tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post699337398442762330..comments2024-03-17T23:08:28.960-07:00Comments on Raybeard: Eurovision Song Contest 2015 - My evaluations and choice for winner.Raybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-33123436802752152152015-04-10T22:29:35.531-07:002015-04-10T22:29:35.531-07:00The fascination of this phenomenon is inexplicable...The fascination of this phenomenon is inexplicable, particularly as it does no favours to my ordinarily high blood pressure. However, it's also an addiction, and my life would be immeasurably duller if it had to fold. Pleased that you're now aware of it. If Australia have been allowed to take part this year, who knows when America will join the party? But we'll have to draw out a promise from 'you' that it will neither be commercialised, or 'dominated' by the US of A.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-49244662071573189422015-04-10T20:55:03.474-07:002015-04-10T20:55:03.474-07:00I find the whole phenomena fascinating for I have ...I find the whole phenomena fascinating for I have never heard of this until only a few years ago. Ur-spohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237644452200889946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-20048466116802095802015-04-10T06:35:22.595-07:002015-04-10T06:35:22.595-07:00The Song Contest has been an 'institution'...The Song Contest has been an 'institution' here for over 50 years, Jon - equally loved and loathed - though around the 70s and 80s it was more derided and written off as a joke than taken seriously. (There are still many who'd subscribe to it being only worthy of mocking.)<br />It's being broadcast live in Australia this year and has been for quite some time, but more important now as they participating for the first time, their taking part at the moment being a one-off.<br />I'm sure the contest will be available live in America and worldwide, through one of the computer channels. It's certainly there on numerous sites afterwards. <br />It really is a must-see if you like flamboyant spectacle, and campness either under the surface or in full view - and then there's the nail-biting drama of the results as each country offers their own viewers' telephone votes, with boos and cheers from the huge audience as, for example, when Greece and Cyprus never fail to give each other maximum points no matter what their respective songs are like. It always get my blood pressure up but that's what you get if you subject yourself to such maddeningly involving 'entertainment'. Hope you manage to give it a try. You may well hate it as so many do. But there again it might open up an entire new world you hadn't known existed..Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-81465083726106857922015-04-10T06:20:51.265-07:002015-04-10T06:20:51.265-07:00NOT a Beatles fan? I'd heard there were some s...NOT a Beatles fan? I'd heard there were some such people around but now I've got to know one!<br /><br />I had to make an effort not to think of 'Imagine' during Austria's song. Once I did it suited me nicely. In fact, to be honest, it's the one out of the 40 that gave me the biggest inner 'buzz'.<br /><br />I've so far listened to Norway only the once, when I gave it a score of 1/5. For some historical reason I give all entries a score between 0 and 5 on initial listening, which weeds out the non-starters for me, leaving me free to give greater attention to those that impressed first time round and rate them differentially. I'll have to give Norway another shot to see if I can hear what makes it special for you.<br />With Italy I get the feeling that it just could have been a better song.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-87677347114455062802015-04-10T05:50:35.664-07:002015-04-10T05:50:35.664-07:00I listened to Austria again Ray and I did recall l...I listened to Austria again Ray and I did recall listening to it last week when I was making my top 3 cut. It's accomplished but perhaps your reference to Lennon is exactly what I didn't like about it. I'm one of those few people who wasn't a fan of the Beatles or their music! I'm still holding out for Norway or Italy!Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14034726832462755283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-32287609056288770252015-04-10T03:05:21.264-07:002015-04-10T03:05:21.264-07:00Several people (Europeans) have mentioned Eurovisi...Several people (Europeans) have mentioned Eurovision on their blogs, but I had no idea exactly what it was until now (unfortunately we Americans often have no clue as to what's going on in other places).<br /><br />I applaud you for taking the time to carefully evaluate all 40 entries. I've just listened to a few. I wasn't exactly crazy about Estonia (I'll have to listen to it again). I did, however, really like Austria's entry - - and you're right, it does sound Lennon-esque.<br />I haven't listened to Denmark yet.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02619128793632680659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-53986666574462943282015-04-09T23:03:35.999-07:002015-04-09T23:03:35.999-07:00I had your choices in mind as I played all the son...I had your choices in mind as I played all the songs, Craig. Although Italy did make my select list of 12 it wasn't too much of a struggle to exclude it from my ultimate list.<br /><br />Russia generally does submit a strongish song, as does France, though I'm disappointed by the latter this year.<br /><br />Thanks to you this will be the first time that I'll have heard all the songs before the event - ones opinion does change the more one hears some of them. One can easily tire of some although liking it first time around. So it could be that by the time we get to the final both your choices and mine could well have altered. It wouldn't be right to consider them set in stone anyway.<br /><br />So, roll on six weeks from tomorrow! The excitement is mounting! - or is that another story?Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-82488603826335231172015-04-09T11:13:23.783-07:002015-04-09T11:13:23.783-07:00Ray! I was looking forward to your picks. At least...Ray! I was looking forward to your picks. At least we have one song in common - Denmark. I quite liked Estonia too but it didn't make it into my top three. I can't remember Austria (I'll give it another listen) but I do remember thinking that Russia wasn't bad. We shall see who comes closest on the 23rd!Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14034726832462755283noreply@blogger.com