Here we go again – it's time for the now-traditional hecklerspray Eurovision liveblog, where weeks of writing endlessly about a stupid pan-continental singing competition culminates with, um, more writing about a stupid pan-continental singing competition.
As soon as Eurovision kicks off we're going to dive right into it, giving you a blow-by-blow commentary on all the bad songs, bad dresses, bad voting policies and bad songs by British groups named Scooch as it happens. But first – bad news. The Swiss entry, Vampires Are Alive by DJ BoBo, got knocked out of Eurovision in the semi-final stage. And so did the pro-nuclear Israeli song. And so did the Polish song about being crazy like a baby. This is going to be the worst Eurovision ever!
Don't forget – you still have time to place a well-timed Eurovision bet because, let's face it, you may as well try to make some money out of this godforsaken car-crash. Also, if you're reading this during Eurovision, leave plenty of comments below. It makes us feel less alone. Unless you're Bulgarian, because frankly you people scare us.
OK – normal liveblog rules apply; the new stuff will appear at the top. Eurovision 2007. Excited? Us neither. Let's go…
11:12 – And to think, it could have been the sexy Russian nymphets. But, no, a Serb with a face like a boxer is the winner of Eurovision 2007. So what have we learnt? Well, at a push we'd say don't put toilet paper on trees, don't sing a song with a bus stop, don't let Father Christmas out of the house ever and never never never let a BBC One Saturday teatime audience pick the UK Eurovision entry again. Great work with the comments, kids. See you back here next year, OK?
11:11 – It was the Titanic-y panpipe bit. That's why Sebia won.
11:02 – Serbia wins. We're going to Serbia next year! Yay! It's where all the Bond villains are from! Woo! And, by the looks of things, a few tubby women with glasses and boy haircuts who can't even be bothered to wear nice clothes.
10:59 – It's Fearne Cotton. She has the exact same voice as Stacey Slater off Eastenders, has anyone else noticed that? Good work for screwing over the Irish though, chaps.
10:57 – Ooh, you bastards.
10:56 – Come on Poland, we need this…
10:54 – The Latvian judge is a happy red-faced chap. This must be past his bedtime, surely.
10:48 – 12 points from Malta? This is just confusing. That's 19 points for the UK in total now. But ask yourselves this – how many points would Brian Harvey have got us?
10:46 – Seven points for the UK! Thanks Ireland, you idiots. Now Scooch will be remembered for just being painfully mediocre instead of gloriously awful.
10:44 – Uh-oh, Bulgaria is currently fourth. We should have cleaned out our years like those angry Bulgarians said after all.
10:41 – We've just had a thought. Lordi wins and all the acts the following year are angry goths. If Serbia wins this year, will Europe roll out its tubby bespectacled lesbians?
10:38 – The Princess is with Scooch. Scooch are close to tears, even the big-faced one who does the quiz at midnight on FTN. You know what this means? Charlotte Church was right. Insult to injury, people. Insult to injury.
10:33 – Romania's two points for Latvia ensure that the UK are now the only country with zero points. Do these people not realise that we have the world's largest army of happy slappers that are ready to mobilise at a moment's notice? Those Europeans will realise they're wrong when a bunch of teenagers throw chips at them, film it on their phones and post it on YouTube. Yes they will.
10:32 – Does anybody else perversely want Scooch to end up with nil points?
10:30 – We went to Belgium last year. Nobody looked like that. She's an imposter.
10:26 – Serbia was the Adrian Mole woman. Lordy Lordy Lordi. No points for the UK still, and none for Ireland. Those nil points betting odds we offered a month ago look pretty sweet in retrospect, don't they?
10:20 – Serbia is winning. We can't even remember how that one went any more.
10:19 – Toothy Andorra woman giving votes to the Ukraine. Scooch still sitting pretty with nil points.
10:15 – Results time! Whoopy do. Montenegro first, which – we think – means all 42 entants from the final AND the semi-final have to plough through the voting process. God help us all.
10:13 – "On a scale from one to ten, how much is music worth to you?" "More."
10:11 – Hands up who else thought the woman was going to stack it off that trapeze earlier? That would have been a downer.
10:06 – What the shuddering fuck indeed, Gilbert. What the shuddering fuck.
10:03 – It's… it's… it's the interminable Eurovision intermission act. Men in bubbles, men in tutus – and Terry Wogan has promised a bike stunt. All set to an anarcho-cellist soundtrack. There's a film about killer bats on ITV4 right now, by the way.
10:01 – Voting is now over. Just in time for everyone to go "Damnit, it was the Swedish entry that deserved my vote, not the sexy Russians!"
9:57 – This liveblog has been linked to by another foreign Eurovision liveblog. This is like a weird endless chain of liveblogs or something. Maybe next year we'll liveblog the liveblogs. And someone can liveblog that. And then we'll all explode.
9:54 – So which of these crazy kids gets your vote? The toilet-papery Armenians? The Russian floozies? The top-hatted Latvians? The angry Finlanders? Scooch? No, don't be silly. Nobody is going to vote for Scooch.
9:48 – Here's the hugely dull part in the middle where we're reminded of stuff that only just happened. So here are two thoughts – 1) you commenters are playing out of your skin tonight. Funny stuff, congratulations kids. 2) We need a wee.
9:45 – FATHER CHRISTMAS?! So that's what he does on the other days of the year – he makes unconvincingly toe-curling appearances on tacky European singing contests. Get back to the factory and make us a PlayStation 3, you beardy tit.
9:42 – She wants us to fight, apparently. Forever. Sounds a bit tiring; can't we just agree to disagree? Or at least have a gunfight? They're over faster. Almost two hours into Eurovision and we'd gladly take a bullet.
9:41 – The last song! And it's Moldovan! And you can totally see her pants!
9:37 – You liked the Turkish song? Shows what we know, huh? Now, can we all join forces in completely ignoring Armenia?
9:35 – The Turkish entry, then. The most forgettable song of the night? Since it doesn't contain any transvestites, blowjob jokes or Bulgarians going "eee" we'd say so.
9:31 – Wow, so this is Bulgarian folklore… a ladygoth going "eeee" and a man drumming over a song by The Prodigy. And going "braggadaggabraggadagga" with his mouth at the same time. Well done Bulgaria. Now please stop calling us shitheads and telling us to 'clean out our years'.
9:29 – Shit, it's the Bulgarians. Everyone act nice.
9:27 – The Romanians are singing in every language they can think of in an elaborate attempt to offend as many nations with badly-judged stereotypes of their characters as they can.
9:24 – Would you like me to force my penis and testicles into your mouth, sir?
9:23 – Non UK readers… we can only apologise. For everything.
9:21 – All of Europe gets fireworks and we get saddled with two chairs and a metal detector. Where's the justice?
9:20 – If Jack Bauer carried a VHS cassette of the Ukrainian entry around with him, seasons of 24 would only last about six or seven minutes by our calculations. No bloodthirsty Islamic terrorist could stand hearing that all the way through again, surely.
9:18 – Good Christ, what the bastard bollocks is this?
9:17 – To throw some weight into the German discussion in the comments section, isn't it the seven-foot-tall lizard-men that rule the world?
9:13 – hecklerspray knows two lesbians that look identical to the Serbian entry. Two lesbians and one former housemate. And several comedy nerds from Saved By The Bell.
9:10 – Answer: no, clearly not.
9:09 – Question: would Frank Sinatra have been so popular if he sang in German?
9:08 – Did they just say their bad arses are waiting for us? Why are they bad? Don't they wipe properly?
9:05 – Finland has more mobile phones than anywhere else on Earth, apparently. That's because they're always calling The Samaritans. Incidentally, why do none of the Russian brides we've ever ordered look like these girls?
9:02 – In Latvia, wearing a top hat is government-enforced, and you get gassed if you take it off, even in your sleep. The same goes for singing woeful sub-opera songs in a language hecklerspray doesn't understand.
8:59 – CJ's here too. At least the French realise the benefit of having a bald man running around like a dick. France to win please.
8:57 – Laverty's joining in down in the comment section. That makes two hecklerspray staffers with nothing better to do. Oooh – the French song. This is quite good.
8:55 – That cartoonish princess is now outside doing a singalong to the Eurovision theme-tune. We must NEVER LET FINLAND WIN AGAIN.
8:54 – Wooooar – man-nipples. It is good after all!
8:51 – A bewildering video about a carrot-stealing bride gives way to the Swedish entry. It's jaunty alright. And… good? We can't tell any more, and it's only halfway through. Lord help us.
8:49 – The Georgian girl isn't wearing her giant frock with all the men wriggling underneath it. Now we have to – urgh – judge the song on its own merits. And no amount of goonish background sword dancing can come close to making up for that.
8:46 – Four sexy girls just did a maypole dance around Greek Bloke. Sexy. But not as sexy as if they'd managed to obstruct his mouth and/or throat.
8:45 – Yes, Greek bloke, we like Ricky Martin too. Actually, no we don't. Shut up.
8:43 -We asked for comments and we got comments! Thanks guys. Now, can anyone send us a big sack of rubies?
8:42 – We'd give anything – anything – for some spazzy dancing right now.
8:40 – Lithuania now. Last year there was a bald man doing a spazzy dance to We Are The Winners. Now – a snoozeworthy Sade rip-off with a permed man's shadow behind her.
8:38 – Hungary's singer is using a bus stop sign as a prop for her shouty song. Everyone else got fireworks. If we were Hungarian we'd sue.
8:36 – So far these incidental Eurovision videos have shown that Finland is famous for boats, knitting, ice sculptures and underage sex. Does anyone have the telephone number for Thomas Cook? Also – can someone leave a comment?
8:34 – There seems to be a 'dress up like Russell Brand' theme to this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Even the operatic Slovenian's joining in, wearing a sort of leather corsety thing. Christ knows what she's wailing about, mind you. Ballbags, we assume.
8:30 – Why, it's a pretty Macedonian in a tiny wee dress singing the word 'niner' over again. Like you're supposed to say to emergency service workers instead of 'nine' in say they get confused and think you're asking for nuns. This girl's routine seems to include being molested by the work experience boy. In a wind tunnel.
8:28 – The hosts have just resigned and let a woman dressed up as a cartoon princess do their job. Or something. We're confused.
8:24 – Terry's just given his first epilepsy warning of the night, for that Finnish Leave Me Alone song. Not for the flashing lights, you understand, but because the singer is so furious with the bloke she's singing about that you'll have a deadly fit if you even so much as make eye contact with her.
8:23 – Well that's £10 down the drain.
8:21 – No dropping yet. Shame we're not in Finland, or else we'd go and kick that bastard's tin whistle out of his hands.
8:20 – Ireland! Remember we did betting odds on whether any of this dreary lot would drop their instruments during their performance?
8:17 – It's the Vampire Princess Diana from Belarus. Singing a song that's like a wonky Toxic in a funny accent with a couple of girls velcroed to some plywood behind him. It's very dramatic, you know. For a cheesy slab of pop nonsense from Belarus, at least.
8:16 – The between-song videos are all about knitting for some reason. No wonder Finland has such a high suicide rate.
8:12 – That Bosnian girl must be sighing with relief; the bum-awful Spanish song about self-love sung by the cast of Spanish Hollyoaks has followed her, instantly rendering her forgettable nonsense into a comparative masterpiece. Shame Eurovision isn't about judging terrible 1980s choreography, otherwise Spain would have it in the bag.
8:07 – Bosnia & Herzegovina get to open Eurovision this year. A bad enough job for anyone, but doubly so when you're singing a dull ballad wearing a furry Christmas tree and surrounded by a gaggle of tai-chi tree-pixies. Bosnians, you don't stand a chance.
8:04 – It's Lordi! Singing their song that won Eurovision last year? Remember Lordi? You voted for them last year as an ironic joke and then felt a bit dirty about it for months after they won. And now it's time to introduce the Eurovision hosts – a pretty girl and bell-end in what appears to be a wig. Who'd have guessed?
8:00 – Hello Eurovision fans. Something just flashed up on screen saying 'True Fantasy.' And then there's a video of a monster walking across some snow, almost getting smooshed by a rock and then turning into a dog. That's a pretty specific fantasy, albeit one we've had several times.
GJ says
All the songs have been crap thus far. This Hungarian one is the worst thing ever.
Carina says
I’ve just been reading your Bulgarian comments. OUTRAGED.
Cabiria says
Watching over here in The States, and you guys are doing a great job with your sarcastic comments.
Now what the hell does it say on the Hungarian singer’s shirt?
Carina says
It says “thank god I’m a VIP”. Georgian morris dancers on acid with swords? Love it!
Carina says
Why is she eating carrots?
Chris Laverty says
I like the Georgian one. I’m not even drunk.
Chris Laverty says
Sweden: sounds like a cross between Blockbuster by The Sweet and Loves Grows Where My Rosemary Goes. I.e: Not good.
Carina says
How scary is the pink thing?
C J Davies says
Lordi should be reinstated, win this year, and then every successive year until the end of time.
Let’s see Wogan wisecrack about that.
Internet Pedant says
Are you getting Terry Wogan’s commentry in the US?
Cabiria says
Thanks Carina- it was hard to see on my computer screen.
And I kind of liked The Ark. It was silly and fun.
Carina says
ska punk camp?
Cabiria says
No Wogan here, sadly. I’m just on the Eurovision live feed.
Gilbert Wham says
Fintroll should have entered for Finland.
Dabby says
Dammit, I’ve been waiting for two hours to go to a “eurovision party”, but my flatmate’s still not ready to leave. I’m missing the lameness!
Internet Pedant says
Thx Cabiria.
When’s Scooch on? I’m looking forward to some Bulgarian Humble pie tonight!
Marilyn says
Latvia to win. For doing an extremely creepy 6 men in top hats and jeans group effort. Its more ‘original’ than scooch!
Marilyn says
And also, Russia should be docked points for playing the cheap and overused ‘slightly dirty looking girls in school uniform card’ to win votes
Gilbert Wham says
Russian Girls aLOUD! tHERE’S EVEN A GINGER ONE.
Gilbert Wham says
fucking caps lock
Carina says
Is the blonde one Billie Piper?
Carina says
Hard to be cool in German… Sounds like he’s got too many teeth.
Carina says
Did the German really just sing “Guess who rules the world”?
David says
That was certainly . . . interesting!
Carina says
The hot Serb girls started feeling up the accountant in the semis. Balkans are weird.
C J Davies says
I resent the implication that I have ‘nothing better to do’, Mr. Heritage. I am, infact, typing this from the middle of my very own V.I.P Eurovision party; the guests of which include Monica Belluci, Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, Shakira and Jennifer Garner. Naturally they’re going to finish the evening by having sex with me, like, a million billion times over.
And we’ll probably order a pizza at some point.
Gilbert Wham says
Fuck me, it’s a lesbian Adrian Mole. Dinner jackets and medals seem to be a theme for the ex-Warsaw Pact lot.
Chris Laverty says
I’m Chris’s girlfriend because he’s decided to stick his head in the oven. Loving the Russian entry – bad ass chicks rockin’! Unlike most other Eurovision songs, I’d actually buy it. Ooh goodie, Germany’s on now – love German songs.
Hehe, they did sing that in English, but the German translates into ‘Women rule the world’ so I wonder why they changed it when they sung it in English??
Gilly
Carina says
Comment from fellow sufferer – is she Radovan Karadic in disguise?
Gilbert Wham says
moomintroll!
Internet Pedant says
Chernobyl’s in the Ukraine, isn’t it? I think that explains a few things.
Gilbert Wham says
Ukraine for the win, then?
Carina says
Bwah hah hah! Is it Christopher Biggins? Brilliant!
Chris Laverty says
Loving the track with Alan Carr in tin foil!
Gilly
Mutter says
wow, Ukraine kick ass
Marilyn says
At least Scooch won’t seem so camp now…
Gilbert Wham says
Oh god, it’s us next. One rather yearns for the simple days of empire. God, we’re such a fucking embarrasment. Do you think the Germans would bomb us again if we asked them nicely?
Carina says
Yes, I intend to do so. And also Scooch for the purposes of torture. Jesus where’s our bloody exit? Actually, warming to it now the camper they get…
Cabiria says
You know, here in the US our flight security is not nearly as entertaining as yours apparently is. I’ve had my shoes examined for safety, but I’ve never had to perform a compulsory dance.
Time to move, I suppose.
Mutter says
this is embarasing
Chris Laverty says
Awww. I can’t help but think that Scooch are sooooo sweet! And, even though it’s a dreadful song, am I weird for feeling a little bit full up and proud?
Gilly
David says
What was that about Scooch not seeming camp?
Gilbert Wham says
It’s the Romanian Huggy Bear!
Mutter says
i’m feeling better about scooch now
Chris Laverty says
Romanian track rocks!
Gilly
Carina says
What in God’s name is this? Oh dear, have I now got my very own Bulgarian stalkers?
Mutter says
i’m looking forward to them using that big drum in the background
Carina says
Europe we are scared of you.
Mutter says
o i must have missed it, how disapointing
Carina says
This is going to stay in your head forever, you’ve been warned. Despite being sung by a tanned Ian Hislop.
Gilbert Wham says
Terrifying turkish singer has rapists eyes.
Chris Laverty says
Gilly is far too nice about everything. Ooh, ohh, fit dancers on the Turkey song! They’re British?! Right, back to the oven.
Chris
Chris Laverty says
What? What’s wrong with a little positivity!
Uh oh, now I love the Turkish song too! Though the singer’s wayyyy to old to be doing that kind of thing…
Gilly
Internet Pedant says
We used to do that to trees with toilet roll
Chris Laverty says
Right then, here’s one I don’t like – Armenia. Very whiny and warbly, plus the trees with toilet paper stuck on look like they were made by my Reception class.
Cabiria says
Why is there toilet paper hanging from the tree? Is this an Armenian custom I am unaware of?
BassPeanut says
OMG someone shot the Armenian entrant… :-O good
Carina says
I did not say that I loved the Turkish song. I pointed out that it has been going around and around and around in my head for three goddamned weeks. My Turkish correspondent has been driven to pretending that he speaks neither Turkish nor English when moustachioed cabbies insist on playing the bloody thing. They take their Eurovision very seriously in Turkey.
Carina says
I’m not going to Moldova, ever.
Carina says
Eurovision “blow by suck” (yes, a competitor) pointed out that was Nick Cotton
Gilbert Wham says
They’ll fight you if you do.
Chris Laverty says
Santa does not make Playstations, Stu, his elves do. God, you know nothing.
Yeah, I’ll just let my girlfriend do this instead.
Chris
Internet Pedant says
Will anyone be upset if I vote for Russia?
Mutter says
i’m voting for Romania,
whos with me?
Chris Laverty says
No, I’ll be voting for Russia too!
Gilly
Gilbert Wham says
I just voted for Ukraine.
David says
As will I.
Chris Laverty says
Who said Carina loved the Turkish song? Did I say she loved the Turkish song? Because it’s me who loves the Turkish song. I don’t know whether she loves the Turkish song!
justpoppininforabit says
Georgia is really growing on me, Ukraine made me laugh and Romania was catchy – not sure who to vote for. Greece will probably win.
Gilbert Wham says
On further listening, the French entry has a hint of Plastique Bertrand I rather like. I do hope I haven’t wasted my vote…
BassPeanut says
I can’t help but still be mesmorised by France’s entry…I know I shouldn’t like it, but there is a bald man running about with like a dead cat or something on his shoulder…what’s not to like? :-P
Chris Laverty says
Georgia is Chris’s favourite and it’s up there in my top 5, along with Greece, Turkey and Ukraine. But Russia’s still tops. The standard’s been high this year I feel…for Eurovision, that is.
Carina says
I just voted for the bloody Turkish song.
Gilbert Wham says
what the shuddering fuck is this now?
Cabiria says
Is that David Blaine in that bubble?
justpoppininforabit says
I couldn’t work out how to vote so saved myself 50 cents (yes I am that daft). Georgia would have got my vote in the end although a Ukraine win would be fine too.
Internet Pedant says
Well I just gave it to the Russians (ahem) and do feel a bit funny for doing so. Oh well. That’s what happens when they allow straight blokes to vote.
On an unrelated note, is Finland an entirely gothic country?
Mutter says
Where did the guy in the bubble go?
Gilbert Wham says
I want to kill Pink-Dress and keep her head in the fridge.
Chris Laverty says
Okay, Chris’ back, unpaid and scared out of his wits. That stuff looked like the opening scene of XXX.
Blonde girl talking to KD Lang. I don’t think she is really a blonde. CJ knows her, he can say for sure.
What’s that bat film about? Is it bats? Okay, then.
Cabiria says
Gilbert, I feel the same way.
Internet Pedant says
Is it too late to vote for Princess?
Chris Laverty says
Minsk employed a Stepford Wife.
Wogan, I think – I THINK – is a little bit drunk. For those of you not receiving the Terry Wogan commentary, “what a surprise there, lads!” was his repsonse to the Russian entry. National institution, that man. See that Screech, sorry Scooch, are doing well.
Plotek says
thanks for linking guys, we linked to you again. liveblogging all the way. Go Macedonia!
Mutter says
i don’t understand, how are Romania doing better than us?
Internet Pedant says
Obviously the government meant to send scotch (“Apologies the UK can’t make it this year, but enjoy this on us!”), but someone got it wrong. After that, Blair had to go.
Chris Laverty says
Stu, if you can’t remember how the Serbia song went, it was something like something off the Borat soundtrack. Just like ninety percent of the entries here.
Johnny says
Question: did Serbia send a drag queen? or does she just look like a man?
David says
Still holding out hope for the floozies.
Carina says
What the hell was that? Sorry about the genocide, here’s Eurovision?
Chris Laverty says
Yeah, bollocks, come on Russia! Get your ti-
Carina says
Oh, and I’ll get that wonderful pink Macedonian blog translated for you…
Plotek says
we’re polish site guys. macedonian girls is great though;)
Cabiria says
This is where I start to feel bad for poor Scooch.
Someone talk me out of it, quick…
Chris Laverty says
They didn’t pay their airfair out there. Feel better?
Cabiria says
That’ll work. However, do they have a ride back?
Carina says
I’ll sthqueam and sthqueam and sthqueam until I’m thick!
Chris Laverty says
Itty-bitty small print. No, they don’t. Still, chance of a lifetime, eh?
Germany’s got a hat on!
Chris Laverty says
What in Kojak’s pyjamas is going on with Serbia?! This is 2007, right? They were utter scrote, weren’t they?
Carina says
You bastards!
Internet Pedant says
Bailed out by the Irish. Put those razor blades down, Scooch.
Carina says
You bastards!!!
Cabiria says
WHAT?
Plotek says
7 points. congratulations guys.
Carina says
Aren’t Russia about to invade Georgia? Here’s 7 points, we’ll take Tbilisi, ta?
Chris Laverty says
Serbia just cannot win! They can’t! I mean, I like every song and even I hated that! PLus they were mingin’.
Gilly
Internet Pedant says
I hope our Russian girls have good health insurance. Vlad’s not going to be happy.
Chris Laverty says
Ohmigod, we guessed it was gonna be Fearne! And what good taste we had too! Greece and Turkey were fab, and we gave Serbia no votes. Result!
Gilly
David says
Serbia? SERBIA?
Carina says
I vote for a hecklerspray tour of Serbia. Liveblogging on site next year. Anyone? Anyone?
Johnny says
DAMN ALL OF YOU. I am not going to watch this stupid program ever ever again!!!!!!
nah…
Stuart Heritage says
I agree with Carina – let’s fix hecklerspray up with press accreditation for Serbia!
Blogging and commenting on my blog while I’m blogging it. How very meta.
Chris Laverty says
Yeah, we’re out to Serbia. Stu is just about to agree…any second now…
Carina says
I haf a contact in the embassy…
Stuart Heritage says
I bet you actually do as well…
Cabiria says
I wonder if Scooch will be on the flight to Serbia with you. As the crew.
Too soon?
Carina says
I’m dead serious. Belgrade has not exactly had much to celebrate recently – and it’s always been a party city. Croatian men are apparently a bit effete compared to your rough Serbs, who like to drink and celebrate. We have to go. I’ll learn Serbo-Croat and scout out Belgrade in the autumn. Too funny not to – and cheap! They haven’t had a tourist from anywhere bar Moscow and Transdniestria since 1997.
Carina says
Why aren’t you liveblogging TOTP2? BwAAH HA HA.
Ian says
TOTP2 – the brotherhoods little dance. The party continus. TOTP2 exits with a nod to Scooch for the win!!! 3 minutes of pure joy and Eurovision spirit
Ian says
Salted nuts, Sir?
Matthew Laidlow says
I missed this coz i was in the pub till the small hours getting drunk.
Was it any good?
Ann says
don’t laught at lyrics of the polish song. you know where the singer/author comes from? yeees guys – England:))
btw – thanks for your blog;)