# Brits, comment on Engelbert song for Eurovision 2012. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2012, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937 "2012-04-16T09:54:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/41 "2012-05-27T19:19:22Z")
> [@Myrnalene](#): > > So it’s your intention to be terrible? > > If so, good job again this year. Of course it’s terrible, it’s Eurovision! I promise…hand on heart…very few people in the UK take it seriously, if any. It is a four-hour comedy show and is probably best summed up by reading through “[The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/may/26/eurovision-2012-azerbaijanlive)” live blog. it captures our approach perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/42 "2012-05-27T19:48:35Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > What are you referring to? Is there some sort of whining in the press? > > [. . .] > > Or maybe you don’t know what sour grapes means… I’m talking about the responses in this thread from UK dopers, which typify the sorts of things that, from what I’ve seen, British people tend to say after every Eurovision contest. It would appear that you are the one who doesn’t know the fable of the “sour grapes” if you can’t detect any of it here. Trying, failing, and then claiming you didn’t want it anyway is the definition of “sour grapes”. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/43 "2012-05-27T19:52:15Z")
> [@Myrnalene](#): > > If you are just having fun with it, why not send a performer who is actually entertaining? Like An Gadai said, neither Engelbert (or Blue last year) were bad in a great way, or parodies - they were just mediocre and boring. Laugh at Lithuania all you want (they were terrible), they were still more interesting than the UK entry. > > If you actually _are_ being ironic or whatever, send more like [this kid.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLiL-tRxhkE) He was _so_ jaw-droppingly awful it was almost endearing. I played this for the Princess, and she says it sounds like it should be a Pokemon theme song. Just throw in the word “Pokemon” in between the choruses, and it works.😛 I got to see some of this year’s entries earlier this week. I loved the Russian grandmas, and am still wondering whose idea it was to put Jedward in this competition. That was ridiculous. Then again, that may have been the point. ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/44 "2012-05-27T19:56:48Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Of course it’s terrible, it’s Eurovision! Yeah, whatever. [This chick was amazing.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzeYO18XSyA) She didn’t win or even do well but I wouldn’t say her performance was not worthwhile just because of that. Come to think of it, Moldova has managed to put up some seriously wtf entries for the past few years while still managing to be entertaining. If it’s a joke for you guys, shouldn’t it be, you know, funny? Of course there’s a kitsch and a cheese factor. What I am saying is that you guys are not even succeeding at that (except for the delightfully terrible and _earnest_ Mr Dubovie I linked earlier). You’re just boring. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/45 "2012-05-27T20:00:36Z")
**mister nyx** - no, I don’t detect any of that. I do detect that you don’t know anything about how British people feel about Eurovision, and are apparently not prepared to take their (our) word for it. Please do keep telling me what I think, while I just have another glass of this rather tasty Suffolk wine. ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/46 "2012-05-27T20:15:16Z")
> [@Myrnalene](#): > > Yeah, whatever. [This chick was amazing.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzeYO18XSyA) She didn’t win or even do well but I wouldn’t say her performance was not worthwhile just because of that. Most likely political- we’re all boycotting Ukraine-Poland Football as well. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/47 "2012-05-27T20:17:26Z")
And apparently, this year at least our grapes were prescient, eh **mister nyx**? It doesn’t appear that any of the identifiably British comments before your own ‘sour grapes’ remark were posted after Eurovision aired this year. Claiming you’re not going to take it seriously and don’t care if you lose _before_ the event, doesn’t fit the definition of sour grapes as far as I can see. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/48 "2012-05-27T21:05:22Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > I’m talking about the responses in this thread from UK dopers, which typify the sorts of things that, from what I’ve seen, British people tend to say after every Eurovision contest. Only because they’re true. > [@](#): > > It would appear that you are the one who doesn’t know the fable of the “sour grapes” if you can’t detect any of it here. Trying, failing, and then claiming you didn’t want it anyway is the definition of “sour grapes”. Thanks for the notes, Cliff. But that’s not the point. In general the viewing public treat it like an episode of MST3K, with snarky commentary from both the UK host (Graham Norton, although I would love to hear Harry Hill’s take on it) and the viewers (Facebook was buzzing during the competition in my neck of the aether). It’s a comedy fest masquerading as a music competition. Yes, a lot of people would like the UK to win, including the people doing the snarking. Nobody is saying “we didn’t want it anyway” (apart from the point about not being able to afford it). But winning is a secondary issue - it’s the comedy that matters. And sure, the media hypes it up ridiculously. But invariably the entries that go (and who picks these anyway?) are truly awful and bear no resemblance to the sort of songs that win Eurovision, and so they never do win and we don’t really expect them to. That’s not sour grapes; that’s just reality. > [@Lucky\_13](#): > > I got to see some of this year’s entries earlier this week. I loved the Russian grandmas, and am still wondering whose idea it was to put Jedward in this competition. That was ridiculous. Then again, that may have been the point. Ireland are clearly playing the “we don’t want it” card (again), and rumour has it that Spain and Greece were as well. Jedward are car-crash performers - you stare at them just to see the carnage inflicted - but no one pretends that they’ll win and Ireland would have conniptions if they ever did. And **Myrnalene** , I voted for Moldova. I loved that song - the lyrics were insane, the performers were over-the-top goofy and the music infectiously catchy. That the Winkleman-alike won was rather sad IMO; it takes all the fun out of Eurovision to have normal performers and songs there. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/49 "2012-05-27T21:32:51Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > I’m talking about the responses in this thread from UK dopers, which typify the sorts of things that, from what I’ve seen, British people tend to say after every Eurovision contest. > . Jesus, you really don’t know many british people, if you think many of them care in the slightest. The winners (of any nationality, never mind british) don’t usually chart in the Uk. I find it incredulous that someone in the worlds thinks that this country is crying big bitter sobs into its hanky, before dismissing it online… ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/50 "2012-05-27T21:58:36Z")
Can I just refer everyone back to post #3. This was all said waaaaaaaaaaay in advance. Not sour grapes. We don’t expect to win, we aren’t likely to win, we don’t bother sending anyone likely to win, no-one with any expectation of a future career is likely to put themselves forward. We…do…not…care. As long as we can laugh at the crazy continentals we are happy for a short while. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/51 "2012-05-27T23:01:29Z")
I asked my other half why they didn’t send someone like Adele and he said “Are you mad? No one with any sort of career would do Eurovision. It’s career suicide! Besides, it would take away the fun if we actually tried.” He tells me his favourite part always used to be watching Terry Wogan hosting it and appearing to become increasingly drunk as the evening wore on. Comedy gold. ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/52 "2012-05-28T10:10:32Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > He tells me his favourite part always used to be watching Terry Wogan hosting it and appearing to become increasingly drunk as the evening wore on. Comedy gold. I am quoting this for truth! The best bit was Wogan locked in a box with a dozen bottles of Baileys. The things that were said! Our commentators kept ripping on each other for being drunk. It was good, but not Wogan sublime. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/53 "2012-05-28T14:04:03Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > I’m talking about the responses in this thread from UK dopers, which typify the sorts of things that, from what I’ve seen, British people tend to say after every Eurovision contest. > > It would appear that you are the one who doesn’t know the fable of the “sour grapes” if you can’t detect any of it here. Trying, failing, and then claiming you didn’t want it anyway is the definition of “sour grapes”. Hang on there. 🙂 **We (the UK) certainly don’t try to win Eurovision**. We hold a contest to select the song where \*\*unknown songwriters \*\*put forward their own compositions. There’s a public vote (for the ‘least worst’ song 😉 and you then get someone who is **not** a current successful recording artist to sing it. :smack: There is **no way** a singer of quality e.g. the amazing Adele 🆒 would write and sing a UK entry to this amiable pantomime event. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/54 "2012-05-28T18:01:16Z")
And even if Adele did our entry we would still finish 10th tops. The voting blocks are static and a UK win is impossible. Best moment for me was the crazy accent the Swedish (or was she Danish) girl had who phoned in their scores. Did she learn her English in Dartford or something?! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/55 "2012-05-28T18:07:01Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > Best moment for me was the crazy accent the Swedish (or was she Danish) girl had who phoned in their scores. Did she learn her English in Dartford or something?! I think she was actually English. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/56 "2012-05-28T20:17:54Z")
Is this exercise in snark available to us Yanks? Or is it something you Brits are keeping for yourselves, like decent curry and Karen Gillan? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/57 "2012-05-28T21:30:44Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Is this exercise in snark available to us Yanks? Or is it something you Brits are keeping for yourselves, like decent curry and Karen Gillan? I don’t think it is broadcast on US tv but US “fans” watch live streams of it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/58 "2012-05-28T22:03:59Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > And even if Adele did our entry we would still finish 10th tops. Not true - Jade Ewen finished in fifth place in 2009. And even that wasn’t a particularly noteworthy song (I still think we should have sent Peter Kay as Geraldine McQueen instead to sing “Winner’s Song”). Bloc voting will skew the results significantly but it’s not insurmountable; people will vote for a good song regardless of the country it’s from. But first you need a good song (and a good performer to sing it). ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/59 "2012-05-28T22:12:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I still think we should have sent Peter Kay as Geraldine McQueen instead to sing “Winner’s Song”. Now you’re talking! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937/60 "2012-05-28T22:28:39Z")
BTW - “The Winner’s Song” was written by Gary Barlow and genuinely entered the UK charts at #2. True! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-comment-on-engelbert-song-for-eurovision-2012/618937.md?page=4)