The 70th anniversary finals - of which I've watched all but a small handful of them - this year's host being last year's winner - Austria.
And oh dear! My hoping that at last there'll be a contest containing at least a few acts I'd appreciate enough to want them to win - but once again I find myself out of sympathy with virtually all of last night's 25 performances, such that I couldn't have cared less whosoever would be the winner. I can only guess that for me it's a 'generational' thing as I watch, listening, yearning, for a memorable tune - but could hardly find any at all!
Winner was Bulgaria by quite a margin, and for their first ever time - with Dana singing 'Bangaranga'. (Please don't ask!)
Runner-up, Israel - their third consecutive time in second place. Their involvement caused five of the regular nations, including Spain, Ireland and Iceland, to boycott this year's contest. If I'd bothered to vote (though now by land-line phone not allowed, on-line only for the first time) this is the one for which I'd have reluctantly cast my choice:-
One Noam Bettan singing 'Michelle' (No, not the Beatles 'Rubber Soul' song!)
And third was Rumania, with the most 'controversial' song of all - understandably, perhaps, with a title of 'Choke me!' - sung by someone whose name I can't be bothered to type.......
Australia came 4th and the bookies' favourite, Finland, came in at 6th place.
And the U.K.'s entry to 'gain' yet another last place with a final score of just the one point (awarded by Ukraine) as against the 516 points given to winner Bulgaria - 'Look mum no computer' (that's the name of his act, not the song title - his real name, Sam Battle) performing, yes, 'Eins zwei drei' ........(don't say a word!)
"Eins, Zwei, Drei - Darlin' I need something saltAY!"
"Eins, Zwiei, Drei - with a slice of pepperonAY!"
Why did we bother? However, I do think last place was a trifle unfair, I reckon that coming in at 20th would have been nearer the mark - there were, in my humble estimation, some even worse songs!
Just a few misc. points.
Boy George made a very brief participating appearance at the end of San Marino's effort - he co-wrote their song - but it didn't even pass the semi-final stage.
I found Greece's act the most 'fun' to watch - man dressed as a cat(?) though in very un-cat-like costume:-
The two hosts, this year, whose names I shan't bother you with, were as tiresome as Eurovision hosts can usually be:-
As is now the case every year, the programme was so damn bloated, far too much needless 'padding' and taking just a quarter hour under four hours long. It could easily have been cut by a full hour at least -which would even then have made it nearly three hours. The actual first song wasn't even performed until 20 mins in! And then, why oh why, do the presenters always have to yell at the audience "Are you ready? - I can't hear you! - I said are you READY????" Good God! We'd all been ready since last Xmas! Just GET ON with the damn thing!
And the re-visit of last year's (unaccountable?) winner, a youngish guy displaying his 'talent' for stratospheric falsetto in a completely forgettable song, not only re-reprising his victorious entry in the main half-hour interval before voting results were announced - as though we needed yet another song! - as well as returning his persona in at least another of the extended 'pauses'. Oh, more PLEASE! (For gawd's sake, just GO!)
And Graham Norton's commentary? Nothing special!
And very finally, apart from the usual conspicuously gay-predominating audience, none of the acts themselves demonstrated any gay 'flourishes' or even mild suggestions of. Plus, among the performers, no eye-candy for me this year...... 'nuff said!
So next year, Sofia - though I know that, despite all, I shall be watching ........yawn!
