Eurovision 2025
Nobody's started a thread yet so I thought I would.
As is traditional, I'll do a review in my own slightly snarky manner, and everyone else is welcome to contribute your thoughts.
Semi-final 1 was on Tuesday. There was a lot of stuff about Switzerland being the birthplace of Eurovision 69 years ago. Basel is the host city and has probably never had this much attention before. (I've stayed there several times, it's a lovely city and I'm already location-spotting when I watch the programme!)
The programme featured lots of lurid colour, overly dramatic dancing, some very stilted attempts to be funny from the hosts (to be fair, not easy to do the whole thing in another language). The usual noises about diversity, although the artists are only allowed to display the flags of their country, not anything else. This despite last year's winner, Nemo, going on stage with the non-binary flag when they won. It will be interesting to see whether any act attempts to colour-code their clothing, as Ireland's entry did last year.
The highlight of the interval was the now traditional comedy number making fun of things invented in Switzerland. While it didn't reach the self-referential heights of Sweden's hilarious 'Love Love Peace Peace' from a few years ago, it was good to see the Swiss can take the ... er, mickey out of themselves too.
I won't comment yet on the songs which qualified - I'll leave that for the final on Saturday. So my thoughts on the five non-qualifiers are:
Slovenia: a heartfelt Coldplay-style ballad by a man paying tribute to his wife who had gone through cancer treatment. Musically rather dull and lyrics very clunky, but there was no doubting his sincerity. The simplicity of the staging was completely spoiled by him being suspended upside-down for no obvious reason during the latter half of the song. At least he was the right way up by the time his wife made a 'surprise' appearance.
Belgium: Red Sebastian lived up to his name - RED presumably standing for Rubberised and Extremely Dismal. This song was what I believe the young folks call a 'banger' but his vocals were painfully weak.
Azerbaijan: he's going for Justin Timberlake vibes but his pitchy vocals actually reminded me of comedian Joe Pasquale. And just like Joe, he's got a song that'll get on your nerves, get on your nerves...
Croatia: angry goth-looking guy singing about baking a 'Poison Cake'. The chorus of 'tasty, tasty, yum yum, tasty' drew comparisons from our commentators with the old Bran Flakes advert. Underpowered vocals and a disappointing lack of energy. Think he needs to change to a healthier diet.
Cyprus: a young chap with his mates on some scaffolding, now there's an accident waiting to happen. Sadly, he fell victim to the same problem our entry did last year - too much rushing around, robbing his vocals of breath and pitch. Stand still and let your dancers do all the Cirque de Construction stuff next time, please.
And that's it for Semi-Final 1. I'll be back after tonight's second slice of roesti.
As is traditional, I'll do a review in my own slightly snarky manner, and everyone else is welcome to contribute your thoughts.
Semi-final 1 was on Tuesday. There was a lot of stuff about Switzerland being the birthplace of Eurovision 69 years ago. Basel is the host city and has probably never had this much attention before. (I've stayed there several times, it's a lovely city and I'm already location-spotting when I watch the programme!)
The programme featured lots of lurid colour, overly dramatic dancing, some very stilted attempts to be funny from the hosts (to be fair, not easy to do the whole thing in another language). The usual noises about diversity, although the artists are only allowed to display the flags of their country, not anything else. This despite last year's winner, Nemo, going on stage with the non-binary flag when they won. It will be interesting to see whether any act attempts to colour-code their clothing, as Ireland's entry did last year.
The highlight of the interval was the now traditional comedy number making fun of things invented in Switzerland. While it didn't reach the self-referential heights of Sweden's hilarious 'Love Love Peace Peace' from a few years ago, it was good to see the Swiss can take the ... er, mickey out of themselves too.
I won't comment yet on the songs which qualified - I'll leave that for the final on Saturday. So my thoughts on the five non-qualifiers are:
Slovenia: a heartfelt Coldplay-style ballad by a man paying tribute to his wife who had gone through cancer treatment. Musically rather dull and lyrics very clunky, but there was no doubting his sincerity. The simplicity of the staging was completely spoiled by him being suspended upside-down for no obvious reason during the latter half of the song. At least he was the right way up by the time his wife made a 'surprise' appearance.
Belgium: Red Sebastian lived up to his name - RED presumably standing for Rubberised and Extremely Dismal. This song was what I believe the young folks call a 'banger' but his vocals were painfully weak.
Azerbaijan: he's going for Justin Timberlake vibes but his pitchy vocals actually reminded me of comedian Joe Pasquale. And just like Joe, he's got a song that'll get on your nerves, get on your nerves...
Croatia: angry goth-looking guy singing about baking a 'Poison Cake'. The chorus of 'tasty, tasty, yum yum, tasty' drew comparisons from our commentators with the old Bran Flakes advert. Underpowered vocals and a disappointing lack of energy. Think he needs to change to a healthier diet.
Cyprus: a young chap with his mates on some scaffolding, now there's an accident waiting to happen. Sadly, he fell victim to the same problem our entry did last year - too much rushing around, robbing his vocals of breath and pitch. Stand still and let your dancers do all the Cirque de Construction stuff next time, please.
And that's it for Semi-Final 1. I'll be back after tonight's second slice of roesti.
Comments
I think Netherlands has a chance, despite being a more trad ballad. Nothing else particularly jumps out at me.
Need to listen to part 2 later.
Luxembourg’s was also catchy. Mr Heavenly liked Germany’s entry but he likes EDM and I’m not sure Eurovision is ready for that yet.
Finland’s act reminded me of Diana Dors in the Two Ronnies sketch of The Worm that Turned. I think she might win.
Well, they kept all the best voices for this one, certainly. And some of the most bonkers outfits too. Not least one of our hosts, who seems to be cosplaying Seven of Nine in an outfit made entirely from plastic CD sleeves. Fortunately it survives her brave attempt at crowsurfing later on, but I'll bet some of the audience suffered minor injuries from it.
As before, I'll only comment on the non-qualifiers at this point. So we have:
Australia: This number is classic Eurovision, with a fun disco feel and lyrics you can snigger along to. However, where the video made great use of a crowded ice-cream van, the staging here is a bit underwhelming and the performers' antics get a bit lost. Going first won't have helped either. A real shame that Saturday's audience won't get a taste of the Milkshake Man.
Czechia: a guy in a white outfit with a glittery black jacket, attempting to sing the next Bond theme. His voice isn't strong enough unfortunately, and the unexpected rhythm change seems to throw him as well as us.
Georgia: one of several women in big dresses with big voices tonight. Again, this wants to be a Bond theme but doesn't quite make it. I'm not sure why the Mongolian warriors are dancing frantically around her. Even the costume change into a glittery red outfit can't quite sell this one to me.
Ireland: an odd one, this. She's from Norway and she's singing a dementedly poppy number dedicated to Russian space-dog Laika, who she hopes is still out there having fun 'Laika party in the sky'. Um, no, sweetie, Laika went to live on a farm. In space. A really nice space farm. I don't know what's more annoying here, the dreadful pun, her voice or the fact that I am still singing this earworm of a chorus.
Montenegro: another dramatic ballad with a woman with a big voice. And yes, she's in a big dress too. This one kind of looks like a giant fried egg. Fortunately she manages to struggle free of it at some point.
Serbia: picture Thor in a dramatic red outfit. OK, when you've finished picturing Thor, let's get back to the song. This is a classic ballad and he has a great voice. As with several of tonight's entries, the dancers are overdoing it and frankly didn't need to bother turning up. They seem to be aware of this and at one point they actually attempt to drag him off the stage, but even lying down he keeps belting out the number. Unfortunately the voters didn't deem him worthy of qualifying.
And that's it - time to stock up on drinks and snacks for the final.
I do hope it wins.
Sadly (?) it didn’t qualify for the final.
All three are regular West End performers. I love it. A dizzily hungover tribute to the joys of a night on the bevvies. What could be more British?
I sit somewhere in between. It's not as bad as most Eurodross (I mostly watch to bask in incredulity that so much awful music can come together in one place) but it's not exactly something I'd want to listen to again.
"How terrible! Real musicians on stage playing actual instruments."
Man has no taste.
Great costumes though.
The gold bacofoil?
@balaam - hello! - long time no see! 🙂🙂
You don’t know how much I loathe this one.
Loved it! 💕💕
That was really fun.
Understandable.
I've been reading, but not posting.
🙂🙂
Lithuania is the one I dislike least. Followed by Portugal, I think.
I confess the last few years' winners all sound very modern to me. Most of my preferred music is pre-1990. Once dance, rap and EDM came to the fore I retreated into the past.
I did that even earlier on.
2. Luxembourg - Good.
3. Estonia - Terrible, and that's being generous.
4. Israel - Pleasant Balad.
5. Lithuania - Good rock song but I'd like it to be heavier. Second best so far, behind Luxembourg.
6. Spain - Typical bump bump rhythm, Rubbish.
7. Ukraine - The good bit where the female sang was too short, but at least it punctuated the boredom.
8. UK - The song depended on a gimmick that didn't work.
9. Austria - Good, I like it, but it's operatic, too niche for Eurovision.
10. Iceland - K-Pop. I'm not 14 years old, so I'll pass on this immature muzak.
11. Latvia - Livually exciting, audibly horrible.
12. Netherlands - A good opening became typical Eurovision pap.
13. Finland - Bad disco that mistakes excitement for musical quality.
End of part 1.