A-lister
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- December 28, 2009
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Each year, since the juries re-joined the contest, we've seen a decline in entries using national motives and a major decline in use of native languages aswell (2014 was a record of both). Subjective taste in music aside, these were two traces that made Eurovision unique amongst other music shows and the contest have been a source for showcasing and celebrating all Europe.
The ones who are old enough to remember the 100% jury years (or atleast who have knowledge in those years), would remember that juries always favored the safe, mostly standard ballads, over exotic and national rhythms.
2014 mark the year with a record of non-native language entries, aswell as a year where any traces of Europe has been put to the minimum. Poland's ethnno-R&B was trashed to bits by the juries, Portugal's summery local song aswell (both entries would have faired far better just based on the televoters). We're left with an all English, all safe-standard-western pop/ballad top. 10. The few other entries which were presented in native languages (atleast partly) like Italy, France and Israel, were all trashed by the juries aswell.
Looking at the past years, juries have backed Finland's attempts while sending wannabe American stuff, but trashed them when they sent a local ethno anthem (liked by the public) back in 2010. Netherlands was trashed by the juries when they sent a local Dutch schlager, but loved when sending Americanized music. Bulgaria have been blocked by the juries to enter the final two times in a row (but would have made it on televotes) when they sent local inspired entries in native language. The list goes on forever and ever, and it's the same thing repeating. English standardized westernized pop and ballads are being loved by the juries, local and different things are being trashed and punished.
Have the juries come full circle now? Will a country even dare to try anything local next year? Where is the Eurovision spirit if you get punished for staying true to your own colors? How come a country importing an entry from abroad with zero attachment to the country get more jury love than the ones trying to represent their countries? Shouldn't Eurovision be about celebrating European diversity?
I state the same each year, and each year I get lots of disagreements (mostly by people happy about the approach). But objectively looking, the decline is obvious, and it correlates with the jury influence. Now when EBU has strengthen the juries' power even more, the decline in everything local is even more brutal than just a couple of years ago. Is this really what EUROvision should be about? Shouldn't these experts atleast pay SOME attention to the concept of the show? Some attention to the public?
We're having juries running the show now, and they are very apparent that they have a major dislike for everything European or anything that is different from the western radio pop norm (and we're not even talking up-to-date radio).
The ones who are old enough to remember the 100% jury years (or atleast who have knowledge in those years), would remember that juries always favored the safe, mostly standard ballads, over exotic and national rhythms.
2014 mark the year with a record of non-native language entries, aswell as a year where any traces of Europe has been put to the minimum. Poland's ethnno-R&B was trashed to bits by the juries, Portugal's summery local song aswell (both entries would have faired far better just based on the televoters). We're left with an all English, all safe-standard-western pop/ballad top. 10. The few other entries which were presented in native languages (atleast partly) like Italy, France and Israel, were all trashed by the juries aswell.
Looking at the past years, juries have backed Finland's attempts while sending wannabe American stuff, but trashed them when they sent a local ethno anthem (liked by the public) back in 2010. Netherlands was trashed by the juries when they sent a local Dutch schlager, but loved when sending Americanized music. Bulgaria have been blocked by the juries to enter the final two times in a row (but would have made it on televotes) when they sent local inspired entries in native language. The list goes on forever and ever, and it's the same thing repeating. English standardized westernized pop and ballads are being loved by the juries, local and different things are being trashed and punished.
Have the juries come full circle now? Will a country even dare to try anything local next year? Where is the Eurovision spirit if you get punished for staying true to your own colors? How come a country importing an entry from abroad with zero attachment to the country get more jury love than the ones trying to represent their countries? Shouldn't Eurovision be about celebrating European diversity?
I state the same each year, and each year I get lots of disagreements (mostly by people happy about the approach). But objectively looking, the decline is obvious, and it correlates with the jury influence. Now when EBU has strengthen the juries' power even more, the decline in everything local is even more brutal than just a couple of years ago. Is this really what EUROvision should be about? Shouldn't these experts atleast pay SOME attention to the concept of the show? Some attention to the public?
We're having juries running the show now, and they are very apparent that they have a major dislike for everything European or anything that is different from the western radio pop norm (and we're not even talking up-to-date radio).
