United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM 2014 - Molly - Children of the Universe

[NeonProject]

It's the BBC that have driven the optimism down for Eurovision fans in this country! We could be more optimistic about our entry if we didn't have it already considered in the back of our mind that it'll be a sub-par choice.

This pretty much hits the nail on the head.
As harsh as it sounds, they need to get rid of the Team completely, nobody currently working on the project should be allowed to return except the commentators. It needs a huge shake-up and whilst they have shaken up the formats and presenters in the last few years, the producers etc. have generally been the same (I could be wrong?) This is a huge issue, because that is where the problem lies, clearly.

You can absolutely tell when Grahame Norton doesn't think we stand a chance and it is clear he wouldn't make those decisions himself, just look at how embarrassed he was during the 2010 NF!

The producers pretty much control the whole thing and they don't have a clue whatsoever, the fact they use Dr. Eurovision (no offense, but his taste in entries is dismal and way too oldschool eurovision) as a representation of the ESC fandom in itself is ridiculous. Who can forget 2012 when he said Euphoria wasn't "my cup of tea", fans were going crazy about it that year and it became a huge hit... if the casual viewer used him as a gauge for fan opinion, I bet we looked like right idiots to them!

They need to be inclusive of the fans right now and work to understand them. The only way they will fix this is by REALLY listening to fans and even better yet, getting GENUINE fans on board for the project. Until the exclusion they have going on ends, we cannot expect to see things improve. Even if we got better results, the BBC still has to fix things and work hard to get support and respect from the fans. The majority of us pay license fees for "Quality" programming.

 

[penguinperson]

This pretty much hits the nail on the head.
As harsh as it sounds, they need to get rid of the Team completely, nobody currently working on the project should be allowed to return except the commentators. It needs a huge shake-up and whilst they have shaken up the formats and presenters in the last few years, the producers etc. have generally been the same (I could be wrong?) This is a huge issue, because that is where the problem lies, clearly.

You can absolutely tell when Grahame Norton doesn't think we stand a chance and it is clear he wouldn't make those decisions himself, just look at how embarrassed he was during the 2010 NF!

The producers pretty much control the whole thing and they don't have a clue whatsoever, the fact they use Dr. Eurovision (no offense, but his taste in entries is dismal and way too oldschool eurovision) as a representation of the ESC fandom in itself is ridiculous. Who can forget 2012 when he said Euphoria wasn't "my cup of tea", fans were going crazy about it that year and it became a huge hit... if the casual viewer used him as a gauge for fan opinion, I bet we looked like right idiots to them!

They need to be inclusive of the fans right now and work to understand them. The only way they will fix this is by REALLY listening to fans and even better yet, getting GENUINE fans on board for the project. Until the exclusion they have going on ends, we cannot expect to see things improve. Even if we got better results, the BBC still has to fix things and work hard to get support and respect from the fans. The majority of us pay license fees for "Quality" programming.

Agreed the team has to be changed. They say they will each year but it either does not happen or old hands come back. For several years the producer the rest of the year worked on University Challenge, beyond random. Moira Ross showed interest in 2009 with several blogs on ESC. Ross was an American with little perceived bias on the contest, her talents were spotted and locked into The Voice and SCD only. The web producer is still staning for Bonnie like a complete nutter, this is not to fulfill personal wants to work with people.

I feel for Graham as he does get the brunt a lot of the upset. Norton has done well and he clearly makes it known when the UK entry sucks with his comments in the voting.

I am in two minds over fan aspects. Many are stuck in the past still like Dr Eurovision and it is for the wailing divas or uptempo slut chick. I see Ruth Lorenzo has a new song out with loads of comments saying she must do it. The song is however very dreary and a big dated diva ballad. So the BBC have from one group we want modern and credible and another groups saying we want old school. Both would claim to be genine fans. Looking at the ratings breakdown for age ESC does rate old and young very little in between, hence this confusion. Ideally I would want the BBC to ignore both and just focus on a song with no perceived ideas of box ticking. If they were to box tick the one I would go for does this sound like Eurovision, if 'no' I think that should have greater consideration.

 

[Mickey]

The producers pretty much control the whole thing and they don't have a clue whatsoever, the fact they use Dr. Eurovision (no offense, but his taste in entries is dismal and way too oldschool eurovision) as a representation of the ESC fandom in itself is ridiculous. Who can forget 2012 when he said Euphoria wasn't "my cup of tea", fans were going crazy about it that year and it became a huge hit... if the casual viewer used him as a gauge for fan opinion, I bet we looked like right idiots to them!

I like Dr Eurovision. I don't share his music tastes, but he's not there to say "my taste is the fan taste". He's not even positioned on the show as the representative of the fans; he's the academic expert. He's there to give the casual viewer an insight into the show. He can tell us who is considered a surprise qualifier, point out who has a big fan base in the Balkans and debunk myths on bloc voting. He brings knowledge to the party. His personal taste is immaterial and doesn't claim to be representative of anyone.

Overall I think the BBC do an excellent job when it comes to the television show they put on in May. Ana Matronic was a revelation in place of Sara Cox. She manages to both be funny and place the acts into a wider musical context. Graham Norton is good on the Saturday, although he seems to be putting in less research than he used to (or maybe I just know more than I used to). I also love the promotional effort they put in these days, especially when Scott Mills reports live on the One Show.

It's in selecting the entry where we have the problem.

 

[DanielLuis]

I like Dr Eurovision. I don't share his music tastes, but he's not there to say "my taste is the fan taste". He's not even positioned on the show as the representative of the fans; he's the academic expert. He's there to give the casual viewer an insight into the show. He can tell us who is considered a surprise qualifier, point out who has a big fan base in the Balkans and debunk myths on bloc voting. He brings knowledge to the party. His personal taste is immaterial and doesn't claim to be representative of anyone.

Overall I think the BBC do an excellent job when it comes to the television show they put on in May. Ana Matronic was a revelation in place of Sara Cox. She manages to both be funny and place the acts into a wider musical context. Graham Norton is good on the Saturday, although he seems to be putting in less research than he used to (or maybe I just know more than I used to). I also love the promotional effort they put in these days, especially when Scott Mills reports live on the One Show.

It's in selecting the entry where we have the problem.

I'm sorry who is Dr. Eurovision? Is he like a mascot the BBC has?

 

[Mickey]

I'm sorry who is Dr. Eurovision? Is he like a mascot the BBC has?

In the semi finals, the BBC don't screen the interval act, but instead have a little discussion panel, with the commentators, maybe an artist from another country and always Dr Paul Jordan, aka Dr Eurovision.

He's a Eurovision fan who has a PhD in international studies. His doctorate is focused on Eurovision. He's used regularly as a talking head on various ESC related programmes.

Eurovision Song Contest Expert ~ Dr Paul Jordan aka "Doctor Eurovision".

 

[GWTW1939]

BBC and their outdated attitude need to be put through the blender!!

Of course we can only dream

 

[Leydan]

BBC and their outdated attitude need to be put through the blender!!

Of course we can only dream

GO JOANNA LUMLEY GO!!! BLEND THE BBC!!!

 

[malta]

been looking for more people who realistic might and could go to Denmark next year and was watching the x factor and found this guy he won it in 2005 and could be worth a shout
Shayne Ward - No Promises - YouTube

 

[Hamster]

Who ever it is I hope the BBC give us some kind of National Final, something like 1 artist 3-4 song choices even if it was just a low key selection on the Wednesday 1 hour One Show, would be great publicity for the artist specially if they have an album due out like Bonnie did.

 

[Leydan]

Who ever it is I hope the BBC give us some kind of National Final, something like 1 artist 3-4 song choices even if it was just a low key selection on the Wednesday 1 hour One Show, would be great publicity for the artist specially if they have an album due out like Bonnie did.

Any sort of return to a national final would be a huge development for the BBC. out of any sort of national final i think an internal artists then we pick from a list of songs is the most likely one we would have it. It is really basic and reasonably cheap, it wouldn't really take the BBC a lot of effort. Just pick an artist with a recent album release then air a selection of the songs for us to pick from. It is all pretty much set up for them.

 

[Mrm]

Now when Serbia don't participate, I cheer for the UK without knowing any single entry! GOOOOOO UK!!

When entries are chosen, we will see what to do then..

 

[GWTW1939]

Bonnie said the BBC listened her album and chose "Believe in Me" based on what they heard yet other people have said the album had much better choices.

No way in hell would they allow the public to chose a potential winner even if it was from has been Bonnie Tyler's album. That's how dedicated they are to losing

Love "Believe in Me" but I do morn "All I Ever Wanted" being a cover 1

 

[DanielLuis]

Any sort of return to a national final would be a huge development for the BBC. out of any sort of national final i think an internal artists then we pick from a list of songs is the most likely one we would have it. It is really basic and reasonably cheap, it wouldn't really take the BBC a lot of effort. Just pick an artist with a recent album release then air a selection of the songs for us to pick from. It is all pretty much set up for them.

I think that would be perfect to be honest, and that's what I want RTP to do this year. (Even though next year, as they have more time to prepare, I'd like an NF MF-style , kinda like ours in 2010 )
The United Kingdom is one of the countries I like the most, and I definitely want them to do better. The BBC doesn't do you any justice! It makes me so mad

 

[Mrm]

That did Spain last year, that kind of NF you mention, and it was nth special..

What will Span do this year...hmmm... :?

 

[malta]

i am hoping for a nf like in 2006 where i think it was 6 singers had 6 songs and then at the end different sections of the uk voted ( north, east, south, west wales, and scotland) it was something like this anyway cant remember it to all its detail but i think it would work better than the 2010 one where they all sung the same song. as if the song is bad it dosent matter who u bring they will be doomed.

 

[Leydan]

i am hoping for a nf like in 2006 where i think it was 6 singers had 6 songs and then at the end different sections of the UK voted ( north, east, south, west wales, and Scotland) it was something like this anyway cant remember it to all its detail but i think it would work better than the 2010 one where they all sung the same song. as if the song is bad it doesn't matter who u bring they will be doomed.

I would love to have a big contest with regional voting again, but that's not going to happen unfortunately. and the 2010 method was just disastrous, i hate any national final where one song is preselected - as you put it doesn't matter who you pick to sing it, they will be doomed. What NF i was referring too was an internal artist who sings a selection of songs and the public pick the best song. This method was used between 1964 and 1975 it was VERY successful, in that time we had 2 firsts, 6 seconds, 1 third, 2 fourths and a ninth. It was then used again between 1992 and 1994, where again we did very well, 2 seconds and a tenth. I think now the same method could have very effective results.

That did Spain last year, that kind of NF you mention, and it was nth special..

What will Span do this year...hmmm... :?

well theirs very basic, an online vote between 2 songs? then a third added. 3 isn't exactly a huge variety... What i speak about is with up 10 songs. Obviously not also perfect but its worked very well for the UK historically.

 

[Mickey]

I would love to have a big contest with regional voting again, but that's not going to happen unfortunately. and the 2010 method was just disastrous, i hate any national final where one song is preselected - as you put it doesn't matter who you pick to sing it, they will be doomed. What NF i was referring too was an internal artist who sings a selection of songs and the public pick the best song. This method was used between 1964 and 1975 it was VERY successful, in that time we had 2 firsts, 6 seconds, 1 third, 2 fourths and a ninth. It was then used again between 1992 and 1994, where again we did very well, 2 seconds and a tenth. I think now the same method could have very effective results.


well theirs very basic, an online vote between 2 songs? then a third added. 3 isn't exactly a huge variety... What i speak about is with up 10 songs. Obviously not also perfect but its worked very well for the UK historically.

I wouldn't get too transfixed with the history of the format. Those entries belonged to a different era where UK was one of the only countries allowed to sing in English, ESC was much smaller and we were in the top 2 every other year.

I'm not saying the format wouldn't work, just that history isn't a reliable guide in this case.

 

[DanielLuis]

Bonnie said the BBC listened her album and chose "Believe in Me" based on what they heard yet other people have said the album had much better choices.

I actually even heard they picked "Believe in me" because the name sounded more ESC-friendly

 

[Leydan]

I wouldn't get too transfixed with the history of the format. Those entries belonged to a different era where UK was one of the only countries allowed to sing in English, ESC was much smaller and we were in the top 2 every other year.

I'm not saying the format wouldn't work, just that history isn't a reliable guide in this case.

I guess so, i was just pointing out how well its worked out for us in the past. obviously such success wouldn't be replicated now because of how many participating countries and modernization. I still believe it would be an effective method, and the most likely option for the BBC.

I actually even heard they picked "Believe in me" because the name sounded more ESC-friendly

thats why they shouldn't pick the song. "sunshine" is an example of another song on the album that was A lot better.

 

[NeonProject]

I'm sure I read somewhere or saw an interview where Bonnie herself was even shocked they chose that song in particular.