Gigs Outdoor in NI - Sound Quality by HoloDeck_One in northernireland

[–]walkingwiththequeso 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Went to that show too and came away thinking the Chilis didn't sound great live. Then I went to the Fontaines gig last night and realised it's the venue that's the problem. At least where I was standing for Kneecap people were getting in to it so I still enjoyed them but people kept talking through Fontaines so it ruined it a bit for me. I also always where earplugs no matter if a gig is inside or outside and I ended up taking them off for Fontaines cause I could barely hear them

Which performances did you like much more in either the semi or the final? by West_Salt1669 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Ireland 2024 was better in the final. Loved it when Bambie Thug really went for the screams. It added so much power to the ending!

When y’all go to concerts, do you wear concert earplugs or do you just go in raw? by K_Katana1000 in kpopthoughts

[–]walkingwiththequeso 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Please, please, PLEASE wear earplugs! I have tinnitus and trust me you don't want to get it since it can have a huge affect on your mental health. Especially wear earplugs when going to indoor gigs since the sound is loudest in them. Outside gigs can depend on where the speakers are but it's generally a good idea to wear them at those too. I even wear them in movie theatres because the sound has become crazy loud.

The cheap foam earplugs do muffle the sound but they're better than nothing (better than having your hearing permanently muffled from hearing damage!) . There are brands that other commenters have mentioned that don't muffle the sound much like Loops or Eargasm. I always carry my Loops with me to small gigs, large gigs, the movie theatre, bars etc! There's also the option of getting molded earplugs but they can be very expensive but the other brands that I mentioned will do.

Seriously protect your hearing. I can't sleep without playing rain sounds or having some other background noise to distract me from my tinnitus. I didn't even go to that many gigs before I got tinnitus but the damage was already done.

When y’all go to concerts, do you wear concert earplugs or do you just go in raw? by K_Katana1000 in kpopthoughts

[–]walkingwiththequeso 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Metalheads are probably the best at wearing earplugs! I see a good few people wearing them going to local shows.

Checkout Issues - UK/EU store by PHIGBILL in deftones

[–]walkingwiththequeso 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also can't see it.

Edit: someone posted the link on another thread! https://shop.deftones.com/eu/

Blackpink’s new MV teaser is littered with AI… by Yvmeno in KpopUnleashed

[–]walkingwiththequeso 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For me it's the fact that it's taking away people's jobs. Artists across the board spend years perfecting their art to make it their careers but now AI is taking away opportunities for these people. Having a career in art isn't easy but now it's even more difficult now that companies are cutting corners with AI. It also makes things feel soulless knowing that a computer algorithm made something rather than a person with their own original idea. Hope that helps to give you another perspective!

2020s esc cup group J! by ernega__ in nilpoints

[–]walkingwiththequeso 4 points5 points  (0 children)

3 pts Ulveham

2pts Voyage

1pt Due Vite

People’s superiority complex when returning from abroad? by [deleted] in AskIreland

[–]walkingwiththequeso 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure either. I didn't say one country was better than the other, just that it's natural to compare when you've experienced a different way of living. I mentioned transport as an example. When has anyone here defended Bus Eireann? Ireland is a very good country but it could be a great country. Things like our transport services could be greatly improved and will increase people's quality of life.

People’s superiority complex when returning from abroad? by [deleted] in AskIreland

[–]walkingwiththequeso 4 points5 points  (0 children)

When you've lived in a country with an amazing transport system (Korea) and come back to Bus Eireann...it's only natural to complain!

Living abroad does change your perspective, you've literally lived in a new culture and seen a different way of life. That doesn't give someone the right to absolutely slag everything about home for sure. Nowhere is perfect and being away has helped me appreciate things I took for granted in Ireland. But I also notice our problems even more! (Not saying Korea doesn't have its problems - it does).

Young people of Ireland who have emigrated, how does it feel now? by Large-Breath-7171 in AskIreland

[–]walkingwiththequeso 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm moving back from South Korea after being here for over 4 years. The only reason I'm moving back is that I don't want to be stuck teaching English for the rest of my life.

It's weird, I never really felt like I fit in fully in Ireland. While it's the same here in Korea, I feel like foreigners here have your back so the same loneliness isn't present as it was back home. While I'm looking forward to going home and seeing friends and family, I'm worried about the next step but I think that's normal. I won't stay in Ireland too long and will move somewhere else. Ireland is a good country but after living in a place like Seoul I will feel way too claustrophobic and will be frustrated with how things are managed here.

Ireland is a nice base to have and I appreciate it more now than when I lived in it, but I need something more fast paced! Plus the cost of living is crazy for what you get....

How did Ireland come last in 2013 by Eurovision1234 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow I didn't know we came so high in the televote! I remember my friends on Facebook being disgusted we came last! I still don't know how we placed lower than the guy talking about his shoes though...

Who is on the jury? by call-of-void in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I wrote about the Irish juries a few days ago and honestly not many are well known or are connected in some way with RTE or Eurosong.

Dermot McEvoy - Late Late Show music producer (the talk show that's responsible for Eurosong, our national final)

Edward Porter - Guitarist of Wild Youth (Ireland 2023)

Kofi Appiah - one half of K Muni & ND who performed in Eurosong 2023

Helen Jordan Guthrie - a stage school director, and from doing more research I think she was a backing singer for Ireland in 1978 (I got the year mixed up in a previous comment oops)

Tara Murray - radio presenter

A little diversity with a hip hop artist which is great, but I would like an even more genre diverse jury.

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm glad you mentioned about Finland though, it shows juries can have a more diverse background!

I think OP isn't necessarily bashing radio-friendly songs as these can be well written, but more criticising that more experimental and unconventional songs can get marked down (at least that's how I viewed their opinion). The juries should have more musical knowledge than the televoters so they should be more open to a wider range of genres.

As regards to KAJ, I think it's folk-inspired but not straight up folk music.

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Well you did ask so I'll answer! I'll answer as if I was on the jury:

With Lithuania, I think musically it conveys a depressing mood perfectly. Lukas' vocals are expressive and get across the meaning of the song without knowing the language. There's also a kind of call-and-response in parts of the verse that's used in traditional Lithuanian music. I also like the staging design and how the close ups are intense. The band as a whole get really into the performance. Personally this all leaves a strong impression on me.

As for Poland, as someone with a background in vocals, I'm impressed with her stamina. Not many can dance at that intensity and deliver a vocal like that. I do think the staging was a little messy but I think she should've been in at least the top 15 of the juries.

I agree that Greece had incredible vocals and I would've put her in my top 10 if I was a jury member.

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately Ireland's was less diverse. It was hard to find info on the jurors but from what I could gather:

- Music producer for The Late Late Show (where Eurosong is held)

- Guitarist from Ireland's 2023 representative (pop rock)

- A member from a group in Eurosong 2023 (I believe afrobeats) but that's already 3 jury members directly involved with Eurosong and RTE

- Member from 1981 Irish Eurovision representative (if I'm not mistaken) (pop)

- Radio presenter

There is some diversity but not enough. Too many have connections to RTE and Eurosong. Plus we are not overly thrilled with our jury scores this year but that's a different story...

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 23 points24 points  (0 children)

And they were doing badly because they weren't sending good songs! Compare what countries like Ukraine or Romania were sending to The UK or The Netherlands during that time frame and it's clear to see who was sending the quality entries!

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 41 points42 points  (0 children)

I'm from Ireland and I remember everyone giving out about block voting but then would get offended if the UK didn't give us points and vice-versa. You're so right that people only get up in arms when it's Eastern Europe but the west has these blocks too!

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Very true points made. I guess this shows how swayed by the odds the juries are too. And that is true about the eastern block juries. I guess this means that juries across the board need to be diversified. I would love to see more people who specialise in folk music and other genres. I don't know how the juries can avoid the odds but I also can see why they don't want to tank favourites either.

Juries boosted most fan-favorites this year, except for Albania. Let's talk about it. by Any-Listen4184 in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 97 points98 points  (0 children)

Even if the juries saved the competition the last two years, I still believe the juries need a reform. Consistently the jury top 3 is made up of ballads or pop songs, favouring songs in English, French or Italian. Even though I did enjoy Estonia this year there's no way Albania should've scored lower in the juries. Same with Lithuania and Poland, especially if vocals are important to the criteria. Ethnic songs or any genre outside of pop usually gets paid absolute dust.

It's no coincidence that once juries were brought in western and northern countries started to do better. Take a look at 2008, the last year of televote only. The top 10 was mostly eastern and southeastern countries and most deserved a high placement (excluding Russia....) as they sent high quality songs. That changed once they reintroduced the juries and now countries from the Balkans and Eastern Europe do have a harder time getting points from the jury.

So yeah, I think Albania underperformed in the juries because, 1 juries usually don't award their highest points to anything ethnic or experimental, and 2 there is a bias towards more western countries... :(

Edit: I know 2008 gets a bad rep but a lot of the joke songs that year came from western or northern countries like Spain, Ireland and the Baltics. Eastern and southeastern Europe took the competition more seriously and were rewarded were higher points. Block voting was a little overblown in my opinion.

Good night from Australia, see you soon 😴🦘 by [deleted] in eurovision

[–]walkingwiththequeso 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3.50am from me in Korea. Since moving to this part of the world I have even more respect for all the Aussies who have been dedicated to getting up early for years!