All I really know about Eurovision is that it helped launch ABBA onto the international scene. Still, I'm quite positive that Israel is not part of Europe.
All countries that are a part of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) can compete in Eurovision. Israel is not part of Europe, but they are part of EBU and can therefore compete in Eurovision (just like other countries such as Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Georgia etc). Even Australia have competed despite not being part of Europe or EBU.
Named every single country in Europe. And Cyprus. And Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. And Turkey. And Canada and Australia just in case. uhh...... Israel? wtf.
Well, Scandinavia provided the Eurovision prototypical song ("Waterloo" by ABBA), so they kinda know how to win this contest.
Fun sidenote, the least "Waterloo"-esque song to win the Eurovision also came from Scandinavia: "Hard Rock Hallelujah!" by Lordi, Finland's only victory.
In the early years the Eurovision audiences used to laugh a lot at how much Norway, Denmark and Sweden would vote for each other. Especially in 1963, the first Scandi win, where Norway actually seemed to change its votes round to ensure that Denmark won. They've never stopped doing it, of course.
I'd rather be laughed at for having a fun, campy musical event that brings a continent (and more) together for a light hearted evening's entertainment, than for having elected [insert epithet here].
I don't think American music is absolutely terrible. And at any rate, I've heard they're setting up a Eurovision-style song contest in the States pretty soon (either this year or next year).
The funny thing is, I seriously doubt they would. Current fans absolutely hate the idea of the US at Eurovision and besides big names don't always perform well. For example Norway's Alexander Rybak is super well known in the community his song 'Fairytale' is super popular, his second 'That's how you write a song' attempt not so much. I would even dare to say hated on. USA would likely end low just like the UK.
Only just found out we Dutch have won it 4 times....had a real WTF moment, my general perception of Dutch musical culture (especially the stuff in Dutch) is trash. Appearantly we are not as incompetent as I thought.
Israel aren't toooooo well liked by their nearest neighbours... and they are part of the European broadcasting society (or something similar for that). Besides, we let Australia in so it may as well be come one come all!
It's not. It is however in the European Broadcasting Union, which is one of the requirements to participate. The only one not following this rule is Australia, but they depend on invites.
There are negative things about Ukraine, let me point them out ____
(see how quickly that sort of sentiment gets ushered away in many avenues for discussion. I believe that would qualify pro-Ukrainian sentiment, such as charitably giving the country a Eurovision win, as being "politically correct")
There is a similar, albeit smaller, contest run by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (a similar organisation to the EBU) featuring entrants from countries around Asia and the Pacific.
For me the shocking thing is that the UK is in this list 😂.
Other European countries generally hate us (and did long before brexit!) and give us ‘nil point’. Although we did get second place this year so miracles do happen….
We used to do quite well, bafflingly as we would often send in the most entire rubbish. The UK is way out ahead in the rankings of second-place finishes, 16 I think, with the next closest being on something like 5.
For my money I'm not sure there's a single year that we've sent in the best song. Possibly 2002. Possibly. Hmm
1967! Puppet on a string. The rest were pretty much all dirges that year and Sandie Shaw got more than twice as many votes as the song that came second (Ireland of course!)
I genuinely thought Sam Ryder's entry in 2022 was the best song entered.
What I find amazing is that British people are completely convinced that we always do terribly at Eurovision because Europe hates us. When actually we have a decent overall record. We've been less successful in recent years, but all countries have ups and downs - look at Ireland for instance.
Unbelievable, considering how Eastern Europeans have clearly mastered the art of music and performance art as evinced here, to the extent that their live performances seem to be broadcast from far into the future. Take that, Elvis, Lennon, and Bono...
Eastern Europe has some great music, but sure, let's cherry-pick some crappy music video and make a sarcastic blanket statement implying they all suck.
That's true of course, but for whatever reason there used to be a strong voting bias against the eastern countries in the old days. Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Yugoslavia and Finland managed one win between them (1989) in the years before all the other eastern countries joined.
Sad they don’t have more Eurovision quizzes, it’s my favourite thing followed by geography :( Also, Sweden should be updated, they now have 7 wins with Loreen (my favourite song is tattoo now:)
I gotta say… I liked Rim Tim Tagi Dim way more than Nemo’s song. His reminds me of a 21 Pilots song. I guess Baby Lasagna reminds me of a Three Days Grace song. 🤔
Yes. For the third year running, the best song finished second, which is, i suppose, an improvement.
What went very wrong this year was the semi-final qualifying. Denmark should have waltzed through, and it is hard to see just how Australia and Poland got eliminated.
And, of course, the biggest cheer of all three nights came with the (slightly) unexpected appearance of Kaarija performing a slightly shortened version of his cha cha song. that is a euro classic that will be remembered long after this years winner.
Some person on reddit calculated the jury points the Netherlands would have received, since the complete placements of the juries are public (the Netherlands hadn't been officially disqualified at the time of the jury show).
I am Maltese and find this contest unfair. Malta should have won it on more than one occasion - "Little Child" 1992; "7th Wonder" 2002 and "Angel" 2005 - , but alas, for some reason (political, geographical) or other, we have not.
Fun sidenote, the least "Waterloo"-esque song to win the Eurovision also came from Scandinavia: "Hard Rock Hallelujah!" by Lordi, Finland's only victory.
The event is a joke. These days Australia is a participator as well. Yes, you read that right: Australia.
Oh my God, you made my day!
You are not banned. Become a member of the European Broadcasting Union, then you can join.
(Geef mij je angst by Mirusia)
There are negative things about Ukraine, let me point them out ____
(see how quickly that sort of sentiment gets ushered away in many avenues for discussion. I believe that would qualify pro-Ukrainian sentiment, such as charitably giving the country a Eurovision win, as being "politically correct")
Asia: Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia
Africa: Morocco
Oceania: Australia
Other European countries generally hate us (and did long before brexit!) and give us ‘nil point’. Although we did get second place this year so miracles do happen….
For my money I'm not sure there's a single year that we've sent in the best song. Possibly 2002. Possibly. Hmm
What I find amazing is that British people are completely convinced that we always do terribly at Eurovision because Europe hates us. When actually we have a decent overall record. We've been less successful in recent years, but all countries have ups and downs - look at Ireland for instance.
Croatia was a really strong entry too of course!
What went very wrong this year was the semi-final qualifying. Denmark should have waltzed through, and it is hard to see just how Australia and Poland got eliminated.
And, of course, the biggest cheer of all three nights came with the (slightly) unexpected appearance of Kaarija performing a slightly shortened version of his cha cha song. that is a euro classic that will be remembered long after this years winner.