Author: Phil

It’s not just the Contest that is hotting up. The weather has been a scorcher.  Moving around the two cities, and between the press centre and the arena, you can feel the heat.  Upwards of 29/30 degrees today.  Luckily, the press centre is well ventilated – otherwise there would be blood, sweat and tears both backstage and in our working area!

Today (Monday) saw the business end of the week begin – it was the first dress rehearsal of the first semi-final. It’s the first full run through of all the acts back-to-back. As a result the press centre was noticeably busier…

At 3.00pm the usual German efficiency seemed to have evaporated with the heat, as quite uncharacteristically the dress rehearsal started late. It’s important that the three rehearsals are treated “as live”, so that the timings are kept to schedule, in preparation for the broadcast on Tuesday evening.  BTW: you guys can follow the action on BBC3 at 8.00pm.  Make sure you tune-in… there will be a quiz!

From our allotted seats, here’s (I’m sounding like a broken record already) the stunning stage…

Is it me, or does it look the the Starship Enterprise a wee bit?  That’s the front of the arena, here’s the rest of the huge arena (66,000 seats)…

I’ll review the songs for you in a short while – so you can watch with an informed eye and ear tomorrow. But in keeping with the sci-fi theme, here’s an image from the Azerbaijan entry.  I think it looks like the spaceship in E.T. …

All in all it was a smooth dress rehearsal, with only a slight wobble as the Icelandic entry took their places: the stage hands had a delay and couldn’t quite assemble their set in the allotted time.  A slight pause and we were back in action.

What you guys don’t see – and what I have never seen before – is that as the acts take their place on the huge stage there is a green laser which guides them to their position – they are quite literally on point as the songs begin. Another laser projects the countdown before each song begins. It’s fascinating to see all the stage hands rush the stage and do a seamless changeover – how they do it all within 50 seconds is quite amazing.

I left the press centre 19:10 local time, with Karen off to the Irish reception with Jedward.  As Karen writes for The Irish Times she gets that gig to get the scoop and file a story for them.  Word has it that they are going to win. I just can’t see it, but then what does Edge Hill’s very own “Eurovision Expert” know anyway! John Cater once introduced me to Jennifer Saunders and Tanya Byron as that, and Jennifer Saunders looked bemused and thought he was joking!

After an eventful day I made the long trip back to Cologne. I think we’re getting the hang of it – it took just over an hour today. I’m actually quite pleased with myself.  I know that you know that I’m an intelligent bloke, and I get things done, but if you expect me to get from A to B in the UK I’ll probably get lost.  So to navigate my way back here – on the edge of nowhere, was quite a relief!

The ERN events are being finalised, with Karen doing a cracking job of sorting locations and the final speakers. Toni has asked me to contribute to the event on Thursday at Fachhochschule Düsseldorf, University of Applied Sciences. It’s “ESC as TV”.  My paper that I’m delivering on Saturday crosses over between Eurovision and the ‘New Europe” session and that event, so I’m happy to contribute to both.  More on that later in the week (see more here: http://www.macromedia-fachhochschule.de/esc/home.html).

Right, back to the music…

Greetings from Dusseldorf!

Well, actually it’s greetings from Dusseldorf and Cologne…

Dusseldorf does not have the capacity to cope with the thousands of people that have flooded into the area for the event. And also, we’re not willing to pay *hundreds* of euros each per night for a room in Dusseldorf. So as a result Karen, Milija and I are staying in a lovely house in Cologne (yes regular readers we are reunited once again at Eurovision!). We will be joined by other members of the Eurovision Research Network (ERN) during the week, ahead of our events on Thursday-Saturday (if you’re interested check out the details at www.eurovisionresearch.net).

It’s a bit of a schlep to get to the arena and the press centre (more like 90 mins), but when we do the venue is stunning:

The press centre is similarly impressive…

All in all it’s a much bigger set-up than last year – and actually more impressive (to me) than Moscow two years ago. As always, there is evidence of the event in and around the host city…

…with evidence of ‘brand Lena’ (the returning German singer defending her crown again this year) also around town…

I made it to the arena with a couple of minutes to spare before Blue kicked-off their final dress rehearsal. You will be reminded of my rather dodgy camera work, but here are some images of a confident performance…

For some reason, whilst other countries (as you will see) have taken the opportunity to use the panoramic (stunning) LED screen as the backdrop to their performances, the UK have opted to use small screens behind Blue – which makes them look like they are trapped in a small box (you’ll know what I mean when you see it!)…

But all in all I am the most impressed I have ever been by the UK at this stage of the rehearsals (in my four years at the event). It’s a pity that our entry doesn’t use the huge LED screen to better effect, because as you will see it really has an impact.

At the end of the day we went to the first ever San Marino delegation reception. Senit will represent them with a song that, if you heard it on Radio 2, you would quite like. And she did a great job of covering all her bases with a Eurovision karaoke.

Whilst the catering was a bit dodgy (huge bowls of parmesan cheese and salami, with some bread sticks) the wine flowed, and the Euro ‘celebs’ were working the room.  Here I am with the Russian singer Alex Sparrow…

And here are Karen, Irving and myself engaing in some R and R

So a busy first day in Dusseldorf/Cologne. Monday sees the first rehearsal of the first semi-final.  Word on the street is that Ireland have got this Eurovision in the bag.  I’ll let you know after I see the show on Monday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

So the ESC circus is off to Germany in 2011!  What a great night and what great entertainment. Poor Josh – although a bottom five finish was always on the cards, with a field of strong songs and a rather weak entry from the UK.

Germany are deserved winners.  Lena proves once again, perhaps, that teenagers might be deciding the winner of the ESC. We’ve had three relatively young winners since 2008, and songs which seem to sit more comfortably within mainstream popular music. I’ll be interested to see if Lena cracks the top 40 in the UK – Alexander Rybak made it into the top 10 with his winning song last year.

I had great seats on Saturday night.  Even though I was at the back of the arena I was in the raised seats section, so I had a stunning view of the stage – and it looked great as the show began…. 

Lena takes to the stage after her victory…

My fave song started with two ‘douze point’ and there was ‘a little bit of wee’ from me for a moment! It finished in fifth place. Here’s a pic I took in the semi-final which I really like…

I can’t wait to see the show unfold on television, as all the little accents (like the ‘Eurovision aura’ forming the map and flag of each country) and good humour of the hosts looked really effective on the screens in the arena.

Of the three Eurovision finals that I have been to this was my favourite.  Although I have to say that the 8 days that I have spent in Olso were exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure.  There are late nights and early mornings, and with a mixture of my coverage of the ESC *and* the launch of the Eurovision Research Network (ERN), those of us involved in the ERN have felt a different pressure this week.

I am very pleased to report that the launch of the ERN was a huge success. The panel discussion on Thursday was well attended, and one of the eager contributors was Paddy O’Connell (second from left, below), the BBC reporter and commentator for the semi-finals.

On Friday the University of Oslo hosted a symposium for us, with a selected number of contributors presenting aspects of their research to date and open discussions as to what might follow.  Again, well attended and we have even heard on the grapevine that the EBU sent people to view (spy on!) the events, as we hope to have their acknowledgement of our existence before the contest in Germany next year.

 

 

I think that Karen, Toni and I are relieved that the launch has finally happened.  We had been working on it for several months, and as co-executive members and founders of the network it’s fantastic that we have received international press coverage and genuine interest in the fact that research into the Eurovision is happening, and people want to know more. BTW: I was also profiled in the Times Higher Supplement last week, and I’ve not read it yet so I’ll have to see how I was reported… Oh, and we were filmed and interviewed by an Australian film crew (staffed by fellow Brits Steve and Rebecca) for a documentary co-production for More4.  I know – we joked that we had our own film crew for a few days!

 So, the week has been hectic and hilarious, as well as exhilarating and exhausting – but I wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to be in Olso and at the centre of the Eurovision universe.  That said, I’m not sure I’ll be going to Germany next year.  I’ll certainly not be there for the final. I fancy being with friends at home for a change – and it’s always good to change the routine from time to time. I have had the pleasure of the company of my good friend (Professor) Brian Singleton at the past three contests, and sat with him at the last two.  He’s managed to keep my ‘Euro mojo’ going when I’ve felt a bit low and needed a boost.  He manages to be passionate about the ESC as a fan *and* as a scholar.  He sees them in equal measure, but manages to not suck the life out of the thing. His friendship and good humour has been the tonic to my gin this week.

 One final thought: if you have followed my Eurovision exploits over the last three years you might remember when I reported one of the funniest things I have heard whilst doing this blog. Back in 2008 (in Belgrade) a woman who was sitting behind me – having seen the Latvian entry “Pitates of the Sea” being performed – turned to her friend and said ‘you can see better than that at Butlins’.  It was just the funniest thing I heard!

 Well, my mum provided the classic moment this year. As the first semi-final came to a close I received a text message from her.  I presumed there would be a comment about one of the songs, or given that her son is in Olso covering the event there would be something Eurovision related? I opened the text message to read ‘the kitchen looks good’… you see she’s having the kitchen done up! It was a reminder that the real world marches on whilst I’m at the centre of the Eurovision universe! 😀

Right, time to leave the Eurovision bubble for another year. And I can’t believe I’m going to say it – but thanks for ‘sharing the moment’ with me.  I hope I’ve managed to add a little something to your Eurovision moments once again

So, that’ll be Oslo then…

The dress rehearsal was excellent – you are going to have a very entertaining evening.  There are very few *awful* songs tonight, and the host broadcaster NRK has done a stunning job on presenting the ESC this year – in a personal, and at times, quite touching way.  I’m not going to spoil the surprises that await you.  I don’t even know who is going to win.  My heart belongs to Denmark, but my head can’t decide, so I’ll leave it at that.

My nephew Luke has been learning the chorus of the French song in his class at school, so I know what he’ll be singng along to!  All the teenage girls rushed to the front of the arena to see Lena do a great job for Germany.  Perhaps the teenagers will decide the winner tonight?

Anyway, off to get ready, and then cockails before the shuttle bus to the Arena.  Enjoy, my Eurovision chums…

BTW: Rachel Rolfe – we’ll do Eurovision back at my house next year, unless Denmark win.  It just isn’t the same without my number one Eurovish buddy, so hope you enjoy the show from Cyprus tonight! I will miss you, as always.

😀 x

Just off to the arena for the dress rehearsal of the final. Here’s the final countdown for tonight…

With little more than 24 hours to go until we’re all done and dusted for another year, here are the final five songs that we need to thow into the final line-up for Saturday night. It’s the ‘big 4’, plus host country Norway…

NORWAY

This does sound rather like You Raise Me Up, which in turn sounded a lot like How Great Thou Art. Norwegian group Secret Garden recorded the original of YRMU many years before Westlife did one of their lifeless cover versions. If you haven’t heard it then be sure to, as Brian Kennedy does a great job on lead vocals. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that the Norwegian song this year is very anthemic and sounds rather like YRMU! I have already highlighted this week how good the presentation of the song is on television, and so, with an early spot in the final I’d be really surprised if it flops… and not totally surprised if Norway won again…

GERMANY

What is with the accent, I hear you cry…

Apparently (geek fact alert!), this is the most searched for song of the ESC this year, according to Google. It’s also the firm second favourite. Best thing they have sent in years, but will it take the title back to Germany for the first time since 1982?

FRANCE

The Cup Of Life was a song that Ricky Martin did for the World Cup many years ago. This year France have sent their song for the World Cup as their entry for ESC2010, and I think it sounds very much like the Ricky Martin track. If everyone is going football crazy at the moment it might capture the zeitgeist ahead of the kick-off in South Africa next month…

SPAIN

Spain lost the Eurovision plot many years ago, and they have struggled to get it back. The toys are very much back in town, for what is a rather bizarre song…

UNITED KINGDOM

There’s NO WAY that the UK are going to win, but Josh has equipped himself well this week here in Olso, and I haven’t heard anyone say a bad word about him. The same cannot be said for the song, but we’ll not worry about that now. Be sure to cheer him on as – fair play to all those involved – Josh has actualy managed to make lemonade from what was a pile of old lemons back in March.

Thursday night in the Telanor arena was a more tense affair for the second semi-final of ESC 2010. This was seen as being the more competetive of the two,  with more than 10 songs having a better than good chance of making it through to the final on Saturday.

I thought that the sound in the arena was *shocking*, so I can only imagine what it might have sounded like at home. I think my napkin of death wasn’t too bad in the end, considering I have been changing my mind a lot. The only songs that haven’t budged from my list have been Sweden and Denmark.

I was very happy that  Denmark made it through with A Moment Like This, but with one song to go and Sweden AND Denmark still in the running, what a shame that Anna didn’t make it through. Let me tell you – that was a major shock here, and the Swedes (and a lot of us) were gutted. 

Even the supply of glow sticks couldn’t save the song.  As you can see I was very excited when it was time for us the play our part in the arena…

Show business is a cruel mistress, and by the end of the night this picture tells the story of  Sweden at the ESC this year…

OK, I’m flying solo for my napkin of death tonight. Karen and I did a provisional one this morning, but I didn’t save it! So here, my friends, is the kiss of death to the following ten countries. Will they, or won’t they? I say…

01 LITHUANIA YES
02 ARMENIA YES
03 ISRAEL YES
04 DENMARK YES
05 SWITZERLAND NO
06 SWEDEN YES
07 AZERBAIJAN NO
08 UKRAINE NO
09 THE NETHERLANDS NO
10 ROMANIA YES
11 SLOVENIA NO
12 IRELAND YES
13 BULGARIA NO
14 CYPRUS NO
15 CROATIA YES
16 GEORGIA YES
17 TURKEY YES

Enjoy the show! Off to the arena shortly…

I hope you are all reading the great blog that my mate (and news editor of The Southport Visiter) Jamie McLoghlin writes? After reading this if you haven’t been over to Boom Bang A Blog, why not click the link over on the right and see Jamie’s take on the proceedings. You’ll also get some stuff from me – which is good, right?!

No sooner had the dry ice faded and all hope has been lost for the seven counties sent packing on Tuesday night, it was time for the next batch of Eurocelebs to take to the stage for the first rehearsal of the second semi-final (you still with me?!).

The rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon was just for ‘us press people’ at the front of the arena. I took a few (dodgy) snaps and then gave up! I do, however, have some thoughts on all the songs that are on telly on Thursday night…

01 LITHUANIA

What a load of pants?? Yes! And undergarments!

A fun and quirky start to the second semi-final. If energy alone were enough to get to the final then this would be a shoe-in. Hope it does. Mind you, the big reveal underneath those Velcro-ed trousers might cost them votes…

02 ARMENIA

I still haven’t got clue what this song is about. That said, she’s just belted it out at the dress rehearsal. It should get through, although there are loads of good songs that are suffering from overly fussy staging, of which this is one.

03 ISRAEL

One of the best male singers in this competition strangely hit a bum note on the big key change. Pity, as other than that Harel is 10/10 for effort. My friend Apostolos hopes that he doesn’t faint on the night (that’s Harel, not Apo) – as that *big* note is fantastic.

04 DENMARK

Sound of schlager-harps! I had my close encounter with Channee and N’evergreen earlier in the week. I thought they did a good job on stage this afternoon. I hoped that it transferred to the telly, and when leaving the arena I was pleased to see that the reprise of the song for the recap has *that moment*, on the big key change. As in Belgrade and Moscow I will stay faithful to my pre-Contest fave – which is different to the song that I think will win, BTW.

05 SWITZERLAND

Popular in the arena. But again, all rather fussy. Best thing? The backing singer with the HUGE afro!

06 SWEDEN

This is seen by some as a good bet to win – has been steadily climbing with the bookies. I’ve always said that if Anna gives everyone in the arena a glow stick to wave in the air it’ll win. And do you know what… word has it that they are.

7 AZERBAIJAN

The hot favourite for months, this hasn’t quite transferred to the stage. It’s still a good song, but has got lost in translation a little.

8 UKRAINE

I have to say that she pulled a blinder with the vocal, and might be a sleeper for Thursday night…

9 THE NETHERLANDS

Not sure about this at all! What’s with the rather sinister child catcher overtones, and evil toys from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Surely this won’t get through? Finland did the whole herdy-snurdy-flurdy thing a lot better on Tuesday night and that didn’t make it. Oh, and the singer is only 17 – has she had a hard life, do you think?.

10 ROMANIA

LOVE IT! Would it surprise you to know that there was FIRE and everything for this. Surely going to the final?

Let’s pause and remember the other time when we saw a man and a woman with a piano at Eurovision…

Aah – good times! That was Lynsey De Paul and Mike Moran doing the piaono-tastic Rock Bottom way back in 1977. I was seven, you know…

11 SLOVENIA

Doesn’t do it for me. But seeing some of the results you never know what’s going to happen here!

12 IRELAND

She’s Eurovision royalty (winning for Ireland back in 1993) and great value. Niamh can give it some welly, but will it do the job for Ireland? I’m not 100% sure. I have yet to hear her nail the last note, and that’s a worry. FYI: she’s wearing a purple frock, which I’m told is very brave with her colouring?

13 BULGARIA

Very slick, covers all bases for fans of all persuasions. He’s tantastic in real life – does he look orange on the telly? If Albania got through I would imagine that this might.

14 CYPRUS

Good performance. Will get loads of points from the UK, because we’re voting in this semi and the guy’s from Wales! Some weird diaspora going on there!

15 CROATIA

The Dixie Chicks – I mean Feminem – gave me my first ‘Euro-tingle’ of the day. Very strong, slick and I hope it gets those girls though after doing a rather dodgy job for Bosnia back in 2005.

16 GEORGIA

Well I tell you – it’s a good job that Georgia put on a good show, otherwise all that free booze and food the other night would have gone to waste. Complex choreography and FAB vocals should see her to the final. I mean – that last note is stunning! Although the battle of the ballads might be the kiss of death for some tonight?

17 TURKEY

Turkey have sent this song to Eurovision before. Again, lots of effort with the staging but something doesn’t connect. I had thought is was a dead cert to get through to the final, but I’m not sure now. What do you think?

So that’s it for the first run through. No cock-ups, no gaps – unlike the broadcast on Wednesday night when there was a loooong continuity pause. I said earlier in the week that there were a load of balls here in Oslo, and I have a feeling that somebody had their’s handed to the producer on a plate the other night!

😀