Please see Styx thread on the Registered Shipmates consultation for the main discussion forums - your views are important, continues until April 4th.
Heaven: Ship's Eurovision Song Contest
As promised on the old ship I am reviving the Ship's Eurovision Song Contest in honour of the new ship. For those who have never done it before and those who have forgotten here's how it goes.
Gill H has volunteered to be the comentator who introduces the show and the acts and comments along the way (nepotism in Eurovision? Perish the thought). We could do with a volunteer to do the maths and give the scores - anyone interested?
The idea is you pick a country. Here is a link to this year's participating countries in the real contest https://eurovision.tv/participants
Once you have picked a country you write an entry and you post it. Have fun with this. Play up to the stereotypes if you wish, and enjoy. In previous years we have also had countries post the equivalent of the little film to introduce their entry, but that can slow things down, so only songs this year please.
Once all entries have posted, we all vote following the usual Eurovision system. You can award entries in your favourite order 1-8 points, then 10 points, and your favourite 12 points. The winner is the song with the most points.
I will give till Thursday (3 May) for people to pick their countries. Then I will announce the entries and we can start on the Friday. This means we have a chance to get going before the real thing starts.
Gill H has volunteered to be the comentator who introduces the show and the acts and comments along the way (nepotism in Eurovision? Perish the thought). We could do with a volunteer to do the maths and give the scores - anyone interested?
The idea is you pick a country. Here is a link to this year's participating countries in the real contest https://eurovision.tv/participants
Once you have picked a country you write an entry and you post it. Have fun with this. Play up to the stereotypes if you wish, and enjoy. In previous years we have also had countries post the equivalent of the little film to introduce their entry, but that can slow things down, so only songs this year please.
Once all entries have posted, we all vote following the usual Eurovision system. You can award entries in your favourite order 1-8 points, then 10 points, and your favourite 12 points. The winner is the song with the most points.
I will give till Thursday (3 May) for people to pick their countries. Then I will announce the entries and we can start on the Friday. This means we have a chance to get going before the real thing starts.
Comments
Which country to choose? In the past I’ve done Switzerland, Austria, Sweden I think, Spain and something involving Morris dancers and pre-Raphaelite maidens. Goodness knows where they came from?
Hmmm... I’ll go for Denmark, land of hygge please.
Hugal, are Tierry et Practice coming out of retirement?
I still say (yeah, I know, you know, but it's still true) the last decent entry was Lordi. And, my dear naysayers, recall they actually won.
I usually wait to the show to hear the numbers live and be enthralled/shocked/appalled/amazed. I like to be surprised. But happy to forego this for Hugal's Wonderful Eurovision Extravaganza.
Georgia or Iceland....my two favourite places visited. Let's go Georgia.
For all you Eurovision fans out there- Hel’s name may ring a bell...
Karl, I make a point of never listening to the UK entry. It’s too embarrassing.
Lordi though...well...
I’d like to think that Hels, (if she ever gets to perform) draws on Lordi as her inspiration. Who knows? Today SOF, tomorrow Greenbelt headliner!
Even better...Lordi as Greenbelt headliner.
Eurovision music is dire. I think O level music students could do better, Mind you it is funny.
Which reminds me- are you volunteering to represent Scotland? I mean, you can’t get much cheesier than kilts, bagpipes and haggis, can you!
If a certain someone can get to the top of the charts with a song like the sound of a thousand flatulent elephants, I sure you can manage something...anything...
Ship of Fools does Eurovision
Hope this gives you some inspiration.
Anyone else want to sign up? We can extend the deadline. We were hoping to get it started before the real thing kicks off on Tuesday - but perhaps watching the real one will spark people's creativity!
So the new deadline to sign up and choose a country is next Friday, 11 May.
As said lyricist is even now heading up to a day on Shadow work, it does speak volumes about the state of our contestant’s inner self.
Gill H!
I await Wild Haggis’s performance of “Donald, whaurs yer troosers ?” complete with backing group of skirling haggi, with bated breath.
My breath, naturally; holding breath and skirling could lead to ‘interesting ‘ consequences!
Since when has Eurovision ever made sense? Think of it as a paradox of opposites.
The final word from our esteemed host: the deadline is now Wednesday. No more extensions! Please do sign up and choose a country, we need more Ship madness.
We'll announce the list on Thursday and people can start posting their entries as soon as they like then.
Oh. Not that Georgia???
I shouldn’t worry. It’ll all add to the mayhem. Don’t forget, this is the place where the Archangel Gabriel forgot to turn up for the Annunciation!
Off now to poke the Danish lyricist in the ribs with a sharp stick
Australia muscled their way into the real contest a couple of years ago, so I don’t see why the US can’t enter our version. Maybe bring a Floridian twist to the proceedings?
They use forty pound test fishing line on some of their instruments.
It’s a Ship’s Eurovision, Judy. Anything goes.
Pondering how I can be out tonight whilst simultaneously trying to infiltrate all the other boards with subliminal messages encouraging folk to SIGN UP!
Poor Hels is incubating a cold. She’s also at a crucial stage with her thesis: The Ark- an exploration of Patriarchy and the Construction Trade in The Book of Exodus So she’s not yet had a chance to work with her new backing group, Hyggemen Bjorn, Olaf and Eric.
But her agent assures her that their unique mix of dark and brooding Viking meets Lordi with a touch of Heathcliff thrown in are the perfect complement to her song, Enter The Battleground! Building Blocks of Gender Equity in Our European Future
Just got in. Belarus please,
Who would want to miss the song "псальма"*, a song of medicine, theology and goats.
___
*For the hosts/admins that is pronounced Psalma, and means Psalm.
Unless they’d prefer to listen to an epic saga of destruction, theology and dancing cows.
May I welcome you to the venue for this epic contest, the recently remodelled Ship of Fools. Marvel with me at her amazing bulwarks. No, bulwarks. As you can see, over here is the port side, while over there is the GIN side. And in the middle, they're a rum lot.
It gives me great pleasure ... but maybe later. Meanwhile, here is the final list of entries for the competition:
Denmark
Georgia
France
Spain
US
There are also rumours of a possible Scottish entry, although they will need to have a referendum on it first.
So, ladies, gentlemen and seadogs, settle back and enjoy a nail-biting contest. After which we'll have a nose-picking contest. I'm afraid the interval act has taken all our funding tonight.
Are there any more late entries?
Hah! So it’s not just the Hyggemen who are going to busk it, then?
Errr...I’m still polishing my lyrics trying to track down the Hygge men and have to take Freya, our team mascot to the vets. Can my performance wait until Friday evening?
It is indeed! But having spent half the afternoon since I got in wrestling with the Eurostar e voucher system and half the evening practising coding in the Styx, (whilst trying to stop my own resident hygge man from posting my I pad out of the window), I think my alter ego needs to retire with a stiff drink.
Off to channel my inner Viking. See you all tomorrow.
The revised lineup is now:
Denmark
Georgia
France
Spain
US
Belarus
Now has anyone seen a salamuri*?
*wind instrument
One of the hygge men has smuggled in an old alpenhorn. I can pinch it for you if you like...for a price.
Not to mention waves of racous laughter mingled with what sounds like a herd of flatulent elephants.
Meanwhile, a mysterious gentleman presents his pass at security. His name? Dr Magnus Olsensen, director of the Institute of Well-being, Aarhus, and celebrated author of Say Ja to Hygge , here in his (unofficial) capacity as cultural advisor to the Danish entry.
Sounds of conviviality floating across the hallway catch the good Doctor’s attention. His finely-honed sense of well-being alerted, he strides purposely forward. Luckily, he’s brought a plentiful supply of Glogg and cakes with him.
With a smile on his face and a song in his heart, Dr Olsensen makes his way towards the Georgian green room...
Ladies and Gentlemen, mesdames et messieurs, Damen und Hairies: Le voila le entry du Danenark, land of Vikings, lego, and...more lego This evening, we are proud to present to you, Hels Bels Alpenhom and her Hygge Men, Bjorn, Olaf and Eric singing: Enter the Battleground!