European horror show
May 21st, 2005, 03:50 PM
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European horror show
This week I found the following titillator in the TV schedule (SBS-TV, Australia):
"Eurovision Song Contest 2005: Preliminary Semifinals. From Palats Sportu, Kiev, Ukraine. Hosted by local radio and television presenter DJ Pasha, Ukrainian performer Ruslana and boxing gold medallist Vladimir Klitschko."
With a sense of foreboding I tuned in, and to my credit lasted 15 minutes. Based on this brief but all-too-long exposure, together with my 10 minutes' viewing of the 2004 finals, I have reached two conclusions: one, that the purpose of the preliminary finals is to exclude any the best acts (if the term "best" can be fairly used in this context); two, that Continental Europeans should rest content with old memories of Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich et al., and not try to do modern popular music (which at its best is pretty grim stuff anyway). They simply don't get it, and their earnest attempts to ape the (English-speaking) cultures that do get it range from the embarrassing to the hilarious.
In tonight's programming SBS is threatening all 210 minutes of the finals. I've never been too good at masochism - I'll be watching "North and South" and "Jekyll and Hyde: the True Story" on the ABC.
"Eurovision Song Contest 2005: Preliminary Semifinals. From Palats Sportu, Kiev, Ukraine. Hosted by local radio and television presenter DJ Pasha, Ukrainian performer Ruslana and boxing gold medallist Vladimir Klitschko."
With a sense of foreboding I tuned in, and to my credit lasted 15 minutes. Based on this brief but all-too-long exposure, together with my 10 minutes' viewing of the 2004 finals, I have reached two conclusions: one, that the purpose of the preliminary finals is to exclude any the best acts (if the term "best" can be fairly used in this context); two, that Continental Europeans should rest content with old memories of Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich et al., and not try to do modern popular music (which at its best is pretty grim stuff anyway). They simply don't get it, and their earnest attempts to ape the (English-speaking) cultures that do get it range from the embarrassing to the hilarious.
In tonight's programming SBS is threatening all 210 minutes of the finals. I've never been too good at masochism - I'll be watching "North and South" and "Jekyll and Hyde: the True Story" on the ABC.
May 21st, 2005, 03:56 PM
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I think you have to live in Europe to "get" it. Lots of people here watch it every year for kitsch/camp entertainment value, nothing more (and also to see if the UK manages to score any points). No doubt there are popular shows/events in Australia that are not high brow culture and that non-Australians would find horrendous.
I'd rather watch Eurovision than a golf tournament any day of the week.
Anyway, I thought the Moldovan oma was a hoot and Terry Wogan's commentary was amusing in a dry, world-weary way.
I'd rather watch Eurovision than a golf tournament any day of the week.
Anyway, I thought the Moldovan oma was a hoot and Terry Wogan's commentary was amusing in a dry, world-weary way.
May 21st, 2005, 04:34 PM
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personally, i enjoyed several of the talented singers and lyrics, especially of the song from latvia.
i certainly prefer this effort to unite these countries in a harmless competition than some of the other c**p there is on T.V.
also. i do find some of the less known (to me) countries' taste INTERESTING, and i think maybe I am the one who doesn't get it...
i certainly prefer this effort to unite these countries in a harmless competition than some of the other c**p there is on T.V.
also. i do find some of the less known (to me) countries' taste INTERESTING, and i think maybe I am the one who doesn't get it...
May 21st, 2005, 05:16 PM
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Don't worry, BTilke, we have any amount of crap on TV. The afternoon game shows are perhaps as tacky as the song contest, but they lack the budget to achieve true greatness. Anyway, I'm glad that a lot of Europeans get a chuckle out of it.
As for that Latvian act - I did see that one, and put it this way, they're a shoo-in for the finals.
As for that Latvian act - I did see that one, and put it this way, they're a shoo-in for the finals.
May 21st, 2005, 05:28 PM
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Neil - it's over (the finals). It ended about two hours ago, it's on time delay for AU. Greece won.
My list while watching was
1. Denmark
2. Latvia
3. Malta
4. Ukraine
5. Sweden
6. Norway
7. Moldavia
As always, the voting process is part of the farce. Sometimes it's hard to take though.
Spain was hands down the most horrible. Who was it, Andorra?, that gave them 12 points!
It's high camp fun -- Wogan was in top form.
My list while watching was
1. Denmark
2. Latvia
3. Malta
4. Ukraine
5. Sweden
6. Norway
7. Moldavia
As always, the voting process is part of the farce. Sometimes it's hard to take though.
Spain was hands down the most horrible. Who was it, Andorra?, that gave them 12 points!
It's high camp fun -- Wogan was in top form.
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