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Eurovision 2016 - Eliz

Did anyone watch Eurovision 2016?

What do you think of results?

What is your favourite song of this-year-contest?

Eurovision 2016 - alan1302

I did watch it.

Didn't like the winner though. And I still don't belive it is overally political as it's the phone votes where the biggest swings occured and that's down to what people round Europe like. I think it just shows what we like in the UK is not what many people, particulary in the East enjoy.

Best song was the Cypus entry - Alter Ego by Minus One - great rock track and very un-Eurovision

Eurovision 2016 - Avant

I still don't understand what part of Europe Australia is supposed to be in.

Eurovision 2016 - Engineer Andy

Gimick. I stopped watching when it got really political, when the former Soviet bloc countries began competing/Iraq & Afganistan war time. 99% entrants rubbish, voting bears no resemblence to the few that were good. No British serious entrant since we last won. No need really - no singer/group needs EV to get their career going in the UK, more like the opposite!

Eurovision 2016 - elekie&a/c doctor

Have not watched it for years.Does Katie Boyle still host it??

Eurovision 2016 - alan1302

Gimick. I stopped watching when it got really political, when the former Soviet bloc countries began competing/Iraq & Afganistan war time. 99% entrants rubbish, voting bears no resemblence to the few that were good. No British serious entrant since we last won. No need really - no singer/group needs EV to get their career going in the UK, more like the opposite!

The last two countries 2014 - Austria and 2015 - Sweden aren't from the Soviet block but still managed to win...

Eurovision 2016 - Engineer Andy

Those countries win because the non-eastern bloc countries see what's coming and vote for an act other than one from the former Soviet Union, probably who is 'nice' (not the 'old colonial powers' [i.e. UK/France] but Scandinavian countries), or 'who hasn't won for a while' or 'not Britain'. As others have said, following Ireland going nigh on bankrupt during the financial crisis, they now put forward rubbish acts so they have no chance in even getting past the semis or at worst scoring well in the finals.

We're only there by default because the UK (us via the BBC - if there's a pot of money the BBC can cut, its this) is a big financial contributor, probably why many other nations' voting 'panels' don't vote for us and France as well as the aforementioned reason (our involvement in Iraq, Afganistan and Libya are still fresh in the minds of many across Europe).

If the 'western bloc' doesn't 'act' (you have to wonder how they 'miraculously' vote for the same piece of rubbish despite supposedly being 'independent') as one to outvote the Eastern European 'winner' that year, then they get in. Its a bit like how the nice-but-useless c-list celebs don't get voted off Strictly each year. In my view, its all a complete waste of time (and money).

Eurovision 2016 - alan1302

I still don't understand what part of Europe Australia is supposed to be in.

the same as Israel...

Austarlia were invited last year for the 60th Anniversary as it's popular in Oz...and I think they thought it was a good idea so brought them over again.

Eurovision 2016 - concrete

It stopped being a song contest, in the accepted sense of the word 'contest', many years ago. It was just laughable when Belarus would award Russia 12 points for a durge no-one would willingly listen to, and the same for most other eastern european countries and their neighbours. As for Israel and Australia; well that takes it beyond a joke.

The whole affair now is just a huge PR exercise to promote the EU and all it's works, and a mightily expensive exercise at that! I would only consider it a true contest if the entrants were judged by a truly independant international panel of experts. Where do you get them? Better ask FIFA!!

It is so expensive that Ireland deliberately entered poor songs after they won it a couple of times. They couldn't really afford to keep winning. As for the UK, well we have as much chance of ever winning as you and me getting a ride on Flipper!!

Cheers Concrete

Eurovision 2016 - alan1302

The whole affair now is just a huge PR exercise to promote the EU and all it's works,

No, no, no it's not - it's nothing to do with the EU at all.

Eurovision 2016 - concrete

Sorry alan but I beg to differ. There is EU money up for grabs for staging an entry into the contest. Mainly the eastern bloc that qualify for it but in all cases there are incentives available. My daughter-in-law is a translator and she does a decent amount of work for the EU beaurocrats in French, German and Italian. She tells me that this is the case and I have no reason to doubt her. Knowing the EU I am certain that they are not doing this because they are nice people, but they get something for their money. Call me cynical if you will but I have been around the block many times and know there is no such thing as a 'free lunch'.

Cheers Concrete

Eurovision 2016 - alan1302

Doesn't make any sense for the EU to have any involvment as the EBU is nothing to do with the EU and even based in Switzerland raher than in an EU country.

Maybe if an EU member wins then there is some fund they can get to help stage a large event?

Eurovision 2016 - concrete

That could be it. I take your point and I will ask my DiL for more information. I did get the impression from her that money is claimable for the purposes of the Eurovision song contest. Maybe the UK claims it too. Although having said that we are a net contributor and also the small point that we may have to win it first!!!!!

Cheers Concrete

Eurovision 2016 - FoxyJukebox

For me the Austrian song should have done better and i reckon it was Radio 2's choice as well--since it was persistently played on the days before.

If you talk to anyone in the music(record) business they always joke(eyes to the sun) about the eurovision and do not see it an earner or an enhancer of careers. It's just like the Grand National- the public love it but the professionals within do not see it as anything more than a small sparkle in the racing calender.

In any case I bet the BBC is delighted they don't have to host it next year. That honour-and considerable cost -falls to Ukraine