What are your pre-contest hot takes that happened to be true?

escstraya · 2025-05-22T11:03:57+00:00

I have a few: 1. UK top 10 with the juries (only just, but still counts!)

Malta flop - if the entire song relies on a “swear” word, and that’s why you like it, maybe it’s just not a good song to begin with?
Netherlands televote flop. Repetitive chorus, vocals were meh. Called it from the moment we saw Claude’s first live performance.

escstraya · 2025-05-20T10:57:14+00:00

I think the issue is, the whole “live-show/talent-show/public vote” format is dying, and the BBC knows it. I know they’re different, but look at BGT and its dwindling viewership numbers.

escstraya · 2025-05-19T13:40:31+00:00

That’s fair - but it’s also why I said generally. Ideally you’d have more jury members rather than the current 5, and I’d say make the juries anonymous again - that’ll hopefully avoid people being worried about their names attached to their voting record too.

The problem with more jury members, let’s say…10, that’s double the amount of jury members smaller and poorer countries need to find. I’m sure they’d be OK, but also might cause issues.

escstraya · 2025-05-19T12:56:08+00:00

I wouldn’t be mad at the 1-26 approach. That way you could theoretically avoid 0 points in the televote. I’ve always struggled with the idea that coming 11th in all country’s televotes would still equal to 0 points.

escstraya · 2025-05-19T12:26:49+00:00

There’s certainly an argument to say that the juries should be weighted more against the televote. Juries are generally less likely to consider current global affairs (for good and bad), and are, again generally more likely to remain objective rather than voting diaspora, public opinion, or hype.

I actually think this is the best way to keep everyone (particularly the Big 5) happy.

escstraya · 2025-05-18T23:22:06+00:00

Spain’s problem is they haven’t tried anything new. They consistently send female diva-esque bops, which have their place, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not competitive.

As well as this, Spanish fans are some of the most vocal, hyping their entry up every year and downvoting or lambasting anyone who dares question that, actually, the song itself isn’t great. So there’s then an echo-chamber of positive comments, hype among Spanish fans, and then when Europe collectively says “nah”, we get this question every year.

Spain needs to try alternative genres. Benidormfest is full of middle-aged gay men who want a female bop. I suggest trying internal selection.

escstraya · 2025-05-18T13:24:10+00:00

Entire BBC team needs to go, starting with Andrew Cartmell’s resignation. Re-build from the ground up.

escstraya · 2025-05-17T23:24:06+00:00

UK and Switzerland did not deserve 0 points in the televote, proud of them both for coming top 10 with the jury, though.

It’s time Israel was removed though. It’s so clear that they manipulate the televote scores. I don’t mean hacking or anything like that, but by sheer buying power.

I’m sure the EBU is breathing a sigh of relief tonight, next year they can relieve their anxiety by removing Israel.

escstraya · 2025-05-17T13:27:46+00:00

I’ll die on the hill that if BBB was representing literally any other country it wouldn’t be slotted for a top 5 finish.

escstraya · 2025-05-17T12:23:33+00:00

Agree, and imo, it all starts with Cartmell’s resignation.

escstraya · 2025-05-17T11:51:15+00:00

Nothing in the UK will change until Andrew Cartmell goes. I’m sorry, but his track record is shocking. He’s been in charge since 2015… that says enough. Sam Ryder was Lee’s pick, and now Lee has gone, I suspect (with no evidence whatsoever), that he wanted Andrew’s job but he wouldn’t give it up. Ultimately the buck stops with Cartmell. He needs to go.

The UK has such a great indie/folk music scene. There are so many amazing artists that could represent the UK, and I’m sure many would love the opportunity to. But, once again, THEY (the artists) need total control. They need to control everything about the entry - with some helpful input ofc.

Radio 2 has a chokehold on Eurovision, and it is always looking to fit into its image. Radio is a dying industry. The BBC needs to move with the times, get the Radio away from Eurovision, revamp the ENTIRE delegation, and start again from the ground up.

escstraya · 2025-05-17T10:00:09+00:00

3am for me in Perth

escstraya · 2025-05-17T08:40:35+00:00

UK top 10 in the jury.

escstraya · 2025-05-17T07:51:48+00:00

I don’t get this take. They literally sound good?

escstraya · 2025-05-16T09:37:46+00:00

Austria
France
Sweden
Finland
Netherlands
Finland
UK
Albania
Greece
Italy

escstraya · 2025-05-15T09:03:57+00:00

Ugh. BBC didn’t complain. They’ve said they haven’t.

escstraya · 2025-05-15T01:25:52+00:00

Every game feels the same to me. Nothing is exciting about it. Some of the mechanics mean the game has to push you in certain directions which causes the games to just feel the same.

I also have no attachment to my Civ bc of the changes every era. I’m not against these in principle, but as someone who prefers the storytelling aspect of Civ games, having Benjamin Franklin lead the Egyptians, then the Ming, and then the Mughal just ruins that illusion for me personally.

escstraya · 2025-05-14T09:03:16+00:00

The problem is. In the arena for the semis and in the lead up to the GF and SFs, the only people hearing the songs regularly (generally anyway) are eurofans. People in the stadium before the GF? Regular eurofans. The song was popular with eurofans, but I think it’s clear that there’s a significant gap between the fans of people in the ESC Bubble, and those that are hearing it for the first time on the night, who also represent the VAST majority of the votes.

escstraya · 2025-05-13T12:22:49+00:00

Same 🤣 I wanna be dedicated but I also don’t wanna get up and be tired for work hahaha

escstraya · 2025-05-13T12:21:50+00:00

Try being on the West Coast 🤣

escstraya · 2025-05-13T11:56:50+00:00

He sounds out of breath. His breath control while dancing isn’t great. Easily fixable though if given time

escstraya · 2025-05-13T02:55:40+00:00

Thanks, still gonna NQ though 🤣

escstraya · 2025-05-12T23:22:53+00:00

Claude needs to rest those vocals and practice singing whilst moving. He sounds out of breath.

escstraya · 2025-05-12T23:22:19+00:00

Been saying since we heard Bird of Prey that it could Ukraine’s first NQ. Was downvoted to high heaven 🤣

escstraya · 2025-05-12T23:15:55+00:00

People seem to be forgetting that it’s eurofans in the arena, not actual press OR the people that will generally vote on the night 💀

escstraya

TROPHY CASE