In our Continuing Series: The Decline of Western Civilization ...

[Basvarken]

All those androgynous hair metallists were really amateurs when it comes to decadence and contributing actively to the decline of Western Civilization, this is how it's properly done: This weekend's Eurovison winner ... Conchita Wurst ...

In the meanwhile the number two of the Eurovision song contest is number one in the hit parades of 14 European countries.
Half of the Netherlands dismissed the song beforehand, because it wasn't sensational enough, no real climax, no bla bla etc

[westen44]

I ran across a comment about this in reading about something else several days ago.  But not knowing any of the details, it didn't quite make sense to me.  I still don't quite know exactly what happened.  All I could gather is that Ilse DeLange and Waylon are being treated with some kind of disrespect (it appears,) but I don't know if this is something personal or just has to do with people not liking that song enough. 

[Basvarken]

It's not that they have anything against Ilse and/or Waylon. It's more that a lot of fellow Dutchmen have preconceived dogmatic ideas about how a song for the Songcontest should sound like. 

[uwe]

In the meanwhile the number two of the Eurovision song contest is number one in the hit parades of 14 European countries.
Half of the Netherlands dismissed the song beforehand, because it wasn't sensational enough, no real climax, no bla bla etc

It's a nice song, but I understand why people had qualms about it. It's overtly C&W/New Country and in the past stuff like that has bombed if people in national juries and the viewers felt that it was not the "real thing" because the country in question was not really known for that type of music. The German C&W/New Country entry from a couple of years (2006) bombed terribly though it was a well-crafted and catchy, uplifting tune, everybody (in Germany at least) expected great things from it.




There is a rule for Eurovision winners in general: It's either the big melodramatic musical-type ballad or something extremely catchy, uplifting and fun to watch:

Everybody knew those Swedes would win 5 seconds into their song:



And it was the same thing with these Dutchmen here:



Not to mention these Brits and their contribution to impromptu changing skirt fashions:



There are exceptions to the rule of course, but to many contestants "big ballad" and "catchy happy tune presented in a fresh way by a boy/girl group" are still regarded as safe bets.

[TBird1958]

I don't watch American Idol, but this year at least had this fellow singing some rock, earlier in the season he did a good cover of "Working Man"
by Rush.....

Covering Coverdale!

[uwe]

I never liked that song with its drawing by numbers overt Zeppelinisms (even Kingdom Come had some shame and left guitar bow impressions out of their vids), but it's hard to sing and he does a credible job at it.

It ain't the same though unless stockings-attired and blindfolded B-movie actrices roll around on a fur on the sofa while it is being played.



That vid was so cringeworthy already in 1987 - as a Purplite I felt ashamed for the "unknown young boutique salesman from Redcar".  He was in his mid-thirties when this happened, so no excuses because of youth or inexperience either ... To add insult to injury, not a single one of these posers (Coverdale excepted) had played/sung on the track or the album. In comparison, these guys here were icons of credibility:

[Basvarken]

In comparison, these guys here were icons of credibility

Great performance.
Excellent musicianship.
But their stylist didn't do them any favors    

[OldManC]

And he can elevate with his work even - sorry, George! - mediocre singers ...

No need to be sorry.  I've never claimed Vince was a great or even good singer. There are singers, and there are frontmen, and Vince never completely dominated as either one (in my book), but he fit perfectly with whatever chemistry made Motley work as well as they did, being sometimes a good but rarely a great band. When I first saw them he was still more a surf/stoner dude with a bleach job, and that laid back attitude worked well with the whole package. My favorite Motley Crue was more like a heavier Cheap Trick than a metal band, and Vince was more a laid back DLR than anything else.

[Highlander]

Bucks Fizz...

Come on, we've had some class material in that competition... here's our winners from '67 and '69...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCs7iZGvK4s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ew43u2gS0Y

[uwe]

I preferred Sandie!!! Lulu's songwriter stole from Mary Poppins!

But Pet beat them all:




Yanks get a honorary mention, girls singing about "silver spurs to pass the time" are always a good thing:

[Pilgrim]

I hadn't realized it before, but "Summer Wine" was the "Milkshake" of its time.

[uwe]

I always thought lecherous Lee was on about something nasty! So you can actually drink it?