The Eurovision Song Contest (2005 TV Special) User Reviews

Good for the cultural exposure, but not for the song quality. Entertainment value at best.

[ruspandy · 7/10 · 7 June 2005]

Last Sunday I just watched the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 which was held in Ukraine. On my initial reaction I was glad because although I had missed the semi-finals, I had the chance to experience what European music feels like.

Ever since I went to Europe 2 years ago, and recently studying French, European culture had suddenly become my obsession. Countries that are so diverse but yet united in a single continent. I fell in love with it as it gave my life a new purpose. After being constrained by Asian culture even after working overseas now, I finally found something to break my barrier and expand my views on everything.

Now on to the review, the final started on 7.30 -11.00 pm nighttime with more than 30 minutes for counting the votes. The contestants came from 24 countries, each I hope to bring their own flavour to the show. However after watching everyone, I realized that half of the performance wasn't good at all. The reason being that half of them was using the 80s rock/punk style which is very outdated and embarrassing to look at. One of them even dressed like a transvestite and singing a lousy rock song. I can't believe this is the music they chose to represent their country. What the hell were they thinking?!

My personal disappointment lies with Germany in which the singer Gracia sang Run & Hyde. She wasn't a bad performer but her song choice was very boring and didn't keep my interest. As a matter of fact, plenty of the bad singers were plagued by a bad song choice rather than bad performance.

On the plus side, half of the other performances were good. I really like the ones from Malta, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia and few others because they tried their best and sang well. However the top three performers according to my taste are: 1. Hasheket shenish'ar (The silence that was left), by Shiri Maimon form Israel, ranked 4th in the final score. Opinion: Very unique and well carried out 2. Call me, by Feminnem from Bosnia & Herzegovina, ranked 14th in the final score. Opinion: Very 80s style but sweet & catchy 3. Cool vibes, by Vanilla Ninja from Switzerland, ranked 8th in the final score Opinion: Nice rock song, and I love the melody

Okay I admit, those 3 above are very pretty girls but they're also great singers. After all, their songs are the only ones I can remember when the show finished. I even sang "Call me" on my way to work today.

The winner of the contest was Helena Paparizou from Greece who sang "My number one". While she's not my favorite, at least she has great voice & strong vocal control so I guess she deserved to win.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show despite its shortcomings. It's hilarious to see the lousy performers making fun of themselves on the stage whilst the good ones are there to take the glory.

And for those in the world languages group who happen to read my review, it wasn't meant to be offensive since I merely reviewed from my point of view after watching it. The criterias are based on my taste so yours will probably be different from mine. Even my co-workers who are from Italian & Spanish descendant, who had previously seen the 2004 one, agreed that it sucks big time and the song style never change. I sincerely hope they do in the future.

If you want to catch the show, both the semi-finals and finals are available on DVD (double-disc) with plenty of extra materials on Sydney stores on 20th of June, along with CD containing most, if not all the songs performed.

I'll definitely look forward for 2006 contest, and thank the current contestants (the good ones only) who gave me their best.

One Of The Best Eurovision Show Ever

[icet2004 · 8/10 · 22 May 2005]

oh my god!yesterday i saw it.Norway's heavy rock song "In My Dreams" by Wig Wam was awesome.one of the greatest this year and maybe the best.Switzerland song "Cool Vibes" Vanilla Ninja was magnificent. Vanilla Ninja is the best Estonian band of all time no doubt. and also Vanilla Ninja made awesome performance no doubt. winner Greece their song "My Number One" was OK,but not the best. United Kingdom song "Touch My Fire" was horribly terrible the worst. best Eurovision songs of all time first is definitely "Waterloo" by Abba.and others what i like are Ira Losco's "7th Wonder" "Runaway to stars" by Sahlene,but i don't remember everybody by Dave Benton & Tanel Padar even thought i'm Estonian.this year best songs were In "My Dreams" by Wig Wam and "Cool Vibes" by Vanilla Ninja

A good thing

[AndrewPhillips · 10/10 · 22 January 2006]

Come on everyone, if you talk about the quality of the music then you have missed the point, it's about competition, pitting nation against nation to see who will win. Surly this must be better than going to war with each other, at least at the Eurovision song contest no one dies.

The excitement of the voting especially when its a close run thing, is an adrenalin rush and if it's your own country up there vying for the top spot I defy any patriotic person not to start shouting at the screen. There has in the last few years, with the introduction of telephone voting, been a growing concern over neighbours voting for each other, political voting. Yes it does have an effect on some of the final positions but the song that wins will always be the one that appeals to the majority, so that still makes it fair.

For many artists this is the launch pad for a successful career in countries other than their own. The exposure they get from performing in front of an audience of 500 million is worth it's weight in gold. However bad you consider the song to be at least they are original, unlike the "pop idol" type shows who rely on cover versions.

There are many countries in Europe that have benefited from winning the contest and hosting it the following year, countries trying to establish their place in the world and all of them proud to show what they can do and in fact where they are. Tourism increases following the contest so that more people have experienced the delights of say Estonia or Latvia than they ever would have thanks to Eurovision. So there is more to it than the songs. I for one think the world would be a poorer place if we did not have this institution.

The best song finally wins!

[Noel0 · 10/10 · 22 May 2005]

The best song finally wins! This 2005 Eurovision Song Contest was better: no much politics (apart from the Baltic and Iberian blocs)! Greece even took 12 from Turkey, and that I am told has never happened before... the winning singer Helena taking votes from almost all others. I found that it was a great Greek woman with a great performance. Well done! Keep it up! Greece seems so be winning a lot lately, and that's nice from a country of just about 11 million inhabitants. OK, the song was in English, and I personally would prefer to listen to country singers sing in their own language (although I fear that if that's the case, we would still be watching the Festival in Ireland... no, no more, thank you), but this winning song also contained music and style of Greek tradition and history from many parts, including the Macedonian history of Greece!

Politically correct - unique thinking

[khatcher-2 · 3/10 · 21 May 2005]

On the one hand it is very satisfying to see any and every kind of activity which helps to strengthen a united Europe. Thus, each and every addition of countries forming the European Union can only be hailed as a great success. I love Europe: it is the cultural cradle of our planet; it is a microcosm of our planet; it has the greatest mixture of cultures and languages of the entire planet. Europe is not perfect: nothing is perfect. However, Europe is the insignia of multiracial integration, as can be found nowhere else on our spaceship earth.

But from there to Eurovision...................

Excuse me, but there is a great violation of perspectives. Evident political overtones and manipulation are in process, such that the millions of telephone calls - on "special" numbers which are the most expensive, thus generating wealth for TV companies and the organizers - are just one gigantic fraud. However, with all the hype, there is more than enough ingenuousness to keep the inexorable wheels turning - and churning out much of the same about the same each year.

Gone are the days when countries sang in their own language - ABBA made sure of that with their pretty songs - and nearly all participating countries sing in English. Therein lies the disaster: it all sounds the same. What but, forsooth, if the contesting singer is from Latvia or Croatia, if they sing in English? Only France and Spain, occasionally Germany, keep to their own languages. Other than that, "Eurovision" is nothing more than a fastuous pop concert, carefully rehearsed and re-rehearsed, so that in the end, it might be a good idea if a hearse carted it off to some out-of-city rubbish-dump and left it there unceremoniously and unprostituted for future generations.

But as is the case with most contests, whether they be Hollywood Oscars, Pullitzar Prizes, or the Eurovision Song Contest, they only exist to perpetuate themselves and make profits - good hard cash for all involved.

Celebrate

[rbnlrk · 10/10 · 29 May 2022]

I know I am years late, but this is the time where many are looking at the situation in Ukraine. Now let us look back at the good times in summer 2005 under this ESC in Ukraine. Lots of traditional songs, and the second year with a semi finale as Lebanon did not join and Moldova had their first song. If you love some old Eurovisision kitsch stream this.

Why Does Anyone Bother ?

[Theo Robertson · 3/10 · 21 May 2005]

Oh yes European culture and the Eurovision Song Contest which is like Adolph Hitler and racial harmony appearing in the same sentence . Actually this years contest was far worse than usual because the tunes seemed confused . Croatia's song started off with some bagpipe music while the entries from Greece and the United Kingdom sounded more Turkish than the entry by the Turks . Oh and the Greeks did a bit of riverdancing which probably was a cynical attempt to fool the voters into thinking they were watching Ireland who often win but for some reason didn't qualify for the final this year

Okay lets be truthful and say I was hoping the best looking female contestant was going to win . I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed since the Greek contestant had the best legs and she won while Romania had the best cleavage and she came third with the Israeli motek also doing very well . Unfortunately there was a miscarriage of justice with some ugly fat bird from Malta getting the runner up spot which adds fuel to the rumours that it's only middle aged homosexuals who vote in this contest .

As for the music it was instantly forgettable . Norway does deserve some credit since they contributed an act that seemed very similar to a tribute band for Brit glam rockers The Darkness and Denmark's entry could easily have passed as a respectable POP IDOL contender . Talking of POP IDOL Britain was represented by Javine a former contestant of one of the reality pop shows but her performance on the night was very very poor and she ended up near the bottom of the final vote

As for the voting itself this what gets my goat . Countries continue to vote for their neighbours regardless of the merit of the songs themselves . Greece and Cyprus give each other twelve points while the Balkan , Baltic and Scandinavian countries scratch each others backs . It's totally ridiculous as is the fact that while only 24 countries take part a total of 39 countries vote . In fact I think the majority of the running time was taken up with the voting rather than the singing . Good job nobody takes this competition seriously otherwise it would cause world war three