Whitney/Mariah-esque ballads... it just doesn't fit...

 

[FilipFromSweden]

I can almost promise you guys that Conchita will collect votes.

 

[A-lister]

I can almost promise you guys that Conchita will collect votes.

We'll see, he'll be talked about for sure, but question is if acting like the "bearded lady" is enough to collect votes when you don't have much else to deliver? I guess we'll have to wait for the entry.

 

[Matt]

The difference between Verka Serduchka/Lordi/Pirates of the Sea/Alf Poier and Conchita Wurst though is that their songs were fairly energetic, and judging on Conchita's songs that are out now, we're in for more of an Iris/Despina Olympiou performance I think. Gimmick and slow ballad rarely go well together.

In that case let's wait for the song. I've always been careful judging a book by its cover. I wasn't a fan of Conchita's song either in 2012 and was relieved when Trackshittaz won so I think Europe will be able to look past the physical appearance and will mostly vote for the song.

 

[QwaarJet]

I think people are slightly overreacting here. I understand if Conchita isn't your cup of tea but I wouldn't underestimate her odds either. Look at Verka Serduchka, Lordi, Pirates of the Sea etc. Sometimes they do connect with the voters and sometimes they don't. I remember the outcry when Alf Poir represented Austria and he did incredibly well.

And sometimes they flop like Dustin the Turkey did and many others.

Conchita can face either fate but it's a bit premature to say that this is a 100% non qualifier.

I'm not sure why you put Lordi in there. Yes they had the costumes but they are a serious metal band that doesn't rely on gimmicks. The rest are joke acts, and yet none of them are as ridiculous and frankly offensive as Conchita.

 

[Milos-BC]

The difference between Verka Serduchka/Lordi/Pirates of the Sea/Alf Poier and Conchita Wurst though is that their songs were fairly energetic, and judging on Conchita's songs that are out now, we're in for more of an Iris/Despina Olympiou performance I think. Gimmick and slow ballad rarely go well together.

This exactly!

Also, 3 of these 4 mentioned acts also had some blocks to support them. Some bigger, some smaller, but they did have them. Of course, Lordi didn't win because of block voting, but they did have some block to support them, both geographically and, musically-wise (rock and hard rock fans). And which block will stand behind Conchita when even many people who have nothing drag acts in general don't support him/her? I also have nothing against drag acts but I am against Conchita.

I have read the comments on other places too, and they are quite similar and mostly negative just like here.