Who is Ski Mask? Rapper's ‘Take a Step Back’ performance during Kai Cenat's jail stream stuns Internet
Ski Mask grabs attention with stunning performance during Kai Cenat's jail stream
2023-11-08 17:48
Side hustles take center stage in paying bills for Hollywood workers on strike
It's been nearly five months since the Hollywood writers strike began and more than two months since actors joined them
2023-09-21 23:15
How did Sinead O'Connor spend her last days? Singer's neighbors felt 'very sad' seeing her battling grief and loneliness
Neighbors recall seeing Sinead spending extended periods on her large balcony, seemingly lost in contemplation
2023-07-28 19:18
Eurovision 2023: A homage to naffness or musical genius? Two writers battle it out
Millions will be watching as 26 countries go head to head to be crowned champions of the Eurovision Song Contest this weekend – but not everyone calls themselves a fan. The notoriously weird and wonderful event still divides opinion right down the middle – when it comes to Eurovision, you’re either all in or not. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter We pitched two writers against each other, one who loves Eurovision and one who can’t stand it. So, whose side are you on? Kate Plummer: Why I hate Eurovision What would happen if you brought together all the kinds of musicians who X Factor judges consider passing at the audition stage of the competition - but ultimately decide not to? What would happen if you asked cruise ship singers to come together and belt out hours of 'tunes' that resemble copyright-free hold music at best, or something your 10-year-old niece cooked up on GarageBand at worst? The answer, of course, is the gaudy Eurovision Song Contest, that homage to naffness, that yearly nightmare that we are forced to endure. "But it's fun!" the doltish masses cry. "Look at their outfits," the square-eyed cretins say. Save it. Like most organised fun and forced merriment (see hen dos, school reunions and anything to do with sport), Eurovision is absolutely awful. But unlike hen dos, school reunions and anything to do with sport, there is no escaping the tyrannical grip of its regime. It man spreads over the course of Saturday night telly, it bleeds into every pub, bar and group chat of excitable friends organising their cursed viewing parties. This year, it will even be screened in cinemas. Where is my respite? I didn't even vote for Brexit but surely the yearly congregation of the worst representatives of Europe is a dividend we could have gained from leaving the bloc? The 2023 contest is being held in the UK city of Liverpool this week, building up to the grand final on Saturday. Acts from 37 countries are taking part. So will I be tuning in to see which act has become this year's meme and what 'funny moments' have gone viral on social media? Absolutely not. After all, 66 contests and over 1,600 songs, there's a reason the only Eurovision act anyone can name is Abba... Eurovision is completely naff. Count me out. Harry Fletcher: Why I love Eurovision There aren’t many things that every single member of the family can sit down to watch together and genuinely look forward to. Eurovision is one of them. It’s a big event in our household, with family members spread around the country heading back up north to watch together. Why do we love it? The sheer strangeness is certainly a factor. The likes of Käärijä, representing Finland in 2023 with the bizarre 'Cha Cha Cha', are doing a good job keeping it weird and wonderful. But the sheer quality of the entries is more impressive year on year. The overall standard has increased inexorably and the quality of the songwriting in the strongest entries is always staggering. Crafting a good Eurovision song is an art form, and there are still entries from more than 10 years ago that pop into my head occasionally. Eurovision also has to be the most welcoming, accessible major event in the UK calendar. It’s for absolutely everyone; it’s a comfortable space, completely free of cynicism. With Eurovision, you take away all the nastiness that comes hand in hand with X Factor and other formats that invite people to sing before live audiences. Here, there’s none of the sneering at contestants or gawking at eccentric members of the public. Instead, with Eurovision it’s a celebration, and an invitation to be as weird as you like when representing your country. Eurovision can always be relied on to bring out the best in Twitter, too. When so much of social media is increasingly devoted to negativity and hate, it feels like a throwback to nicer times when it functioned more as a public forum for fans during events like Eurovision. The contest has changed a lot since I started watching around 15 years ago. There was an endearingly cheap feel about the contest back then, but the production values are outstanding these days. It’s far less of a niche interest than it used to be too; with the event coming to the UK this year, it’s attracted more and more attention. More eyes on this wonderfully odd event, which celebrates diversity, gives us genuinely brilliant songs every year and gives us something wholesome to get stuck into on social media can only be a good thing. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-05-13 14:23
Greta Gerwig got a 'Barbie' flash mob from Ryan Gosling for her birthday
Ryan Gosling knew just what to get his "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig for her birthday.
2023-08-07 21:26
Olivia Dunne: Gymnast rocks in classy silver dress at ACM Awards
With a thigh-high slit and a cinched waist, Olivia looked like a true bombshell
2023-05-12 17:46
‘GMA’ host Gio Benitez's Maui wildfires coverage hailed as Emmy-worthy after emotional post about disaster
Gio Benitez's heartbreaking post about the coverage of the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, deeply touched his fans
2023-08-21 12:55
Grease Cast Then and Now: Stars of iconic 1978 musical rom-com through the years
Catch up with your favorite cast from the 70's classic that has remained an enduring pop culture phenomenon
2023-09-26 15:56
Aalyria & Anduril Partner to Integrate Technologies to Enhance Battlefield Capabilities
LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2023--
2023-05-09 19:59
Jets rookie Jerome Kapp gets social media salute from Eminem for 'Hard Knocks' performance
Jerome Kapp went from undrafted rookie wide receiver to social media sensation after doing his best Eminem impression
2023-08-25 08:21
'It's my Instagram page': 'The View' host Ana Navarro gives sassy reply to fan amid 'touristy' Athens vacation
From selfies to videos of her sweating in the summer heat, Ana Navarro has shared every little bit with her fans in her latest post from Athens
2023-08-28 09:55
Kehinde Wiley is taking his art everywhere. But he's still thinking about what's next
Kehinde Wiley wonders aloud if he’ll ever reach a career moment of such import and gravity as his famous 2018 portrait of Barack Obama, which has drawn crowds around the United States
2023-05-16 01:47
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