Eurovision!

[Invictas]

My apologies if this has been asked before.
Today the BBC blithely announce that Blue will be singing their latest single as the UK entry in Eurovision.
So just what happened to public participation in choosing the song?
In the past we have either had one singer,and the public chose the song(from several) for that singer for Eurovision
OR
we have had a choice of singer or groups singing their own songs and from that we chose one for Europe.
It looks as if the BBC have decided that the UK public cannot chose a winning song,or are too stupid to do so, and have taken away the public's right to vote for one.
Or I am getting it all wrong here/

[Hopkirk]

I think they are right - the recent public vote has hardly been successful, has it?

Did the public choose when we got Sandie Shaw, Lulu and Cliff Richard?

[Buenchico]

Other countries send their chart-topping acts to the Eurovision Song Contest but most 'big name' bands in the UK probably wouldn't want to have anything to do with the competition.

That's partly because the UK regards the competition as 'a bit of a joke', meaning that it wouldn't do much for the 'street cred' of a band who agreed to perform.

Possibly more so, however, it's to do with the fact that many of our most successful artists only perform their own music. (Can you imagine Elton John agreeing to represent the UK if he was forced to sing songs written by inferior writers?).

So, to give the UK the same chance of winning as other countries have, the BBC has decided to go for a 'big name' group performing their own material.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...nouncement_2011.shtml

Chris

[Invictas]

No Hopkirk we didn't,
but at least we got to chose the song they sang.
Chris,
Yes,I understand the logic behind your answer,but it still doesn't make it right,or more to the point more likely that we will win with this new method.

[Andyvon]

Does anyone even bother with this rubbish now?

The 60s and 70s were magical with great singers and groups like Brotherhood of Man, Abba, Cliff Richard, Clodah Rodgers etc. The Eurovision Song Contest was one of the highlights of the TV year and millions of families sat down to watch. That magic's completely gone now and there just seems to be a procession of characterless and untalented tripe who then disappear into the obscurity they deserve. Eurovion's just got very tiresome. Send it the way of Miss World!

[The.ST]

It is the political voting that has ruined it for the UK, i am surprised that we still take part in it.

[Andyvon]

I think it's a politically influenced decision to have this particular group at all. I hope they come near the bottom like the other political appointees.

[scotman]

I think we should follow Italy's example and quit this farce.

They gave up in 1997

http://en.wikipedia.o...rovision_Song_Contest

[scotman]

^^^^^
although it seems they have been persuaded back again.

[mightyWBA]

Doesn't matter who represents us the nature of the voting means we'll never win again.Just enjoy the silliness of it all :-)

[Jemisa]

Thats the best idea the BBC have had in a long time.

Lets face it the public are crap at choosing, it has proved it over & over.

I might put a bet on this year.

jem

[tamborine]

I thought it had to be amateurs; Abba were amateurs till they entered & won.

[woofgang]

no it doesn't have to be amateurs and the voting thing is comparatively recent. Cliff Richard certainly wasn't an amateur, or Sandi Shaw or Pearl and Teddy Carr.

[scotman]

Just a thought, presumably the public voting is by phone and will earn money.

[Invictas]

Just a footnote(and for woofgang)
This is from the Daily Mail
"It is the first time in the competition’s 56-year history that a UK entry has been picked without the public choosing either the song, the singer, or both."

[ganesh]

I think it had to be an amateur writer in the old days,and yes,we've always been involved in the choice.But what kind of choice did we get anyway,last time? A choice of 6 mediocre performers and the winner had to sing that AWFUL embarrasing song! Politics aside,no-one would vote for it anyway.I still watch it coz it's a laugh but the UK entries over the last few years have been dire,you've got to admit.I don't miss Wogan either,after the won where they were out of tune he said,'what a fine performance!' and was then surprised we got nil points.

[ganesh]

sp-one sorry!

[squarebear]

It used to be amateurs. I remember a few years ago TATU represented Russia and there was uproar. Yes we will alwyas finish last or near last now since we invaded Iraq for no reason.