MetaFilter posts tagged with europe and Eurovision

Think Super Bowl halftime show on LSD, with added sequins. Eurovision!

Wordshore — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:18:48 -0800

It's that time of the year again, when the (television network) continent of Europe comes together to sing, wear interesting clothing, and gyrate before an enthusiastic/baffled world. The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden (the 2012 winner). The city expects 100,000 fans to also attend. Several countries declined to enter this year, most for financial reasons. The two semi-finals, on Tuesday 14th and Thursday 16th May, will each deliver ten countries into the final. These will be joined by the hosts Sweden and the big five contributers to the contest to make a 26 country final on Saturday 18th May. Traditionally, the previous winners open the final (memorably, Lordi opening in Finland 2007). The evening alternates between performances and video clips extolling the virtues of the host country. Voting, sometimes controversial, takes place country by country. The winner performs, while their country contemplates the cost of hosting the event next year. A week out (and before the qualifying semi-finals), the bookmakers quote Denmark as a clear favorite, with significant money also riding on Ukraine, Norway, Russia and Azerbaijan. Dark horses include the Greece "Alcohol is free" entry (previously), Iceland, singing in their national language for the first time in 15 years, and Switzerland, whose band includes a 21 and a 95 year old. The UK entry, a successful rock ballad singer, is playing down her chances. As last year, the UK TV commentary is expected to sit somewhere between irreverent and sarcastic.

Eurovisionary

PontifexPrimus — Sat, 29 May 2010 11:34:41 -0800

The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final airs tonight, 21:00 CET. A live stream can be found here. While there have been jokes about Greece winning the contest (as they did in 2005), forcing the other European states to pay for next year's contest, the overall mood seems good. Videos of all 25 finalists.

Eurovision 2008 semi-finals are tonight

k8t — Tue, 20 May 2008 06:25:04 -0800

6 hours til Eurovision 2008 begins (well semi-final round 1 begins in 6 hours). After last year's extensive Eurovision discussion, let's see how 2008 does. There are a number of Eurovision b l o g s and many of the bloggers are hanging out in Belgrade. Not in Europe? You can watch online as well. The semi-final rehearsals have been evaluated by the blogging community. Also, oddsmakers are making their opinions known. Now let the slaughter begin!

Cliff Richard and General Franco: the 1968 Eurovision mystery

nthdegx — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:34:58 -0800

It's the story that has Britain in uproar*: Cliff Richard and General Franco: the 1968 Eurovision mystery. Did General Franco scupper the judging? Exhibit A: Cliff's UK entry, Congratulations. Exhibit 2: Spain's winning entry by Massiel, La la la. For added measure, exhibit iv: here's Cliff's 1973 entry, which believe it or not also did not win, Power to all our Friends (though Cliff's spectacular moves should not sway your opinion on the controversy* in any way). [*not really].

Poupée de cire, poupée de son!!!

amberglow — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 20:57:51 -0800

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.

Nil points!

Mwongozi — Sun, 16 May 2004 11:54:43 -0800

The best bits (RealVideo) of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, complete with a sampling of UK's Terry Wogan's legendary commentary.

The Eurovision Song Contest is tonight.

aaron — Sat, 12 May 2001 10:32:03 -0800

The Eurovision Song Contest is tonight. Being an American, I don't understand it one bit, especially since the grand prize seems to be a one-way ticket to eternal obscurity. But someone must like it. "I want to shower you with sugar lumps/and ride you over fences..."