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Eurovision 2017

S

Steve_uk

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This will be held at the International Exhibition Centre Kiev, Ukraine, with a capacity of 11,000 and 43 countries competing. The semi-finals are scheduled for 9 and 11 May with the Final proper on 13 May. It may seem rather premature to discuss this thread in the bleak midwinter but for some reason the UK entry will be decided on 27 January at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, the songs themselves being released four days before on 23 January, so there isn't really so much time at all and some cynics may already smell a rat. As we've burned our social boats with the rest of Europe anyway, we're a country living off past glories and this year marks the 20th anniversary of our last win the following clip might be particularly apposite.
 
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Albania will be sending Lindita with a song in a similar vein to last year's non-qualifier, though both songs remain under the shadow somewhat of Rona Nishliu's 2012 effort, which achieved fifth place.

I'm sure we can find space for Rona. She thoroughly deserves this tribute.
 
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The BBC has unveiled names of the expert panel who will appear in the UK national final, Eurovision: You Decide, which takes place on Friday 27th January:

  • Sophie Ellis Bextor
  • Bruno Tonioli
  • CeCe Sammy
Sophie is a singer who has had a number of hits including Murder on the Dancefloor and Get Over You. Bruno is a professional dancer, best known for his roles as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Dancing with the Stars in the US. CeCe Sammy is a well-known vocal coach who has worked on shows such as The X Factor and The Voice.

Screen_Shot_2017-01-20_at_14_02_02.png
 
Belarus has chosen Navi Band as its representatives, and all credit to them for keeping their own language and authenticity, even though it looks like a non-qualifier.
 
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Georgia will be represented by a diva in pink, and even though it will qualify I don't think the song quite lives up to its promise.
 
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Steve_uk said:
The BBC has unveiled names of the expert panel who will appear in the UK national final, Eurovision: You Decide, which takes place on Friday 27th January:

  • Sophie Ellis Bextor
  • Bruno Tonioli
  • CeCe Sammy
Sophie is a singer who has had a number of hits including Murder on the Dancefloor and Get Over You. Bruno is a professional dancer, best known for his roles as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Dancing with the Stars in the US. CeCe Sammy is a well-known vocal coach who has worked on shows such as The X Factor and The Voice.

Screen_Shot_2017-01-20_at_14_02_02.png
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The six acts to represent the UK were released today. From an internet poll it seems Freedom Hearts seems the most popular, but my favourite is Nate Simpson's What Are We Made Of, though it's always difficult to tell without a live performance and I wonder if any of them are going to set the Eurovision stage alight.

http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/23/who-c...ision-2017-the-you-decide-contenders-6399424/
 
The artiste who went out of the X Factor 2009 in controversial circumstances, Lucie Jones, has won the right to represent the UK in Kiev with the sensual ballad Never Give Up On You. It was the vocal performance of the night and Lucie looked beautiful in a long velvet dress ,unlike another contestant who looked like a space cadet. Her diction could be improved slightly but she has a class voice and looked the most reassured on the night.
 
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Steve_uk said:
The artiste who went out of the X Factor 2009 in controversial circumstances, Lucie Jones, has won the right to represent the UK in Kiev with the sensual ballad Never Give Up On You. It was the vocal performance of the night and Lucie looked beautiful in a long velvet dress ,unlike another contestant who looked like some kind of outer space cadet. Her diction could be improved slightly but she has a class voice and looked the most reassured on the night.
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That's fcuking garbage, another Nil points guaranteed then.
At least we're becoming consistent.
 
Thinking about it, after Brexit surely we're nailed on to finish last anyhow no matter what we enter.
Could be the bet of the year.

Whats odds are we Steve to get the wooden spoon?
 
slick said:
Thinking about it, after Brexit surely we're nailed on to finish last anyhow no matter what we enter.
Could be the bet of the year.

Whats odds are we Steve to get the wooden spoon?
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I think that's a little harsh. The Irish will like it and San Marino always are loyal. Notwithstanding I suppose it's symptomatic of how low our expectations have become that I'm even saying that.
 
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I was just thinking how the UK entry could be enhanced with a pianist on stage when lo and behold along comes Norma John for Finland. There's a hint of Scandinavian noir and Anouk's Netherlands 2013 theme but it doesn't really go far enough though is my kind of thing.
 
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It's the Swiss Final tonight, or die Entscheidungsshow for those conversant with the German language. I had been hoping to find a live stream and if the following link doesn't work I will check for a link nearer the time (18:05 GMT) for contest enthusiasts. http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/eurovis...-songs-der-6-finalisten-der-entscheidungsshow



As expected Lucie Jones-lookalike Timebelle has won with her song Apollo, though fortunately for us we don't have to qualify whereas Switzerland has to stand out even to get a look in for the contest proper.
 
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It's Germany's turn tonight at 19:15pm UK time. http://www.eurovision.de/unser_song_2017/eventlivestream2832.html

The best song seems the one that came last last year.

After a marathon schedule which tested the patience of diehard Eurovision fans, a Tech Music School, Fulham, Music Management student has won with her eminently forgettable pop performance of Perfect Life.
 
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I can't really get enthused about France's Requiem, which appears to me an inferior version of their 1991 entry.

How different it all was forty years ago when a modest young singer, whom Lynsey de Paul uncharitably described as "nothing" opened her heart (and if I hadn't gone up to heaven with the backing group at the beginning I had by the end), whilst Mike Moran for the UK hid behind dark sunglasses. The Bird and the Child have since flown away to escape the workman's bulldozer, making way for the new Wembley Stadium, but many of us still have our untainted memories of the night, as we now grapple with Requiem and any esoteric meaning the song is likely to possess.
 
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Spain and Italy decide tonight. Italy's entry will have to beat 15 other acts at the Sanremo Festival, which will start at 19:45 UK time and which you can see by clicking on the link here: http://esctoday.com/140707/tonight-sanremo-grand-finale-italy-decides-for-eurovision-2017

Spain's contest starts at 21:05 UK time and there's a link here: http://eurovisionworld.com/?esc=spain-objetivo-eurovision-2017-listen-to-the-songs

http://www.raiplay.it/dirette/ContentItem-9ae5fec2-d22e-4ee1-a672-67d8e3ad2bb3.html

Italian is not really my language but let's just say Nessun dorma till Italia had chosen its cantata. In the event cheeky chappie Francesco Gabbani stole the show with a party song which proved popular in the Sanremo hall.

I can't see anything beating this, but then I did think the same about Russia last year. It all looks so haphazard yet in reality it's polished with cognates such as Karma, intelligenza, evoluzione, and the singin' in the rain and sex appeal placed to appeal to English speakers. It's a fun entry with the serious message that maybe we're all getting a little too sophisticated and should look to our progenitors to understand more about ourselves.

Spain has chosen Manel Navarro with a song sung in English: Do It for Your Lover.
 
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Israel has chosen the star (if that's the right word) but not the song for Eurovision tonight in its programme Rising Stars. Imri Ziv was a backing singer for Hovi last year, which explains a lot.
 
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You wait all week for one national final and three come along at once:

Poland will decide at 19:30 UK time if you want to spend an evening in Krakov. http://eurovisionworld.com/?eurovision=songs_videos#poland

Malta will also decide at 19:50 UK time.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/e...ntestants_battle_it_out_on_stage#.WKiOJYXXJPY

It's also Hungary's national contest tonight at 6:30pm UK time. http://eurovisionworld.com/?eurovision=2017hungary



There's another link here for all 3 finals: http://www.eurovision.tv/page/timeline

Poland has chosen a pretty girl and it's more birds I'm afraid, but the song doesn't really develop to become something whole.

What might have been a promising ethnic song from Hungary was spoilt for me by the descent into rap, but credit is due to them for keeping some originality and authenticity.

Malta has chosen a classy, slow ballad sung by a woman with the now it seems standard silicone accoutrements, not quite as bad as Germany's Michelle in 2001, though distracting nonetheless and certainly no substitute for a pianist on stage.
 
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