What do people in your country think about ESC?

[Matt]

I can guarantee you if the Netherlands would have won last year, the Dutch people would LOVE the contest. It's just how it goes. If a country does badly, they tend to have a negative opinion about the contest. Is it based on any research or facts? Not really, it a huge generalization. When I run into people who have that opinion I ask them to elaborate it a little further and what they base their opinion of.

It's a come and go. Right now the interest in Germany is pretty popular but if we'going to flop for the next 5 years, you know the opinion is going to change.

TBH, those opinions don't matter to me cause 90% either don't watch it at all so they wouldn't even know or they're bitter cause their country has been doing badly.

 

[Yoni]

Well.... today people are like "oh Eurovision, I don't watch that, Europe hates us, we never do well"
But everytime the day after eurovision half the people talk about it, I guess that's because in the old days (until the late 80's) it has been a must seen event in Israel, that everyone talked about and it was very respecting and stuff, and eurovision and the kdam itself brought us many Israeli classic. (the latest one being "Kan").
Besides that in the past years there has been a positive change towards eurovision, so who knows

 

[No Name]

Like in Norway, ESC is also a massive kitch-fest here. Most people hate it and those who do watch it keep it to themselves.

 

[dezbee2008]

In my country, especially in the state I live in (Florida), there is far and few ESC fans. In fact I'm the only person in my family (of 5) who loves it. I even did a presentation in my college class last month, and I guess I might've turned at least a couple of classmates into fans, whether they know it or not.

 

[JustinCase]

It is virtually unknown here, but I throw a Eurovision party every year, so my friends are indoctrinated by now.

But they do seem to like it, most people here in the U.S. are not really exposed to music from outside the "Anglo"-world, and the different flags and exotic country names are very appealing. And Americans love competitions and they love entertainment, so all in all it is a show that they would enjoy.

 

[Milos-BC]

As for there was a huge euphoria when we came back in 2004, and the streets were empty when ESC was on. Of course, after a great result, the interest grew even more and there was hardly someone who could say a bad thing about ESC. The general hype was on the highest level in 2007 and 2008, and after the scandalous victory of "Cipela" on Beovizija 2009 the interest dropped significantly and most people totally lost the interest the contest, which was also helped by the bad result. As RTS' ambitions also quite lowered in the upcoming two years, I had a feeling that only the fans were watching it. People would laugh on me when they would hear that I am watching ESC, making my top-lists, etc........

And this year, the interest is quite huge again, and that is probably because we sent the artist who returned the faith in ESC here in 2004 and I guess people have high expectations from Zeljko, so those are the main reasons for this new trend

 

[Fluke]

and after the scandalous victory of "Cipela" on Beovizija 2009 the interest dropped significantly and most people totally lost the interest the contest, which was also helped by the bad result.

How was it scandalous? Can you tell more about this?

 

[Milos-BC]

^^ Well in short.......it was sort of fixed for "Cipela" to win. No one saw it coming, and after that happened, people didn't watch it in the same way as before.

Until this year that is.

 

[rogeriomachado]

The general opinion here in Portugal is that ESC is pure crap, and only Football and Cristiano Ronaldo are important xDDD
They all think that ESC is bogus, it is a political game and that Portugal never wins (go figure).

 

[Archer]

Well, of course it has a place in our popular culture especially among the youth but I don't think elder people really give a toss about it.

 

[Stargazer]

I don't think I even need to explain what people in my country think of ESC.

 

[AdelAdel]

Most of them think that ESC is a crappy contest with crappy music and what's more important - political voting all the time. The interest in ESC is worse from year to year. In 2004, when people had high hopes, after Ich Troje got 7th place a year earlier, when we got a relatively low place, people started losing interest. In 2004, ESC was the 2nd watched show on TV on the ESC night, in 2011 it was around 6th or 7th I think. Almost nobody is interested in ESC anymore, unless we start getting high places, I think. If Poland would get the top 10 of the final, let's say... 5 years in a row, then the interest would rise again.

 

[hijirio]

Well, of course it has a place in our popular culture especially among the youth but I don't think elder people really give a toss about it.

I think you're wrong.
Ask older people. Most of the old people I know say ESC was the most important TV event when they were young, they waited for it the whole year, noted the votes, gathered all the relatives etc. because there was only 1 channel, TRT, and ESC was the best TV show in it.

 

[Archer]

I think you're wrong.
Ask older people. Most of the old people I know say ESC was the most important TV event when they were young, they waited for it the whole year, noted the votes, gathered all the relatives etc. because there was only 1 channel, TRT, and ESC was the best TV show in it.

That was in the old times, as you said.

 

[SRBIJA]

Majority thinks its crappy but yet everyone loves it somehow.

 

[EmperorG]

Many people I heard talking about ESC said: ''Eurovision is for babies, gays and ladies'' :? But, many others love it

 

[Celia]

The most extended idea is "it's crap and old-fashioned". No one will ever witness to watch it yet is the most watched non-sports event of the year

 

[Little]

Question: "What do people in your country think about ESC?"
Answer by an italian person: "What is ESC?"

 

[Verjamem]

Question: "What do people in your country think about ESC?"
Answer by an italian person: "What is ESC?"

We have the same situation in Poland, but people say "Oh, it is this cheesy and political contest, where Edyta Górniak was 2nd and Ich Troje 7th"
AdelAdel quite well presented the situation in our country, but exist some minorities (expect fans), which think that Eurovision is interesting and thanks to it, we can discover a good music.

 

[LalehForWD]

Well, I think the swedish people are divided into to groups - they who like it and they who doesn't like it. But it's nevertheless a highlight of the year, much thanks to Melodifestivalen which is by far one of the biggest shows on television here. I'd say the interest for Melodifestivalen is a lot bigger than the one for Eurovision Song Contest. Perhaps our 3rd place this year will change that though.

This was said in 2011 and I agree completely. Melodifestivalen is the perfect fiesta for our dark February winter. The dramas and tabloid hype may sometimes feel a bit forced, but overall it's really a great fun. Emphasize fun and fiesta. I believe many Swedes sees the Eurovision Song Contest more like a late twist of Melodifestivalen, rather than the other way around - the real thing. Also, ESC timing isn't that great right in the busiest weeks of the year in Sweden, late May. Foreign press usually says something like "Sweden love schlager, Swedes are crazy and serious about Eurovision" etc, which leaves me pretty dumbstruck. Not that I mind they're thinking like that, but it's simply not true and they missed the whole point. Melodifestivalen can be enjoyed by anybody, young, old, devoted jazz-digger, metalhead or dansbands-fan. Eurovision is different, viewed by many but I think really enjoyed only by the fans.