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Karine Polwart



Last Updated: 11/18/2009

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Status: Married
City: Scottish Borders
State: Scotland
Country: UK
Signup Date: 10/30/2005
Saturday, May 16, 2009 
Ah ... lured you in eh? Been watching it too? Hoping we can extract together some meaningful observations upon modern Europe as a result?

Let's see.

Israel's entry is a duet between a beautiful young Jewish woman and a beautiful young Palestinian woman called "There Must Be Another Way". What can I say? Yes, there is. Tony Blair will fix it.

Portugal's entry sounded nice and Portuguese. That means they've nae chance.

The Ukrainian singer mortgaged her flat to create a set that looked like a posh hamster's cage. And she sang "You have nice bum".

I quite liked Estonia. And the lead singer had lovely shiny hair.

Hora Din Moldova? Now that made me chuckle! I mean this woman could clearly sing. She's probably a quite brilliant traddy singer just judging from her opening vocal ornamentation. So let's say next year the UK packs Julie Fowlis into a lammy frock and asks her to sing a song written by Gary Barlow but with a Gaelic chorus and The Demon Barbers rapping in the background, for an extra confusing ethnic dimension.

How on earth can Ronan Keating get away with writing the entry for Denmark? He shouldn't have bothered.

Now you might be forgiven for thinking that Albania's stage production was compromised by the fact that it's one of the poorest countries in Europe and didn't have much of a budget. The poor girl had to sing whilst encircled by Stevie Nicks' hair and an extra from a 1970s episode of Dr Who.

But then Germany. One of the wealthiest countries on the continent. A huge budget. Dita Von Teese guesting on stage. And ... still utter dross. Silver lycra just doesn't look good on anyone. Especially not below the waist.

Holy smoke! What was Seth Lakeman doing singing for Norway?

Kind of sweet to see neighbours voting for neighbours. Montenegro and Croatia vote for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Latvia votes for Estonia. Andorra votes for Spain (no-one esle was going to). And then I think supposing all the countries of the UK had separate entries. Can you imagine it? Scotand votes for England ...

Hah! I jest.

So my point?

There is no point is there. It's just total pish.




 
8:48 PM
 
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Debs - Photography Page
Debbie Koritsas

 
I say 'C'mon Norway!'
 
Posted by Debs - Photography Page on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:01 PM
[Reply to this] 
Bill Dodds
Bill Dodds

 
Ok very pretty Debs, but can he sing?
 
Posted by Bill Dodds on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:33 PM
[Reply to this] 
ROY HENDERSON

 
My computer keyboard doesn't have the keys which can replicate the sound I just made when I read this. Brilliant!
And yes. It is totally, utter pish - but we still watch!
 
Posted by ROY HENDERSON on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:16 PM
[Reply to this] 
Mike Wilson

 
LOL... I liked Moldova!!
 
Posted by Mike Wilson on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:17 PM
[Reply to this] 
Phil
Philip Lord

 
I dunno Karine, I resisted the temptation, but I'm sure you're right.
 
Posted by Phil on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:21 PM
[Reply to this] 
Phil
Philip Lord

 
How many me songs and how many we songs? :)
 
Posted by Phil on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:24 PM
[Reply to this] 
suzie
suzie Macpherson

 
Hahahahahaha brilliant.

2 blogs in one day! What a treat.

Talking of pish, that's what i thought of Norway.
 
Posted by suzie on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:24 PM
[Reply to this] 
Jim (nhpeacenik)
Jim Giddings

 
That explains Red Shoes comment about the Oompa-loompas backing up the Albanian entry! I don't think we can watch this contest from here even if we want to, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not...
 
Posted by Jim (nhpeacenik) on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:28 PM
[Reply to this] 
Bill Dodds
Bill Dodds

 
Set Lakeman? beat those drums.

Germany - lederhosen; PERHAPS NOT QUITE

And you are nice bum - Who were they? Ukraine. Not listening Sophie says sexy bum Karine.

Sophie (13) insists I comment on Greece: hair straightner? 0r torpid well what does one say no wonder Mr Norton desires one as a coffee table.

Norway pretty boy, can't sing.

Brilliant long live Europe.

But loads of folkie overtoes Armenia and Portugal

Happy days







 
Posted by Bill Dodds on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:33 PM
[Reply to this] 
Debs - Photography Page
Debbie Koritsas

 
Of course it's a load of old pish, but there were some nice, catchy, cheery songs there tonight, a lot more than you usually get! Bring on Oslo 2010 and hopefully those Hardanger fiddles. I thought tonight's winning tune had a nice catchy, folky hook - good on our Alex, or whatever he's called. :) I really liked Turkey's entry too - it was terrible, but catchy.
 
Posted by Debs - Photography Page on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:42 PM
[Reply to this] 
Katarina J.

 
yes, it is. and people clearly wouldn't like to see it any other way. 'bread and games', that was roman ceasar's diet for plebs. sounds familiar? watch eurovision. the great vision of europe, stretched from azerbajdan to iceland. the glorious europe, the celebration of kitch, political aliances (and enemies) and utter nonsense.

even ethnomusicologists hold conferences on eurovision contest. :o)
 
Posted by Katarina J. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 11:19 PM
[Reply to this] 
DOUG LANG

 
No tv and not on here anyway, but a few years ago while in Iceland,
I sat with an Icelandic family and watched the local rundown to pick
the Eurovision contestant. They had a performer from each district
of Iceland, maybe 12 in all. There was a young girl with an electric
guitar. Her hair hid her face. She had on a lemon yellow top, a pink
mini-skirt, and bright green nylons. Her song, delivered in a voice
similar to Linda Blair's in The Exorcist, was simply - and dramatically -
a parade of carefully enunciated "swear" words, in English. And I
mean the best ones, from body parts to acts and more. All the while
she strummed loud guitar chords and pumped a foot pedal that
provided some psychedelic feedback loops. Deadly. The Icelandic
family thought she was both hilarious and appropriate, given their
attitudes toward the competition. We were all cheering for her by
the end, especially after watching the others, including one in silver
lycra (perhaps she loaned hers to this year's German contestant?).
It's interesting to think which artists we admire would have been
unceremoniously cast aside had they ever competed in Eurovision.
Bjork for sure. Please pass your idea along to Julie, Karine! :-)

 
Posted by DOUG LANG on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 11:42 PM
[Reply to this] 
HughieMachrins
Hughie McNeill

 
Re Ronan writing for Denmark: I seem to recall Karen Mathieson sining on the French entry a few years back!
 
Posted by HughieMachrins on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 12:52 AM
[Reply to this] 
Cesare
Cesare Lancioni

 
Just unbelievable! It doesn't make sense...
 
Posted by Cesare on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 8:25 PM
[Reply to this] 
Karine Polwart

 
Switzerland Hughie. Switzerland ... there's a Gaelteacht there too eh? ;)
 
Posted by Karine Polwart on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 7:04 AM
[Reply to this] 
HughieMachrins
Hughie McNeill

 
Definitely France. 1996. Dan Ar Braz et l'H�ritage des Celtes.
See here: http://www.esctoday.com/annual/1996/page/2

I know too much about Eurovision really!
 
Posted by HughieMachrins on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 9:08 PM
[Reply to this] 
Simon Todd

 
It was all just dreadful. Thankfully, I was so drunk that it is now just a distant memory.
 
Posted by Simon Todd on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 2:51 AM
[Reply to this] 
Stan

 
LOL, you've jist made ma Sunday!!
 
Posted by Stan on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 10:39 AM
[Reply to this] 
Lord Reefé of Muthill

 
Ah Eurobashing still! Admirably written but all too easy to utter. Voila une statement grande: all musical genres bleed to death when they are packed away in lovely boxes as gifts for the masses.

An example - Scottish Folk Music. It ain't my darjeeling de choice, but it is the very roots and leaves of my stalk. The enormous flowing pieces lived and loved by generations of the common people completely destroyed by some overproduced shite. Burns songs d' Eddie Reader is one of the most horrible things that j' ever observed. Heart less interpretation; catastrophes of gender; sterile musical brilliance soaked in TCP; over-the-top and over-reheased puke-inducing Whitneyesque delivery. Criticise Eurovision whichever way you like but it is what is it, and it isn't trying to transmogrify exciting wonderful Sunday afternoons dans la boozer avec intruments musicale into a Nashvilly musical elite where old pop stars overshadow everything in their magnificence.

Innovation 0 vs 5 Production. Another caning for musical wonderment from the big boys. Scottish Folk has become just another example of the musical elite invading innocence and nullifying what was once beautiful, delivering their banal seamless shite to the brain dead hauf-pished Saturday evening TV audience.

Sound familiar?

SS





 
Posted by Lord Reefé of Muthill on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 10:51 AM
[Reply to this] 
Tony Reidy

 
Ireland didn't qualify and I felt annoyed !
Can you explain that ?
I can't
and I watched it as well !!
There's nowt sae queer as folk

 
Posted by Tony Reidy on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 10:52 AM
[Reply to this] 
Aly Gynn

 
I guess that I was mostly concerned that Gay protesters -including Peter Tatchell, were arrested for peaceful protest. Took the whole shine off in a different way. alyster
 
Posted by Aly Gynn on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 12:35 PM
[Reply to this] 
Rachel Fox

 
Will she live in the hamster's cage now do you think?
 
Posted by Rachel Fox on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 2:32 PM
[Reply to this] 
Christina Stewart

 
Oh, it's all good fun and not to be taken too seriously.

I liked the German entry (despite the lycra and the unnecessary Dita), and Estonia. I would have liked Russia better if she hadn't slipped flat so much (if it's a song contest, that shouldn't matter, but it does!). Some of the entrants really could sing; quite right that they need to perform live.

I prefer to believe neighbours voting for each other is partly down to tastes in music.

My 8-year-old was rooting for Ukraine and the 13 year old for Finland. Next year, I suspect we'll be having a bunch of teenage girls round - my daughter's keen to have a Eurovision party.

So, see you at Eden Court on the 20th of June?
 
Posted by Christina Stewart on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 2:56 PM
[Reply to this] 
TwickFolk@Cabbage Patch (was Twickenham Folk Club)

 
We watched it for the first time in many years...boy, has it gone big budget and high tech! Every set seemed to have a bigger budget than Ben Hur. Our enjoyment of the proceedings wasn't complete till we discovered the red singalonga button. What joy to scan those pearls of wisdom! (who would ever have IMAGINED it could actually HURT to be in love with a fairy tale?)

Oh....and leave Ronan Keating out of it! Whatever you say about him he writes a better tune than Sir Andrew L-W (though only just....)....and did you notice Diane Warren wrote the words to Andrew's epic melody? Talk about a double whammy...the only thing that probably could've made it worse was if it had been sung as a duet by Michael Bolton and Mariah Carey. Which would probably have resulted in it winning....

I agree Spain's entry was the worst....maybe they put it last thinking by that time we'd be too drunk to notice.

Nobody can be that drunk....
 
Posted by TwickFolk@Cabbage Patch (was Twickenham Folk Club) on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 3:04 PM
[Reply to this] 
Philip Lort
Philip Lort

 
you swore...you mentioned M****h C***y......go wash out your mouth ha ha ha ha ha
 
Posted by Philip Lort on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 6:36 PM
[Reply to this] 
PRAKASH - OF E.SUSSEX & THE WORLD

 
Enjoyed the read.

Hey please go and watch Karine on my YouTube channel for pure quality.

Love and Thanks.

KARINE POLWART TRIO 7.11.07 AT KOMEDIA BRIGHTON


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeLo0EtoOzA




 
Posted by PRAKASH - OF E.SUSSEX & THE WORLD on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 6:24 PM
[Reply to this] 
Fran Smith

 
I'm glad I didn't watch it now... couldn't have lived up to this blog anyway! You had me giggling at "Tony Bliar will fix it." HAHAhurrrghhhh.... :D

Julie Fowlis in a lammy frock and singing a song written by Gary Barlow but with a Gaelic chorus and The Demon Barbers rapping in the background - sounds like HELL. It would surely win.

Loving the blogs - keep them coming!! xx
 
Posted by Fran Smith on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 12:35 AM
[Reply to this] 
Michael
Mike Dawson

 
sorry kanine by the 4th or 5th act i was pished so it didnt matter anyway
 
Posted by Michael on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 12:18 PM
[Reply to this] 
Andy Stone and his Guitar Creations!

 
Isn’t it better to come fifth in total pish than last in a farce?
 
Posted by Andy Stone and his Guitar Creations! on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 12:31 PM
[Reply to this] 
Ancient Hype

 
To keep the answer to your headline question as short as possible: The state of the continent seems to be alarming.
 
Posted by Ancient Hype on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 2:21 PM
[Reply to this] 
Borthwicks Acoustic

 
Swedens entry was terrifying...
 
Posted by Borthwicks Acoustic on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 5:04 PM
[Reply to this] 
Philip Lort
Philip Lort

 
It wasn't just me that thought he was "mini-Seth" then......

lyrically he was a bit banal, but the tune was pleasing in an inoffensive way.....and always good to see a fiddle given prominence......not a bad sound really.

I loved Portugal though.......
 
Posted by Philip Lort on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 6:32 PM
[Reply to this] 
THE SECRET SILENT SUBMARINE

 
I remember some sequen jacket wearing , don johnson type guy singing with 3 other similarly clad jokers, including a massive women dressed like a christmas fairy singing "Shine" . Apparently a eurovision classic!  "Come shine with me" he said! I kinda admire such nieve idealism.
But I'm a sinic ...so yeah "total pish".
 
Posted by THE SECRET SILENT SUBMARINE on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 12:06 AM
[Reply to this] 
ian

 
Ah never watched it!
Stuff like this and the "X" factor etc. always make me wonder how the likes of say Neil Young or Bob Dylan for example would have faired in these or simelar circumstances?
 
Posted by ian on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 3:28 AM
[Reply to this] 
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