I almost miss this contest this year! Seems that Switzerland doesn't make it to the final. Anyone rooting for specific country candidate(s)?

And the winner is Ukraine's Jamala, with this cheery song about Stalin, Crimea and claims of ethnic cleansing



Seriously, why do we even bother??

Eurovision isn't just about music, it's also a social, political and fashion commentary...as Conchita Wurst will also tell you .

This year it's shining the spotlight on the plight of the Crimean Tatars. Since Russia took Crimea over in 2014, dozens of Tatars who have spoken out or deemed a threat to Russian authorities have turned up dead or simply disappeared. Their leaders have been jailed, media outlets shut down, and there is really nobody left to speak out for them. Except a singer at Eurovision.


http://unpo.org/article/19076

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/22/292401...-russia-before

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/03/18/...ression-crimea

If everything goes well, next times they'll be singing about drones, global warming and vaccines.

Boy, what a difference from the early days of Eurovision when Gigliola Cinquetti won with that cheesy song "Non ho l'eta"....

However, I'm glad for Ukraine. Congrats!

Betting's now open on how long before the Russian tanks/troops move in on the rest of Ukraine.

Interesting at Mr Pickwick's Pub last night in Geneva, for a special "Eurovision Song Contest" evening, how some nationalities present there really took the whole thing SO seriously.


We all know the songs are mostly rubbish, the presenters even more so, and the votes are rigged from the start. You have to take it for what it is: a bit of Euro-trash, meant as an excuse for a good laugh and boozy night with friends (in the old days, to hear other languages too, alas no longer the case).


Not according to every nationality present! True, there was a bit of "political" tension between the Ukraine and Russia.

I thought Jamala's performance was the best of the night. She proper belted it out.

The judges did.

Lost again!

No!

Leaving politics aside for just one moment I actually thought Russia should have won, but all the songs were pretty terrible this year IMO. It seems obvious to me, although others may disagree, that the catchiest songs that stick in people's heads would be the most likely winners. Yet year after year we get dark and brooding entries that take themselves too seriously and are instantly forgettable.

It's nice to see the voting is still as predictable as ever though!

I think the Australian song was the catchiest. Can still sing it now after only one hearing. Personally think Russia's was lame.

And if the voting system wasn't already screwed up by the politics, now it seems the telephone vote may skew things too.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36305838

It's just becoming more and more of a farce.

"Becoming"?

"More and more".

I didn't. Have I missed it this year? (again )

Will we even be able to see it this year. Organisers resign en masse.

"The Eurovision Song Contest has hit a major road bump, after 21 top level staff organising the event resigned.

The Ukrainian Eurovision team say they were stripped of major responsibilities in December, when a new boss was appointed to the organising committee.

According to their resignation letter, they were "completely blocked" from making decisions about the show."

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38979114

They were replaced by a Russian team!

Never mind the team, the whole show might have moved!

"In Ukraine, the task has proved even more problematic. The decision over which city would host the show was delayed three times and there were even rumours the contest would be moved to Russia."

Bit far-fetched considering the apathy between the two countries, but certainly hasn't helped.

Does anyone actually care?

Tom

I don't.