My comment re jesc 2003 failed the test re suitability for IMDb. Jesc is a fairly recent development that broadened ESC character, but how the broadcasters faced the issues did not click as okay, to me. I still really like 2003, just as I really like 2006, just there are problems.
15 songs, this is a year without Latvia or England or France or Denmark or Norway or Switzerland or Poland. Alarm bells should ring. Not surprising I caught a cold soon after. This DVD is currently the most expensive single disk that I have ever bought. It is from the Eurovision online store. I did hold off from buying it for a while.
*
Used to be that it was possible to download low-fi previews of ESC video and very tolerable versions of the audio, get to know the music before hand, be able to browse recent years and get the feel of them. With jesc 2006 the downloads appear to be premium price versions only. After the contest, they are on the DVD though. It is possible to view them online for free, but that means having comfortable viewing at the internet site.
The last point is relevant as the televoting was open all the way through the performances. Any viewer with a phone could vote as often as they wanted and if a voter knew the songs before it allowed more votes to be cast for their choice. The song that came top was the last to be performed, it will have been voted for by many because it was known beforehand. I understand that there were several different ways for those with television or home internet to become well informed.
So the final score reflected the views of those who could preview in a comfortable place, not me but possibly many, and who could afford to vote the most? I do not vote, no phone. One of those things, it will be interesting to see how the voting goes next year. I accept that my preferred first choice will not come first. This time my first choice, first viewing, came last and my last choice, the one that made the least musical sense to me, came first. Things are not usually that extreme. There used to be a joke in England about the Mayor of a resort town who was seen jumping up and down on a rubber strip in the road, but I doubt that it was Russian expatriates who voted this, likely just a matter of taste.
*
In the time when ESC jesc was a cultural event rather than a commercial event, free downloads from Belarus of their 12 Points showcase and their jesc 2004 qualifier allowed this memorabilia of their cultural contribution to be in a Eurovision fan's computer folder for those years. More recent stuff appears to be for viewing only, no downloads.
I mention that as the 2006 interval act includes the winner from 2005, which I have not seen. This was the first time I had seen that song and it felt like a winner, as if I was in tune with enough of its musical roots to like it straight away, to also recognise it as likely to be Bela. Nice to know that they have got a first place, nice that their cultural showcase downloads allowed me to recognise the country of origin.
The biggest flaw with the DVD is that it only has the official English commentary for the songs, not even subtitles for other European languages. If jesc was a cultural event, would that be a massive flaw?
There are other countries I would like to be able to recognise from songs in their own language, but I doubt I will find the right keys. Israel and Turkey and Spain often feel easy for me to recognise. Ukraine has already shown an ability to sound like Turkey. With Romania I am not so much interested in recognising the song as theirs but in getting to know musical roots. Noni of 2004, I felt that his song was quoting two ancient Romanian musical sources that classical and film music have also quoted. Including one quoted by their ESC song of 1998?
*
Songs, first viewing. Cyprus has Luis often looking like Theodora of 2003. Christina demonstrates that the choreographer had shown her how an occasional wobble can cause an explosion. Both are good girlie stuff.
Macedonia at the end of the score table with a low key girlie approach that one excellent reviewer considered more suitable for the senior program. I have not found a translation of the lyrics yet, but a song I rate above the others. Just her name would discourage me from voting for her. The other end of the score table appears pure and proper, snow white.
The local performance of the Russian entry is on the DVD and it talks to me of something that would be sense in a world without the Egyptian Lush Dance. Inspiration from the young. I can also read this as the young captive to entertain Authority, following guidelines by Authority, must do, Shostakovich 5. I assume that there are plenty more possible interpretations.
*
Presenter style. Andreea and Drac, the adult presenters, are up to the level of previous ESC jesc. The 12 year old Ioanna leaves other ESC jesc standing.
I understand that 2007 will change the age range from 8-15 to 10-15. There have been good contributors to the national selections by 8 and 9 year olds. Of course, this year's winners were aged 9.
The broadcasters are true to their beliefs. The result is mixed.
15 songs, this is a year without Latvia or England or France or Denmark or Norway or Switzerland or Poland. Alarm bells should ring. Not surprising I caught a cold soon after. This DVD is currently the most expensive single disk that I have ever bought. It is from the Eurovision online store. I did hold off from buying it for a while.
*
Used to be that it was possible to download low-fi previews of ESC video and very tolerable versions of the audio, get to know the music before hand, be able to browse recent years and get the feel of them. With jesc 2006 the downloads appear to be premium price versions only. After the contest, they are on the DVD though. It is possible to view them online for free, but that means having comfortable viewing at the internet site.
The last point is relevant as the televoting was open all the way through the performances. Any viewer with a phone could vote as often as they wanted and if a voter knew the songs before it allowed more votes to be cast for their choice. The song that came top was the last to be performed, it will have been voted for by many because it was known beforehand. I understand that there were several different ways for those with television or home internet to become well informed.
So the final score reflected the views of those who could preview in a comfortable place, not me but possibly many, and who could afford to vote the most? I do not vote, no phone. One of those things, it will be interesting to see how the voting goes next year. I accept that my preferred first choice will not come first. This time my first choice, first viewing, came last and my last choice, the one that made the least musical sense to me, came first. Things are not usually that extreme. There used to be a joke in England about the Mayor of a resort town who was seen jumping up and down on a rubber strip in the road, but I doubt that it was Russian expatriates who voted this, likely just a matter of taste.
*
In the time when ESC jesc was a cultural event rather than a commercial event, free downloads from Belarus of their 12 Points showcase and their jesc 2004 qualifier allowed this memorabilia of their cultural contribution to be in a Eurovision fan's computer folder for those years. More recent stuff appears to be for viewing only, no downloads.
I mention that as the 2006 interval act includes the winner from 2005, which I have not seen. This was the first time I had seen that song and it felt like a winner, as if I was in tune with enough of its musical roots to like it straight away, to also recognise it as likely to be Bela. Nice to know that they have got a first place, nice that their cultural showcase downloads allowed me to recognise the country of origin.
The biggest flaw with the DVD is that it only has the official English commentary for the songs, not even subtitles for other European languages. If jesc was a cultural event, would that be a massive flaw?
There are other countries I would like to be able to recognise from songs in their own language, but I doubt I will find the right keys. Israel and Turkey and Spain often feel easy for me to recognise. Ukraine has already shown an ability to sound like Turkey. With Romania I am not so much interested in recognising the song as theirs but in getting to know musical roots. Noni of 2004, I felt that his song was quoting two ancient Romanian musical sources that classical and film music have also quoted. Including one quoted by their ESC song of 1998?
*
Songs, first viewing. Cyprus has Luis often looking like Theodora of 2003. Christina demonstrates that the choreographer had shown her how an occasional wobble can cause an explosion. Both are good girlie stuff.
Macedonia at the end of the score table with a low key girlie approach that one excellent reviewer considered more suitable for the senior program. I have not found a translation of the lyrics yet, but a song I rate above the others. Just her name would discourage me from voting for her. The other end of the score table appears pure and proper, snow white.
The local performance of the Russian entry is on the DVD and it talks to me of something that would be sense in a world without the Egyptian Lush Dance. Inspiration from the young. I can also read this as the young captive to entertain Authority, following guidelines by Authority, must do, Shostakovich 5. I assume that there are plenty more possible interpretations.
*
Presenter style. Andreea and Drac, the adult presenters, are up to the level of previous ESC jesc. The 12 year old Ioanna leaves other ESC jesc standing.
I understand that 2007 will change the age range from 8-15 to 10-15. There have been good contributors to the national selections by 8 and 9 year olds. Of course, this year's winners were aged 9.
The broadcasters are true to their beliefs. The result is mixed.
