Eurovision 2015 - When Eurovision stopped being a contest for the European people : MY review

[lavieenrose]

If someone told the right person at the Irish, Greek, Polish, Swiss, Cypriot, Romanian, Montenegrin, Icelandic, French, Czech, Azerbaijani, and/or Russian broadcasters (some of whose songs I like but all of whose songs are clearly aiming for some nebulous version of "jury appeal") that "I Feed You My Love," "No One," "Be My Guest," "It's All About You," "Hora din Moldova," "Suus," and countless Melodifestivalen schlager entries did better with the juries than the tele-voters or that the voters were able to drag two jury top-10s last year below 20th, I'd venture to guess that this problem would be solved instantaneously.

I consider this year only the worst year of Eurovision since 2013, but some more fun/weird/both would not hurt at all. Beyond a certain level, I don't think we need outside credibility; I'll take 40 "Evighet"s over 40 "Calm After the Storm"s any day of the week.

Edit: added "Icelandic" and "'Suus'"

 

[lavieenrose]

I was just thinking about adding "Unbroken" and "Suus" to my post, and here's the thing: I like "Unbroken." In the right mood, I love "Unbroken." In fact, a majority of the time, I'd say I prefer it to "Suus" (still haven't made up my mind about whether "Suus" is one of the best or one of the worst songs ever at Eurovision, but that's a different story). But "Unbroken" is representative of the biggest problem Eurovision currently faces, and "Suus" is representative of its clearest solution. This calls for more songs that are either so what-the-hell that a lot of people (I'm not the only one, right? I hope not…) still don't know what to make of them three years later or songs that are so unbelievably dated that they're really gutsy choices in their own right but are consistently a heck of a lot of fun. Yes, Moldova tried the latter this year and misfired horribly, but that doesn't mean that everyone will anywhere close to all the time.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

I don't refer to the camp entries, people has to stop mixing up fun & party with camp, there's a difference imo.

Well, what happened now is that western countries can get away with not putting effort, before they were (sometimes unfairly sure) voted down for the fact that many were bringing mostly mediocre boring stuff, now everything has become mediocre and boring instead to cater to a niche of western taste (just for your info, not all westerners want to ONLY hear dated English radio pop, there are many especially withing the ESC fan community who were pleased with getting some other influences aswell).

And the viewing numbers were goo in the 00's, far better than the 100% jury years in the decades before.

Well we know we have different tastes but I don't see how you can say that it wasn't almost a total camp/cheese fest before Let's look at the last year of televoting, who did we have... Rodolfo Chikiwhatever, the French dude, Dustin the Turkey, Andy Abraham looking like he was back in the 60s or whenever, that Bosnian idiot Laka, those creepy old Estonian men, and the list goes on. You call that quality? I certainly don't.

It's still hard for Western country to succeed apart from the Nordics, my country has only been rated highly by the juries a single time since they have been re-introduced. Same with France. So the picture youre painting of them flinging points at us is incorrect Sure the juries have a style of song they tend to prefer, but so what so do the televoters. You can say they cancel each other out because an entry cannot succeed without the support of both jury and televote.

I thought we were talking about recent years, comparing 50/50 to 100% televote, not to the pre-90's years

 

[marty]

So, all songs have been chosen for ESC 2015. There are some final versions to be released still, but all in all we know this year's line-up.

In A-lister tradition I always wait until all countries chosen their songs to make a complete listen to all entries and an overall judgement, which means that some songs are still fresh to me and my opinion will change over the course of the upcoming months. However the initial reaction is still what it is and that is that this ESC is DREADFUL! Never in decades have ESC been this boring, mediocre, anonymous, homogeneous... and did I say boring?

I do applaud the juries for finally achieving their goal of turning this contest into a meh Balladfest with only English, wailing and western/Anglo musical influences totally overthrowing the various musical taste and diverse music of the continent. Eurovision was always an annual highlight, but I can barely stay awake after listening to this line-up and instead of happiness I feel depression.

Juries have been notorious throughout ESC history for preferring ballads over non- ballads, safe middle of the road songs over what's different culturally or genre-wise. I've been one of the voices in here warning for the jury influence, and each year we've seen the rapid decline in what made Eurovision a musical European melting pot. This contest is no longer a contest for the European viewers who pay through tax money and other ways to finance this contest, this contest is now for a lame group who don't want diversity. It's almost as if some US label hijacked the whole contest because there's very little traces of "Europe" left in this... There are no "hits" in this line-up, nothing fun or memorable, no upcoming summer hits or Eurovision modern classics... this contest is empty of absolutely everything.

The decline in Eurovision has been apparent since juries joined to destroy it, these people who somehow are regarded as "better" than the rest of us... well now we see the "result" of that taste... one big fat MEH!... As feared broadcasters don't longer choose entries to represent their countries, they choose entries to cater to the taste of juries and it's a big shame but inevitable what's happened.

If nothing drastically happens, 2015 will mark my last year watching Eurovision. This contest is no longer for the people, it's now completely in the hands of interest groups in the EBU (hence also why EBU kept the criticized voting system which gives the juries more power aswell as the broadcasters choosing the starting order).

One fat BOOOO!

another drama queen!

even if the quality of the songs might not be that good this year it is much better than it was in the 80ies or 90ies, when esc was a sole freak show. and still in many countries the televoters decided for the ballads.

 

[GWTW1939]

another drama queen!

even if the quality of the songs might not be that good this year it is much better than it was in the 80ies or 90ies, when esc was a sole freak show. and still in many countries the televoters decided for the ballads.

80s and 90s ESC was a freak show :?

 

[RainyWoods]

I Feed You My Love No One It's All About You Hora din Moldova Suus =

my favourite song of all time






We have nothing that could compare to these songs this year and what they brought to the contest, except perhaps Latvia who are following in the dark synth pop footsteps of Margaret Berger (although the song is of a different feel overall). [MENTION=14007]lavieenrose[/MENTION] is right. If only countries would look to entries like these. For all the wrong the jury have done over the years, I also feel they have done a lot of right. Without the juries help, Patricia Kaas would have flopped for instance, and that would have been a horrendous crime. It's just the juries celebration of the dull and soulless that really bugs me. I don't mind the jury being there but I feel they've been given far too much power with this new voting system. There is no way anyone can properly rank 26 songs on just two listens. It's ridiculous that the jury have the power to kill public favourites.

I want the weird and the fun back (as it's a big part of why I love Eurovision) but it's unlikely to happen. We'll probably never see another Verka or have winners like Sertab and Ruslana again, even Lordi. I've no doubt in my mind that Cezar would have been top 5 back in 2013 had it been on public vote alone. I know many people can't stick the colourful, eccentric artists and songs but I personally can't stick all the banal stuff that's slowly been trickling into the contest over the years. The culture is being sucked away, and so too is the fun and character. I don't feel the same warmth in my heart for Eurovision this year. I'm not excited at the moment

 

[SuperGirl]

Gosh, I loved the 80's. 1983 and 1989 are among my favorite ESC years ever. Not fan of 90's though. Mostly because the many undeserved irish winners.

2000's were good with many great winners as Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine and Greece. 2003 and 2006 were great ESC years for me.

2010's is not really good yet. The only year I really liked was 2012 with an amazing winner. The rest were pretty meh.

 

[A-lister]

Well we know we have different tastes but I don't see how you can say that it wasn't almost a total camp/cheese fest before Let's look at the last year of televoting, who did we have... Rodolfo Chikiwhatever, the French dude, Dustin the Turkey, Andy Abraham looking like he was back in the 60s or whenever, that Bosnian idiot Laka, those creepy old Estonian men, and the list goes on. You call that quality? I certainly don't.

You are being unfair with this comment, those were obvious joke entries... however I didn't refer to THOSE type of entries and I'm pretty sure you know that too...

However long gone are the days of Ruslana, Helena Paparizou, NOX, "Hora din Moldova's", Loboda etc. etc. etc.

 

[GWTW1939]

Things really started to take a nose dive in 2013 when they decided they wanted to rig the draw by claiming they wanted a better show (France 1st really :?) and then it got even worse last year when they decided they wanted to hand the jury MORE power and give them the ability to really tank songs more then before with that horrid ranking system. They also decided they wanted to influence televoters but trying to manipulate the show as well. In 2013 the whole thing was Sweden wink wink to Denmark and 2014 was the constant proclaiming of Conchita Queen of Austria

They need to go back to what they had in 2009-12. There was still variety and the results were varied as well but the quality entries for the most part came up on top in the end

 

[Leydan]

blame bjorkman.

 

[blue00eyes]

I think the juries are needed but EBU has to change the voting system. Current voting system is just unfair.

I agree there's too much English in Eurovision and only bringing back the language rule can help. Only few countries show their language for example Portugal and they almost everytime fail to qualify. That's because, like we all know, singing in English is a big advantage.

 

[Pawhlen]

Things really started to take a nose dive in 2013 when they decided they wanted to rig the draw by claiming they wanted a better show (France 1st really :?) and then it got even worse last year when they decided they wanted to hand the jury MORE power and give them the ability to really tank songs more then before with that horrid ranking system. They also decided they wanted to influence televoters but trying to manipulate the show as well. In 2013 the whole thing was Sweden wink wink to Denmark and 2014 was the constant proclaiming of Conchita Queen of Austria

They need to go back to what they had in 2009-12. There was still variety and the results were varied as well but the quality entries for the most part came up on top in the end

Don´t start this thing again, get over it. That is just a really really bad excuse from some people because the entry/entries they loved didn´t got a good placing

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

You are being unfair with this comment, those were obvious joke entries... however I didn't refer to THOSE type of entries and I'm pretty sure you know that too...

However long gone are the days of Ruslana, Helena Paparizou, NOX, "Hora din Moldova's", Loboda etc. etc. etc.

Well one could say the same to you and your claims

Lol Ruslana, Helena Paparizou good entries yes, but no better than the greats of today.

 

[Dante]

It's a weak year, but I wouldn't say that ESC is declining. There are always periods with great songs, strong, memorable performances, followed by years when you keep on wondering why are you watching it and how so many countries can send so many terrible songs. It's bad, but all in all still looks better than 2011 to me.

he decline in Eurovision has been apparent since juries joined to destroy it, these people who somehow are regarded as "better" than the rest of us... well now we see the "result" of that taste... one big fat MEH!

With that I strongly agree. And even if we, the vast majority, who are amateurs when it comes to music, decide to vote for bad songs, I still do not see a reason why they should come and point the right ones, after all ESC should be about having a good time.

 

[lavieenrose]

I think next year will be the year of Alcazar, Jessika, Samanta Tina, Tamara Todevska, et alia, and we'll all stop complaining.

 

[A-lister]

Well one could say the same to you and your claims

Lol Ruslana, Helena Paparizou good entries yes, but no better than the greats of today.

What do you mean?

What greats of today? Is there ANY standout song this year? Because I can't find anyone which will be remembered or having any longevity what-so-ever

 

[A-lister]

I think next year will be the year of Alcazar, Jessika, Samanta Tina, Tamara Todevska, et alia, and we'll all stop complaining.

*yuck* that's certainly NOT the type of entries I referred to was "missing" with my criticism

That would be as equally bad as now, but in a different way

 

[A-lister]

Don´t start this thing again, get over it. That is just a really really bad excuse from some people because the entry/entries they loved didn´t got a good placing

Actually he is pretty spot on, atleast between 2009-2012 the public had somewhat equal say to the juries, now everything is controlled by the EBU, broadcaster and appointed juries. Juries have de facto more power (eventhough on paper it is supposedly "50/50"), the order is pre-decided etc. It really has become worse... and the main problem is that the juries (just like the days when juries had 100% power) are voting for safe, "westernized" tracks... we're basically back in the 80's early 90's again when all the safe ballads were ranked the highest, the English entries of course too, and then the ethno stuff or indie or up-to-date or fun were ranked in the bottom.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

What do you mean?

What greats of today? Is there ANY standout song this year? Because I can't find anyone which will be remembered or having any longevity what-so-ever

That all the songs nowadays are rubbish.

Yes - Norway, Sweden, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Iceland, I would say UK and Belarus too

 

[A-lister]

That all the songs nowadays are rubbish.

Yes - Norway, Sweden, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Iceland, I would say UK and Belarus too

I didn't say that, but a handful of song that are ok-ish (but in a stronger year would be in the bottom) can't be considered a good grade?

Sweden stands out not because it particularly good, but because it's one of the few uptempo songs and feels kind of "relevant" and in the context it sounds better than it is.

Israel yes, but compared to former ESC editions which had many more of this "type" of entry, then it's not THAT wow, but yes I agree that in THIS edition it does stand out (in a good way), but the juries hate ethno and political voting will also make Israel struggle as usual.

Italy stands out a bit genre-wise, but still dated popera basically... I dunno if it would be good or bad for ESC if it won tbh... it could go both ways.

UK stands out because of its mixture, not sure I'd say is a good track though but that's obviously different taste.

Lithuania sounds like schlager Pop from Eurovision 2002 ... I don't get what's so special with it?

And the rest I already forgot the sound of