Do the Europeans like this music ironically or unironically? I'm not saying we don't have plenty of terrible music here as well; I'd just like to understand the Eurovision phenomenon better.
I'm a European (Scottish) but I can't speak on behalf of all of Yurrup. I'm as indifferent to the event and its music. No-one I know takes is seriously, but a few enjoy it ironically. If I'm being positive, it started as post-ww2, and part of the whole "let's cooperate and get to know each other" approach. For decades is was a nice friendly low key little event. How many other opportunities did a 1960's Norwegian get to hear what Portuguese music was like?. Alas, a time went on, the more .... theatrical... artists won, so that started skewing the event from friendly cultural event to freak show. I dare say that the USA has plenty of TV event that have just taken a left turn towards oddness. (I recall seeing televised tractor pulling events. w.t.f?)
Thanks for your take on it. There seem to be a few parallels to our Superbowl halftime show: cheesy music, rococo pageantry, and viewing for the overall experience rather than the actual performance.
One of the funniest and nicest movies I've seen in a while is one with Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams called "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga." It also has Pierce Brosnan in it.
Not only is it a hilarious romantic movie, but the singing is off the charts good! (Even the songs that are sung just for fun--one of them filled with double entendres--are enjoyable.)
I don't know what dark hell the songs on the Eurovision video came from, but hopefully they will return there, never to be heard again.
Thanks for the arrow tip! Also, I realized that if you hit the back arrow, you can go back 5 seconds, in case you missed something. For example, the first few seconds of the Iceland 1999 act. Kinda racy!
And as long as I'm commenting, thanks for your site in general. I've enjoyed it for many years now.
Did you post this because you like it? I'm surprised!
ReplyDeleteNope. I just keep hearing about Eurovision and wondered what it was all about. For this video I leaned heavily on that right arrow button
DeleteDo the Europeans like this music ironically or unironically? I'm not saying we don't have plenty of terrible music here as well; I'd just like to understand the Eurovision phenomenon better.
ReplyDeleteI'm a European (Scottish) but I can't speak on behalf of all of Yurrup. I'm as indifferent to the event and its music. No-one I know takes is seriously, but a few enjoy it ironically.
DeleteIf I'm being positive, it started as post-ww2, and part of the whole "let's cooperate and get to know each other" approach. For decades is was a nice friendly low key little event. How many other opportunities did a 1960's Norwegian get to hear what Portuguese music was like?. Alas, a time went on, the more .... theatrical... artists won, so that started skewing the event from friendly cultural event to freak show.
I dare say that the USA has plenty of TV event that have just taken a left turn towards oddness. (I recall seeing televised tractor pulling events. w.t.f?)
Thanks for your take on it. There seem to be a few parallels to our Superbowl halftime show: cheesy music, rococo pageantry, and viewing for the overall experience rather than the actual performance.
DeleteSaturday night, streaming on Peacock for Americans.
ReplyDeleteWatch it. It's such a culture shock for Americans.
3-4h of whirlwind music madness, followed by an unbelievably boring point counting extravaganza. And not a single commercial break.
Americans tend to think of old churches, big Ben, the Eiffel tower and the Collosseum when they think of Europe, but the Eurovision is Europe too.
And take note, that while Republicans here are trying to ban trans people, Eurovision was won by a bearded lady in 2014. Y'all are so behind the game.
Don't y'all Usanistanis have RuPaul's Drag Race over there?
DeleteNot thinking RuPaul gets 180 million viewers. Google says about 200 times less.
DeleteOne of the funniest and nicest movies I've seen in a while is one with Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams called "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga." It also has Pierce Brosnan in it.
ReplyDeleteNot only is it a hilarious romantic movie, but the singing is off the charts good! (Even the songs that are sung just for fun--one of them filled with double entendres--are enjoyable.)
I don't know what dark hell the songs on the Eurovision video came from, but hopefully they will return there, never to be heard again.
I've actually seen Páll Óskar (Iceland) perform a couple of times. He is a great singer, don't judge him by that cheesy clip!
ReplyDeleteTapping L jumps forward by 10 seconds. Save yourself half the tapping!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the arrow tip! Also, I realized that if you hit the back arrow, you can go back 5 seconds, in case you missed something. For example, the first few seconds of the Iceland 1999 act. Kinda racy!
ReplyDeleteAnd as long as I'm commenting, thanks for your site in general. I've enjoyed it for many years now.