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2016 Eurovision favourites Russia in jury voting scandal
The Event Supervisor for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden told Metro: “We are carefully looking into it and will issue a statement later this afternoon”.
Russia’s entrant Sergey Lazarev is not connected at all to the scandal and there are fears that the troublesome situation could affect his chances of success.
Anastasiya Stotskaya, a 33 year old singer broadcast via social media app Periscope during the performances of Netherlands and Armenia. The broadcast quickly went viral as Eurovision fans realised what was going on. Stotskaya has over 1800 followers on Periscope and has received almost 200,000 ‘likes’ for her broadcasts.
Because the broadcast shows two entries including camera angles and special effects that were not to be broadcast until the live show airs at 8pm tonight on BBC4.
Additionally, the professional juror appears more concerned with how she appears on her own live broadcast than what’s going on on-screen. Meanwhile, another juror is seen looking out of a window and missing the opening of Armenia’s song,a powerful part of the performance.
Anastasia gives a wink to her camera after the Dutch performance and makes a sign to say ‘keep this a secret’ at the end of her broadcast. It seems highly unlikely that she expected a live broadcast to be kept secret for very long.
50% of votes are via televoting and 50% are from professional juries who must keep their voting secret until after the Eurovision Song Contest final on Saturday night. Eurovision voting is carefully managed and overseen and audited by PwC.
The EBU publishes the names of all jurors in advance of the competition. Russia’s jurors are Larisa Rubalskaya, Denis Maydanov, Olipmiada Teterich Lipa, Oscar and Anastasia Stotskaya.
Earlier this year, there were reports of an alleged homophobic incident suffered by the Israeli entrant Hovi Star when he travelled to Russia to perform at a Eurovision preview event in Moscow.
Then Russia’s Eurovision entrant, superstar Sergey Lazarev fell from his stage prop during his first rehearsal at the Globen Arena last week. Two weeks before rehearsals, footage emerged of Lazarev appearing to collapse during a concert in St Petersburg.
Metro Blogs is a place for opinions. These opinions belong to the author and are not necessarily shared by Metro.
Very exciting ESC 2016 news
Ovidiu Anton was due to represent Romania with his pop-rock entry Moment of Silence. Romania will be silent for a lot longer than a moment. Ovidiu promoted the song at the London Eurovision Party on Sunday and was expected to reach a strong position in the Eurovision final on May 14th. In a statement released moments ago on the European Broadcasting Union website, it says:
TVR will now no longer be able to participate in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and will lose access to other EBU member services including the Eurovision News and Sports News Exchanges, the right to broadcast specific sporting events, legal, technical and research expertise and lobbying services.Romanian national broadcaster TVR’s debts to the EBU date back to 2007 and with no other Romanian broadcaster a member of the European Broadcasting Union, it is unlikely that Romania will return to the Eurovision Song Contest for a number of years. ‘This is of course disappointing for the artist chosen to represent Romania, for our colleagues at TVR who have prepared their participation so well this year and, not least, for Romanian viewers and the many Eurovision fans in the country,’ says Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the EBU. Asked what this means for host broadcaster SVT, Sand replied: ‘As with all participants, SVT has been preparing for Romania’s act thoroughly over the past weeks. To take an act out at such late stage is of course a little disruptive, but it will not negatively affect the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in any other way.’ Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest Romania have twice finished third at the Eurovision Song Contest, in 2005 with Luminita Anghel & Sistem with the song Let Me Try and in 2010 with Paula Selling & Ovi and their entry Playing with Fire. Their 2006 entry Tornero by Mihai became one of the biggest summer chart and club hits across Europe in 2006. Mihai took part in the Romanian national final again this year, losing out to Ovidiu. In 2011, Romania was represented by Hotel FM featuring British singer David Bryan. They campaigned extensively in the United Kingdom but failed to pick up any points from the UK, finishing 4th in their semi final, but only 17th in the final.
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/22/romania-expelled-from-the-eurovision-song-contest-5833623/#ixzz46g9XpH39
Christer Björkman tells UK to stop mocking Eurovision 131
He may be known as Mr Melodifestivalen, but Christer Björkman has
said the UK should stop mocking the Eurovision Song Contest and enter
the semi-finals if they’re to have any chance of winning the contest
again.
Speaking to i News at a London lecture ahead of Stockholm’s Polar Music Prize, the Eurovision 2016 producer says Joe and Jake’s entry “You’re Not Alone” would continue the UK’s recent Eurovision struggles, and commentary from the late Sir Terry Wogan was also to blame.
Speaking to i News at a London lecture ahead of Stockholm’s Polar Music Prize, the Eurovision 2016 producer says Joe and Jake’s entry “You’re Not Alone” would continue the UK’s recent Eurovision struggles, and commentary from the late Sir Terry Wogan was also to blame.
“Joe and Jake is a fairly good song
and the boys are charming. It’s a step in the right direction but no, it
won’t win. If you sent another Katrina singing “Love Shine a Light”,
that would make a huge difference.”
“Terry Wogan did the commentary for
25 years and it was always mocking. Now Graham Norton also has this
flippant tone. It doesn’t work. It’s a lot easier to joke than to win.”
Björkman also suggested the UK should give up their Big 5 status and compete at the semi-finals.
“I can understand why you
don’t risk taking that step but if you look at the songs that travel,
they start in the semi-final and they become stronger and stronger
during the week. Conchita wasn’t even mentioned as one of the favourites
before the semi-final and then she became a shooting star – that’s only
because she revealed herself before. And you need to do that.”
Christer Björkman has dismissed claims of block voting, which has often been brought up in the UK, urging the country to instead start taking the Eurovision Song Contest seriously.
“[Block voting] is something
you’ve made up. You sound like the French now. We all love you. We all
want you to be good in this competition. It’s just that you don’t send
any good stuff. Why don’t you?”
“You have to say ‘we are taking
this seriously and we will not stop doing it until we succeed. You have
to accept what Eurovision is – it’s not a singing competition or a song
competition, it is music entertainment.”
He also added a British version of Melodifestivalen judged by Simon Cowell would improve the quality of the UK entries.
Do you agree with him? Should the UK start taking the Eurovision Song Contest more seriously?
April 18, 2016 @ 7:58 pm
April 17, 2016 @ 9:46 pm
April 17, 2016 @ 7:37 pm
April 17, 2016 @ 5:57 pm
April 17, 2016 @ 2:01 pm
Sweden is rightfully doing well in the ESC, and the UK should indeed up their game (though I think their song this year is awesome), but the Swedes should practice some effing humility. They didn’t invent music, Eurovision is not their play thing and the sun doesn’t out of their a***.
Also it’s not cool the he’s making this statement when involved in this year’s production and therefore has some power to make or break Jake & Joe.
April 17, 2016 @ 1:11 pm
I’d like to add one thing. OK – I’ll be the first to admit the Swedish domination with ESC is TOO big. With all the Swedish penned / produced entrie, how ESC look more ad more like MF…too much glamour / kitsch, changing of things to make it more similar to MF etc….I really think ESC has become “too Swedish”. A feeling many fans share.
BUT – in all fairness – it seems that many people “bash” Christer Björkman for his critism towards BBC BECAUSE he is Swedish. Unfair. The fact that you are Swedish, doesn’t make you MORE arrogant, more empowrering by defaulth…(even if there are certain people involved with ESC 2003/16 I feel are!). Swedish or not. A prominent figure or not. He might still have valid points! Why just get angry for something, just because the ciritism comes from Swedes. Would it be more acceptable if it came from Jon Ola Sand?
April 17, 2016 @ 10:41 am
April 17, 2016 @ 4:06 am
I find it funny that Björkman says the contest should be seen as entertainment because to me, the Eurovision is being taken so seriously that it has become less entertaining. Yes, the song quality over the last few years has been amazing but trying to listen to watch and listen to 26 amazing songs in a row is not entertaining to me because my attention starts to fade. I honestly miss the large amounts of Russian grannies, Scoochs, Verka Serduchkas, Krista Siegfrids and whatever else came on the stage. They may not have been winners to everyone (especially juries), but they gave us a nice break in the competition from very serious ballads and large amounts of pop songs.
But what do I know, I’m just a member of the UK public who actually voted for Joe & Jake so clearly I don’t know what music entertainment is…
April 17, 2016 @ 2:36 am
BUT that doesn’t apply here I think! Like it or not – Christer is actually in this case 135 % SPOT ON!
Of course – it’s not politially correct to “diss” someone who jut recently passed. But sentimentality aside, I hardly can’t honestly say Wogan (or even Norton now) do anything much POSITIVE for the image of ESC in UK. more make it a laughing stock, with the underlaying xenophbic musical arrogance that “We know how to make music, the rest of UK don’t”. Well, recent UK ESC results tell that maybe it’s not that right? And even if the songs deserve it or not, there IS a tendency of that the countries which really put most EFFORT into their NFs / ESC are the countries giainging most succes…..Quite fair really. And Sweden is a good example – like it or not…:
I think it’s a big shame how ESC has been ptroatited as a joke in UK for ages, and let’s be honest it’s no doubt “Woganism” at least has a fair share of the part of the blame. In many ways, I actually feel sorry for UK ESC fans…. UK is such a great pop / rock country. Both for newcomers and established names. Such a pity of big the gap obviously is when it comes to ESC. Even if they deserve kudos for at least having a NF this year, it was a reather unspisired affair, with rather generic songs (and rather silly stereotypes indicating presentation I think).
April 16, 2016 @ 11:57 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 11:28 pm
AND
F***
Christer Björkman !!
April 16, 2016 @ 10:19 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 10:04 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 9:29 pm
Was Bjorkman unprofessional to talk down a delegation before the competition? Hypocritical yes, but unprofessional? I’m not sure. If a delegation really isn’t taking the contest seriously then it might be considered professional to call them out in the press these days – I really don’t know who holds Bjorkman to account on that, or if there are any “professional” guidelines to follow for that position. (I’m sure someone will enlighten me on that soon.)
I agree with what Bjorkman said in principal, it’s just a shame that so much offence has been taken. So much for coming together.
April 16, 2016 @ 8:07 pm
I agree that block voting is not as prominent as it was back in the televoting years, but Russia still very nearly wins every year. Their worst performance recently was with the Tolmachevy twins, and they came 7th then (after having got into the situation with the Ukraine and with some anti-gay laws rattified at the same time). And that’s the point, the voting blocks don’t guarantee a win – think of it as trying to get over a 3m wall, we’re standing on the bottom and they are on a shelf about 2m up.
I believe that it works like a contest within a contest – the televoters from the core Eastern block by and large only choose between songs from the Eastern block, and if Russia isn’t so good one year, they choose some other country’s song from within the gang. This type of behaviour was well-known to exist in the cold war, where judges (not in Eurovision, but in International sports, even chess) would preferentially vote for their allies.
Voting blocks are just the sub-conscious-ish variety of getting on at Eurovision. However, we know that there is cheating going on as well; the EBU discarded one jury’s set of votes in 2014 and two sets in 2015. There are also other countries where the jurors absolutely do collaborate and they haven’t been challenged yet.
This cheating was much more prevelant in 2014 than it was in 2015, but it still exists. It’s aim was to tie up high televote ranks with jury ranks in order to get points. Consider last year that countries like Spain finished 10 places lower than they should have done (if you averaged the ranks) – Spain did not tie up the jury votes and the televotes often. There were other countries who were overall ranked lower than 20th last year and yet they managed to tie up a few jury and televoting high enough ranks to get the points to finish quite high up the score board.
The EBU brought in their new marking scheme I believe in 2014, with it was rumoured a new category added last year. That there was an increase in correlation (agreement) in the way the juries voted between 14 and 15 is statistically identifiable in the data. This is why the EBU have changed the marking scheme this year – they no longer require the televoting and the jury voting ranks to match up. This is not a return to the 2009 – 2012 voting though, the marking scheme has artificially boosted the top 6 ranked songs in the jury vote at the expense of the lower ranks. Effectively, the impact of the televote is now less than 50%, unless your televote is correlated across the board (i.e. you get a high televote rank in most countries).
April 16, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 7:13 pm
I think they should take all the scorn and venom they have for Eurovision and direct it at the X Factor instead (hate that show but they obsess over it).
I don’t think Cowell has real interest in the contest but only says things like this after bad results just to keep his name in the papers.
April 16, 2016 @ 6:46 pm
And yes, the Brits have been somewhat arrogant to the whole thing. Terry Wogan towards the end of hi career especially made it very obvious he couldn’t care less about it. Norton although softened has continued in that vein of “our song really is the best so let’s laugh at everyone else”. And blame politics when we end up badly”.
And then you get all upset and cry baby when we call you out on your arrogance, and calling us arrogant for doing so. How lovely double-standard of you guys!
You won’t win any friends by blaming everybody else for your own failure.
And yes, I say it again. It’s not like Jake & Joe will reach any wuthering heights with the song so it’ no harm pointing it out. Most likely they will end up in the standard British spot of 15th-19th and then we have another round of playing cry-babies and Europe hates us, and neighbour voting and what not.
Though the song is decent and good enough and it deserves to end up a bit higher than 15th. But I can’t see it happening.
April 16, 2016 @ 5:47 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 5:24 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 5:14 pm
most of the songs sent since 2006 and forward has been more or less bad.
True, but the reason why they have been worse than we could have produced is because of the voting blocks. No-one with an existing career in the UK will go to Eurovision (and even if the acts will, their managers will not let them go). This has been stated by the BBC and well reported in the press.
And it is not just the UK, other countries have been in the same situation. The Netherlands for example didn’t get out of the semis for 10 years. Ireland have also suffered from the same problem. Austria left the competition for a few years after one of the people at the Austrian broadcaster said that there was something else deciding the outcome and it had nothing to do with quality.
If Björkman thinks that voting blocks don’t exist, then he is very, very poorly informed.
April 16, 2016 @ 4:58 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 4:57 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 4:32 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 4:09 pm
Putin should get off, Björkman is a horrible dictator that is ruining the world basically.. you see the ridiculous double standard.
f*ck off.
April 16, 2016 @ 4:09 pm
UK has perfectly understood the pitfalls and
neighborhood there , and simply do not need him to win ESC.
This contest long time is not what it does, and certainly NOTHING is coming Swedish impolite to say anything to the English …
April 16, 2016 @ 4:06 pm
Björkman takes Eurovision seriously, the UK does not. And with that Björkman has the right to give his stance on this matter.
April 16, 2016 @ 4:04 pm
the UK are kind of ridiculous…. they make fun of the competition.. but are butthurt when they over and over again ends up in the bottom of the scoreboard.
most of the songs sent since 2006 and forward has been more or less bad.
Björkman is 100% right in his criticism of the UK.
April 16, 2016 @ 4:03 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 3:57 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 3:52 pm
Voting blocks and particularly which types matter most :-
Televoting years and upto 2012 – diaspora-driven ones were the most important. Even after 2009, you could still get 6 points if you won the televote in a particular country.
50/50 Jury & televote 2009 upto 2012 – diaspora-driven ones with better chances if you had ones based on cultural closeness too. These seemed to benefit the Scandinavians the most initially, but the ex-Soviet block also benefitted. (Cultural closeness = shared or close languages, close music industries with cross-over, lots of trade and also a shared history)
50/50 Jury and televote 2013 up to 2015 – ones based on cultural closeness became more important as the jury could negate a televote win
50/50 jury and televote 2016 onwards (but with effect really from 2014 when the jury marking scheme started to have a recognisable effect in the final marks) – **Correlated voting blocks** – either a song has wide appeal in many countries or a song appeals to a particular group of people found in every country. This is most obviously the LGBTI community, but I wonder if it was thought last year to include people with special needs & their carers…..
April 16, 2016 @ 3:48 pm
Worst stage ever… bad level… low budget…. thanks to you Mr right
April 16, 2016 @ 3:43 pm
Wiwibloggs, William, Deban, Angus, Padraig, Robyn, stop faffing about with fluffy kitsch “interviews” with Hovi Star and coverage of events like Israel’s party and get digging. Look into the Kath Lockett scandal, the sacking of Vlad Yavkovlev, write editorials about how Bjorkman, Osterdahl, and Sand have been working to water down the contest since 2012. You guys run one of the most respected ESC news sites, start talking about the real changes that are ruining the contest and who is behind them. Look at ESC Insight’s and Eurovicious’s work and go from there. When in Stockholm, meet with Sand and Sietse Bakker and Bjorkman and co and ask them the hard-hitting questions that need to be asked. “Eurovision News – With Attitude” – start acting like it!
April 16, 2016 @ 3:25 pm
Eurovision is Eurovision and melodifestivalen is just your selection program.
Don’t ruin Eurovision please, Mr right!
April 16, 2016 @ 3:22 pm
Strange!
To win Eurovision you just need juries, friendly juries. .. not Europeans spending money in sms.
It was a joke as the commfrom this guy are
April 16, 2016 @ 3:21 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 3:18 pm
The whole world shouldn’t be same, Melodifestivalen-a-like, without a soul.
Swedish selection is a very cold, cruel show, and now as well Eurovision, thanks to him.
I never liked a Swedish entry except Frans and maybe Loreen. They all are so dull.
April 16, 2016 @ 3:11 pm
Eurovision is just a stage for small countries to be shown but big countries doesn’t need this platform to get attention in the world.
Maybe Sweden now a days is ruling the contest but that’s all they can do as small country.
UK has much more important things to do than this. As Germany France Spain or Italy. ..
This guy is quite arrogant but well he would die like all of us.
April 16, 2016 @ 3:00 pm
The UK knows that Eurovision is a competition between Russia, Scandinavia and the Balkan with the rest of Europe on the sidelines. And for the UK there is no need to take Eurovision more seriously than they do, because they already have the most relevant music industry and do not need to boast their ego with this competition. Adele would crush everyone, but why would someone like her want to prepare 4 months only for a rigged event, when she could in the meanwhile busy make a lot of money?
April 16, 2016 @ 2:57 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 2:53 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 2:47 pm
The U.K. should not give up their Big 5 status. We have it for a reason to begin with. You might as well get rid of the Big 5 concept anyway if you want to say that. Or does he secretly want Sweden to become part of the Big 5 group? Not happening.
To say that we have no chance of winning is also very rude. Maybe our song isn’t the best this year, but it certainly isn’t the worst. What is important for us is that we have a good placing, not a victory because it shows that the BBC is doing something right.
Isn’t it ironic that he bashes on us when he came last when he competed? You have no right to insult us. If you had won the contest, then yes, but don’t act as if your opinion is important and is god’s gift to the world.
April 16, 2016 @ 2:28 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 2:15 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 2:06 pm
Thankfully we all have to stick our right arm up this ESC and say HEIL BJORKMAN while we got flags with his smug face everywhere during eurovision. I honestly hope they will flop one day soon like in 2010 with that sheep that sang.
April 16, 2016 @ 2:00 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 1:38 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 1:28 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 1:26 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 1:24 pm
Of course there IS bloc voting!! Who is he trying to kid? Is Björkman that naïve? As though Sweden does not get help from the Nordic bloc………..of course they do. But that is not the reason why the UK is not doing well………………we all know why, you do not need to be an expert!! (Robyn: – the UK does not have a voting bloc, how funny!!)
As for having a go at Terry Wogan and Graham Norton? At times in the past the ESC did have a real joke/comical element. Again who is Björkman trying to kid? He must have a poor memory. The perception was not of a serious song contest, but that perception is changing in recent years and the quality of songs is improving. After 2013 it has become even less of a song contest though!!
He is right about a “music entertainment” competition and not a “song” competition. Who knows Björkman might have been behind the change and publication of the EBU guidelines to the juries in 2013 when vocals, stage performance and staging now represents 75% of the jury score? So he is right there, but vocals ARE important to the juries, he is kidding himself again?
It is quite ironic then that NONE of Björkman’s 4 favourites with the best “shows” and vocals were chosen by the Swedish public this year. They chose a public favourite with a song they liked rather than someone with amazing vocals and amazing staging!! So based on what he said, will there be new staging in May for Frans as this entry lacks any type of wow staging or vocals? It is very possible that Sweden could fail to make an impact this year as a result and Björkman may have to eat his words.
Björkman needs to make sure he does not turn himself into this arrogant hate character.
April 16, 2016 @ 1:07 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 1:06 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 12:51 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 12:40 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 12:27 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 12:18 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 12:18 pm
April 16, 2016 @ 11:57 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:54 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:51 am
And I am not sure if Wogan killed Eurovision in the UK (and even if so, Graham Norton is doing everything to revive it) or if Sweden (represented by Björkman and Österdahl and their puppet Sand) is killing Eurovision with their power crazed behaviour. Eurovision does not have to have at least 10 songs composed by Swedes sung by other countries, it becomes Swedovision or Melodifestivalen, and the country who performs a Swedish song best, wins.
April 16, 2016 @ 11:42 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:38 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:31 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:30 am
NO block voting? HA! Surely decent countries vote for the best song, it’s a completely different thing the minute you cross over the east. The UK would NEVER have got the results RUSSIA have with the exact same songs and same artists… so please.. SHUT UP!
April 16, 2016 @ 11:25 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:23 am
April 16, 2016 @ 11:10 am
April 16, 2016 @ 10:56 am
And yes, it is an entertainment show. It hasn’t been a strictly singing show since the 90’s. Since semi-finals were introduced it has shifted more to an entertainment concept where the whole package is important, not just song. Otherwise they could just show video-clip of the songs and judge based on that.
Why people wants to downplay or demote the whole entertainment value is beyond me. That’s the reason most are watching and enjoying the show, including me.
Be honest, how many of the song would you have enjoyed on their own without the show that comes to it? Not even half probably
April 16, 2016 @ 10:32 am
April 16, 2016 @ 10:30 am
The problem of the uk is the song quality, however its rude for someone like him to say this year’s uk entry is crap.
Block voting doesn’t exist? Really? Belarus getting 12 points from Russia in 2014, for one of the worst songs in the competition! Whatever the reason for that is, it will not be blockvoting!!!!! …oh well
April 16, 2016 @ 10:19 am
April 16, 2016 @ 10:14 am
April 16, 2016 @ 10:12 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:59 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:50 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:50 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:30 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:27 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:26 am
BUT I think that’s not at C. Bjorkman to give advises, because in 3 years, he has destroy the Eurovision Song Contest : first, deleting the random order in Final, now with the voting… and I think that is not his role to give advises. Shut up and he needs to prepare ESC rather to give some interview. Come on British : I like your song, and I will vote for you
April 16, 2016 @ 9:13 am
April 16, 2016 @ 9:12 am
I can’t help but feel he is getting a bit big for his boots, and since he can rely on at least 40 points from his fellow Nordics before the stage has even been built (no matter how awful Frans’ song is), a little less lecturing might serve him well.
April 16, 2016 @ 9:10 am
April 16, 2016 @ 8:58 am
April 16, 2016 @ 8:57 am
April 16, 2016 @ 8:50 am
April 16, 2016 @ 8:39 am
April 16, 2016 @ 8:13 am
April 16, 2016 @ 8:01 am
Exactly this phrase is what makes me so angry about how Eurovision is perceived and managed these last years. YES, Eurovision IS a song competition! This is the basic idea of the whole thing. Exactly this idea of “entertainment only” is what indirectly leads people to turn away from the contest:
if voting rules and running orders are not created to get a result that is as fair as, but instead to get “good entertainment”, every year some countries feel as if they had been “sacrificed” for another song and did not stand a chance to qualify in the first place. If countries, in spite of an improved effort, fail to qualify for the final ever and ever again partly because of this (and because of not having a diaspora that could help to just boost them just into the semi-final’s top 10), the viewers feel frustrated and will turn away, stating the usual “oh, we don’t stand a chance anyway”.
This is not to speak of several voting scandals and rigging in certain countries which, in combination with the other things mentioned above, just lead to mockery of the contest (pardon me, of the entertainment).
April 16, 2016 @ 7:55 am
April 16, 2016 @ 7:43 am
Did forget to write that in my last comment.
April 16, 2016 @ 7:42 am
April 16, 2016 @ 7:32 am
But the big 5 is just making these countries to bribe, even Italy, France, Spain, Germany and maybe surprisingly UK, could do well in the semi finals with the songs they have this year. The big 5 is maybe also causing their bad results, except Italy and Spain in the latest years’, but still, I think the big 5 thig is a bit worthless.
Greetings from the country of Christer Björkman
April 16, 2016 @ 7:22 am
Sure, block voting exists – there will always be countries who vote for others that are culturally similar. But it’s never enough to ensure an outright victory. Even Russia, who can potentially rely on some points from the nine former Soviet states, has only managed to secure a win once.
And the UK has its own block pals: it can usually rely on some points from close neighbour Ireland, English-speaking Malta, as well as the British diaspora in Spain.
April 16, 2016 @ 7:22 am
April 16, 2016 @ 7:20 am
He is right, Terry Wogan was mocking & insulting. I was really offended by some of the things he said about contestants. Graham is nowhere near as bad but he is flippant.
SBS has stopped treating ESC as a comedy show now that Australia is competing. Those dickheads that want funny costumes & kitsch songs are relics from the past.
The staging of the song can make a huge difference to the success of a song. That’s why it is not just a singing or song competition. It is about engaging with the viewers. That’s entertainment!
April 16, 2016 @ 7:11 am
April 16, 2016 @ 6:59 am
April 16, 2016 @ 6:50 am
Where are the articles about them?
April 16, 2016 @ 6:38 am
April 16, 2016 @ 6:22 am
I mean, if thats not snark, I dont know what is.
And while I agree that the UK could stand to take the contest seriously, the fact of the matter is people keep acting like all the UK needs to do is call up their big name stars- ignoring the fact that no global superstar is going to give up 3 months of lucrative studio/touring time to do promotional events for the contest. Nor would anyone with prominence be willing to risk their careers on an embarassing finish- which for some stars (like say Coldplay) would be considered anything less than winning.
April 16, 2016 @ 6:00 am
Eurovision is the most wonderful show ever, but to dismiss its entertainment value is mistaken and dishonest.
April 16, 2016 @ 5:23 am
Nevertheless, it is completely wrong to sing it is a muisical entertainment than a song a contest. A media must has its own style to maintain in history, just like movie, it can be either entertainment or art, but if you treat it as solely an entertainment it would become void that no one wants to talk about (just like the hollywood movie nowadays)
April 16, 2016 @ 4:58 am
And I’d say that UK isn’t mocking anyone. I actually liked most of their recent entries. How about Molly, Bonnie, Engelbert… this guy clearly has bias.
April 16, 2016 @ 4:25 am
April 16, 2016 @ 4:16 am
April 16, 2016 @ 3:55 am
April 16, 2016 @ 3:36 am
April 16, 2016 @ 3:21 am
When it comes to Norton he`s 100% wrong.
Graham has done an amazing job and added some credibility to the contest in the UK. Bjorkman is talking like the Swedish Commentary don`t use any jokes or mock the other countries when they can be just as bad as Wogan was!
April 16, 2016 @ 2:27 am
And while I agree with bjorkman’s opinion of the UK song I don’t think he should be voicing it in his position.
April 16, 2016 @ 2:23 am
But most importantly: what is this obsession with the UK at Eurovision? France and the Netherlands last won in the ’70s, Spain in ’69 – why not focus on how badly they’re doing?
April 16, 2016 @ 2:22 am
April 16, 2016 @ 2:08 am
people always think that UK can go from last to winning at eurovision in about the course of a year that is not the reality. it’s a long game. the result may vary year on year from now but it will get better. if we let it shine and not snuff the flame just because it sent schooch. i don’t want in instant fix. i don’t want to do a germany and get an instant win then in a couple of year end up with nul pointe.
also, your [insert artist here] wont enter eurovision because thier already successful. the BBC did not to british music that eurovision seems like an after thought. sweden does not that kind of success outside eurovision. can an one me a swedish artist that it’s in eurovision, melfest, abba or avicii?
April 16, 2016 @ 2:00 am
I think most would agree with his statement: It’s a step in right direction but far from a winner. It probably will end up in typical U.K territory, 15th-17th spot
As for him commenting on the act, well maybe he was asked what he thought about them and answered. Besides, he will host the Swedish pre-selection show so he probably states his opinion there too.
And Simon Cowell has actually stated on numeral occasion he would do it if asked and has proposed several ideas how to do it. Why not? To have someone as experienced and interested in the contest as Simon could be a positive factor.
I think the attitude can be changed but it must start with the population, and BBC reflects what the population thinks. Somewhere the British population started to see it as one big camp event and it stayed on. Their commentary reflects that view. Norton is funny and every country needs a Norton but if you’re going to joke about the contest and entrants then do it with love for the contest, not outright mocking it. That’s what Norton lacks.
So keep him and his joking but let his love for the contest shine through. His soft funny side as opposed to his cynical old man side. That could change attitudes and gain positive press.
That said though his commentaries are sometimes the highlights of the entire evening.
April 16, 2016 @ 1:40 am
Hey, I’ll run the UK selection process if no-one else will!
As for changing the culture surrounding it – any suggestions? PR campaign? Re-branding? Axe Graham Norton? (shock!)
April 16, 2016 @ 1:19 am
April 16, 2016 @ 1:19 am
April 16, 2016 @ 1:12 am
April 16, 2016 @ 1:10 am
I would hate to see BBC lose the contest to ITV. The show belongs on the national broadcasters. 4Music (what is that?) sounds even worse. Commercial television would be more likely to treat it badly if there’s even a dip in the ratings or whatever.
No. Not a good idea.
April 16, 2016 @ 1:10 am
BUT WHEN I HEAR THIS OF THE SIMON COWELL WANNBE THAT IS christer björkman. IT MAKE BY BLOOD BOIL. THE AROGANCE OF THIS MAN INTO A LEAVE OF DOUCHBAGERY THAT I DO WISH SWEDEN DOSE NOT QUALIFY NEXT YEAR OR GET ACCIDENTAL LAST PLACE THIS YEAR. I WANT HIM TO SELF THE SAME PAIN HE DID IN 2010.
ALSO, I THINK BJERKMAN IS RIGGING EUROVISION. THE PRODUCER LEAD RUNNING ORDER ONLY HIGHLIGHT FAVORITES AND LEAVES SONG THAT MIGHT NEED A GOOD PLACING TO WIN TO WASTE. IT NOT FAIR AND MAKE THE WINNER MORE OR LESS KNOWN.
NOT THE FIRST TIME SWEDEN (BJMAN) HAS ‘CHEATED’. BACK IN 2008, WHEN WE STILL HAD 100% PUBLIC. THEY INTRODUCE A ‘JURY SAVE’ AND USED IT SO SAVE THE FANFLOP THAT WAS HERO BY CHARLOTTE PERRELLI (12 PLACE). LEAVING THE ACTUAL TENTH PLACER FYRO MACEDONIA TO THE NON-QUALIFICATION.SHAME
I WOULD RATHER WATCH UMK THAN MELFEST. IT HAS MORE CONSIDERATION FOR SONG QUALITY THAN WHICH SONG SOUNDS MORE LIKE JUSTIN BEIBER.
will the UK win this year? no. can you get a good placeing this year? maybe. but a failed eurovision contestant does not decide how and why any other country presents eurovision
April 16, 2016 @ 1:09 am
April 16, 2016 @ 1:05 am
April 16, 2016 @ 1:05 am
The main issue being criticised is the attitude and history of the BBC rather than the public. What is most interesting is how Bjorkman has raised the possibility of Simon Cowell getting involved when 1. Cowell is an ITV man, not BBC (i wonder if that’s Bjorkman feeling the waters, asking if ITV would like to take over UK Eurovision coverage?)
2. Cowell has a somewhat controversial image (depending on what show one talks about). Right now, The X Factor is on its way out, but Britain’s Got Talent seems to be doing really well.
A small note to add: “The Voice UK” has been bought by ITV recently, so is that another sign of an eventual BBC-ITV switch for Eurovision?
A thought: I don’t see why 4Music can’t cover Eurovision in the UK one day in the future. Crazy idea, or genius?
April 16, 2016 @ 1:02 am
April 16, 2016 @ 1:02 am
April 16, 2016 @ 12:55 am
April 16, 2016 @ 12:51 am
April 16, 2016 @ 12:49 am
April 16, 2016 @ 12:48 am
Interestingly, Australia used to use the BBC’s commentary and kept the same Wogan-style mocking tone when they shifted to their own commentary team in 2009. But when they came to enter in 2015, SBS knew that they had to take the competition seriously and enter a decent song.
Weirdly, I’ve seen Facebook comments from Australian viewers who are genuinely annoyed that SBS don’t enter crazy, kitchy songs. But Guy Sebastian’s fifth place and Dami Im’s odds are showing that they’re on the right track.
The BBC seem to be on the right track this year, but they still have a long way to go.
April 16, 2016 @ 12:45 am
Though I agree with him that Terry Wogan messed up eurovision for the UK by planting those polarizing ideas about the contest in the viewers (especially years 2000-2008), Christer sounds like he doesn’t know a thing about british humor. Graham’s commentary is the best, he’s not annoying and depressing like Terry was.
April 16, 2016 @ 12:40 am
April 16, 2016 @ 12:40 am