Comments on: Hell freezes over?

Hell freezes over?

taursir — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:38:47 -0800

Eurovision winner declared: Finland's Lordi, (previously mentioned here, wins with the highest Eurovision score of all time, 292 points, breaking Finland's 40 year long bewitchment of the Eurovision Curse. [Euro♥isionFilter]

By: taursir

taursir — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:39:31 -0800

Oops, missed with those parentheses!

By: zoogleplex

zoogleplex — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:41:24 -0800

I refuse to take the Eurovision contest seriously until they allow Zlad to enter. LONG LIVE MOLVANIA!!!!

By: bwerdmuller

bwerdmuller — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:41:35 -0800

All hail the arockalypse!

By: knapah

knapah — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:43:01 -0800

This is certainly the Day of Rockoning!

By: slimepuppy

slimepuppy — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:45:26 -0800

I got horns on my head My fangs are sharp And my eyes are red Too fucking right. It's about time we won. Now, maybe some Norwegian death metal will make it in next year? This is also the first year I made it through the entire event. Horrendously drunk, but made it through nonetheless. And shame on the three countries that didn't give us a single point! You're going straight to Hell, as per the lyrics.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:57:27 -0800

BBC had a good clip on them, roasting in full costume and makeup by a pool somewhere while being interviewed--the lead guy had a good quote about monsters being more interesting and even more beautiful than heroes--he mentions Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Metal this year, Rap next? There are some wonderful French rappers who could easily sweep it if they'd let them in, i bet.

By: Flashman

Flashman — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:58:35 -0800

Wow, the bookies did not see this coming - they had a few others as favourites above these guys. Another victory for the netroots!

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:00:32 -0800

"Andrius Mamontovas is by far the most famous Lithuanian rock singer. During his two-decade career he has written and recorded more than 20 platinum albums – both as a leader of hugely successful (now defunct) group Foje and as a solo artist. Foje’s stadium performances attracted crowds of 60,000. Such an authoritative position in the Lithuanian music scene allowed Andrius to organize the concert that on April 1990 rescued the House of Press of Vilnius from being invaded by Soviet Army. During the difficult days, when fighting for the independence of Baltic countries reached its peak, an audience of 20,000 at the concert of the most popular rock and pop artists forced the Red Army troops (who were ready to invade the palace) to retreat." I preferred Lithuania's entry LT United, though I must admit it was about the only entry I saw because there was a three hour paint-drying special on the other channel.

By: Flashman

Flashman — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:02:06 -0800

But let's face it, their sound was not of this world. It hovered in space like, like some celestial blessing.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:04:24 -0800

"Metal this year, Rap next? There are some wonderful French rappers who could easily sweep it if they'd let them in, i bet." The Finnish song isn't metal. There was a "rap" entry this year, too, I gather, but amberglow if you think the result has anything to do with the music then you must have heard a mercifully limited smattering of the total, utter, pointless, shamelessly politicised pantomime wank that is eurovision.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:05:26 -0800

Pays-Bas, nul points. Um, I mean: Congratulations, Suomi!!! And yes, Zlad should have won.

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:07:02 -0800

I wouldn't have watched the show or voted if it hadn't been for seeing Lordi on Google Video. I suspect I am not alone in this.

By: stenseng

stenseng — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:08:41 -0800

2006 was predicted by a close friend to be the year of Surrealism. It's off to a rockin' start thus far.

By: saturnine

saturnine — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:10:58 -0800

Myself and a few friends (fellow Brits & a Swede respectively) sat on IRC through the entire 3 hour show, screaming and yelling our way through the voting formalities. The atmosphere of the audience and the fellow performers as it finally dawned on them that Lordi had won... my gosh, it was brilliant! As a music fan, tonight felt positively revolutionary and should logically raise the bar for next year. I've never understood why such tripe (both performances and politics) has been tolerated for so long. All in all, a great night was had. All hail Lordi!

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:10:59 -0800

"2006 was predicted by a close friend to be the year of Surrealism. It's off to a rockin' start thus far." K, stenseng, one of us needs a new calendar ;)

By: elgilito

elgilito — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:11:32 -0800

According to Fins, Hell froze over, indeed. Perkele, it's cold outside today.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:15:14 -0800

There was a ska entry last year that was surpisingly good, from Latvia or some other place that probably no longer exists.

By: jettloe

jettloe — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:31:30 -0800

Yes it was a day of Rockening to be sure - but in the spirit of the eternal battle between light and dark the genius of Lordi was offset by the Lithuanian entry with their immortal song: We Are The Winners Sample Lyrics: We are the winners of Eurovision We are, we are! We are, we are! We are the winners of Eurovision We are, we are! We are, we are! Go baby! We are the winners of Eurovision We are, we are! We are, we are! We are the winners of Eurovision We are, we are! We are, we are! We are the winners of Eurovision We are the winners of Eurovision We are the winners of Eurovision We are the winners of Eurovision You gotta vote, vote, vote for the winners Vote, vote, vote for the winners 'coz we are the winners of Eurovision Vote!

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:32:15 -0800

i know Eurovision is a cheesy joke, nth--that's what makes it fun---usually tho, there's one or two actually good songs each year.

By: tomble

tomble — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:34:27 -0800

Thanks a LOT you bastard. THIS IS NOT SHOWN IN EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AT THE SAME TIME. WHY NOT POST SOME FILM SPOILERS NEXT TIME?

By: dhammond

dhammond — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:37:19 -0800

Normally, I'm all for spoiler tags when appropriate. But this has been announced on the official Eurovision site so I say it's fair game and doesn't require them.

By: potsmokinghippieoverlord

potsmokinghippieoverlord — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:37:21 -0800

I heard the Lithuanian entry as "We are the weiners!" Yes... yes you are!

By: tomble

tomble — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:41:06 -0800

I still think it's a spoiler. I expect it to be on the site, but I don't go looking at it because I want to watch it when it screens tonight.

By: nadawi

nadawi — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:43:05 -0800

People who were waiting to watch Eurovision probably had sense enough to stay away from the official site knowing the results were there...but why would they assume someone on mefi would blow the suprise for everyone? *shrugs* i'm a silly american so this means little to me...but i hate spoilers.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:43:09 -0800

Okay, I'm always moaning about people shitting in threads that they're not interested in, but none of the links in this post really add any value. It's a hastily-assembled talking point of a thread that, until tomble's reponse, I thought had no real value. Anyone got the skinny on the history of devil-worship in Eurovision or which of the presenters was pissed up on booze?

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:43:12 -0800

Rosebud is the sleigh.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:48:03 -0800

tomble isn't joking, apparently. MeTa.

By: sgt.serenity

sgt.serenity — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:53:34 -0800

I actually got really into it in a very ironic and hip way.

By: Joeforking

Joeforking — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:53:36 -0800

Fucking well done the Finns. A complete break from the usual Euro-shit.

By: skallas

skallas — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:54:21 -0800

Someone mind explaining what Eurovision is supposed to be? Is it a running joke? Are these artists taken seriously in Europe? /bewildered american

By: sgt.serenity

sgt.serenity — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:56:20 -0800

I'm wondering why scotland doesnt have its own entry ...surely franz ferdinand would have won it ?

By: edd

edd — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:57:18 -0800

skallas: see askme.

By: saturnine

saturnine — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:00:43 -0800

skallas, it's both a punching bag for European political tensions, and a good family-friendly cheesy Saturday night in for the Brits. We all secretly want our country to offer up the best artist and get 12 points from everyone else, thus getting the chance to host the competition the following year. In hosting, you get to pimp the positive aspects of the land until everyone else hates you again, and you lose the next year. Rinse and repeat.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:01:01 -0800

Rosebud is the sleigh. Wins the thread!

By: sgt.serenity

sgt.serenity — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:03:11 -0800

Hmmm i'm thinking jackmo crooning a postmodern shortbread tin ditty whilst boiling his cock in gravy would show these finns a thing or two about spectacle.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:04:06 -0800

I am sick and tired of Metafilter being so Eurocentric.

By: terpsichoria

terpsichoria — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:04:57 -0800

As great as Lordi were (and they were!), for me they still didn't quite reach the awful Eurovision heights of Sestre, the truly terrible Slovenian drag air hostess act from 2002.

By: bcveen

bcveen — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:05:00 -0800

Short backstage BBC interview at the semi-finals, via YouTube: BBC: Hello, from BBC, congratulations. Lordi: Thank you. BBC: What are you doing for Finland? Lordi: What are we doing for Finland? We're representing Finland, of course. BBC: Is everyone like this in Finland? Lordi: Eh, well, not all, but the pretty ones are. Brilliant. I miss watching Eurovision, reason enough for me to want to expatriate again ...

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:05:02 -0800

"Fucking well done the Finns. A complete break from the usual Euro-shit." Yes, a whole new kind of Euro-shit won out! "Someone mind explaining what Eurovision is supposed to be? Is it a running joke? Are these artists taken seriously in Europe? " In the UK Terry Wogan commentates and absolutely takes the piss. Ferne Cotton announced the UK votes (all the countries take a turn at this, and this is the part everyone in Europe gets to hear) and she thanked the main hosts for an "amazing evening" with her tongue so firmly in her cheek she almost put a hole in her face. The vast majority of Brits get that this is a steaming pile, but those same Brits mostly don't tune in. Of those that do, some will take it fairly seriously. We have names for those people. On the continent I would hope and guess that most people are the same, but to be honest the standard of pop music in much of Europe outside of the UK is astonishingly dreadful - which can be seen from the very worst UK and American artists that develop fanbases abroad. I am sure there is a lot of sincere support and interest in the competition. Frankly, Australians and Americans should know better, and tomble's response is so far off the charts out of proportion I really thought he might have been joking.

By: synecdoche

synecdoche — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:05:37 -0800

My only knowledge of the Eurovision Song Contest comes from Father Ted and so it is hard for me to hear the phrase "Eurovision Song Contest" without giggling just a little. "My lovely horse. . ."

By: public

public — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:13:44 -0800

The vast majority of Brits get that this is a steaming pile, but those same Brits mostly don't tune in. Of those that do, some will take it fairly seriously. We have names for those people. Oh come on, sometimes it's fun to step down off of our ivory pedestals of intellectual superiority and watch eurovision for the ridiculous bag of crap that it is. Just because it's mostly worthless doesn't mean it can't be fun.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:16:12 -0800

public - what in your comment contradicts anything that was in mine? I don't disagree.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:18:13 -0800

Even more fun to be had with the Eurovision drinking game.

By: chrominance

chrominance — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:19:36 -0800

On the continent I would hope and guess that most people are the same, but to be honest the standard of pop music in much of Europe outside of the UK is astonishingly dreadful - which can be seen from the very worst UK and American artists that develop fanbases abroad. I am sure there is a lot of sincere support and interest in the competition. Frankly, Australians and Americans should know better, and tomble's response is so far off the charts out of proportion I really thought he might have been joking. This is especially funny in light of the AskMe question about this very subject, and the debate summed up in this one sentence: Heh, it's a widely held belief due to the fact that Brits like to think they're the only ones with a sense of humour.

By: chrominance

chrominance — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:20:05 -0800

(make that "and here's the debate...")

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:22:59 -0800

Heh, it's a widely held belief due to the fact that Brits like to think they're the only ones with a sense of humour. Yes. Lordi really showed us Brits how to crack funnies.

By: public

public — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:24:26 -0800

lol sorry nthdegx, I lost it a bit there. It's late and I'm tired. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:26:13 -0800

See? If only you'd stayed on your ivory pedestal, it'd all have been fine!

By: greycap

greycap — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:27:34 -0800

Just got back from a Eurovision party where the entire assembly of people adopted Finland as "home" country given the dismal crapness of the UK's song. Great fun - go Lordi! Terry Wogan was having a whale of a time. Also interesting to see how many eastern bloc countries voted for Russia - "please don't switch off our gas!!!"

By: sgt.serenity

sgt.serenity — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:27:38 -0800

this could be the greatest flamewar of ALL TIME

By: Optamystic

Optamystic — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:39:36 -0800

My socks report that Lordi did, in fact, rawk.

By: jb

jb — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:42:42 -0800

I really liked Lordi and LT United, so I voted for both. But I suspected that Lordi had a better chance of winning - the son is catchier, and they had developed a huge "Wow, they are what?!" fanbase, at least around here. That said, I'm really happy Lithuania did as well as it did - 6th is no slacking. (They didn't place in top 10 last year.)

By: Meridian

Meridian — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:43:29 -0800

I hadn't even heard of Lordi until I read this thread. Were these guys extras in Battlefield Earth?

By: zouhair

zouhair — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:52:30 -0800

@bwerdmuller : the one and only Arockalypse!!

By: zoogleplex

zoogleplex — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:53:52 -0800

This thread is giving me a much needed grin and belly-laugh session, given what the rest of my day's like today. :)

By: meehawl

meehawl — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:56:25 -0800

nthdegx: to be honest the standard of pop music in much of Europe outside of the UK is astonishingly dreadful And can you believe those wop fuckers can't even speak the Queen's English? Admit it, you're just upset over Abba.

By: klue

klue — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:03:09 -0800

I kinda wish the netroots had backed this one

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:04:55 -0800

"And can you believe those wop fuckers can't even speak the Queen's English?" Yes, because that's the same as what I said. "Admit it, you're just upset over Abba." I am very very very upset about Abba, but not for the reasons you mean.

By: a.

a. — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:09:18 -0800

sigh, i'm with tomble.

By: Eekacat

Eekacat — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:09:29 -0800

OK, so I watched one of the videos on the Lordi site. Why are they singing in english? Do many of the bands in Eurovision sing in english? If they do, that's kind of sad. Of course it would be harder for them to break the lucrative American market then. Sigh.

By: sidereal

sidereal — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:14:02 -0800

On the eurovision.tv site, that one photo makes Mr. Lordi look like Santa Corpse. Is this an intentional effect? I have no clue about these people.

By: cillit bang

cillit bang — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:19:29 -0800

Eekacat, the whole show is presented in English (with bits of French) because it's presumably the widest understood in Europe. It's got nothing to do with America (except maybe indirectly).

By: fungible

fungible — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:24:54 -0800

I read about them in the NYT today, and was intrigued. Now that I've seen the video... meh. That's not even metal, fer chrissakes.

By: fshgrl

fshgrl — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:26:23 -0800

Of course it would be harder for them to break the lucrative American market then. Sigh. Dude, none of these "bands" are breaking into any kind of lucrative market anywhere. (Having said that I thought Turkeys weird kilt-wearing ska band from a few years ago was pretty awesome.) The Eurovision is a songwriting contest, technically, which is why you see so many crappy manufactured "groups".

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:57:11 -0800

oh, i get it ... people in europe got sick of sappy pop records and decided to get rebellious by giving the gold to a band that's trying to resurrect american 80s hair band music *snickers*

By: dw

dw — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:57:55 -0800

Eurovision is high kitsch. You have to look at it like that and not assume it represents anything musically or take it seriously. In a way, it's what would happen if those mediocre singers and exhibitionists that show up in the early rounds of American Idol were to be sent straight into the finals, only Simon Cowell's part would be played by Terry Wogan.

By: dw

dw — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:01:59 -0800

oh, i get it ... people in europe got sick of sappy pop records and decided to get rebellious by giving the gold to a band that's trying to resurrect american 80s hair band music I remember 15-20 years ago hearing Boy George say in an interview that the difference between music in the UK and the US is that disco never died in Europe. And I think it's true for hair metal as well -- it never really died in Europe, it just kept evolving. The Darkness, I think, is a good example of this.

By: o0o0o

o0o0o — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:06:14 -0800

... it's true for hair metal as well -- it never really died in Europe ... This definitely has more in common with GWAR than hair metal, but point taken.

By: Ber

Ber — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:28:36 -0800

As an American and a music elitist, I usually scoffed at the Eurovision contest (not that it couldn't happen here, and possibly be even cheesier). But that Lordi video was fan-fucking-tastic cheese. I am overjoyed that it won over all the pop shit. Bring on the Rockening, I welcome the Arockalypse! or "I for one, welcome our Finnish Overlordis."

By: Artw

Artw — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:31:09 -0800

Awesomest Eurovision news evah! (Except maybe the tranny winning a few years back)

By: soiled cowboy

soiled cowboy — Sat, 20 May 2006 20:05:40 -0800

As an American and a music elitist, I usually scoffed at the Eurovision contest (not that it couldn't happen here, and possibly be even cheesier). An American Eurovision Contest? In 2006 the format of the Eurovision Song Contest was sold to an American broadcaster in order to compete with American Idol in the ratings. The member countries of the EBU will be replaced by the different States and territories of the United States.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Sat, 20 May 2006 20:19:43 -0800

this means war!!

By: wildilocks

wildilocks — Sat, 20 May 2006 21:43:27 -0800

*sigh* ... I knew I should have denied myself all Internet contact til I watched the delayed telecast tonight. *cry* I knew they'd win anyway, but.... *cry* I hate spoilers. Also, Vlad should totally be allowed to enter. It's a travesty.

By: vagabond

vagabond — Sat, 20 May 2006 22:04:57 -0800

BER - NBC is bringing it to you. And the bad news that it won't be just one night like in Europe, but will cover a whole season.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sat, 20 May 2006 22:21:35 -0800

BBC: Is everyone like this in Finland? Lordi: Eh, well, not all, but the pretty ones are. I really like them more and more (and you Brits should try entering someone witty-- or maybe even entering someone who isn't earnest and cheesy in a bad way--the Slavs and Finns have it exactly right--they go over-the-top and semi-outrageous instead of ballady and sappy) ; p

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sat, 20 May 2006 22:24:03 -0800

Actually, you Brits should just keep entering Cliff Richards every year, and then his mummified remains or frozen head in a jar--it wouldn't make much difference that i can see. ; o

By: athenian

athenian — Sun, 21 May 2006 00:23:27 -0800

There seems to be a strange affection for Terry Wogan's commentary on Eurovision, but to me it's just obvious remarks and sneering interspersed with jingoistic bullshit. Last year, he made rude remarks about the Gipsy vote in several central European countries, and this year an inoffensive if cheesy German TV presenter was described as Lord Haw-Haw. Way to promote international harmony - compare your foreign counterparts to famous fascists and traitors. I may be alone in finding the EBU's theme at the start of Eurovision an at least slightly inspiring example of European unity. I am beginning to believe I am alone in wanting us Brits to cut the arrogance, forget World War fucking Two, and treat our fellow Europeans like we're all in this together. Anyway, back to the music...

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Sun, 21 May 2006 01:50:30 -0800

GWAR won! the only reason I watched last night was because I went to a Eurovision fancy-dress party, otherwise I would have avoided it like the programme like the plague. Next year should hopefully be more diverse with less of that horrible, horrible anonymous Euro-dance-with-regional-costumes junk. Now, time for something to cure my hangover...

By: ArmyOfKittens

ArmyOfKittens — Sun, 21 May 2006 01:51:26 -0800

I think it's a shame that other countries, like Finland and Germany, are just as capable as the Brits of taking Eurovision with a pinch of salt, but unlike us tedious Brits actually compete with good songs and have some fun. We aren't superior and detached; we just don't get it. Either that or the UK organisers don't want to get stuck with a bill for a stage and some coloured lights next year. athenian: Damn right about Wogan. We ought to replace him with that bloke who used to be on Popworld. Or Stephen Fry. Or, indeed, anyone who has an actual sense of humour and isn't a racist, homophobic bumwipe. I have a really bad reaction to laughing xenophobes who want all us normal people to gang up and giggle at those weird people over there.

By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Sun, 21 May 2006 01:56:16 -0800

If these guys come to Canada, I'm so there.

By: dabitch

dabitch — Sun, 21 May 2006 02:04:52 -0800

Also interesting to see how many eastern bloc countries voted for Russia - "please don't switch off our gas!!!" aye greycap, I noticed that too. Was it latvia who leading up with "and finally, Russia, 'never let you go'" gave then 12 points. (quoting song lyrics I assumed but it felt like it meant a lot more).

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Sun, 21 May 2006 02:50:55 -0800

Damn right about Wogan. We ought to replace him with that bloke who used to be on Popworld Oh yeah, Simon Amstell would be a brilliant choice of Eurovision host, his guest presenting of Never Mind The Buzzcocks was further proof that that show is ruined by Mark Lamarr. Popworld just isn't the same any more, I stopped watching it this week.

By: Skeptic

Skeptic — Sun, 21 May 2006 02:56:55 -0800

Next year should hopefully be more diverse with less of that horrible, horrible anonymous Euro-dance-with-regional-costumes junk. Huh, I'm actually dreading next year. Taking into account the copycat tendencies of a great many participant countries, I'm afraid it will become a parade of people in monster costumes trying to rock in Slovenian English...

By: Skeptic

Skeptic — Sun, 21 May 2006 02:59:51 -0800

And the Brits should be honest about it: your entry was absolutely dreadful in a "so bad it isn't even funny anymore" way. Not that the Spanish entry was any better...

By: terpsichoria

terpsichoria — Sun, 21 May 2006 03:00:26 -0800

I've got a theory, myself, that the Germans were trying to see how incredibly camp they could make their entry (German country-and-western with gurning guys in yellow cowboy outfits and a dress that would make most wedding cakes feel under-ornamented) and their points-reporting (also in a yellow cowboy suit, greeting the EU completely straight-faced from atop a horse in what looked like a Bavarian beer hall) before the Brits realised that yes, they get it too. From Wogan's commentary, it seems they'll have to try harder next year. Wogan pissed me off again, too. Did anyone else catch the way he laughed along with the 'marry me, female presenter!' t-shirt the first national representative guy was wearing and talking about, but when the Netherlands one started hitting on the male presenter, he was all 'oh god, how inappropriate, oh god, oh god, who let him on TV, oh god'? He was a total transphobic arse when Dana International was on a few years back, too. AoK's nailed it for me - Stephen Fry would be perfect for Eurovision. He's funny, genuinely witty and fantastic at non-malicious mockery. Wogan just needs a short sharp kick somewhere sensitive. I do love Eurovision, though - nobody on the street in any of the countries involved takes it particularly seriously, but I get the impression that lots of people in lots of Ministries of Culture (or the local variant thereof) get rather more worried about the picture they're painting of their country than they'd ever let on. I like the idea that people in government who usually worry about all sorts of very serious things have to devote all their attentions to this beautifully camp, tacky bundle of awesome every year. Plus, it's nice to see something on television that doesn't have a demographic or target audience - I'm not sure anyone knows who the hell Eurovision is supposed to be aimed at, but nobody in the EU can stop entering and televising it for fear or looking like they've no sense of fun or cultural engagement with the rest of the countries. The host country could put anything into the show, and everyone else would be stuck with it.

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Sun, 21 May 2006 03:24:24 -0800

I'm afraid it will become a parade of people in monster costumes trying to rock in Slovenian English... Yes, but how cool would that be?!

By: Talez

Talez — Sun, 21 May 2006 03:27:11 -0800

I know this has already been mentioned (albeit less courteously) but thank to the OP for making sure the summary was spoiler free for those of us who live outside GMT-1 and GMT+5. Oh wait. It wasn't. God forbid someone outside the very exclusive EU club who isn't being shown Eurovision live take an intrest in it. *sigh*

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Sun, 21 May 2006 03:57:24 -0800

By: bap98189

bap98189 — Sun, 21 May 2006 04:34:46 -0800

Terry Wogan's commentary in the UK is the best part of the whole thing. The has been doing it for nearly 30 years, and gets that the whole thing is a big joke. The guy basically gets more and more pissed as the evening goes on and as he does so, the levels of cynicism rise to uncharted heights.

By: dabitch

dabitch — Sun, 21 May 2006 06:53:38 -0800

....but when the Netherlands one started hitting on the male presenter, he was all 'oh god, how inappropriate, oh god, oh god, who let him on TV, oh god'? That's funny. The Swedish presenter who mainly kept his gob shut during the voting had a similar reaction to the Dutch dude. Exclaiming something like "yeahyeahyeah, get one with it and out of here" which really bugged me.

By: taursir

taursir — Sun, 21 May 2006 07:32:10 -0800

Tomble: Spoiler? Nah, just globalization; get used to it.

By: soundofsuburbia

soundofsuburbia — Sun, 21 May 2006 07:50:13 -0800

And today Sweden woke up to the fact that our entry - Carola - refused to celebrate with the "finnish monsters". What a sore loser she is.

By: soundofsuburbia

soundofsuburbia — Sun, 21 May 2006 07:53:31 -0800

This is a great photo of Lordi, by the way.

By: taursir

taursir — Sun, 21 May 2006 08:04:53 -0800

Isn't Carola all about alienating her queer followers, too? Where's Linda Bengtzing when you need her?

By: w0mbat

w0mbat — Sun, 21 May 2006 09:42:07 -0800

Here's the whole song on YouTube.

By: seawallrunner

seawallrunner — Sun, 21 May 2006 10:06:19 -0800

>I preferred Lithuania's entry LT United, though I must admit it was about the only entry I saw because there was a three hour paint-drying special on the other channel. I think that entering a song "we are the winner of Eurovision, nyah nyah nyah" ensured they didn't win. On the other hand, I see huge potential for this song being licensed for play in football, soccer, hockey and other sport playoffs. So cha-ching to the Lithuanians! Sveiki !!

By: mzurer

mzurer — Sun, 21 May 2006 10:19:30 -0800

Wow.

By: djrock3k

djrock3k — Sun, 21 May 2006 11:28:24 -0800

Good Heavens! We've been out-KISSed.

By: dhammond

dhammond — Sun, 21 May 2006 16:04:05 -0800

Rock on. And it's funny how Lordi's website is .org, like they're a charity or something.

By: jb

jb — Mon, 22 May 2006 02:33:38 -0800

If anyone were to replace Terry Wogan, they should get Paddy O'Connell. I actually watched the whole of the semi-final, and he was great. I think that entering a song "we are the winner of Eurovision, nyah nyah nyah" ensured they didn't win. LT United had a catchy, well written and brilliantly performed pop/rock song, which got right to the important essence of the whole thing. They were great and the song was great (trust me, it was stuck in my head much of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when I didn't have "Hardrock Hallelujah" ringing around in there, and I still liked it) - but they just couldn't compete with Lordi (though I actually voted for both - or rather, got my husband to, since my phone was inconveniently out of money). LT United were second choice with most of the (largely) British post-grads I was watching with, and might have picked up more of the vote had Lordi not been there -- they did get 10 from Britain anyways, and finished a respectable 6th - better than they did last year. They got in the top three from a few countries, but were also steadily in the top 10 for most. So I think that strategy worked quite well for them. Sylvia Night didn't do as well (singing a song about how she would win) for a number of reasons - the song wasn't as tight as LT Uniteds, and her persona was very complex (she's an Icelandic talkshow host - it's like a young and even more arrogant Dame Edna entered). She also did piss off many Greek attendees by making (in character) disparaging remarks about Greek organisation. Personally, I think they just showed a lack of sense of humour,. but the booing atthe semi-final really hurt her act (which is predicated on over the top confidence, really hard to keep without the audience playing along). Lordi did have the huge amount of publicity that came just from their image and its contrast with traditional Euirovision fare (in Britain, the BBC clomed on to them, and did a lot to raise their profile and got people to vote for them who probably wouldn't have watched or voted), but they also had an extremely good song. I don't usually like metal and I don't think I would have voted for them except that their song is a crossover song between rock and metal, and just really good. I went and listened to some of their other songs - they have some pretty good videos, but nothing catches my ear as well as "Hard Rock Hallelujah".

By: ikalliom

ikalliom — Mon, 22 May 2006 07:44:09 -0800

dhammond, lordi.com had probably been taken, it was registered in Feb 1999. By the way, when they were chosen as the Finnish candidate, many people said that their 2002 radio hit "Would You Love A Monsterman" was a better song, but these things often depend on which song one has heard first. Too bad for Iceland. Maybe she should have spouted the obscenities in Icelandic, swearing in English sounded just plain rude and not funny at all. I have no explanation why Ali G works and Silvia Night did not. Like the saying goes, although it is impossible to please everyone, it is really easy to piss off most.

By: sideshow

sideshow — Mon, 22 May 2006 15:34:40 -0800

Score. I'm half Lithuanian and while I live in the states and don't see why Eurovision is all the rage, it's nice to see the hometeam do so well.

By: jb

jb — Mon, 22 May 2006 15:49:32 -0800

Actually, a lot of the time I don't think Ali G works, and Borat only really works when he's revealing people's own hypocrises or prejudices. (The time he got the Cambridge Don to say that women couldn't think as well as men was beautiful as well as shocking.) Not everyone agrees with me, but I always liked Ali G best in the movie, because there it was constantly contrasting Ali G (with his white bread suburban life, with uptight British parliament, and ultimately, his basic honesty and petty criminality with the high criminality of the politicians).

By: amberglow

amberglow — Wed, 24 May 2006 16:39:05 -0800

Fugovision Song Contest--...She is Glinda the Good Witch as portrayed by the ghost of Tammy Wynette (which, if that were true, would at least give her something to talk about with Lordi: death). Jane is part of a band called Texas Lightning singing a country song. She is actually Australian, too, which just makes me love that fug hotspot even more. I'm unclear on why exactly she is representing the Germans, but that's the best thing about Eurovision: Who cares? All I know is, I never trust a woman with marabou straps unless her name is Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan and she is threatening to take away my South China Sea oil leases. ... ; >