Poupée de cire, poupée de son!!!

October 21, 2005 8:57 PM

50 Years of Eurovision--pics, video, info on 14 of the best(?) songs ever performed in the contest. Tonight they're picking the Number One of all time.
posted by amberglow (31 comments total)

(don't miss Eres tú, by Mocedades)
posted by amberglow at 9:00 PM on October 21, 2005

I simply cannot believe that Bucks Fizz didn't make the number one of all time contest.
posted by ltracey at 9:31 PM on October 21, 2005

I never knew "Volare" was a Eurovision song. The things you learn...

The funniest is the Brotherhood of Man. What choreography!

But I think my favorite is "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" by France Gall. Just so endearing even if I don't understand a word.
posted by smackfu at 9:38 PM on October 21, 2005

More than you could possibly want to know about Poupée de cire, poupée de son.
posted by O9scar at 9:52 PM on October 21, 2005

some things don't make me homesick at all. eurovision features prominently among those.

what, céline dion competed for switzerland? file that under "trivia i promptly plan to forget again, but will henceforth remember forever".
posted by piranha at 10:07 PM on October 21, 2005

Wow, O9scar, that's a great site, if a little obsessed. This page has detailed info on all 14 contenders. Apparently the favorite is "Waterloo", which would be so boring a result.
posted by smackfu at 10:14 PM on October 21, 2005

Waterloo should win for most embarrassing outfits (and for Eurovision that's the toughest category)

I just went thru every video from the 50s til now--there are hidden gems, but so much schlock inbetween. And all those Eurodisco/Ibiza songs!
posted by amberglow at 10:23 PM on October 21, 2005

Wow, this does bring back bad memories. Nicole? Deutschland: Null Punkte.
posted by muckster at 10:38 PM on October 21, 2005

Fun post! I can't believe they don't show this event on Swedish tv. We're usually all over this shit.

*checks tv guide*

Um ok, they are showing it. Never mind me.
posted by mr.marx at 11:34 PM on October 21, 2005

Excellent -- a Gainsbourg related post: it was about time.
posted by NewBornHippy at 11:57 PM on October 21, 2005

The best reason to watch Eurovision in the UK is Terry Wogan and his tongue in cheek presenting complete piss-taking of everyone involved.

The joke is that people do take Eurovision very seriously, even when all the music is as absolutely as terrible as it is.
posted by nthdegx at 1:09 AM on October 22, 2005

You just can't beat France Gall singing Gainsbourg. It's impossible. Everybody should just stop making music, because it's pointless now.
posted by lazy-ville at 4:53 AM on October 22, 2005

Cliff Richard in the top 14? And no Bucks Fizz!? Shocking. Go Abba go!
posted by londonmark at 4:59 AM on October 22, 2005

This competition is utterly pointless. Everyone knows that Dschinghis Khan (1979) was the greatest Eurovision band of all time!

"Look at me, daddy!"
posted by MrBaliHai at 5:15 AM on October 22, 2005

Waterloo should win for most embarrassing outfits (and for Eurovision that's the toughest category)

i nominate Wig Wam (2004) lol.
posted by zenzizi at 7:26 AM on October 22, 2005

I've always had a soft spot for Johnny Logan's 'What's Another Year', a well-crafted ballad, beautifully performed.
posted by essexjan at 8:10 AM on October 22, 2005

The best reason to watch Eurovision in the UK is Terry Wogan

Yes, his "he/she/it" confusion over Dana International was hilarious. Yes, you're a big man, Wogan. We understand.

Sorry. Old annoyance.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:35 AM on October 22, 2005

You guys will have to post the winner when it happens later today--we can't get it here in the US (unless the BBC or someone is going to stream it?)
posted by amberglow at 9:41 AM on October 22, 2005

the great thing about this site is, after visiting it, i still don't know what eurovision is.
posted by 3.2.3 at 11:16 AM on October 22, 2005

Best fictional Eurovision song ever?

Father Ted Crilly and Father Dougal McGuire's My Lovely Horse, as imagined by The Divine Comedy.
posted by meehawl at 11:33 AM on October 22, 2005

Doesn't look like it's airing in the UK either. Strange.
posted by gfrobe at 11:55 AM on October 22, 2005

i still don't know what eurovision is.

Wikipedia
posted by mr.marx at 12:02 PM on October 22, 2005

...But UK fans of the contest will not be able to watch on TV because the BBC has decided not to broadcast the event. ... (BBC news)

That's weird. Are the Eurovision people charging too much for it?
posted by amberglow at 12:21 PM on October 22, 2005

I am green with envy. I haven't seen Eurovision since I was a little boy. I seem to remember something about a Finn dressed as a reindeer, but I tend to remember things from that era of my life with a little added drama.

I can't help but worry that this won't really be Eurovision. The groans and hernia-inducing laughter are what my Eurofriends think of most foundly.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 2:35 PM on October 22, 2005

Maybe the UK media's lack of enthusiasm stems from the UK's abysmal performance in 2005's competition: in the bottom four with 18 points and with a whole 8 of them coming from Ireland! And except for a consolation un points from Turkey, all the rest came from the UK's traditional Eurovision sock puppets, Cyprus and Malta.

Some in the UK claim 2005 was rigged. Some in the UK also feel a little dinged by 2003's nul points, probably a reaction to the invasion of Iraq.
posted by meehawl at 3:05 PM on October 22, 2005

Results are up on the site:

Waterloo won.
Volare came in 2nd.
Poupée came in LAST!
posted by smackfu at 3:42 PM on October 22, 2005

boo!!! fix! fix!

(Eres tú should have placed much much higher, and poupée)
posted by amberglow at 4:15 PM on October 22, 2005

That was so predictable.

I wanted Dana to win or at least be in the top three. But she was probably too classy for Eurovision. And I'm not saying that ironically, the song was the essence of Eurovision trash, but the performance was far more stylish than average.

Diva diva Cleopatraaaaa...
posted by funambulist at 5:36 AM on October 23, 2005

I wanted Dana to win

God I hope you mean the Hot Tranny Dana and not the Fundie Catholic Dana.
posted by meehawl at 8:41 AM on October 23, 2005

has anyone torrented it yet? i wanna see!
posted by amberglow at 8:46 AM on October 23, 2005

meehawl: eek, of course I meant hot tranny Dana, the Israeli diva. Dana International. (Did she have to add the "International" because of the other Dana?)
posted by funambulist at 9:12 AM on October 23, 2005