'No, the real explanation was more simple: our songs were bad.'
May 14, 2022 10:40 PM Subscribe
In last night's Eurovision Song Contest [Fanfare], the UK came second with the entry sung by Sam Ryder. Previous to this, the most recent UK finishing positions were 26th, 26th, 24th, 15th, 24th, 24th, coming last five times since 2005. BBC: How Sam Ryder turned things around for the UK. Andover Advertiser: "The new strategy included ensuring Ryder’s single, Space Man, got played on BBC Radio 1 instead of Radio 2, and targeting smaller countries such as San Marino, Serbia, Croatia and Malta, which have the same voting powers as larger countries such as Germany."
I assumed the UK came in seconds because people thought they were voting for Ukraine…
posted by Going To Maine at 10:54 PM on May 14, 2022 [34 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 10:54 PM on May 14, 2022 [34 favorites]
I (English) was out last night with a French person, a German person, and an Austrian person. England loves Eurovision, so I asked them about how Eurovision was received in their countries - and they were all almost surprised that it was still going. Perhaps Englands best bet for Eurovision is to win when everybody else has forgotten that Eurovision is still happening.
posted by The River Ivel at 10:55 PM on May 14, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by The River Ivel at 10:55 PM on May 14, 2022 [6 favorites]
Eurovision is still big in the "everyone is aware it's happening" way in Eastern Europe, and WOW the outrage when the Ukrainian jury members didn't give Poland any points after we gave them 12! (Predictably we got 12 from the Ukrainian public, but the damage was done... hey, at least our guy could sing this time? And we got into the final for the first time in 5 years.)
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:00 AM on May 15, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:00 AM on May 15, 2022 [8 favorites]
As someone who only catches Eurovision every few years, it's been a blast this year, and a huge part of that has been Sam Ryder and his song. I watched the tail-end of the first semifinal on Tuesday and caught up on the rest the next day, which left me wondering if the UK entry was any good. As soon as I heard it, I was stunned by the realisation that the UK actually had a shot at winning for the first time since I moved here twenty years ago. It's an absolute earworm and will be the ESC 2022 song that comes to mind for me years from now.
That BBC article linked above is a great behind-the-scenes explanation of how it happened; there's also a nice half-hour documentary on iPlayer about Sam Ryder's road to Eurovision, which I challenge anyone to watch and not fall in love with the guy.
As a song, it's a clever melange of Queen, Elton John and Bowie, all of which will have endeared it to European juries and voters; Ryder's Freddie Mercury-like flourishes were in evidence on the recorded version and again last night. The recorded version also has a nice moment going into the bridge with some subtle late-Beatles vibes, another canny bit of subliminal advertising. The live performance was outstanding; after seeing so many hopefuls sabotage their chances in the semifinals by singing flat when the nerves got to them, I kept holding my breath throughout, hoping Ryder would hit every note. He so did.
If Ireland can send Jedward to Eurovision twice in a row, why not send Sam Ryder again in 2023? The man has been the UK's best ambassador to and advocate for Eurovision in years. The only obstacle I can imagine is that by next year he's become far too big a star to take a few months out for the contest.
From the BBC article: Måneskin's [2021] victory also coincided with the UK getting the dreaded "nil points". That night the BBC's Eurovision producer drowned his sorrows with his Spanish counterpart in a bar in Rotterdam. Together, they made a pact to do better next year.
Second and third place, with only seven points between them: they sure did.
posted by rory at 1:53 AM on May 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
That BBC article linked above is a great behind-the-scenes explanation of how it happened; there's also a nice half-hour documentary on iPlayer about Sam Ryder's road to Eurovision, which I challenge anyone to watch and not fall in love with the guy.
As a song, it's a clever melange of Queen, Elton John and Bowie, all of which will have endeared it to European juries and voters; Ryder's Freddie Mercury-like flourishes were in evidence on the recorded version and again last night. The recorded version also has a nice moment going into the bridge with some subtle late-Beatles vibes, another canny bit of subliminal advertising. The live performance was outstanding; after seeing so many hopefuls sabotage their chances in the semifinals by singing flat when the nerves got to them, I kept holding my breath throughout, hoping Ryder would hit every note. He so did.
If Ireland can send Jedward to Eurovision twice in a row, why not send Sam Ryder again in 2023? The man has been the UK's best ambassador to and advocate for Eurovision in years. The only obstacle I can imagine is that by next year he's become far too big a star to take a few months out for the contest.
From the BBC article: Måneskin's [2021] victory also coincided with the UK getting the dreaded "nil points". That night the BBC's Eurovision producer drowned his sorrows with his Spanish counterpart in a bar in Rotterdam. Together, they made a pact to do better next year.
Second and third place, with only seven points between them: they sure did.
posted by rory at 1:53 AM on May 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
After decades of "it's rigged", "it's all about politics" and "bloc voting makes it impossible for most countries" it's good to finally have some vindication that no, the UK was always coming last because their entry sucked. We now have solid proof that if they just bother actually turning up (in more than the most strictly literal sense) nobody has any qualms with voting for the UK. You've just gotta earn it. Like everyone else.
Sam Ryder was genuinely amazing though. Such a good performer, great song, and you just cannot watch the man talking on camera for more than about 2 seconds without smiling. An absolute credit both to the UK and to Eurovision.
posted by Dysk at 2:20 AM on May 15, 2022 [12 favorites]
Sam Ryder was genuinely amazing though. Such a good performer, great song, and you just cannot watch the man talking on camera for more than about 2 seconds without smiling. An absolute credit both to the UK and to Eurovision.
posted by Dysk at 2:20 AM on May 15, 2022 [12 favorites]
The UK almost won after giving up on the whole thing and just sending their coke dealer.
posted by groda at 2:31 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by groda at 2:31 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
...and they were all almost surprised that it was still going
Their surprise is a bit strange as the viewing figures - in the mid 180 millions for Europe - have been stable for several years. Plus the myriad of online options, plus overseas viewers e.g. Australia. Some more stats.
A clear majority of the European folks I follow on FB/Twitter were either watching it, at a Eurovision-themed party or event of some kind, or aware of it happening. It's been interesting to see more American friends and colleagues watch (or try and watch) it when possible, last year and this.
posted by Wordshore at 3:33 AM on May 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
Their surprise is a bit strange as the viewing figures - in the mid 180 millions for Europe - have been stable for several years. Plus the myriad of online options, plus overseas viewers e.g. Australia. Some more stats.
A clear majority of the European folks I follow on FB/Twitter were either watching it, at a Eurovision-themed party or event of some kind, or aware of it happening. It's been interesting to see more American friends and colleagues watch (or try and watch) it when possible, last year and this.
posted by Wordshore at 3:33 AM on May 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
We plucked down $5 to subscribe for the month on NBC peacock app here in the US. I’m ok with it being niche as long as it’s accessible somehow.
posted by yeti at 4:30 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by yeti at 4:30 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
i, um, i thought the uk entry last year was a fun little bop and deserved at least some points
posted by emmling at 4:32 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by emmling at 4:32 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
i unabashedly love jpop though so maybe my opinions are not to be trusted
posted by emmling at 4:33 AM on May 15, 2022
posted by emmling at 4:33 AM on May 15, 2022
The biggest crime this year was that there were so few points for France's "Fulenn". Brilliant Marseillaise-meets-Midsommar vibes.
posted by rory at 4:34 AM on May 15, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by rory at 4:34 AM on May 15, 2022 [13 favorites]
The biggest crime this year was that there were so few points for France's "Fulenn". Brilliant Marseillaise-meets-Midsommar vibes.
Solidly agree with this. I really enjoyed it, but then again I didn't actually bother to vote for it.
posted by knapah at 4:42 AM on May 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
Solidly agree with this. I really enjoyed it, but then again I didn't actually bother to vote for it.
posted by knapah at 4:42 AM on May 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
You've just gotta earn it. Like everyone else.
Yes, I think Eurovision is a very useful illumination of the psychic damage that often blights self-conception in British (English in particular) mentality and culture. We are still wracked by a ludicrous* post-imperial grief that drives how we see our relationship with the world, the rest of Europe in particular. There's a lingering belief that, as top nation, we are too cool for school. We too rarely, either personally or nationally, engage in full and active good faith with things where we must treat other non-superpower countries as our peers. But, by token of the same arrogance, we expect merely turning up and following the technical rules to be enough for success, and are dismayed when it turns out that others don't agree. Self-doubt and self-loathing are, of course, our first responses to this (as to so much, being British), but the imperial narrative offer the explanation we are being pulled down and held back by envious foreigners.
Our surprise that the trick to doing well in a song and performance contest is entering and promoting a good song and performer is simultaneously funny, touching and slightly despicable. Because one of the saddest parts of all of the bullshit outlined above is that it hampers us in appreciating and supporting the things in our culture that are genuinely and distinctly good. We generally either take them for granted or elevate them to a preposterous status as examples of our fundamental superiority. It doesn't *feel* like these responses are strongly at play at the moment, though, so maybe this can be a moment of minor psychic healing for the UK.
*although, I suspect, pretty much par for the course. France also continues to exhibit a post-imperial derangement, the US is a developing example and it seems clearly arguable that the whole concept of the grim Dark Ages is as much a product of sub-Roman nostalgia and self-delusion as anything.
posted by howfar at 5:32 AM on May 15, 2022 [13 favorites]
Yes, I think Eurovision is a very useful illumination of the psychic damage that often blights self-conception in British (English in particular) mentality and culture. We are still wracked by a ludicrous* post-imperial grief that drives how we see our relationship with the world, the rest of Europe in particular. There's a lingering belief that, as top nation, we are too cool for school. We too rarely, either personally or nationally, engage in full and active good faith with things where we must treat other non-superpower countries as our peers. But, by token of the same arrogance, we expect merely turning up and following the technical rules to be enough for success, and are dismayed when it turns out that others don't agree. Self-doubt and self-loathing are, of course, our first responses to this (as to so much, being British), but the imperial narrative offer the explanation we are being pulled down and held back by envious foreigners.
Our surprise that the trick to doing well in a song and performance contest is entering and promoting a good song and performer is simultaneously funny, touching and slightly despicable. Because one of the saddest parts of all of the bullshit outlined above is that it hampers us in appreciating and supporting the things in our culture that are genuinely and distinctly good. We generally either take them for granted or elevate them to a preposterous status as examples of our fundamental superiority. It doesn't *feel* like these responses are strongly at play at the moment, though, so maybe this can be a moment of minor psychic healing for the UK.
*although, I suspect, pretty much par for the course. France also continues to exhibit a post-imperial derangement, the US is a developing example and it seems clearly arguable that the whole concept of the grim Dark Ages is as much a product of sub-Roman nostalgia and self-delusion as anything.
posted by howfar at 5:32 AM on May 15, 2022 [13 favorites]
England loves Eurovision, so I asked them about how Eurovision was received in their countries - and they were all almost surprised that it was still going.
Across the water in North America, Eurovision doesn’t even register in the popular consciousness. I enjoy that other people can take great interest in things (modem trains, Kanye West’s career, dog shows, baseball stats) that interest me not at all, so I do not begrudge anyone following it. At the same time, as a Canadian who watches a lot of UK tv, I am always startled by the amount of passion that many have for it. Really, all I can tell you with certainty is that for some odd reason a young Celine Dion performed the Swiss entry in... 1988? 1989?
A good friend of mine here lives with her partner who emigrated from Scotland some 25 years ago, and she is bemused by his continued degree of engagement with the contest. “Gordon can instantly tell you where the UK placed in 2005 or 2011 and why it was a travesty each time.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:09 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Across the water in North America, Eurovision doesn’t even register in the popular consciousness. I enjoy that other people can take great interest in things (modem trains, Kanye West’s career, dog shows, baseball stats) that interest me not at all, so I do not begrudge anyone following it. At the same time, as a Canadian who watches a lot of UK tv, I am always startled by the amount of passion that many have for it. Really, all I can tell you with certainty is that for some odd reason a young Celine Dion performed the Swiss entry in... 1988? 1989?
A good friend of mine here lives with her partner who emigrated from Scotland some 25 years ago, and she is bemused by his continued degree of engagement with the contest. “Gordon can instantly tell you where the UK placed in 2005 or 2011 and why it was a travesty each time.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:09 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
After decades of "it's rigged", "it's all about politics" and "bloc voting makes it impossible for most countries" it's good to finally have some vindication that no, the UK was always coming last because their entry sucked.
The voting system also changed to the UK's favour with the addition of jury votes. I remember that under the pure-popular system, good UK songs still did abysmally.
The promotion of "Space Man" helped a lot, but it was the jury vote that put it in second place.
Had it been decided by popular vote only, Moldova would have come in second
posted by jb at 6:25 AM on May 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
The voting system also changed to the UK's favour with the addition of jury votes. I remember that under the pure-popular system, good UK songs still did abysmally.
The promotion of "Space Man" helped a lot, but it was the jury vote that put it in second place.
Had it been decided by popular vote only, Moldova would have come in second
posted by jb at 6:25 AM on May 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
Also: Canadians care about Eurovision.
Okay, the Canadians I know who happen to be British/European expats, closely related to expats, those who have lived in Europe (especially the year that Lordi won), and fans of cheesy spectacle care about Eurovision.
posted by jb at 6:27 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Okay, the Canadians I know who happen to be British/European expats, closely related to expats, those who have lived in Europe (especially the year that Lordi won), and fans of cheesy spectacle care about Eurovision.
posted by jb at 6:27 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
So if Ukraine is unable to host in 2023, like Israel in 1980, do we think the UK is the front runner to set up for hosting duties?
I am a dumb and rightly disenfranchised Eurovision viewer from the US, so this may be unlikely for Reasons, but it seems logical to me.
posted by the primroses were over at 6:49 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
I am a dumb and rightly disenfranchised Eurovision viewer from the US, so this may be unlikely for Reasons, but it seems logical to me.
posted by the primroses were over at 6:49 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
The United Kingdom came in 5th in televoting, which is extremely respectable on its own.
Anyway, Space Man was one of my favorites from the moment of its release. It wasn't written specifically for Eurovision, which I feel was a good thing. The song also feels quintessentially British. I agree with the comments mentioning the Queen and Elton John influences.
Sam Ryder is also extremely talented and very enthusiastic! He put in a lot of time attending pre-parties, doing interviews, and generally getting into the spirit of it.
I really hope it's the start of a trend for the UK (and Spain), instead of an anomaly.
posted by PearlRose at 6:51 AM on May 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Anyway, Space Man was one of my favorites from the moment of its release. It wasn't written specifically for Eurovision, which I feel was a good thing. The song also feels quintessentially British. I agree with the comments mentioning the Queen and Elton John influences.
Sam Ryder is also extremely talented and very enthusiastic! He put in a lot of time attending pre-parties, doing interviews, and generally getting into the spirit of it.
I really hope it's the start of a trend for the UK (and Spain), instead of an anomaly.
posted by PearlRose at 6:51 AM on May 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
Sam Ryder Road To Eurovision documentary on YouTube instead of iPlayer, which is region locked for most video.
posted by hippybear at 6:54 AM on May 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 6:54 AM on May 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
It's been very interesting to watch people who are salty over Ukraine winning claiming that Eurovision "isn't about politics" and "should be a song contest" when Eurovision was literally started as a way to mend ties between countries and boost political and social morale in post-war Europe.
Also I assume the UK actually getting votes this year means we're forgiven for Brexit, right? Right?
posted by fight or flight at 7:19 AM on May 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Also I assume the UK actually getting votes this year means we're forgiven for Brexit, right? Right?
posted by fight or flight at 7:19 AM on May 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
It was delightful to watch :-) Wife and I really, really, really enjoyed Moldavia's energetic and happy song - felt great watching them soar in the rankings with the popular vote! UK entry was...fine - perfectly cromulent - and a huge bounce from last year's embarrassing finish. Serbia, though...um...what the heck was that?!
posted by davidmsc at 7:27 AM on May 15, 2022
posted by davidmsc at 7:27 AM on May 15, 2022
One of these years, Moldova will win and the world will be a better place for it. They are the only nation that consistently understands the true nature of Eurovision.
As for the UK, right now in a dark and smoky room...
QUEEN ELIZABETH: I want all of you to reflect upon what just happened. Were it not for the global sympathy towards Ukraine, we might well have won yesterday.
BORIS: Indeed.
QUEEN: ...This must never be allowed to happen again.
...
QUEEN: Summon Black Lace immediately. I want a first draft of Agadoo Two ready by Monday, with a battle-rap section midway through it between Basil Brush and Russell Brand.
posted by delfin at 8:04 AM on May 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
As for the UK, right now in a dark and smoky room...
QUEEN ELIZABETH: I want all of you to reflect upon what just happened. Were it not for the global sympathy towards Ukraine, we might well have won yesterday.
BORIS: Indeed.
QUEEN: ...This must never be allowed to happen again.
...
QUEEN: Summon Black Lace immediately. I want a first draft of Agadoo Two ready by Monday, with a battle-rap section midway through it between Basil Brush and Russell Brand.
posted by delfin at 8:04 AM on May 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
Summon Black Lace immediately.
...who before they had a worldwide hit in 1984 with "Agadoo" were the 1979 UK Eurovision entrants.
posted by rory at 8:48 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
...who before they had a worldwide hit in 1984 with "Agadoo" were the 1979 UK Eurovision entrants.
posted by rory at 8:48 AM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Moldova was SO FUN, idk if they had the best song but I want to go to every single wedding they play at
also agree with upthread that France got shafted, feel like that song & performance was exactly in the vein of entries from smaller countries in previous years that scored middling-well
as for the UK, it really did feel like they had an internal meeting where the boss said "look, we all have to stop bullying the UK, this is how Brexit happened" & everyone agreed to do better
imo Space Man is a legit jam but last year's wasn't actually zero points bad
Serbia, though...um...what the heck was that?!
if you don't like to clap your hands then hold them up in the air & rhythmically reverse them I don't know what to tell you
posted by taquito sunrise at 10:25 AM on May 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
also agree with upthread that France got shafted, feel like that song & performance was exactly in the vein of entries from smaller countries in previous years that scored middling-well
as for the UK, it really did feel like they had an internal meeting where the boss said "look, we all have to stop bullying the UK, this is how Brexit happened" & everyone agreed to do better
imo Space Man is a legit jam but last year's wasn't actually zero points bad
Serbia, though...um...what the heck was that?!
if you don't like to clap your hands then hold them up in the air & rhythmically reverse them I don't know what to tell you
posted by taquito sunrise at 10:25 AM on May 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
Serbia, though...um...what the heck was that?!
The Serbian song was a critique of healthcare failures in post-Yugoslav countries and the role fashion magazines play in presenting unrealistic standards, presented in a way that alluded to the work of performance artist Marina Abramovic, and her famous work “Art must be beautiful… Artist must be beautiful” in particular. No, really. It was my favourite entry of the night.
posted by parm at 11:10 AM on May 15, 2022 [18 favorites]
The Serbian song was a critique of healthcare failures in post-Yugoslav countries and the role fashion magazines play in presenting unrealistic standards, presented in a way that alluded to the work of performance artist Marina Abramovic, and her famous work “Art must be beautiful… Artist must be beautiful” in particular. No, really. It was my favourite entry of the night.
posted by parm at 11:10 AM on May 15, 2022 [18 favorites]
I figured that the UK got so many votes because everyone thought Will Forte was doing a Fire Saga sequel.
posted by Etrigan at 11:17 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Etrigan at 11:17 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Serbian song is, I'm pretty sure, objectively the best song when judged as a piece of art. Everything I learn about it just points to even greater levels of depth of meaning, both in terms of form and message.
But dang if I haven't spent most of today miming wolves stalking on grandmas.
posted by meese at 11:28 AM on May 15, 2022 [12 favorites]
But dang if I haven't spent most of today miming wolves stalking on grandmas.
posted by meese at 11:28 AM on May 15, 2022 [12 favorites]
A few tweets from about halfway through the voting:
@ScottElliott10: I’ve worked it out… the rest of Europe don’t want to pay the electric bill to host #Eurovision in 2023.
@Queen_UK: Just to be clear, WE CANNOT AFFORD THE ELECTRICITY TO HOST THIS. #Eurovision
...and a follow-up tweet from after the voting was over:
@Queen_UK: Oh thank Christ. One thought one was going to have to sell America to pay for this. #Eurovision
posted by Wordshore at 11:30 AM on May 15, 2022 [8 favorites]
@ScottElliott10: I’ve worked it out… the rest of Europe don’t want to pay the electric bill to host #Eurovision in 2023.
@Queen_UK: Just to be clear, WE CANNOT AFFORD THE ELECTRICITY TO HOST THIS. #Eurovision
...and a follow-up tweet from after the voting was over:
@Queen_UK: Oh thank Christ. One thought one was going to have to sell America to pay for this. #Eurovision
posted by Wordshore at 11:30 AM on May 15, 2022 [8 favorites]
I watched Eurovision for the first time yesterday, but started late and missed Ukraine's song. Their winning seemed like a foregone conclusion in retrospect, but I was pleased to see from the end performance that the song did in fact whip considerable ass.
I think my favs were Moldova and Serbia though. Serbia's song was the most unique but also a good song, and the background in the thread parm linked to is really fascinating. The judges sure seemed to love the mid-tempo ballads that I remember only as being pretty interchangeable, though our watch party did enjoy the huge glowing Orb in the background of Sweden's.
posted by valrus at 2:36 PM on May 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
I think my favs were Moldova and Serbia though. Serbia's song was the most unique but also a good song, and the background in the thread parm linked to is really fascinating. The judges sure seemed to love the mid-tempo ballads that I remember only as being pretty interchangeable, though our watch party did enjoy the huge glowing Orb in the background of Sweden's.
posted by valrus at 2:36 PM on May 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Thank you for posting this. The Eurovision Contest was hands down the weirdest and most entertaining thing I've seen all year!
posted by Violet Blue at 11:27 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by Violet Blue at 11:27 PM on May 15, 2022
I thought Serbia's entry was brilliant and my favorite by far. I'd be all in favor of fewer indistinguishable ballads and more art-y poltical commentary with a good beat.
and WOW the outrage when the Ukrainian jury members didn't give Poland any points after we gave them 12!
Portuguese people are a bit upset at Spain too. PT gave them douze points but Spain did not give PT any points at all! This year did cause some political realignments. Ignore the power of Eurovision at your own peril.
posted by vacapinta at 11:50 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
and WOW the outrage when the Ukrainian jury members didn't give Poland any points after we gave them 12!
Portuguese people are a bit upset at Spain too. PT gave them douze points but Spain did not give PT any points at all! This year did cause some political realignments. Ignore the power of Eurovision at your own peril.
posted by vacapinta at 11:50 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
It's a surprise we managed to come second, but it was a far better song and performance of that song than we've been sending. Last year, the song was kind of boring and he really struggled with the vocals on the night so it sounded even more boring and phoned-in. We'd never have won a semifinal last year if we had to compete.
I have often wondered, actually, if being a Big Five country with an automatic pass to the finals has made us a bit lazy some years. We stopped having public selection shows years ago, too. I suspect the appetite might be back after coming second, but I remember by the end of those they were giving us a selection of terrible acts to choose from, the best of whom never stood much chance of winning anyway, so it's been the whole Eurovision supply chain.
Coupled with the general view that it's a bit of a joke or even career suicide, so you don't generally get the people involved in our hugely internationally successful music industry wanting to step onto that stage.
It was a great night though, serious quality all round, very very few issues with anybody's live vocals (sorry, Italy, but some of those falsetto notes were claws-on-a-blackboard painful), incredible choreography and imagination throughout. I loved it.
But tenth for Give That Wolf A Banana? Come on, Europe, there's still joy in the world and it was that song.
posted by mathw at 1:35 AM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have often wondered, actually, if being a Big Five country with an automatic pass to the finals has made us a bit lazy some years. We stopped having public selection shows years ago, too. I suspect the appetite might be back after coming second, but I remember by the end of those they were giving us a selection of terrible acts to choose from, the best of whom never stood much chance of winning anyway, so it's been the whole Eurovision supply chain.
Coupled with the general view that it's a bit of a joke or even career suicide, so you don't generally get the people involved in our hugely internationally successful music industry wanting to step onto that stage.
It was a great night though, serious quality all round, very very few issues with anybody's live vocals (sorry, Italy, but some of those falsetto notes were claws-on-a-blackboard painful), incredible choreography and imagination throughout. I loved it.
But tenth for Give That Wolf A Banana? Come on, Europe, there's still joy in the world and it was that song.
posted by mathw at 1:35 AM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
EBU statement regarding voting patterns during 2022 shows:
Romania has responded.
posted by fight or flight at 6:23 AM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
In the analysis of jury voting by the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) pan-European voting partner after the Second Dress Rehearsal of the Second Semi-Final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, certain irregular voting patterns were identified in the results of six countries.It looks like the countries in question were Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and San Marino, who were apparently caught conspiring to vote for each other (shocking!). These countries weren't notified that their votes would be changed. This also explains the apparent "technical difficulties" over certain votes.
In order to comply with the Contest’s Voting Instructions, the EBU worked with its voting partner to calculate a substitute aggregated result for each country concerned for both the Second-Semi Final and the Grand Final (calculated based on the results of other countries with similar voting records).
This process was acknowledged by the Independent Voting Monitor.
The EBU takes any suspected attempts to manipulate the voting at the Eurovision Song Contest extremely seriously and has the right to remove such votes in accordance with the Official Voting Instructions, irrespective of whether or not such votes are likely to influence the results and/or outcome of the voting.
Romania has responded.
posted by fight or flight at 6:23 AM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
How bad must you be at criming to get caught conspiring to rig your vote?
posted by Etrigan at 6:59 AM on May 16, 2022
posted by Etrigan at 6:59 AM on May 16, 2022
If (like me) you loved the Moldovan entry, check out the song's music video, which is just as delightful. (Be sure to turn on the subtitles if you don't speak the language. The video will probably make more sense if you know that Moldova and Romania used to be part of the same country.)
posted by yankeefog at 7:26 AM on May 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by yankeefog at 7:26 AM on May 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
How bad must you be at criming to get caught conspiring to rig your vote?
It's been an open secret for years that certain countries always vote for each other, regardless of the quality of the song. I wonder if said countries had just been going about things as "normal" and didn't realise the EBU would be cracking down so hard on this blatant riggor morris.
posted by fight or flight at 8:27 AM on May 16, 2022
It's been an open secret for years that certain countries always vote for each other, regardless of the quality of the song. I wonder if said countries had just been going about things as "normal" and didn't realise the EBU would be cracking down so hard on this blatant riggor morris.
posted by fight or flight at 8:27 AM on May 16, 2022
It was my favourite entry of the night
Right there with you, parm. Thought the Serbian song, in context, was awesome in the full meaning of the word.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:07 AM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Right there with you, parm. Thought the Serbian song, in context, was awesome in the full meaning of the word.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:07 AM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
‘Cool is the enemy!’ Eurovision hero Sam Ryder on how he ditched his ego and found his joy.
posted by rory at 2:20 AM on May 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by rory at 2:20 AM on May 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
EBU Statement: Irregular voting patterns during Second Semi-Final 2022 The EBU has released the six sets of votes that it deemed suspicious from the second semifinal, and yeah, they all look pretty irregular.
posted by PearlRose at 2:39 PM on May 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by PearlRose at 2:39 PM on May 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
« Older the one where the branding is a disgusted emoticon | Shift your vibe Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
@TheRockFairyHQ: I love the fact that WHAT IS HAPPENING is trending because the whole of the UK is collectively losing their minds about us not being complete pariahs in #Eurovision
@irImoth: HOW THE FUCK DID WE COME SECOND WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS IS GENUINELY BEWILDERING #EUROVISION
@SartorialThug: The French gave us 12 points? What is happening? Everything has gone wrong. I don't like this. #Eurovision
posted by Wordshore at 10:49 PM on May 14, 2022 [14 favorites]