Eurovision 2016

.... and the draw results

Uncertain draw there....

Germany broadcasting and voting in semi final 2 at ARD's request - any idea why this is? Is it just a scheduling thing?

Apparently so, seems like Tuesday nights are not good for them.

They've done this for a couple of years. I'm not sure why though.

No fake applause in this year's Eurovision according to Aftonbladet interview with SVT : http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/melodifestivalen/article22145534.ab

However it goes on to quote Jon Ola Sand as saying ORF didn't censor, but instead 'sweetened', using recorded applause... Hmm...

(This refers back to the lack of booing for Russia heard on-air, even though the hosts obliquely referred to it during transmission. There were also suspicions that applause was used to 'heighten' the performances, by adding recorded reaction at key moments in a song...)

I must admit being very surprised not to hear any boo-ing when Russia was mentioned last year. I was at the recording of the Eurovision 60 concert at the Hammersmith Apollo and they actually stopped the link to Dima Bilán due to the loud boo-ing from the audience. Graham handled it rather well IMO, saying this was a night for celebration of Eurovision, not for political protest and reminded the audience that there was no voting, no competitive element and that "You can do your boo-ing in Vienna". The retake and subsequent applause following Dima's performance was far more polite (if not immensely warm).

Lol... and people still say we do badly because nobody likes us! We've never been booed IIRC.

In Vienna, many watching TV thought Polina was crying because of giving an emotional performance then leading the scoreboard. The reality was she was being booed quite heavily, which is why Conchita appeared sympathetic in her interview with Polina in the green room.

We've never been booed? Once, actually. In 1984, at the Contest in Luxembourg, Belle and the Devotions and their Love Games, got a little booing at the end. I've seen various arguments as to why - some suggesting it was due to UK football hooliganism in Europe at the time, others suggesting it was because the backing singers might have been miming, the actual singers hidden in the shadows at the back.

There's also the argument that the song "Love Games" was a rip-off of a Supremes hit. Not sure I entirely agree it's a rip off, but it certainly is in the style of The Supremes. Despite the boo-ing, it finished 7th, which was about par for the UK's performance in the 80s. I personally would have boo-ed that appalling plastic jacket.

Belle and the Devotions - Love Games


The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go?

According to Digiguide, the 2015 contest is due to be repeated on BBC Four on Friday 26 February. I think this is an error as that's the date of the UK's national selection, so I assume it's actually the selection programme.

A reminder (despite having my calendar entries removed ) Melodifestivalen starts at 7pm UK time, via SVT Play online or on Apple TV.