"Putting the Trash in Eurotrash"

Don't know why you're surprised? This is a continent which also gave us ABBA (and by extension Mamma Mia), Big Brother, Survivor, American Idol, X-factor, Dancing with the Stars, Undercover Boss, David Beckham, and Arnold Schwarzenegger! Who am I kidding.... Thank you EU I love every second of it! Send us more!

... and of course, it was the Eurovision Song Contest that first vomited ABBA onto the rest of the world. But what I REALLY want to know- who was the English dialect coach for last year's winner? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QSgNM9yNjo

That's one of my favorite things about going to Europe, listening to Eurotrash radio. It's fabulous. It's a bit surprising how a place that's such a cradle of culture has such so-bad-it's-almost-good pop music. I am a bit disappointed that Lordi wasn't mentioned in the article. Why did Nordic death metal get left out? The part about watching it with his grandmother reminded me of how my mostly-deaf grandmother used to love watching Hee Haw. You had to be mostly deaf to love that show.

Oh my the blue pants with the gold boots for ABBA are truly stunning. ; ) Pam

This year's is the 11th Eurovision Song Contest album on my iPod. Sure, most of the songs are pretty schlocky, but a lot of them are just downright fun (like last year's entry from France), and one or two are actually rather good. Oh how I wish BBC America would broadcast the final!

Ok "vomited up ABBA"...what the hell. I think there is a listing somewhere that they are just behind the Beatles and Cliff Richard when it comes to No.1 hit singles in the UK. . We grew up watching the Eurovision Song Contest avidly every year. ABBA, Bucks Fizz, Brother of Man. All these artists when on to have quite a few hits in the UK and Europe. You have to look at the era they were competing in, then it all doesnt look so stupid. At least, compared to most of todays so called singers, they could all sing. Admittedly in the last few years it has been a bit of a joke, but in the late 70's and early 80's it was great fun. The UK used to run a show called 'A Song For Europe" and that was when they would select the UK Eurovision entry. Anyway, watching Eurovision brings back some fond memories for me.
Pete

I love Eurovision ... love the costumes, love the song and dance, and love watching the cultural phenomenon of countries voting (or not voting) for their neighbors ... My first exposure to Eurovision was the year Dana International won; I've been hooked on the spectacle ever since. I wish that they would broadcast the finale in the States.

Bravo! Nadine Beiler, representing Austria, has moved on to the finals! That lady can really belt out a song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-i77PS14d4 Yes, I love the Eurovision contest. It is enjoyably cheesey!

@ Tom, "... and of course, it was the Eurovision Song Contest that first vomited ABBA onto the rest of the world." Interesting application of descriptive wording! There doesn't seem to be any "middle ground" regarding the music of ABBA - there are either devoted fans or people who can't stand their music at all. The fact that they were one of the most successful rock bands in history and the music continues to endure (especially with Tribute Bands) means they must have done something right. They were reportedly offered $1-billion to reunite, but declined the offer. Thanks for the reminder concerning the Eurovision concerts. I'd forgotten about them, but it might be entertaining to watch a few of the performers.

"They were reportedly offered $1-billion to reunite, but declined the offer." So there is a God after all, and he is just and merciful.

Has anyone seen the Father Ted episode "A Song for Europe"? Classic!

"Has anyone seen the Father Ted episode "A Song for Europe"? Classic!" My Lovely Horse!

Eurovision did actually produce a couple of decent pieces last year, but the German winner really sucked! I'll admit that it would be a lot more interesting if Slipknot were competing!

What is amusing is the biased voting between countries: the Scandinavian countries always give each other the most points for example. And conversely, countries that don't see eye to eye give each other low points. Funnily enough I seem to recall that Iceland often gives low points to the UK based on the Cod Wars of the 1970s, which goes to show that if you mess with the Icelandic people's fish, they will never, ever forgive you.

"Has anyone seen the Father Ted episode "A Song for Europe"? Classic!" "I said get the guitar!!!!"

I have been looking forward to Eurovision all week. It goes very well with a large bottle of red and a lot of giggling. I was nearly born at home because my mum refused to leave for the hospital until she found out who had won Eurovision! I was taken with last year's winner simply because I had never seen a German Cockney before!

Hello Tom. Thank you for the annual entertainment at this website, mentioning Eurovision Song Contest. I am not interested in that Eurotrash, but reading the replies about it here is fun. Tom, we really do appreciate your participation at the Traveler's helpline.

@ Tom, "So there is a God after all, and he is just and merciful." Well, I suppose that's a matter of opinion. I attended a performance of Mamma Mia on my last trip to London, and quite enjoyed it!

Just play the @#$&*!% note! Hey, lay off ABBA. Well, OK - find out who was dressing them and SLAP THEM... and their, ahem, 'choreographer'... (edit) I'm with Maureen and the Eurotrash pop music! I didn't think English 'lyrics' (THAT'S a stretch) could get any worse than American pop music, but when you're singing in a language you don't really understand...oy vey; makes me yearn for some good ol' American 'ooh, baby baby' fluff. And it kind of creeps me out that so many Euro songs are in English...it's hard to explain, but it just adds that extra level of fake/pop/unrealness/plastic-ky feel to it. I guess it's an aim to appeal to as many people as possible who don't speak their language, but their audience doesn't speak English, either (as a mother tongue). Bizarre. I want to take a shower after I've listened to too much.

A partial quote from the Slate article: "...you write gruesome New Age memoirs about what it was like to have your mozzarellas squeezed by hairy Tuscans." Thank you, TOM, for tonight's nightmare.

Just in case those who have never seen the contest get the impression from this thread that it's always been about cheeseball costumes and simplistic English lyrics, check out France Gall from Luxembourg, the winner from 1965: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5aeeSmkPwQ My command of French is pretty bad, but I understand that the lyrics of this song are full of puns and double meaning, some of which the young singer didn't realize until she was older. Her performance isn't great, but Eurovision is a song contest, not a singing contest. And here's Dutch comedian Paul de Leeuw parodying the usual sugary, schlagery, simplistic songs that predominate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpeJawrl1D4 (The lyrics translate as "Fly with me to the rainbow, I love only you.")

Live report. So far, Finland gets my vote. France and Hungary are close behind. The first few songs were fairly dignified, and I was wondering what happened to the usual bad taste... then Ireland threw a cheeseball curb, and Moldova pulled a "WTF was that?" Last year's winner from Germany was a big snooze, but at least she still sings with that ridiculously bad Cockney accent. EDIT: An the winner is... Azerbaijan (?!). Didn't do it for me, what does everyone in Ricknik-land think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPnlPte_UqY&feature=fvst I still like Finland best, even though he finished near the bottom of the pack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpnbAIysv74 Moldova gets my pick for Eurotrash of the year, followed by Ireland (sorry, can't find a Youtube clip for either), with Georgia a runner-up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ7SGWZt9Zo See you next year...

Moldova and Ireland were AMAZING! Cheeseball to the 20th power amazing! Azerbaijan's song was okay, I guess. Personally, I would have voted for one of the poppier numbers. I was worried at the beginning of the points-awarding that Greece would win. Nothing against Greece, of course; I just thought the song was a snoozer. Next year in Baku!

Azerbaijan's song was so dull I forgot it 30 seconds after it finished. I had a soft spot for Denmark's song. I'm glad the Moldovan gnomes livened things up. I think that we in the UK are just celebrating not being at the bottom for once - yey!

Music critics.... help me on my post for Music Suggestions...thanks

I had a brief look at several of the entries. Certainly a wide variety of musical styles! My initial thoughts.... > Greece - I agree with Teresa, it was a bit of a "snoozer" (perhaps just not to my taste)? > Moldova - it was LOL right from the start of that one! Definitely not "winner material". > Ireland - not something I'd ever listen to. Perhaps EuroVision should change their format to the same as Chuck Barris and "The Gong Show" - I would have "gonged" Ireland in about 5 seconds! > Finland - an excellent performance, but somewhat "quiet" > Azerbaijan - very slick and polished, and the performers were good! The camera work, graphics, lighting and set design added to the effect. It seems that these days, the flashy productions that invoke some emotion in the audience seem to be the ones that "sell". One example would be This production that took place last year in the magnificent amphitheatre in Verona. Perhaps that's one reason why Azerbaijan edged out some of the other acts? Cheers!

Wow... my first time watching...I think so many of these songs would have been better if they had been sung in their own language and we did not understand the lyrics (all of which were lacking in much content and were the epitome of the cheese factor)...an evening of entertainment.
However, I did thoroughly enjoy Father Ted... what a laugh... something else to distract me!

Don't feel too bad for Ireland, they have still won more than any other country.

OK, I finally found the clips from Moldova and Ireland. As the original title of this thread was "Putting the Trash in Eurotrash" I feel it appropriate to end this year's Eurovision report with the two most outlandish acts. First, this year's the pride of the Emerald Isle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpFQOtbqv2c&feature=fvsr And now, Moldova. Words can not describe this... and it even ends with the singer donning a monocle! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqNmLtMBTSw See you in Baku next year.