Euro Vision 2012 and Azerbaijan
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31053)
United Kingdom
May 31, 2012 10:28am CST
This year Azerbaijan held the fifty seventh Euro Vision because it won it in 2011. I think it is a little heard of country and not many travelers go there. Due to my nationality I would need a visa if I went there. I would find the visa cost pricey and it would be cheaper for me to go to Armenia and Georgia. It was nice to know that Montenegro was a returning country there. It was strange that Poland and Armenia didn't take part this year. The winner came from Sweden therefore that country will host it in 2013.
I watched a documentary about it yesterday on my laptop. They said that in 2009 Armenia's song was not heard in Azerbaijan. The people from Azerbaijan that voted for it were called in for questioning.
Why do you think some countries in Europe didn't take place?
Is it fair that the people that voted for Armenia in 2009 got called in for questioning?
3 responses
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
1 Jun 12
I stayed up to watch that one. It was my first Eurovision Song Contest. The interludes were very informative regarding Azerbaijan. My overall impression by the end of it, compared to snippettes of previous ones over the years, was that, yes, the Eurovision Song Contest is steadily improving & is probably almost worth my while watching! I was fascinated by the love of the people, by the beauty & lighting, the aerial displays & the interesting voting system. I can recall one interview our hosts had with a young lady leading her country's performance. She said that the flowers on her head needed no water, but lived on the love from her heart. To say that without ego or self-importance is very rare indeed.
I really thought the performances by Norway & Iceland were fantastic & should have received first & second place respectively. I was glad that England didn't get a zero score again. Ireland was very good, I thought, and Cyprus looked very nice out there & interviewed very well by us.
Sadly, you've confirmed my suspicions that some of the voting is very politically motivated. This is such a pity. There's some wonderful talent in some of those performances. And no, it does not seem fair, nor right, nor good that Armenia voters were called in for questioning. Someone should say something about that.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
1 Jun 12
I am delighted to hear that you watched the Euro Vision Song Contest. I am glad it interested you and you felt it very much worth seeing and listening to. It was lovely to hear the young ladies comments leading her country's performance, how touching. I am pleased that you noted down which songs you liked best. Yes, it is such a shame about it being so political. Yes, it should be down to the musical talent and sound as to how pleasing it was. I feel the dancing adds to each performance greatly. Thanks for you excellent response.
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
1 Jun 12
Thank you for the BR.
It was an inspiring set of performances by some high-spirited, lovely people - both young & old. Do you feel that voters outside of Europe or outside of the competing countries should also have some influence on the voting? Perhaps that idea would detract from the Euro-zone relevance though, & maybe voting should rely more on a panel of international expert judges? Do you have any ideas to take the politics out of the voting? Australia had its own unofficial vote. More than 60000 people participated. Here's our website with all the interviews, etc.:
http://www.sbs.com.au/eurovision/
It was an inspiring set of performances by some high-spirited, lovely people - both young & old. Do you feel that voters outside of Europe or outside of the competing countries should also have some influence on the voting? Perhaps that idea would detract from the Euro-zone relevance though, & maybe voting should rely more on a panel of international expert judges? Do you have any ideas to take the politics out of the voting? Australia had its own unofficial vote. More than 60000 people participated. Here's our website with all the interviews, etc.:
http://www.sbs.com.au/eurovision/
@lakantar (1573)
• Greece
1 Jun 12
Yeap I've watched the event too. Unfortunately once more I won't call it a contest since it's more about politics since most of the countries exchange their 12 points and most of it rarely there are decent songs there, it's funny though at times since some choreographs are weird at times and the clothes and haircuts that some of the contestants choose are funny too sometimes :)
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
1 Jun 12
I watched on-line the 2009 entry for Armenia and think it sounds fantastic. Yes, it is so very much about politics which I believe is a shame. I know what you mean about some of the musicians looking weird and the dance moves looking strange. Yes, there are better songs elsewhere.
1 person likes this
@lakantar (1573)
• Greece
2 Jun 12
I can't recall the song you mentioned, I remember only liking a song from France some years ago, other than that I can't remember if I liked any other Eurovision song. Yeap I think everytime there are the exchanges and the best promoted song that always gets the win, rather than the best performance.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
31 May 12
I watched this year's eurovision and there are so many beautiful songs, I love the songs from Germany, Macedonia,Turkey, Sweden, and Spain.
The Russian Grannies, though not the best singers, their song is very catchy and they have an inspiring story.
I think it has something to do that the conflict that happened between Armenia and Azerbaijan during 1918 up to 1920's and they still havent moved on from that. or it could be funds. Its like the same reason why Norway stopped sending girls In Miss Universe....
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
31 May 12
It is lovely to hear that you watched this years Euro Vision. It is superb to hear which songs you liked the most and the Russian grannies sounded delightful. Thanks for saying about the Azerbaijan and Armenian conflict during 1918 until 1920. Yes, in a recession there can be less money than usual.
