We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's the Grand Final today of Eurovision from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I'll be online blogging today from 3pm Eastern. Coverage (without Graham Norton, alas) will be on Peacock TV. Join me for an evil laugh or two at the ridiculous and bad.
posted by gooner71 @ 9:36 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
305 Comments:
Thanks for getting us going today, Steve. I'm really looking forward to the show.
Good Afternoon. Looking forward to watching the Eurovision contest . Was the Cup Final played last weekend so that it wouldn't conflict with the Eurovision?
An update on the Championship playoffs. Brentford defeated ten-man Bournemouth this morning 3-2 on aggregate after going into the second leg 1-0 down.
I'm settling in to watch a bit of the other playoff semi between Swansea and Barnsley. The Swans go into the second leg 1-0 up from the match at Barnsley.
Swansea are 1-0 up on the night and 2-0 up on aggregate as the second half kicks off. Barnsley right up against it.
I am busy in the yard right now
Hope I can finish
Spare a thought for DC United's Paul Arriola whose loan at Swansea was cut short due to injury and Twitter idiocy. He'd be a Premiership player otherwise.
While you're waiting for the Peacock coverage to start, here's a Guardian quiz to keep you amused. I'll no doubt get null points on it.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/21/will-you-get-douze-points-take-our-fiendish-eurovision-quiz
I'm not sure Areola is missing out. I expect Brentford to do the Swans over in the final. They're the class act among the also-rans.
Afternoon, guys - hope you're enjoying a relaxing summer weekend. I always know I'm fully in summer mode when Eurovision rolls around.
Brentford might lack the experience of progressing through the playoffs that Swansea has. But I'm Brentford all the way for promotion because of their miserable luck in the past.
I'd like to see them in the Prem next year, although of course they'll merely be making up the numbers. I fully expect all three promoted clubs to go straight back down unless they buy big.
OK, in the spirit of Eurovision, I'll be pounding Stanley Tucchi Negronis through the competition today. 2 oz gin, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 1 oz Campari and a twist of orange. Stanley shakes his which drives purists to distraction. And I'm all for that. Shake it away Stanley!
Norwich won't be short of a quid if they sell us Buendia.
Lovely - I just rewatched the first couple of episodes again last night during Kate's shower routine, as I had run out of new Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in the DVR. Hoping that Guy can get back out on the road to Flavortown before long.
Barnsley are back in it - they're leading goalscorer Woodrow getting a goal back. Game on with some 20 minutes left.
Wahay! The Eurovision coverage is finally starting up on the Cock.
The Russian entry looks like it'll be a hoot.
Very broish entry from the Finnish band. Can't wait to see them.
Hello Bob and Steve. Here for the Eurovision coverage
Interested in the UK representative too
It's interesting. The Russian entry a few years ago when the Russian's invaded Ukraine was booed by the audience. Not a peep at the Israeli entry.
The Norwegian geezer needs a punch, for sure.
Welcome MUR.
Yeah - I noticed that; the audience on their best behavior in Rotterdam.
🇳🇴's entry looks a little John Lennon. Surprised to see San Marino has a representative. Hope they're better at singing than footie
Thanks Steve. Great atmosphere from Rotterdam
I have been loving the visual of the Dutch giantess next to the wee man standing next to her.
Twenty six entries is a lot for the final round. Seems more like a semi
No commentary on this Peacock feed?
Barnsley tie it up at the Swans, but the swans lead 2-1 on agg late in the second half
We're off and away with a typical slice of Eurotrash disco from Cyprus.
I 'm listening to the Cyprus entry on my feed. Sounds like someone you would hear at a nightclub
Right you are, Steve. I wouldn't want to meet Chantal Janzen down a dark alley in Rotterdam, that's for sure. She's a bruiser and a half.
Sadly no commentary. The BBC Iplayer feed has Graham Norton which gets really going after his third glass of wine.
I was thinking discothecque. The Devil will be none too pleased with that rendition of El Diablo
Yeah - I enjoyed Graham during those years when Logo was showing Eurovision.
The wind tunnel is in full effect for this next entry from Albania.
Albania's representative slightly better and sounds like rock mixed with traditional music from Albania
It would be interesting to listen to commentary from Graham Norton
Into the waning moments of the Swansea v. Barnsley match. Swansea hanging onto that slim lead.
The special effects were better than the song
You're right, David - I do like it that these efforts have a distinctly native feel and aren't just total rip-offs of American pop music.
An inauspicious start with two of my least favorite entries from the Semis. Not cheesy enough, just rubbish.
Israel looking the best of the lot so far with an American Idol feel to it., but the bar wasn't set very high from the first two entries
Her braids are better choreographed than the gyrating numpties around her.
Next up is the Israeli entry from Eden Alene ironically titled "Set Me Free." It's actually a decent club banger.
Not sure Israel will win, but this is the first group that's been half decent
Again, the cheese I hoping for is absent. Minnie Ripperton falsetto aside.
The piano player for the Belgians looks imitation Elton John
This Belgian effort is intriguing to me - I'm pretty sure that Hooverphonic had a big trip hop hit back in the 90s.
The Belgian entry is a decent song but not Eurovision enough to win IMHO.
This song is really dragging. Elizabeth says the music drowns her out
I've just had a look - yep, it was "2Wicky," released back in 1996. It was built around a massive sample from Isaac Hayes' version of "Walk on By."
This one could have used the Isaac magic again - a bit bland, IMHO.
"You're in the Wrong place" perfectly describes this group.
BOOM BOOM!
Swansea have wrapped up their 2-1 aggregate win over Barnsley. They'll meet Brentford next Saturday in an undercard match for the Champions League Final.
I was thinking the same thing. Wasn't Hooverphonic in a movie. 2 Wicky is the song I remember liking a lot. Can't bee the same one.
This Russian singer looks like a clown . They belong in a circus
Okay, this Russian entry is more like it. This is the kind of weirdness that makes us love Eurovision. "Be Creative!" Word to your mother!
Who let the Daleks take over Russia?
I'll be rooting for the Bees to sting the Swans and return to the top flight for the first time since 1947
The very same - it was featured in "Stealing Beauty" back in '96. Big hit for them. Not sure they've done anything of note since.
LOL Steve! Accurate description.
The Russians should have the bollocks to run Pussyriot as they're entry one of these years.
I know they got a lot of cheers, but I wasn't impressed
This Malta entry seems like a favorite from the Semis
Malta are up next with some outfit named Destiny. A bit gospely for some reason, with a Martha Wash clone front a group of pink-clad dancers. No thanks.
Reminds me a bit of "Ain't Nothing Going on But The Rent." Very derivative.
like the gospel sound . Better than some of the entries we've seen, but not a winner
I was thinking of the same song, Bob
The Black Cats defeated Abe Lincoln 2-1 in a L1 playoff semi, but Abe Lincoln goes through to the final 3-2 on agg. The final will be the Tangerines vs Abe Lincoln
The Portugeezers are up next. Very odd. Singer with a blue-eyed soul, peanut butter on the back of the throat voice. Nice hat, though.
This is more like it . A good start for the Portugal entry. The best so far, but the favorites have yet to sing
Now the cheese makes an appearance. I totally believed that it was some Conchita Wurst deal when I saw his guy in the semis. But no, he's just a tosser.
As the song progresses he has too much of an annoying nasal sound
Total tosser.
When I lived in England I thought I remembered the standards for this contest being much higher
No thanks. That Portugeezer is the kind of waiter that only recommends the most expensive dish on the menu.
Uh oh - Serbian entry from Loco Loco. This could be bad. There seems to be some dance move associated with it.
The dancing is decent , but not the song. More like something at a strip club
Maybe a touch of the Macarena in there. I'd have the lawyers on retainer for this one.
I noted that in the semis one of these women went down those steps as if remembering a painful fall the last time she tried it.
That Serbian entry is the last thing you hear in the bar before waking up in a bath full of ice and missing a kidney.
Agreed, Steve. Definitely the last call before closing
Looking forward to hearing the U.K. entry
The UK effort is up now after the break. James Newman with "Embers." He seems a jolly, chubby lad.
Nice light show from the U.K. entry. Not a classic , but the best of the lot so far
Really poor with the fake horn section. Honestly, the British should be able to win this lot every year, with the depth of musical heritage they have. A pub band could do better than this tosh.
I think he's on as pork pie and toblerone diet
He could still win because the standard seems so low
Greeks are up next with Stefania. She looks a bit supermodelish.
The UK always puts that kind of entry forward. It's as if they don't want to compete.
The Greek is strong euro-trash disco when it gets going.
He's definitely eaten all of the pies. Might get extra points from the Body Positivity crowd.
The hoodie in midair is a different twist. Sort of hilarious
Why doesn't the Greek girl dance?
LOL, Bob! A great perspective
There's always a least one really odd lyrical moment in each of these efforts, due to the language barrier with English. With this it's the "Rock and roll dance" part of the chorus.
Bit like Starship's "We Built this City."
The hosts are back and it appears that the Dutch giantess has eaten one of the others.
David Bowie's "Let's Dance" better than the Greek version
Welcome, Johnno! Good question.
I know you're not a fan of "We Built This City."
BTW, I don't think I've watched the Eurovision Song Contest in 40 years.
Hello Johnno. I agree . It's a great question.
This Swiss effort is moist. No other word for it.
Hah! This guy. Hilarious.
The Dutch are always catching me out with their American accents . . .
Not even the one that Katrina and the Waves won?
I haven't watched since 1983 and the standard seems to have dropped since then
The camera work on the Swiss entry is helping him tremendously in my book
This bloke's outfit has a bit of the Spandau Ballets to it. Tony Hadley wants his kit back, mate.
When did Katrina and the Waves win? I don't remember watching that one. Didn't see it if it was after 1983
Wait, what? Katrina and the Waves won the Euros?
The song is annoying , but I like the light show
When I was in high school I was alway worried that my trousers fit as badly as this Swiss guy's.
They won in 1997 with a power ballad called "Love Shine a Light." Not a favorite of mine but I'm a loyal Lancer to the end.
Yes, Iceland!
This Icelandic effort is supposed to be a favorite, right?
Get stuck in, you Vikings!
Here comes my favorite. Iceland have embraced the Will Ferrel vision of Eurovision. Get in, you elves.
Where did they get the curved keytars? Love it!
Is Iceland's entry a take off on the Smerfs?
It was my favorite from the one semi I watched
Keep watching the keytars.
Yes! They're my early favorites. This is what Eurovision is all about. "You're so fascinating." Rock on, sssons and dottirs!
Now the keytar crew has formed a prayer circle. Wow!
I guess kudos to Iceland for being unique and catchy. Love the visuals
And a hilariously bad pose to win it at the end. Yes! Full points for that one. Go Iceland!
I think Iceland has been the best group so far
That's going be tough to beat, just saying.
That was fabulous! And silly. Just as God intended for Eurovision.
Here's another bloke who needs a slap. Get off!
Eric Idle described this bloke years ago.
Agreed, Bob. He's really annoying .
Aw - and he loves his mum. Knee to the groin for that one.
What did Eric have to say? I'm interested
Espana no bueno
I love a song solely about the final throes of passion. Well done, Moldova!
And we're back to the Eurotrash disco with Moldova. No thanks, Sugar. Let's have Iceland back out for a reprise.
Take the red pill
Espana muy malisima
Moldova's entry is cheap disco at best. Sugar is more like splenda
This lot should be banned for the backup dancers' wardrobe choice of shirtless under a jacket look. Gross.
Jendrik from Germany is threatening us with some ukelele now. Off you go, Tiny Tim.
Okay, this German entry is interesting.
Don't you wish that the back-up dancer was wearing a middle finger costume instead.
Germany's entry is hilarious. That's the best description I can give
Who says the Germans are without humor?
The hand is the British equivalent of the middle finger
Middle finger activated. You're welcome Bob
They would be good in a comedy club , but not Top of the Pops
Okay, Jendrik is trying a bit to hard to be quirky. And pandering to the voters with a wish for a joyful life.
That one had a "It's a Knockout" feel to me - pretty hilarious in the end with the wiggle wiggles.
When Elizabeth asked me to flip the chicken wings that was my excuse to walk out on the Moldova entry
Now then - I've been really looking forward to these Finnish boys. This could get lively.
Here we go. Rock-on Finland!!!
Like the heavy metal Finland entry. Way to go!
Fairly obvious Linkin Park influence going on here. RIP Chester.
Bawitdaba!
I don't think a band ever earned their Goth cred through Eurovision, have they? Wait? What about Sabbath?
They could very well win this
Finland's Lordi won it with a heavy metal song
The crowd enjoyed the Finns.
The Finns might just stand out from the Eurodisco crowd with that effort. It's a reasonable gambit.
The commentator boxes are tiny!
Next Bulgaria. Trying hard not to imagine what they will sing
Bulgaria up next with a pastoral theme. Maybe a bit folky.
She's so boring. I might nip off for a fresh Negroni.
This isn't that bad a song but it's probably too quiet to stand out in this kind of venue.
This song definitely dragging
Is she where Bulgarian prison garb?
Free the Bulgarian Ginger!
She looks like she's banished on Mars
Okay, now - some funny posturing from the Lithusnian trio to start this one off. A bit Right Said Fred.
He's clearly too sexy for this show.
More cheap Eurodisco, this time from Lithuania
I'll be starting a Go Fund Me for the Bulgarian Ginger.
Now it's a party. Lithuania brings the silly.
That yellow wardrobe is atrocious
Agreed that the dancing is silly
"Let's discotheque right at my home." There's your weird English line from this one.
I love the Bucks Fizz energy.
I'm okay with the Lithuanian effort . . .
Agreed, David - very Men in Hats "Safety Dance." wardrobe.
Dix points!
It's a Ukrainian squad up next with something called "Shum."
Ukraine in Ukrainian.
This woman sounds like she's using the Bulgarian State Choir vocal technique. This is intriguing. And now some atonal flute work. No way are you going to hear this one on your Top 40 radio station.
And I like the Ukrianian penny whistle too . . . I'm a bit of a pushover, I'm afraid.
Not sure what to make of the Ukrainian group other than they're singing in Ukrainian. Like the Technorock groups of the 70s and 80s with the traditional folk tune mixed in
This one is doing it for me.
I want those blokes to frisbee those rings at each other.
You should get bonus points for singing in the home language!
The choreography was fantastic, but the music not so much
MUR, you need a negroni or two and you'd be pogoing to that.
Next France with There it is
Kate's ears are perking up for the French effort now.
Unless your French, then you get demerits
LOL, Steve. That would put me in the Ukranian corner ofr perhaps a bronze medal
I thought the French had brought in Jane Weidlin from the GoGos as a ringer.
It's a cheesy traditional French love song. Something about being in love and look at me.
Kate doesn't like it at all - she thinks it sounds very 80s and amateurish. Trois points from our Cottage Street judge.
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