Eurovision 2007 - Would you want a US-vision?
Eurovision 2007 - Would you want a US-vision?
SweMozArt
Leading Actor Joined: 7/31/06
#1Eurovision 2007 - Would you want a US-vision?
Posted: 1/12/07 at 8:15pm
Any fans of the Eurovision song contest?
It's an annual televised song contest in which almost all countries of Europe takes part. Each participating country sends one song and performers who will sing the song live but nowadays with taped music. The viewers in each country then cast their votes by phone. Each country has the same amount of points to give which mean that Monacos vote is as important as that of Russia. The quality of the songs and performances vary videly but that is part of the appeal of the contest. Its kitsch and very camp, but there are also some good songs and the live perfomances of the top entries can be great. It's the most watched musical event in the world every year.
I read last year that there were plans of a US version where states would compete agains each other and that one of the big media companies had bought the rights. Does anyone know if there will be an event soon? I think it could be a great event. You would have country bands from Texas competing against rappers from Detroit, and Broadway singers from New York. The american public would then decide so the country singers from Texas would probably win (most years).
Update:
The winners last year were finnish monster hardrock band Lordi. Finland thereby won for the first time and the competition will be held in Helsinki this year. One might think that they are cheap gwar or kiss rippoffs but their live perfomance from the Eurovision is definetely worth seeing. They don't however represent the typical Eurovision musical style. They won because they were atypical, had a good song and great costumes. The last years the musical styles have become more and more divergent.
ABBA won with Waterloo in 1974 and this song was voted the best of the first 50 years. Now if one doesn't like ABBAs style there are other classics like for instance Volare from Italy which came second in it's year but was voted the second best behind Waterloo infront of the other 49 winning melodies.
Updated On: 1/12/07 at 08:15 PM
#2re: Eurovision 2007 - Would you want a US-vision?
Posted: 1/12/07 at 9:50pm
I used to follow this contest when I lived in Costa Rica.
Another very popular song that came from this contest is Eres Tu, from the spanish group Mocedades. The song (in Spanish) was even a hit in the U.S., reaching 9 on the Billboard charts. Mocedades went on to become a hugely popular group as well.
And if they were to do the same with the voting (making each state's voting equitable) it would be interesting. Especially is the DID allow such a wide variety of music.
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch
#2re: Eurovision 2007 - Would you want a US-vision?
Posted: 1/12/07 at 11:04pm
I watch it every year. I love the Ukrainian song that won a couple of years ago, Wild Dances. Another very famous Eurovision song winner from yesteryear is Volare.
I think US-Vision would be meaningless. What makes Eurovision so fascinating are the numerous cultures, languages and styles in herent in using such a vast array of countries. You would never find that in a US competition, despite our own cultural diversity. It would just be another American Idol.
One of the best things about Eurovision is the outrageous cheesiness in some of the songs and performances. It is a HOOT to watch. I personally didn't like Finland's song this year at all, but they were obviously going to win because their performance and appearance were so over-the-top, it actually put them on top. Visually, they were a hilarious (see picture), if frightening, crowd-pleaser. I'm not sure anyone was actually even listening to the song, which is in reality quite silly.
There is a certain *wink* website *wink* were you can view the music video by searching "lordi hard rock hallelujah".
#3re: Eurovision 2007 - Would you want a US-vision?
Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:09pm
I adore the contest ever since I was a kid ! I was a volunteer last year since it was organized in Greece and I was the assistant of the UK team/entry ! I really enjoyed the whole experience from the inside and had a GREAT time !
What is really impressive to non-familiar people with the Contest, is the huge amount of gay fans and support the contest has in Europe ! As a friend of mine said "It's like the Gay World Football Cup !! " LOL
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