Eurovision Song Contest.

[juliacornwal]

If you were the powers that be, would you put money into this farce again next year? I didn't watching the programme, I do have to say - I'd rather stick pins in my eyes - but I gathered that it has reached the point now where voting has nothing whatever to do with the songs, it's all about who's on who's side politically. The old 'National Brotherhood Week' scenario!

But, so I read here a day or so ago, we don't have to go through the heats to get onto the programme because we pour millions of pounds into it each year.

So --- er --- maybe time to wake up and smell the coffee? There have got to be a million better ways to spend our licence fee than by subsidising the majority of a continent that hates the sight of us? Well all I can say is that whoever agrees to be our entry for next year will be desperate for publicity of any damn kind!

[almcd007]

For years we have come near the bottom of the pile. As a nation that can churn out some of the best pop music in the world - we can't come up with one song that puts us high in the Eurovision stakes.

It's a relic of the past that needs shooting - just like Terry Wogan !!

The money, time and effort put into this drivel would far be better off elsewhere.

Put it on sky or cable - but don't forgo Dr Who for what equates to a pile of pap !

If the BBC were Tesco and Tesco spent millions - like the BBC do on advertising and sending reps (like wogan and his posse) to wherever in europe and promoted the "product" and it didn't sell one unit - heads would roll at Tesco and the idea would be abandoned - this would happen once - not the 40 odd years this drivel has been going on.

SACK IT NOW !!!

[saxy_jag]

You may not like Mr Wogan, but he's been talking about the political voting for years and he's not afraid to do so. If he loses the job tomorrow, it would cause him no hardship, and he'd be free to say even more than he does. The more non-european, Eastern bloc countries compete, the more they'll vote for (and against) one another for political reasons, and the less 'real' European countries will get a look in.

What I can never understand is how all these countries get to be part of Europe for the sake of this competition. Now we even have Russia taking part. I have nothing against Russia, but aren't they part of the Asian continent?

How long before North Africa becomes part of 'Europe'?

[brionon]

You don't watch it But you know what it's like. Have you read Shakespeare ? I have and I don't like it. The difference ?
Mine's an informed opinion.

[Ric.ror]

I have to say that the voting is the best part of it - lets face it the music is dire. I also think it TW at his best. And I am also disappointed the we did not get nil points I prefer it when we do. Shame Morrisey backed out - just imagine !!!!!!!

[JOEYGREEN]

Didn't see it, I can't stand watching it but can someone tell me where we came please and who won? I find it puzzling that we cannot find a decent song/singer(s). With all the talented people about, surely we can find someone better than scooch, gemini etc.

[juliacornwal]

Oh I have watched it, brionon, I assure you. I watched it way back in the days of Katy Boyle, and I've watched it with Wogan as well. I don't watch it now mainly because the music is so crappy that there are a million things better to do!

I've also read Shakespeare - and I love it ... but I'm not sure what that's got to do with the Eurovision Song Contest.

And I do so agree about the entrants from Asia. I thought this was the Eurovision Song Contest, not the Anybody-can-join-in-except-America-and-Australia Contest.

[pussnboots]

From now on it should be called The East European Can't Sing for Toffee Contest

[andy-hughes]

Just to clear up the ann ual misunderstanding - it's the EUROVISION song contest - that means it is open to any country which receives telvision programmes from the EUROVISION telvision cartel which broadcasts throughout Europe, and to a large number of countries outside the continent.

That is why it is not necessary to be a European territory to enter - you merely have to be a recipient of the Eurovision programming.

Hope that explains.

[fairkatrina]

I like Eurovision - not for the music, but because it's the dodgiest, campest, most cringe-worthy thing on TV all year, and Wogan's bitchy comments are the icing on the cake.

Of course everyone votes for their neighbours, that's been the case since pretty much day 1 of the competition, but I never watch it expecting (or even hoping) that we win. Although it should be pointed out that our only 12 points this year came from Malta - there's an alliance going strong if ever there was one, so it works both ways.

P.S. Does anyone else think that singing 'we're gonna fly our flag all over the world' was in pretty bad taste given the current political climate? We deserved nil points for that!

[Tizzi247]

it's a TERRIBLE programme and a total waste of our money. Wogan enjoys taking the p**s out of it all, but the show should be binned

[saxy_jag]

It does explain, Andy, thanks - but it still ain't right! ;-)

[ixychip1001A]

The thing about this years contest was that nearly all the countries who qualifed were from the Eastern block...they need the money the contest brings in so they vote for each other.

The Euro bit IS wierd!!!

Nevermind russia not being part of europe...what about ISRAEL its in the MIDDLE EAST!!!! Since when is that Europe?

[juliacornwal]

Then what about we give it to them, as a gift, and then they can call it The Eastern Block Vision Song Contest, and we can stop blocking up Saturday evening television once a year with it!

Actually, to be honest, our entry this year was real Eurovision material ... but from about twenty years ago. Sandi Shaw, Buck's Fizz, Lulu, Cliff Richard, they all had those jolly sing-along numbers - and as far as I remember, they all won, but that was when everyone else had jolly sing-along numbers as well. From what little I've seen of the other entrants recently the more tuneless and bonkers you can get, the better.

No, sorry, time to bin this expensive dreary rubbish!