I Love Lithuania!

[trinityofone]

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. I hate writing papers. So far I have 2,402 words of this piece of dreck--which, out of 3,500, isn't so bad, but it's painfully slow-going and I had to do a whole section on economics and just...yeah. Yuck. However, one of my main sources is named Daniel Snowman, so I get to write a lot of fun sentences that start, "According to Snowman..." or "As Snowman asserts..." Which, when you've been working on a paper for six hours, is really funny and diverting.

Last night was awesome, though. I went over to siriaeve's house and watched the Eurovision contest. It was my first Eurovision--a very special occasion indeed! For those of you in America or other non-European parts of the world, I wish I could convey the utter cracktastic awesomeness of the Eurovision experience. toft_froggy has a great post with some of the highlights here. And, thanks to the wonder of YouTube, you can experience it for yourself. Here's a short guide.

The first thing you need to understand is that everyone who performs for Eurovision is really, really bad. No serious artist would go anywhere near it. I think the most famous person to perform a song in the Eurovision contest is Céline Dion--that pretty much sums it up right there.

Here, for example, is an act of pretty typical badness: Shame, Spain! That should give you a general idea of the direness of the proceedings.

Or, take Ireland. I was actually rooting for Ireland, for obvious reasons, and Ireland does indeed hold the record for most Eurovision wins (it's also the only country to have won three years in a row). But this year's entry was, shall we say, dismal? It was Brian Kennedy performing "Every Song Is a Cry For Love." (Right of the top of my head: like, say, "Psycho Killer"?) I can't find a clip of his live performance, which was mostly very dull and very, very green, but to give you an idea of the utter, utter cheese, here's the music video. *snerk*

But there were some shining stars. One was the winner, Finland. I...don't actually want to say anything about this. You just have to watch it: unspoiled, utterly surprised. So, just remember that most of the acts were in the same vein as Spain's entry or Brian Kennedy's pap, and then watch this.

They totally deserved to win. Still, I think my heart belongs to the cheeky Lithuanian monkeys responsible for this. See? Now that's awesome. That's taking the piss. Ireland appreciates piss-taking ability: we (see how possessive I've gotten?) gave our largest percentage of votes to Lithuania. So why are we stuck entering greasy dullards like Brian Kennedy? Yeesh.

Still. Everyone knows that this is the greatest Eurovision entry ever. Pure Irish glory, that. *vbg*

Comments

[amezri.livejournal.com]

I watched the Spain clip. And even though I was thinking, "interpretive dance tragedy," I just couldn't stop watching.

Finland? Can totally see why they won.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

even though I was thinking, "interpretive dance tragedy," I just couldn't stop watching.

That basically sums up the entire contest. With the added bonus of the fact that by the end of it, you're totally into it and screaming, "They gave 12 points to Russia? WHORES!"

It was awesome.

[niennah.livejournal.com]

I think the most famous person to perform a song in the Eurovision contest is Céline Dion--that pretty much sums it up right there.

There was ABBA with Waterloo way back whenever.

It was a fabulous show. And Wogan. Wogan cracks me up! Did you watch it on the BBC? Did you have Terry Wogan commentating? Just wonderful. *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes--Wogan love! "You look...menacing." It was especially awesome, as my only prior Wogan-exposure was the Franz Ferdinand song "The Dark of the Matinée."

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

And didn't Bucks Fizz win it one time?

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

Yup. :)

[titc.livejournal.com]

OMG
The Fissih look like a Klingon hard rock band!
KLINGONS!!

[titc.livejournal.com]

Finnish.
Not Fishy, Fissile, or whatever it is I typed before ;-)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Actually, Fissih might be the name of their species! They certainly aren't from Earth...

[shiny-starlight.livejournal.com]

You're right. Ireland was utter cheese. Brian Kennedy should be shot. Preferably several times.

[cathexys.livejournal.com]

omg, i remember the travesty when i was a child...but lithuania definitely and truly rocked!! how utterly postmodern :-)

[bingeling]

Oh man I didn't watch Eurovision, didn't even know that it was on, but the flist is going crazy about it and now I wish I'd seen it +lol+

But youtube was of great help and I've seen the cracktastic highlights and I'm all for Lithuania, those guys rule +lmao+

And I'm still ashamed of actually liking the German entry -_- I think that song is really cute +hides+

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yup, I've got to say, Ireland was pretty dismal, but it wasn't in the same league of awfulness as Spain or Switzerland, or even mind-bogglingness of Russia (the dancer out of the piano!) or the Latvian acapella group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcahqM5Tnwc&search=latvia%20eurovision%20cosmos) (that guy, shrieking! OMG, and the robot! What the hell was that about? Before Lithuania and Finland came up, that was my favourite) and the country singers of Germany (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKYWnSU1Glo&search=germany%20eurovision), with the creepily leering guitarist and the drummer, who was clearly on some sort of powerful stimulant - oh, and the cactus.

[fic-kitty.livejournal.com]

HEE! Oh god yes, last night was my first introduction as well, and when that lead singer from the Finland group pulled out the wings... well, come on now! You just can't beat wings :P

*giggles madly*

It really is cracktastically awesome. I see the addiction potential, oh yes. And I too was saddened by the drek of the ireland entry. A thousand plus years of coherent music history and.... this is what you come up with? Shame indeed.

But still cracktastically awesome :P

[neery.livejournal.com]

FINLAND WON WHEE!!!

I was so rooting for those guys. Way to shake up what has bedome the most boring, conservative major song contest there is! And they took so much flak for participating in their own country, so I'm doubly glad. Yay for the underdogs! I so want to hear the reaction of all the people who claimed this would bring eternal shame on Finland...

At least Germany didn't come in last this year, and the song wasn't too embarrassing.

[aurora]

Awww, your first Eurovision. :X:X

I remember watching it, completely excited, when I was younger. Now, not so much. But, with enough alcohol everything goes. :D And this year's contest was extremely crackish.

(Belgium's song sucked ass and didn't even make it past the semi-finals; you can see it here. Also, a few years ago, we were second, with a song in an imaginary language - here :D)

The funniest thing about Eurovision is twofold: 1) you never hear from the winners/participants after their 'Eurovision adventure', ever and b) geo-political wank. At least in Belgium. A few years ago, Belgium 'lost surprisingly' because of an 'Eastern Eureopean conspiracy' with the point-giving. I may have laughed. A lot.

I was so hoping Finland would win, but I never thought they would. Also, I've got the Lithuanian song stuck in my head since last night. (Someone stop me from downloading, it!!)

[aurora]

Correction: Live performance of imaginary language song, here.

[aretria.livejournal.com]

I was hearing that song (Belgium) on radio for the past weeks and didn't think it was that bad actually, certainly not when you compare it to the rest of them. But Kate Ryan on stage, performing life? I think, that's what sunk it. And maybe the fact that people got bored with it.

[aurora]

I'm kinda glad we lost, because that means less radioplay. Finally! (It's been on the radios since March. :S)

The song was kindasortamaybe okay, especially for Eurovision standards, but you're so right about the live performance. A lot of our participants have that problem. Strange.

(Also, please tell me I'm not the only one with flashbacks to The Ketchup Song. Damn you, Spain, for bringing that up again! :D)

[aretria.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda glad we lost, because that means less radioplay. Finally! (It's been on the radios since March. :S)

I only heard it handful of times, so I'm lucky that way :D

The song was kindasortamaybe okay, especially for Eurovision standards, but you're so right about the live performance.</>

I didn't even know it was an EV entry, and then I saw Kate Ryan... In that awful dress, moving like she had a stick up her... bum :) Although, after watching the rest of those so called artists, I still gave her some chances. (And I missed Finland and Lithuania in the semi-finals, 'though I laughed and laughed at the Iceland performance.)

Also, please tell me I'm not the only one with flashbacks to The Ketchup Song.

You kinda sorta actually are... ;D *hides*

[aurora]

moving like she had a stick up her... bum :)
Ahahaha, you're so subtle. Yeah, she expected to make it to the final round, at least, but it wasn't meant to be. *shrugs*

As soon as I saw the monsters, I wanted them to win. :D I missed Iceland, but I just watched it on youtube, and umm, WOW!? (...)

*hides also* It's something out of my childhood I don't really talk about. :|:|

ps: can I ask where you are? I'm curious.

[aretria.livejournal.com]

Poland. So if you think Belgium was bad, think of our. Neon green her might tip you off. ;D Not to mention that we have a never ending string of cheesy and failed Eurovision entries. (with exception of that one time, when we placed second - think something alike Celine Dion ;))

[aurora]

Oh, we Belgians know cheezy. :D I think we were last or second-to-last 2 years ago. And we always have to try and qualify. :)

I'm sure we excel in many things, but Eurovision music isn't one of them.

[neery.livejournal.com]

1) you never hear from the winners/participants after their 'Eurovision adventure'

Well, there was ABBA... once upon a time. When you could still get in serious trouble for wearing mini skirts on a TV show.

I suspect the conspiracy theories and the assorted wank are one of the main reasons why many people still watch it. I'm just glad my country wasn't the one to supply the scandal this time.

[aurora]

ABBA, yes. Those were the days! :)

But talking about the last 10-15 years, I can't remember a single artist/song that won Eurovision. Oh, except the transsexual candidate from Israel. But that's about it. :)

[aretria.livejournal.com]

I wasn't at all surprised Finland won. They were certainly the most original of them all. Eurovision needs someone to shake it. It's not the same as it was before. Most performances are awful, and most countries vote for their neighbours, not for the songs. Not that there's much choice anyway. :)

[looking4tarzan.livejournal.com]

First Eurovision bless you!!

I missed what the last 3 years and had a mega sulk about it...(owing to being in norway, having no tv, and working respectively)

lol it's so bad it's good lol

[(Anonymous)]

All I know about Eurovision is that Dana won once. My mom talked me into seeing her twice at church. I didn't realize I was such a big thing!

[stillane.livejournal.com]

Wow. 20thcenturyvole was talking about this yesterday, and it sounded very interesting, but now that I've seen the video evidence... Wow. I can honestly say I had no concept before.

Also, Finnland very literally almost killed me. Twice. I had just taken a bite of pasta as the video started. And then, just when I thought it was safe to take another, wings. Wings. I... have no words. Wings.

They're like the Orcs that left Sauron to strike out for fame and fortune. The Middle Earth version of Spinal Tap.

As to Lithuania... I did not know that my life was empty without a bald, flailing, Lithuanian man until this day.

[cynicatlantis.livejournal.com]

They're like the Orcs that left Sauron to strike out for fame and fortune. The Middle Earth version of Spinal Tap.

*falls off chair laughing*

Oh my god, I can just imagine the mockumentary...

[dancink.livejournal.com]

Heh, I watched Eurovision whilst plotting cracktastic Atlantis-watching-Eurovision fic with my friend alexiaisis. We decided that Sheppard would be very, very confused. Especially by the German entry.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

OMG awesome! I was trying to convince Siria that she should write something--"I wrote Oscar!fic! C'mon!" Mostly we were enchanted by the thought of Radek being really into it.

[delurker.livejournal.com]

Eurovision! So much fun. Also, when you think about how Finland's entry could have been a cry for love - hee.

Personally, I love Lithuania's entry. The flaily dancing! Love!

[cynicatlantis.livejournal.com]

We get the BBC telecast here in Oz. I came in at the end of the proceedings but saw the intermission stuff, and all the voting - Wogan is love, truly. He and McKay need to get together and make beautiful, snarky babies, right now please. *goes to download the rest of the show, if only for the commentary*

Highlights of Lordi's performance, IMO:

-the lyrics - "the rocks of us who roll", "it's the a-rock-alypse", "...on the day of rock-ening.." and so on, seeing a theme here?
- platform hoof shoes *g*
-battle-axe mic stand - I want one!
- the guitarist's little dance, hopping from foot to foot *giggle*
- the random guy in KISS makeup

[stellahobbit.livejournal.com]

I love Father Ted with a zillion <3's.

It's always the good shows that have a lead character die too young - Father Ted, 'Allo 'Allo :-(

[randomeliza.livejournal.com]

The people at my Eurovision gathering were totally rooting for Lithuania. Still, I'm glad Finland won. It pissed off the Russians, whose entry scared the crap out of me, with his big eyes and his mullet. *shudders*

Good luck writing the papers! I hope the Rockpocolypse comes before you finish so that you don't have to write it all... *g*

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Was "My Lovely Horse" a real entry? I loved that.

The two "Father Ted" guys on horseback...the shiny blue jackets worn over their clerical collars...How can one not love that?

Thanks for the clip.

[lil-nibbler.livejournal.com]

It was from an episode of Father Ted where they are competing with the other priest to get their entry into the Eurovision only to realise that they've accidentally stolen the tune from something else and get disqualified.

[intermezzo]

ow, the Eurovision contest! I feel your pain. Eurovision shows are *always* terrible, but the eurovision contest is just guh! No words for it. It's so bad that it's actually hilarious. Go figure.