Smint

Guardian comments won't buy it anyway I would have thought. :P But as everything is so utterly shite in this country now, this won't work either as the Tories have been in power 14 effing years and so all has gone to pot on their watch. And more importantly, no one likes Sunak. He doesn't even have a cult following like Bravermann, Truss do.

Although a lot of the controversies were of the EBU's own making, in a way I almost feel sorry for them as we live in a world where everything is hyper scrutinised on social media in very passionate terms, leaks are instant and there are very passionate people on all sides of an issue (including, unfortunately elements this year which weren't at all interested in the contest previously). Whatever they do next year, they will inevitably make decisions that will upset certain people and often they have to make choices based on money and sponsorship. It will be a difficult path for them to manage - I think what sticks out is lack of consistency though, if they addressed that then it would at least be clear, even if it upsets some people. But they're probably too constrained to do that, a bit like the BBC nowadays. It's just really sad. :(

Wouldn't it be fairer if UK (and the other big 4 countries) had to qualify like all others? Has that every been seriously considered and if not, why not?

That's dreadful for poor Olly considering Mae ended up top 10!

Exactly ^^^^^ 'Happy Christmas (War is Over)' is just phenomenal. Very unique sounding, great structured song and heartfelt message. I'm finding the moden Spotify playlist of encouraging Christmas music which puts generic lyrics about snow, Santa, presents over a few sleighbells tiresome compared with something as classic as this. Def in my top 3 Christmas songs ever.

Not for me in the slightest. I liked it. But full on male homo-erotica (with no females to balance it like with the Spanish song) probably is for other audiences as straight audience can find it too much. Those were the comments from some people in the group that I was watching it with too. Disappointedly.

Same here. Acknowledge that it is a very sad situation all round with all this division (and looking at Twitter is probably the worse thing to do) and don't want to cause any harm. Take care and all blessings :) x

Try again I didn't say ALL of the votes for Israel were from right wing pro Zionists but if you looked on Twitter there are dozens of figures such as I mentioned and Tommy Robinson himself telling their followers to do EXACTLY that. So there is invariably some correlation. And personal insults won't make a difference. Sorry! I could make aspersions about someone cheering on a country that has slaughtered over 30000 children and broken every International law possible. I certainly don't want your "Education" thank you very much.

So you are seriously saying that NOT giving Israel a 12 is because of "lingering antisemitism"? Why should they have got one. Need to ask why all Western European countries did give Israel a 12? And I'd say right wing pro Zionist campaigns

Friends who I was with said it was too homoerotic to do well I thought it was good performance, good song but I'm one of those who thinks that Eurovision generally doesn't reward quality.

You've got the likes of Andrew Neil, Laurence Fox and every right wing hack/scumbag who couldn't give a rat's arse about Eurovusion watching it this year and voting for Israel to piss of the lefties. So that wasn't a surprise at all. Shocked if we saw the voting percentages but think we don't and thank goodness. Interesting that Ukraine, a country that is undergoing invasion gave Israel nil.

Did Israel win the televote overall or was it Ukraine or Croatia? Sorry missed that in excitement Thrilled Switzerland won. I would have been really mortified and scared if Israel won in terms of the message sent out Overall, the ABBA thing using the crappy Voyage footage was such a let down. Was expecting at least a recorded message from actual ABBA.

Honey G vibes!

Excellent performance from Olly - looking good!

Latvia and Ireland are the best! :wub:

I'm hoping for resistance. A few of my friends who normally watch Eurovision have got Palestinian flags and are now in Central London on a demo against the genocide Annoyingly have prior engagement but that's where my heart is!

I dont think Israel are being criticise for their song being political...it's not about the song, it's about the country and the double standards of EBU banning Russia but not Israel.

What anti semetism are you seeing? Or do you mean anti Israel?

Zionist lobby obviously as well - like how Facebook/YouTube was spammed with pro invasion propaganda for months. This will be Israel's equivalent of Berlin 1936 Olympics. Well next year will be as well if/when they win but hopefully amd very sadly it might not take place if countries start boycotting

'To cut a long story short' is probably their BEST song artistically but do prefer listening to some of their mid 80s like 'Only When You Leave'. Love that Jona Lewie track. Shame it doesn't figure high in the Spotify dictatorship Christmas playlists anymore. Don't get me started... Didn't realise 'Banana Republic' made top 3!

Voted for Vangelis, D:Ream (nice that one of their other hits apart from 'Things' gers a spotlight) and Birdy's 'Wings' (which has been used for a couple of films ('Labor Day', 'Winter's Tale)

Very busy at top of chart last few weeks with Hozier, Taylor, Sabrina and now further rap diss tracks and this Tommy Richman. I really liking this new Dua one.

I think the best thing is not to vote at all and provide income to the Eurovision coffers when Israel will win anyway. When twitter is full of posts like Yesterday I hated the ultra woke political Eurovision Song Contest but today I'm advising you to vote against the UK entry who hates 🇬🇧 and show support to Israel 🇮🇱 who's entry was subject to a racist hate mob. then why play their game? There's no way that they won't win. It will be akin to a ghastly white supremacy event (I mean EBU happy enough to expel when the victims are white but not when Arab) with the genocidal state crowned in glory. :puke2: Eurovision should have thrown them out but have decided not to and so best to boycott. I'm personally not boycotting the show on TV as it coincides with a gathering of people not seen for ages but def won't be voting. Spend the money instead giving to Palestinian aid charities.

I would have thought that. So country who performs 1st has hours more voting time than country who performs last.

Unfortunately they're going to smash the televoting, there will be a huge campaign by supporters of their actions in the war/right wingers to vote for them - even ones that would never watch Eurovision. And balance that with fact you can't vote negatively BB style. Thinking another outcome is a delusion, sadly. Israel probably won't win overall due to jury but they'll get the popular victory and boy won't we all hear about it ad nauseum.