I Am A Swede

I've listened to roughly half the songs now, and so far my clear favourite is Albania. I like the retro feeling of Denmark's entry but the singing was a little too wobbly. Norway's song is quite okay as well, but I'm not a fan of the stage production. Australia is sending it's weakest entry ever, while Estonia is probably my second favourite after Albania. Some entries (Spain, Netherlands, Moldova, Ireland, Belgium for instance) are bland, but okay. But some entries are simply bad, like Ukraine, Czech Republic, Lithuania, France, Germany and Cyprus. During the 1990s I usually loved the songs from Cyprus, but this year...

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It's almost impossible to believe that Joan turns 88 this year! She looks more like she's in her early 60s.

Maybe they should focus more on improving EastEnders instead....

That is outrageous!

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Has it really been that long?! Then it's definitely about time that someone new breaks that stranglehold they've had on the rankings.

So true! And for me, the multitude of languages was one of the best things of Eurovision back in the good old days. Personally I think that dropping the rule that you had to sing in the official (or one of the official) language(s) of your country was a mistake, alongside the decision to drop the live orchestra.

In case you don't know, Malena is the mother of Greta Thunberg. Like I said, there's nothing really wrong with "Ein Bisschen Frieden", it's just not my cup of tea. I think both Katja Ebstein's "Theater" and Lena Valaitis "Johnny Blue" are better German entries from that era. (All of them of course written by Ralph Siegel )

The 41st Annual Razzie Award Nominations: WORST PICTURE 365 Days Absolute Proof Dolittle Fantasy Island Music WORST ACTOR Robert Downey, Jr.- Dolittle Mike Lindell (The “My Pillow” Guy) - Absolute Proof Michele Morrone,- 365 Days Adam Sandler - Hubie Halloween David Spade - The Wrong Missy WORST ACTRESS Anne Hathaway - The Last Thing He Wanted AND Roald Dahl's The Witches Katie Holmes - Brahms: The Boy II AND The Secret: Dare to Dream Kate Hudson – Music Lauren Lapkus - The Wrong Missy Anna-Maria Sieklucka - 365 Days WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Glenn Close - Hillbilly Elegy Lucy Hale - Fantasy Island Maggie Q - Fantasy Island Kristen Wiig - Wonder Woman 1984 Maddie Ziegler - Music WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Chevy Chase - The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Rudy Giuliani (As "Himself") Borat, Subsequent Movie-Film Shia LeBeouf - The Tax Collector Arnold Schwarzeneggar - Iron Mask Bruce Willis - Breach, Hard Kill AND Survive the Night WORST SCREEN COMBO Maria Bakalova & Rudy Giuliani (Yes, That Really IS Rudy Giuliani!) - Borat Subsequent Movie-Film Robert Downey Jr. & His Utterly Unconvincing "Welsh" Accent – Doolittle Harrison Ford & That Totally Fake-Looking CGI “Dog” – Call of the Wild Lauren Lapkus & David Spade - The Wrong Missy Adam Sandler & His Grating Simpleton Voice - Hubie Halloween WORST DIRECTOR Charles Band - All 3 "Barbie & Kendra" movies Barbara Bialowas & Tomasz Mandes - 365 Days Stephen Gaghan – Dolittle Ron Howard - Hillbilly Elegy Sia – Music WORST SCREENPLAY 365 Days All 3 Barbie & Kendra Movies Dolittle Fantasy Island Hillbilly Elegy WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL 365 Days (Polish Remake/Rip-Off of Fifty Shades of Grey) Dolittle (Remake) Fantasy Island (Remake/”Re-Imagining”) Hubie Halloween (Remake/Rip-Off of Ernest Scared Stupid) Wonder Woman 1984 (Sequel)

Don't knock 1982! It was a good year for Eurovision. Israel, Portugal, Cyprus, Sweden, UK, Austria all had very good songs. Nicole's winning song for West Germany is no personal favourite of mine though. It's very competently written and performed, but it's just too saccharine.

^^ Thank you. It's such fun to read articles and interviews from those days. The show went through a transformation during the early 80s, just as it would do 10 years later. Jack came back, Seth became a regular character, the Merricks were re-introduced and NY Estates became an important part of village life (and brought Alan to Beckindale). Good times.... On another note, just a few days ago (the 10th) a personal favourite of mine, and someone who didn't follow the show from the 1970s into the 1980s, had a special day. So, a little late perhaps, but a very happy 80th birthday to the one and only Katharine Barker. (Dolly Skilbeck #1)