Eurovision 2016!

[Jingthing]

It is approaching!

Here is a topic to discuss it from a gay perspective ... so apt for Eurovision.

You can start to preview the different national entries here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRpjHHu8ivVWs73uxHlWwFA

Edited April 24, 2016 by Jingthing

[onthemoon]

Planning to watch the finals live - will start at 2 or 3 am on Sunday Bangkok time. Is anybody organising a party to watch it together?

[Jingthing]

Here is the Eurovision 2016 schedule:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_2016

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 will be the 61st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It will take place in theEricsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden, following Sweden's victory at the 2015 contest in Vienna with the song "Heroes", performed by Måns Zelmerlöw. This will be the third time the contest has taken place in Stockholm, after1975 and 2000, the latter also being held at the Globe. The contest will consist of two semi-finals on 10 and 12 May and the final on 14 May 2016. The three live shows will be hosted by Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede.

[Jingthing]

OK. Super exciting.

We're now past both semifinals and the roster for the finals is set.

In the first semi-final, I thought Russia, with the CLONE of last year's winner is going to be a contender.

Haven't seen the second semi-final yet, but happy to learn that Israel's VERY openly gay Hovi Star has advanced, and received a standing ovation. Second year in a row Israel has made the finals, and last year's ("Golden Boy") should have won!

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

The British boys Joe and Jake are cute and we'll see them in the finals (U.K. entries qualify without semifinal competition)!

Won't win but hopefully will do better than recent years.

So who are your favorites that you think will WIN?!?

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Hey there, you don't have to be gay to post here!

[manfredtillmann]

sorry to tell you, pink boys, but...

the winner will be the chick from oz!

[Jingthing]

I enjoyed the Netherlands entry, with it's long silence, but I don't think it will win. OK, what's this American sounding song doing in Eurovision?

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Hey, did y'all catch Estonia's Jüri Pootsmann flashing his bare butt in the first semifinal?

[Jingthing]

"Unbelievably" gay Eurovision performances throughout the years:

Finally, America is getting hip to the wonder of Eurovision — basically, the Olympics of camp. Of course, real stars are crowned at the international singing competition (Celine, ABBA), but Eurovision also gives a platform to artists with questionable taste and a sharp dislike for restraint. Among the past contestants were no shortage of over-the-top LGBT talent as well as the aforementioned gay icons.

http://www.advocate.com/television/2016/5/13/8-unbelievably-gay-eurovision-performances

[Jingthing]

Well, in the second semifinal, besides Hovi Star, two performances that entertained me the most (and made the cut) were from Georgia and Ukraine.

Neither will win. Georgia was psychedelic and the Ukraine one was political.

Sad to see Ireland not go through but the song wasn't much.

The U.K. entry is growing on me.

The crowd really seemed to be into Israel's Hovi Star.

Australia? Boring to me.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Now that I've seen the entries myself, time to look at the odds. Russia the favorite as expected.

OK, time to check out Sweden and France:

Yeah, good song from Sweden for sure.

France. Very Eurovisioney!

Russia remains the clear favourite to win with odds of 8/13, followed by Australia, which returns to the competition for the second consecutive year after being invited to participate again (read more on the thinking behind that here). Ukraine, France, Sweden and Armenia are also in with a shot according to the bookmakers, while the UK trails with best odds of 150/1. Many bookmakers have slashed the UK’s odds following an impressive dress rehearsal, however, with some offering odds of 33/1. Russia aside, and whether it can win with a history of poor gay rights remains to be seen, it’s a pretty open contest this year. It’s anybody’s game as it stands, so a lot will depend on those final performances.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/eurovision-2016-who-is-in-the-final-and-what-is-the-running-order-what-are-the-odds-who-will-win-a7027726.html

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Armenia:

Australia:

OK, I have no winner prediction.

If the Russian entry was from a Scandanavian country, it would definitely win. But the politics.

I suppose Australia has the type of song that I hate that often wins. Could be politics there. Some may want to reward the novelty of Australia being in it, and some may want to express Australia being in it is ridiculous.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

The GRAND FINAL is upon us.

Starts at 9 P.M. Stockholm time 14 May.

I think that's 2 A.M. Thailand time 15 May.

Here is the order of the lineup:

The Grand Final contenders

1. Belgium: What's The Pressure sung by Laura Tesoro
2. Czech Republic: I Stand sung by Gabriela Gunčíková
3. The Netherlands: Slow Down sung by Douwe Bob
4. Azerbaijan: Miracle sung by Samra
5. Hungary: Pioneer sung by Freddie
6. Italy: No Degree Of Separation sung by Francesca Michielin
7. Israel: Made Of Stars sung by Hovi Star
8. Bulgaria: If Love Was A Crime sung by Poli Genova
9. Sweden: If I Were Sorry sung by Frans
10. Germany: Ghost sung by Jamie-Lee
11. France: J'ai cherché sung by AMir
12. Poland: Color Of Your Life sung by Michał Szpak
13. Australia: Sound Of Silence sung by Dami Im
14. Cyprus: Alter Ego sung by Minus One
15. Serbia: Goodbye (Shelter) sung by Sanja Vučić ZAA
16. Lithuania: I’ve Been Waiting For This Night sung by Donny Montell
17. Croatia: Lighthouse sung by Nina Kraljić
18. Russia: You Are The Only One sung by Sergey Lazarev
19. Spain: Say Yai! sung by Barei
20. Latvia: Heartbeat sung by Justs
21. Ukraine: 1944 sung by Jamala
22. Malta: Walk On Water sung by Ira Losco
23. Georgia: Midnight Gold sung by Nika Kocharov and Young Georgian Lolitaz
24. Austria: Loin d'ici sung by ZOË
25. United Kingdom: You`re Not Alone sung by Jack and Joe
26. Armenia: LoveWave sung by Iveta Mukuchyan

Time to make your winner prediction ... or forever hold your peas.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Jingthing

[manfredtillmann]

How / where do you watch.? Youtube? Still think the oz chick will do it. Thanks for your post.

[Bantex]

Thanks for reminding me this is on so that I can make a point of missing this crap show.

[Jingthing]

Thanks for reminding me this is on so that I can make a point of missing this crap show.

At your service, Senor!

I think the big news this year is that Americans are finally getting into Eurovision.

Not saying Americans should be in it ... and not sure Australia should be either.

Yes, I know Australia technically qualifies and the U.S. does not ... but both SO FAR AWAY.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

The Grand Finale is streaming now.

http://www.eurovision.tv/page/webtv?program=213583

[Jingthing]

Hovi Star (Israel) wasn't going to win anyway, but it seems to me his semifinal performance was much better. There seemed to be technical errors. Oh well!

[Jingthing]

Ricky Gervais says his favorite is SPAIN ...

SayYay

[Jingthing]

Tweet about Joe and Jake -- when two bottoms fall in love.

Ouch!

[Jingthing]

Funny dwawings:

https://twitter.com/neilslorance

Edited May 14, 2016 by Jingthing

[balo]

I know this is Eurovision but the winner should be Australia this year , best song without any doubt. Maybe too good for Euro, it's already a big hit in many countries .

[donnybay]

Looks like Australia will win, but that song is familiar, Skyfall?????

Edit

Wrong again Ukraine winners, well done, political vote? probably

Edited May 14, 2016 by donnybay

[Jingthing]

I stayed up for the voting. What an exciting finish! I love the result. The Ukraine song really has substance. Very moving. As I said I find the Australian entry boring but yes she has a great voice. Clearly big political anti-Putin factor in Russia losing. Normally that song would have won. Can Ukraine even afford to host Eurovision?

[Jingthing]

Congratulations to JAMALA and UKRAINE for a fantastic and surprising Eurovision victory. Next year in Kiev.

The funniest part of the voting to me was about Poland. "Captain Hook" Poland got almost no votes from the juries but did very well with the public part.

Edited May 15, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

About flags at Eurovision.

Many of you probably know that political expression is banned at Eurovision, though arguably the Ukrainian song winner slipped politics in anyway. Also, I had understood the rule is that ONLY national flags of participating nations are allowed.

So when seeing gay RAINBOW flags, I wondered how is it they were allowed?

Now I know:

The general rule is only the national flags of participating nations and other full members of the U.N. are allowed. Two non-national flags are exempt — the star-studded banner of the European Union and the rainbow-colored gay pride flag — as long as they are not displayed in a political way.

"It's how you wave the flag and when you wave the flag and how many flags are waved at the same time," EBU spokesman Dave Goodman said.

At last year's event in Austria, the rainbow flag was waved with particular intensity during Russia's act in an apparent statement against the country's views on gay rights.

http://midco.net/news/read/category/AP%20Entertainment%20Headlines/article/the_associated_press-eurovision_song_contest_struggles_to_enforce_polit-ap

Edited May 15, 2016 by Jingthing

[robertthebruce]

Ww

Should of been stopped years ago, all a bit Naff...

[Jingthing]

Ww

Should of been stopped years ago, all a bit Naff...

Eurovision?

Well, it's not required viewing, even if you're gay.

Now that Australia is in and considering Australia's connection to the UK and the UK may "leave" Europe ... why shouldn't the USA, Canada, and Argentina be next?

Yes, I know Israel isn't in Europe and the rule is about having the broadcast connection.

But Azerbaijan, etc. isn't in Europe either.

Where does it stop?

I do think they've opened a can of worms including Australia.

I assume that when Australia wins it, the next year would be hosted in the U.K., not Australia, right?

Edited May 15, 2016 by Jingthing

[onthemoon]

Whether or not the UK leaves the EU is a political issue that has nothing to do with the ESC. The ESC is open to members of the European Broadcasting Union, of which broadcasters in Israel and Azerbaijan are indeed members.

Australia is not a member, but was invited as a special guest last year. They have been re-invited, but if they win, the next contest will be held in a European country still to be determined. More about it here.