Europe’s not all doom and gloom. As well as high unemployment, the refugee crisis, Brexit, political extremism, terrorism, and worsening EU-Russia relations, there’s also that potent blend of patriotism, bloc voting, and “outlandish camp” that is the Eurovision Song Contest.
Founded in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest today boasts more viewers than the Superbowl. Every year, contestants from roughly 40 countries (including both EU Member States and non-EU members) compete to garner the most public votes. There is a great deal of variety in terms of the style and tone of the performances. This year’s favourite to win is Italy, with a song featuring a man dancing in an ape costume.
It’s all a bit of fun, but that doesn’t mean politics can’t be involved. Last year, Jamala won the contest on behalf of Ukraine with her song ‘1944‘. Some have accused the song, about the deportation of Crimean Tartars by the Soviet Union, of being a dig at Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Explicitly political songs are banned according to Eurovision’s rules.
This year, the host Ukraine has banned Russia’s contestant, Yulia Samoylova, from taking part after she went on tour in Crimea. In response, Russia pulled out of the competition entirely.
The 2017 Grand Final will take place on Saturday 13 May at 21:00 CEST. You can read more about the contestants and see their songs ahead of the final on the Eurovision website.
Who do you hope wins Eurovision 2017? Will you be watching the Eurovision final? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below.
274 comments Post a commentcomment
“Who do you hope wins Eurovision 2017? Will you be watching the Eurovision final?”
Don’t care and no
Same here!
China. And it gets scrapped to save money. End the kitsch music fest, it’s pathetic.
Exit groep
Exit groep
Exit groep
Exit groep
Exit groep
Portugal. for the first time!
Armenia
Portugal!
Portugal !
l’ho ascoltata la canzone del Portogallo, è molto bella (Y) :)
Vatican
anche :) (Y) <3
Australia !?
(Y) :) https://youtu.be/-OnRxfhbHB4
Gabbani ha vinto Sanremo meritatamente .la seconda canzone classificata è molto bella, quanto la canzone di Gabbani , è arrivata seconda per pochi voti. E’ un inno alla vita , le parole sono stupende. Buoni valori che ci fanno bene al cuore a tutti, anche a voi . Fiorella Mannoia <3 https://youtu.be/u6fbLKY6IfI
é una bella canzone – e il uomo anche, bello….
non capisco tutte le parole, ma il sound é bene ?
non capisco tutte le parole, ma il sound é bene 😘
quello che colpisce subito è la musica ritmata e la scimmia che balla ….potrebbe sembrare stupido ….. ma il testo della canzone è un testo molto intelligente . Gabbani ha fatto centro, buono, ci piace . Fiorella Mannoia è la Regina incontrastata della musica italiana da oltre 40 anni . Fiorella è una icona della buona e bella musica italiana, i testi delle sue canzoni sono meraviglie, è un’anima bella . Se Gabbani a Sanremo ha vinto su di lei con il consenso popolare ( per pochi voti in più però ) …..questo ti dice tutto. <3
Fiorella Mannoia – é sound tipico Sanremo e per me tipico italiano, bello. (Bramosia e gioia di vivere) (y)
Wow, molto, molto intelligente: http://lyricstranslate.com/de/occidentalis-karma-karma-der-westler.html
Ma, lui non puo vincere – é troppo critico per Eurovision. Ma, piace a me!.
un contest che esclude Russia non vuole anche critic a capitalismo e cosi.
Nelle prime due frasi della canzone entriamo subito in contatto con William Shakespeare ed Erich Fromm. L’iconico “Essere o non essere”, la frase d’apertura del monologo recitato da Amleto durante la scena del convento nell’omonima opera di Shakespeare, incontra il libro di Fromm “Avere o essere?”, pubblicato nel 1976.
Nella sua opera, lo psicanalista tedesco menziona la corsa della società moderna al materalismo e di come la gente preferisca il “dovere” all’”essere”. Gabbani utilizza lo stesso concetto come punto cardine di “Occidentali’s Karma”.
Quando canta del fenomeno internet, Francesco cita gli Alcolisti Anonimi (AA), l’associazione, diffusa in tutto il mondo, che si occupa del recupero di persone che hanno problemi di dipendenza da alcool. Tuttavia egli suggerisce che a dover essere aiutati oggi nel recupero siano gli ossessionati dai selfie.
E cosa dire del “panta rei” (“tutto scorre”)? Il motto, enunciato dal filosofo pre-socratico greco Eraclito, ci ricorda che nella vita “tutto si muove e nulla sta fermo, non potresti entrare due volte nello stesso fiume” perché “in quel fiume sopraggiungeranno acque sempre nuove”.
Il ritornello ci fa entrare in una dimensione mistica, piena di riferimenti al buddismo. “Nirvana” non ha nulla a che fare con la band grunge che scalò le classifiche negli anni ’90. Come molti già sapranno, rappresenta il punto più alto a cui aspirare dopo aver perso ogni contatto con le passioni e i desideri mortali.
“Mantra”, invece, è un’espressione sacra che va ripetuta molte volte durante la meditazione per aiutare il credente a guadagnare la stabilità e la forza mentale perduta. Allo stesso tempo il “karma” è il principio spirituale di causa ed effetto secondo il quale gli intenti e le azioni di un individuo (la causa) influenzano il futuro dell’individuo stesso (l’effetto).
“Namaste” è una rispettosa forma di saluto della cultura Hindi, solitamente espressa con un leggero inchino, le mani giunte, i palmi che si toccano, le dita rivolte verso l’alto e il pollice vicino al petto.
La “fila indiana” e l’”ora d’aria” si riferiscono alle lezioni di yoga. È lo stesso Francesco a descrivere il significato di quel passaggio: “Facciamo yoga per trovare un equilibrio tra mente e corpo. Ma se non siamo vestiti alla moda allora a lezione di yoga non ci andiamo
La parte fondamentale della canzone è senza dubbio “la scimmia nuda balla”. Ecco la risposta al gorilla danzante
La scimmia nuda. Studio zoologico sull’animale uomo è un libro del 1976 dello zoologo ed etologo britannico Desmond Morris, che fa uso del termine “scimmie nude” per riferirsi alla specie umana, considerata la più evoluta versione delle scimmie, in questo caso prive del pesante manto di peli.
Ultimo ma non meno importante, Karl Marx. Il socialista nato in Germania appare con la famosa citazione “La religione è l’oppio dei popoli”. Le frasi scritte da Gabbani sono però riferite anche all’uso dei social network – la droga dei nostri giorni.
“L’occidentale che si rivolge alla cultura orientale lo fa sempre come un turista che va in un villaggio vacanze. La cultura orientale viene vista come fuga dallo stress, ma non è nata per questo. È la banalizzazione di qualcosa di profondo che c’è lì però, solo lì, noi siamo turisti di qualcos’altro, per noi diventa uno sport”.
Mettere una scimmia danzante sul palco accanto al cantante non è un’idea casuale: “Dietro la scimmia nuda c’è l’uomo moderno, l’uomo senza peli come diceva Desmond Morris, una delle 193 specie di scimmia, di cui l’uomo è l’unica senza pelo. C’è un uomo vestito che però ha ancora tantissime caratteristiche dell’uomo delle caverne”.
per quanto riguarda la canzone di Fiorella Mannoia ,la sua canzone è una preghiera . In quella canzone descrive le nostre lacrime italiane di dolore , di grande sofferenza ( lei l’ha cantata pensando al terremoto, ai terremotati ma è estesa a chiunque nel mondo vive una situazione di grande dolore …e in questo periodo siamo in tanti….) e ha trasformato le lacrime in perle verso la vita . E’ una canzone stupenda, vera, commovente ogni volta che si ascolta
parlo solo un po d’italiano – e non ce la funziona di trascrittzione – ma, prova…
é troppo – ??
é troppo – 😍😍
Bulgaria
who cares
Eurovision should be:
1 – a come together of cultures
2 – a place of sharing ideas
3 – a place for innovation
4 – great entertainment
….
175 – a place of fierce competition.
We have enough competition in soccer already!
Who the hell cares?
Eurovision should be:
1st and foremost – a come together of cultures
2 – a place of sharing ideas
3 – a place for innovation
4 – great entertainment
….
175 – a place of fierce competition.
We have enough competition in soccer already!
Portugal! Beautiful soulful song! Not a cheap trash like most of others!
le canzoni non sono mai spazzature , rispecchiano la cultura di un Paese che va rispettato. Quando si impara ad ascoltare la voce di chi sta dicendo, allora abbiamo vinto come popolo europeo . La canzone del Portogallo è molto bella ma le altre non sono da meno. Facciamo vincere l’amore che va oltre la competizione
le canzoni non sono mai spazzatura , rispecchiano la cultura di un Paese che va rispettato. Quando si impara ad ascoltare la voce di chi sta dicendo, allora abbiamo vinto come popolo europeo . La canzone del Portogallo è molto bella ma le altre non sono da meno. Dobbiamo imparare a far vincere l’amore che va oltre la competizione
@Stefania Arcades
Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!
who cares?
As a belgian native for me Portugal deserves to win.
The song really touch me and it’s very unique.
Gréât, me too, for Portugal
Spain not.
Who care? In the past few years you turn it at political “competition” so it will be the most political correct song (country). Basically don’t give a damn about it, for first year I won’t watch it! Just another “well done” for EU!
Right on.
voi la vedete cosi e non riesco a capire perchè . Da noi la canzone che viene all’Eurofestival è già vincitrice …perchè mai dovrebbe far concorrenza se ha già vinto !? E’ uno scambio interculturale e si vota la canzone che piace .
http://aussieyoutoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Abo.jpg
australia
Italia!!!!
could`nt give a toss.
Russia that you banned
non credo gli sia dispiaciuto alla Russia di non esserci.
?
😥
It’s not okay to bann ARTISTS
România .
Seriously ???
Greece.Ellada!!!
Portugal
How would this debate provide some useful information for any (supposedly) important issue affecting the life of European citizens?
Debating Europe is open to discussing any issue or question that has a European dimension. In the last week, we have discussed Brexit, the refugee crisis and the French elections. However, there should also be space to discuss events like Eurovision that a lot of Europeans will be tuning in to watch. We only do it occassionally, and definitely don’t think we have a disproportionate focus on it.
First of all thank you for your response.
I understand your point that maybe a majority of EU citizens watch Eurovision and support one or another song, but isn’t it the same with -let’s say- Champions League? I guess you wouldn’t make a ‘debate’ on which team should win the cup!
Besides… I perfectly understand how all the other issues you mentioned can or should affect the European Strategy and policies (and I consider debating these issues extremely important for the policy making process, especially since the access in social media is considerably wide in Europe), but I can’t see how the same applies to Eurovision.
Hi Alexandra! Many thanks for your comment; we understand your point. However, we have indeed, in the past, discussed big European or international sporting events such as football championship finals or the Olympics. We don’t do it often, but sometimes it makes a welcome change of pace. Next week, we will return the focus to big political issues (and we promise not to liveblog the Eurovision final ?)
Hi Alexandra! Many thanks for your comment; we understand your point. However, we have indeed, in the past, discussed big European or international sporting events such as football championship finals or the Olympics. We don’t do it often, but sometimes it makes a welcome change of pace. Next week, we will return the focus to big political issues (and we promise not to liveblog the Eurovision final 😁)
My suggestion would be discussing Eurovision under another prism… for example, how could it further contribute to the exchange of cultural elements between countries, or how could it enhance the cultural product of Europe…
thank you once again for your time and patience :)
Romania, Bulgaria or Hungary! ^_^
Scorpions
Abstention. ;)
A country that can afford hosting the next eurovision
Russia!
!!
!!
!!
!!
!!
Portugal because they are the only ones not singing in english and the only guy who sang with his soul….unlike all that other bubble gum pop songs full of eccentric performances…being simple really made him different…almost all the other songs are copies of each other annoying pop melodies
Well, the first part of you statement isn’t quite true. You also have Belarus and Hungary.
You didn’t heard that hungarian song
no hehe I forgot to say almost all songs are in english not all
…and you both haven’t heard the Italian song yet! <3
Portugal. All we need is love. Back to real music and no plastic and fireworks!
The Soros Puppets!
Croatia
Portugal of course.
️️️️️
️️️️️
️️️️️
️️️️️
️️️️️
?
Portugal
Céline Dion?
Who gives a shyt …
Im rooting for china
Im rooting for china
Im rooting for china
Im rooting for china
Im rooting for china
Demmy.
Eurovision is a symbol of the decadence of Europe y and an offense to the music. Better that it would disapeer.
What can we do?
I always back the wrong horse. Am I so out of touch? No, it’s the Europeans who are wrong.
You have to find your choice. – So do i and i am not anymore sad if they vote for Gagamusic or so. I am happy with my choice. I hope there will be 1 song in 26 I like. ?
You have to find your choice. – So do i and i am not anymore sad if they vote for Gagamusic or so. I am happy with my choice. I hope there will be 1 song in 26 I like. 😎
…and others think my choice is gaga, never mind.
Portugal, of course!
Portugal, of course!
Portugal, of course!
Portugal, of course!
Portugal, of course!
Bulgaria or Portugal. Like both of these two songs :)
Who do you hope wins Eurovision 2017?
These two old kids on the bloc. And one of them a leftover war monger. Just what European people need for a song contest.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/803618/tony-blair-michel-barnier-brexit-speech-european-people-party-ireland
Iron Maiden!
Bulgaria <3
Portugal. But I’m Portuguese, so I’m highly biased.
Anyone But Apartheid Racist Israel #BDS
Portugal. Not only because I’m Portuguese, but because the Portuguese entry is everything all the others aren’t. Simplicity. No lights, no fireworks, no effects. Just a simple boy singing a love song from his heart. That’s the essence of music, and it’s time to return to the essence.
se solo ascoltaste le parole delle canzoni !!! . Nel 2013 una delle più belle canzoni italiane ( che non ha vinto ) parla proprio di quello che hai detto tu. Sembrate accecati dalla troppa voglia di vincere e da quanto volete vincere non ascoltate i messaggi. Le canzoni sono PAROLE , MUSICA , MESSAGGI , BELLEZZA dell’ANIMA e voi sembrate essere sordi . La canzone era questa ( senza nulla togliere alla canzone Portoghese ) . Non vinse all’eurofestival e non ci siamo arrabbiati perchè abbiamo dato il nostro sentimento e ascoltato il vostro. Per noi le canzoni hanno molta importanza. . E’ ora di tornare all’essenza….ci siete arrivati finalmente :) La canzone italiana del 2013 all’eurofestival era questa https://youtu.be/S8oaxDV1q6o
https://youtu.be/EJ8vnzQBjnI
The Italian song is also great! Except for that ridiculous chimp! ?
The Italian song is also great! Except for that ridiculous chimp! 😁
Filipe Nunes anche a noi ha fatto lo stesso effetto all’inizio, poi l’abbiamo capita . Le canzoni italiane che vengono all’eurofestival hanno già passato una selezione di competenza e popolare e su Gabbani il popolo italiano ha dato il suo ok . Quella canzone da noi ha già vinto comunque sarebbe andata l’eurofestival . Anche io ci ho messo a capirla la canzone di Gabbani ma credimi è buona, molto buona Congratulazioni <3
Also, I caught a headache from all the lights and fireworks of most of the other performances. I couldn’t even see the singers on stage.
Bulgaria!
Greece ❤
Greece ❤
Greece ❤
Greece ❤
Greece ❤
👍
USA
Blanche
Bulgaria is gonna win. 12 points from Moldova! :3
Italy! #gabbani
Jimmy Rogala
Je me suis toujours senti moldave au fond
Je l’ai vu à ton engouement quand on a écouté la musique moldave traditionnelle sur youtube
Just make it one of the very rare countries that sing in their own language, that i think should be the point of the Eurovision. But somewhere it went in a english pop and cheesy path.
So why not my Portugal? :)
North Korea
Portugal!!
Sweden all the way!
Portugal!!! ❤
Portugal:)
Greece!!!
I’m Portuguese. Cannot vote for Salvador, but honestly I think the best performances were Bulgaria, Denmark, Netherlands and my personal favorite, Croatia.
CROATIA- the best vocal interpretation!
Portugal! #salvadorable
Whoever doesn’t sing in bloody English
So… Portugal!
.
Interesting comment from someone who works at a school of English & comments in ….. English lol
I’m actually a translator by now mate, worked in an English school to ensure people become multilingual. I actually think that it’s good that acts sing in their own language instead of having everything uniform and in one language.
By the way I can comment in a few different languages if you want / Alla i adael sylwad mewn nifer o ieithoedd gwahanol os oes well gen ti / Puc deixar un comenatri en altres llengues si prefereixes / Puedo dejar comentarios en otras lenguas si prefieres / Je peux laisser des commentaires en pas mal de langues differentes si tu préfères…
Thatcher europeia country: Austrália!
Not Pt please!
*that european
https://goo.gl/images/8iWQ6C
❤️CROATIA❤️Something new, something unusual, best ❤️
Shakira <3
BELARUS
BELARUS
BELARUS
BELARUS
BELARUS
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal!!
Portugal!! For the first time we have an entry that everybody in Portugal loves and feels well represented with!
Italy or better Italia !! ;) #gabbani
HUMMMMM ….. THE CLASH ? !!! LMFAO
Croatia
Croatia
Croatia
Croatia
Croatia
Manchester United?
Greece !!
Croatia!!
Portugal…!!!!
France
Portugal
Better question: How much money will Ukraine get from the event? :D
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium
As the wise Harrison Ford once said: I don’t know and I don’t care.
But I will watch tonight and decide myself. Last year i Had to wait long time for my favorite, i was almost sad, when no 23 or 25 came: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWm4rYaawAQ
I hope the winner is acountry with a song in its native language. Enough with the english.
(y) often i like maybe the Montenegro Song or Turkish or, or, or and understand nothing. Or of course Greek. – Good music, true music, honest music is transported by the Singer, by the honest feeling, by the sound. But they often want to do big business with their song and choose easy lyrics and English. But the listener hears and knows….
Italy or Portugal
How can anyone compare the Italian with the Portuguese song?! It’s unfortunate that Portugal has taken such a beautiful song and artist to a trashy show where so many cheer for poor quality music.
Thank you Oana <3 <3 . I'm Portuguese and I also prefer our song because the other songs are all alike - people jumping and screaming and laser beams all over the place. This is stopped being a contest of songs. It's a contest of screamings and shoutings and jumping up??
Carolina Muro Rosa I did not compare, I like them both very much. My wish is to win Portugal because I love that song ?
Carolina Muro Rosa ha vinto il Portogallo e ne sono contenta . Qui l’unica che ha fatto una figura schifosa se tu ….ma come ti sei permessa !? Vergognati
Italy or Portugal
Italy or Portugal
Italy or Portugal
Thank you Oana <3 <3 . I'm Portuguese and I also prefer our song because the other songs are all alike - people jumping and screaming and laser beams all over the place. This is stopped being a contest of songs. It's a contest of screamings and shoutings and jumping up😖😖
Carolina Muro Rosa I did not compare, I like them both very much. My wish is to win Portugal because I love that song 😉
Italy or Portugal
PORTUGAL <3
Portugal!!!
Europe is not all doom and gloom because of Eurovision? Who writes this article? Sa Majeste’ Marie-Antoinette?
WHO CARES! EUROVISION SUCKS!
Austria
As if Eurovision is about songs …
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!!
EURORUBBISH
I dont give a f*ck.
Ελλάδα Greece ❤
Ελλάδα Greece ❤
Ελλάδα Greece ❤
Ελλάδα Greece ❤
Ελλάδα Greece ❤
At least this year NO NEO-NAZI song like “1944” ofJamala, will win! Of course the EU-philes, the Brussels corrupted elites and those who “celebrated” Le Pen’s defeat, obviously dont “see” those monsterous breaches of the rules and this Neo-Nazi propaganda : https://oikotimes.com/2016/08/20/jamalas-shocking-participating-in-neonazi-festival/
#gabbani Italy
Who cares.! Countries should sing at their language and not in English. There is no culture by singing in English with Greek music, or Serbia muxic or Portugese music, Polish aso……
Portugal never sings in English…
Portugal sing in Portuguese Manolis
προεδρε εδω ελλαδα χαχαχα
Αυτά στο άρθρο 1 προβλεπόντουσαν ή όχι;! :)
Greece will be the winner!!!! Deal with it ;-) :-P!!!
a me è piaciuta la Grecia (Y)
Portugal will be the winner! We’ve got Salvador!
I sincerely hope this trash is discontinued! Of late (if not before) it seems to be being used as a vehicle to promote sectional, divisive interests and is doing sod-all for European peace, harmony and co-operation.
Portugal song is in Portuguese, not english
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal
This type of Eurovision is not about music, not about singing but a poor, cheap (metaphorically), dirty little corrupt shop with a political background.
i Hope Cyprous wins.
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Portugal!
Salvador is going to be the winner. His message is strong: ❤️. We definitely need love which may unite all the European countries. His sweetness is adorable???
PORTUGAL !!!
Frankly, I dont give a damn!!…..Italia maybe
Oh for goodness sake, this is “Debating Europe”??
Portugal!!
Portugal!!
Portugal!!
Portugal!!
Portugal!!
Just voted for the sumo wrestler with the split personality disorder from Croatia
And what’s with the freak from Portugal your all raving about, i’d like a drag of whatever he’d been smoking before he came on.
Romania ?
This year it was Gaga. – Mr. “i cannot sing” won, Tokio Hotel is Second and the Mama-Song is So bad that it is already good again (German Saying). – A lot songs sounded like a copy of something
in un certo senso è vero , hai ragione
This year it was Gaga. – Mr. “i cannot sing” won, Tokio Hotel is Second and the Mama-Song is So bad that it is already good again (German Saying). – A lot songs sounded like a copy of something
This year it was Gaga. – Mr. “i cannot sing” won, Tokio Hotel is Second and the Mama-Song is So bad that it is already good again (German Saying). – A lot songs sounded like a copy of something
This year it was Gaga. – Mr. “i cannot sing” won, Tokio Hotel is Second and the Mama-Song is So bad that it is already good again (German Saying). – A lot songs sounded like a copy of something
This year it was Gaga. – Mr. “i cannot sing” won, Tokio Hotel is Second and the Mama-Song is So bad that it is already good again (German Saying). – A lot songs sounded like a copy of something
The Italian Song is one of the best (without the Monkey), but in Germany they started the broadcasting of his song 1 or 2 Seconds after he allready started to sing. – Mistake?
Epic Sax Guy Restart
http://coub.com/view/u6nes
Australia is Europe ?