A preview of Eurovision

[mtbc]

The Eurovision Song Contest has come around again and this year we paid attention to the two semi-finals. The first was striking in how many performers don't sing well. The second had a few decent singers but I wasn't wholly convinced by the selection that was put through to the final. Ireland's entry was pleasantly fun but it was also light. I was surprised that entries like Georgia's didn't make it through, given those that did. I suppose we'll see how the final goes on Saturday. Regardless, it was all quite an introduction to Hazel Brugger.

Comments

[thewayne]

Why, oh why, would people be put forth into the Eurovision competition who cannot sing well?!

[mtbc]

Good question. I wonder how many of them arise from an "internal" selection method rather than from a popular vote or somesuch. There was one where R. suspected they could have sung had they actually opened their throat. It's indeed weird to live in a world where many singers who attain some success don't sound as good to me as the better buskers on city centre streets.

The UK's singers this year are capable but the song desperately needs some makeover re. arrangement or production or somesuch, I'll be surprised if it wins many points at all.

There was a concert here recently celebrating the anniversary of VE Day where the singer at the end was notably good compared with many of the others preceding, so I looked her up and it turned out to be whoever had played Éponine in the Les Mis movie.

[thewayne]

A lot of people think they can sing, and want to sing, but only can if they have a studio and auto-tune.  Live performances don't lend themselves to that device, which is why so many are lip-sync'd.  That might be where everything falls apart.  IIRC, the Les Mis movie used a lot of of the cast from the Broadway play, which means people who can really sing!  They're used to belting out to the back row.

[mtbc]

The live performance aspect is indeed an interesting point. The UK entry seemed to improve from the semi-final to the final (though good vocal performance couldn't save it).