I realise this is how most of western Europe feels about Eurovision, and it's funny from that point of view. But I think it's rather tone-deaf to what's been happening to Eurovision recently, or at least to what it means to the countries that have only joined recently.
If Eurovision is old and boring and ridiculous to the Germans etc, stop entering it. Stop paying attention to it. It's not like it's going to suffer without the German entry.
It's not old or boring, but it is ridiculous, and always has been. It's not about musical talent and never has been. The voting has always been political - always - except when something exceptionally good or very very gimmicky happens, like Dana being sweet 16 or those booted caveman stompy people with the flaming torches.
And with the new countries from Eastern Europe joining and all voting for each other and the local powers too, it seems like it's just the same as it always was.
Which I think is fine.
It *does* also serve the secondary purpose of drawing attention and tourism to the country it's held in, which makes it lovely when tiny little places no-one has ever heard of wins and *expensive* when somewhere like Ireland barely out of the 80s wins several times in a row.
no subject
I realise this is how most of western Europe feels about Eurovision, and it's funny from that point of view. But I think it's rather tone-deaf to what's been happening to Eurovision recently, or at least to what it means to the countries that have only joined recently.
If Eurovision is old and boring and ridiculous to the Germans etc, stop entering it. Stop paying attention to it. It's not like it's going to suffer without the German entry.
no subject
And with the new countries from Eastern Europe joining and all voting for each other and the local powers too, it seems like it's just the same as it always was.
Which I think is fine.
It *does* also serve the secondary purpose of drawing attention and tourism to the country it's held in, which makes it lovely when tiny little places no-one has ever heard of wins and *expensive* when somewhere like Ireland barely out of the 80s wins several times in a row.
no subject
it was actually a reaction against a history of awful songs all written by one guy, ralph siegel, so a bit of national catharsis going on there
incidentally, stefan raab is an accomplished jazz musician with a taste for big band music