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Kell

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    Your Top 10 TV Shows!

    in Music / TV / Films

    Posted

    Athena - I used to LOVE Popular! Nobody else I know has ever even heard of it!!!

     

    My top ten TV shows are (in no particular order, with the current ones first, and cancelled ones after):

     

    1. Hannibal
    2. Game of Thrones
    3. Once Upon A Time
    4. Outlander
    5. Blacklist
    6. Castle
    7. Firefly (cancelled in its prime!)
    8. Farscape (called home before its time!)
    9. Sportsnight (sorely underestimated!)
    10. The West Wing (Never bettered!)

    Honourable mentions go to:

    • The News Room (now finished)
    • Person of Interest
    • Forever (sadly cancelled)
    • Battlestar Galactica (a brilliant re-imagining)
    • Drive (another Fillion show cancelled too soon!)
    • Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (shouldn't have ended when it did!)
    • Desperate Housewives (a magnificent run!)

    Edited to add that I was certain I had included Sherlock in my top 10, but it seems I didn't, so it would go into slot number 7 ahead of the shows that have been cancelled, although I'm not sure which of the cancelled shows would then be dropped to the honourable mentions section.

    Eurovision!

    in Music / TV / Films

    Posted

    Here's what I thought of each act as I was watching last night:

     

    • Slovenia - Horrible nasal voice and bad air violin playing.
    • France - well sung, but rather boring. Roll on Israel!
    • What is up with Mr Israel's footwear? And there's no way he's still a teenager - he looks more like he's 30 or something! Well, he can sing, and the song is catchy - certainly more interesting than France's effort!
    • Estonia. I remember this one from the first semi final. I don't like the guy's voice, but the song is OK.
    • Time for the UK... The costumes are so unflattering it's not even funny, and I'm not impressed with the LED bits either, but well performed. WTG UK!
    • Armenia! No capes! Haven't you seen The Incredibles??? Is it just me, or was one of the women totally off key?!
    • Lithuania. Let's see if she can hit all the notes this time... Bluegrass and snogging. If they'd been near the tail end of the show, I'd say they have it in the bag. They're at the wrong end of the show!
    • Serbia - love this woman's voice, and love the message of the song - being different is fine. And then it gets ruined by the introduction of the dance music in the last third - it doesn't suit her voice at all.
    • Norway... Apparently he did something terrible - hopefully it's not the song he's talking about! Bit of a dull song. Not brilliant.
    • Sweden - bookies' favourites. Let's see! Excellent performance, good, strong song, and marvelous production.
    • Cyprus. Hey! He's black and white! And now he's in colour. It's like he just landed in Oz! Boring song, but nicely performed.
    • Song 12 - here come the Aussies! Well, they brought their A-game! He's bloody good and it's a cracking song! Personally, I'd love to see Australia join the EBU and join Eurovision permanently, especially if this is the kind of act they are going to submit as their entry! #AustraliaForTheWin!
    • Belgium now. Bit of an unusual one. The guy sounds a bit like a woman... I don't think they'll be last, but they're not going to win. Shame they're following the fabulousness that was Australia, because I quite like this one.
    • And now, our hosts, Austria... The song sounds a bit like an Adele song... "I heard that you've settled down..." The guitarist looks like he's from a dodgy 70s Swedish porn film. Goodness gracious, great balls of fire! (the piano was set alight) Good solid performance, but a little lifeless.
    • Greece - and as I'm about to start posting, Mr Norton steals my line. I was about to say "12 points from Cyprus!" Ack - boring! Let's move on to the next song, please!
    • Montenegro now... Oh hey! At least SHE'S got a real violin instead of an air one! The thinnest goatee in the history of goatees! Why so serious, Montenegro backing wifies? Not a smile among them!
    • Germany. Let's see how the second choice does for them! (their first choice puled out) I actually really like this one and she's bloody good at singing it. She's like a cross between Paloma Faith and Amy Winehouse - I kind of like the mix!
    • Let's see if Poland will have something visual to tempt... Like the sexy milkmaid a from last year! Beverley Craven breathing. "Promise me (breath) you'll wait for me (breath)..." Well, that was just a bit meh. Very middle of the road and unadventurous. Rather dull and uninspiring. What a shame. Bring back the butter churner!
    • Latvia! Go Latvia! Since their first year, we've been cheering this country. Don't let us down, Latvia! Why the hell is she wearing a dress that makes her look like a giant shrimp??? Nah. Didn't do it for me, I'm afraid. I don't see that finishing well on the score board.
    • Song 20 already! Romania with an act that fronts a children's charity for abandoned kids. Nice story. It's good, but it totally sounds like something else - can't remember the name of the song it sounds like though.
    • Spain. Here we go. This one has been getting a bit of buzz... I think this one will do quite well in the voting. That was cracking! And this is why the UK don't win any more. We don't enter established acts with great songs and fantastic production values. We just don't take it seriously like most of the other do, and that's disrespectful!
    • Hungary... This is a nice song, very simple (like her dress), but it doesn't do much for me, and following Spain makes it seem very dowdy by comparison. I also thought political songs weren't allowed in the competition, but hey ho...
    • One of the songs called Warrior that were entered this year (the other didn't make it to the final). It's Georgia! I rather like this one actually. Now, THAT is good. And I love her costume! She looks like she should be in Once Upon A Time - Regina's long lost daughter! That. Was. Awesome!
    • Azerbaijan... I know it's not the point of it, but I not enjoying the choreography - I'm finding it very distracting and off putting.Good performance, but I'm not a fan of the song. Or the dancing.
    • Russia's turn... She's singing the hell out of it, and the transparent instruments are pretty cool too! Now THAT is how you enter Eurovision!
    • Albania - penultimate song. I'm not a fan of this song, I'm afraid. Horribly repetitive and annoying. And she keeps sliding off key. It's just horrible. And now she's howling/wailing/caterwauling! Well, Italy are going to sound amazing after that, unless they screw it up royally!
    • Last song. Italy. Third favourite and performing last - and after someone who was awful. So they could do well! And immediately, you can hear why they were supporting Barbara Streisand last year - gorgeous voice! And THAT'S how you play the closing spot at Eurovision! What voices! Very powerful! Now, that's a finale and a half!

    I then predicted Russia, Spain and Italy in the top three (no order specified), with Sweden and Australia rounding out the top five. Although, to be honest, if Australia won it, I wouldn't be disappointed! Georgia somewhere around the high teens/low twenties, and the UK somewhere around 22nd/23rd place... Germany around 10th.

     

    The top five were (in order):

    • Sweden
    • Russia
    • Italy
    • Belgium
    • Australia

    So I got 4 out of the top 5 right - hurrah! Sweden had a very well deserved win - it was a top notch entry with a great performance and stunning interactive visuals.

     

    UK finished 24th, so I was almost right with that. Germany finished joint last with the dreaded Nil Points - total shocker! And Georgia finished in 11th place.

     

    I was glad, however, to see how many countries bucked the trend of giving 12 points to their neighbours and political allies - they still got points, but were often in the 3-7 points zone, instead of the top marks. I hope this trend continues, as it was definitely more about the music this year.

     

    However, I will say this to the people who organise the UK entry - give the choice back to the people! Stop giving us second- and third-rate songs by performers who are nobodies. Yes, it huts to send our best and lose, but to send less than our best is disrespectful to the countries who send their A-game every year. Case in point - when Blue represented the UK a few years back, it was a good song and they performed it brilliantly - we came 11th, which is a darned sight better than usual, If we had kept that up and sent our best the next year, and the next, we could have seen our songs edging up the board a little.

     

    If the UK doesn't up our game and start taking it seriously instead of treating it as a camp joke, then the last time we won (in 1997) will be the last time we EVER win,

    Eurovision!

    in Music / TV / Films

    Posted

    I rather liked the Finnish entry. I hadn't even realised they were all special needs until the night of the semi final, and I'd heard the song several times already! Apparently they already have a recording contract and are rather popular in Finland where, obviously, people are far more open to that style of music and also to people who are a little different from the "norm" than some people are in other countries (Finland often seems rather a lovely, progressive place to me!). I'm rather sad they didn't make it through to the final - it would maybe have shaken things up in a way that hasn't happened since Lordi won in 2006 (hey, Finland again, whaddaya know?!).

     

    I'm still not hugely impressed overall with the entries this year, but the first semi-final performances were, by and large, not bad. I'll be missing the second semi final due to attending my niece's show, but I'll be tuning in on Saturday for the final.

     

    Speaking of the final, did anyone else see the video of the rehearsal for the UK act? It sounded dreadful and the light-up costumes just looked awful (and horribly unflattering). I'm not holding out much hope of the UK finishing anywhere on the left hand side of the board this year. No different from recent years, really. What a shame!

    Part of me kind of hopes that Australia will win and that they'll be asked to join the competition permanently (even though I know that won't happen, because Germany has been chosen to host in their place if they should win it, which is a pity, because it might be fun for the show to be taken down under!).

    Eurovision!

    in Music / TV / Films

    Posted

    Prequalifiers are the winners of the previous year (current year's hosts) and the "big five" of the UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy. They automatically qualify for the final as they contribute the largest amount of money towards Eurovision every year. This year, as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, Australia are being allowed to enter too, as Eurovision is hugely popular over there, If they win it this year, it has already been agreed that Germany will host next year in their place.

    BBC's Your Life on Earth

    in General Chat

    Posted

    It will mean whole cities go out of business. Aberdeen will collapse in on itself without the oil industry. It happened once before and people just handed the keys to their homes to the bank and left. There are no other major key industries in Aberdeen. There's hardly any fishing of farming industry around there now, especially in comparison to what there used to be - it's all oil, and retail and entertainments to cater to the oil industry. Once the oil industry goes, it's down the tubes for Aberdeen unless they can really dig in and find an alternative industry (or two or three!) to base in the area, because to be brutally honest, tourism ain't gonna cut it.

    Ten years of BCF memories...

    in General Chat

    Posted

    I guess life gets in the way sometimes. There have been periods where I've hardly been around at all (for example, around the time my kids were born and for months afterwards). I'm only just now starting to get back up to speed again after having Josh and he's 19 months old now - LOL!

    BBC's Your Life on Earth

    in General Chat

    Posted

    What's really scary is that the oil and coal reserves will run out during my lifetime! I'll be in my early 90s, but my kids and grand kids will definitely see it happen.

     

    Oh, and I'd be 157 on Mercury with a birthday in 57 days time. I'm 38. :)

    Health and Fitness

    in General Chat

    Posted

    Another 2.5lbs gone this week, taking me to 31lbs off since the start of the year - and I got slimmer of the week at my Slimming World meeting this morning - hurrah! :)

     

    Off to the gym in a moment for a good, long session of cardio and weights. :)

    Ten years of BCF memories...

    in General Chat

    Posted

    I joined in October of 2005, so this year is my tenth anniversary here too. I actually originally joined the Yahoo group but I joined just as it was about to change over to a proper forum format and moved over to it.

     

    A few months down the line, I was helping to organise the monthly reading circle, and not long after that I became a member of the Mod Squad.

     

    I'm not online as much as I used to be, as during that time I've moved several times and had two kids who take up, well, my whole life - LOL! But I'm still here and I still love this old place so much. I've made some fabulous friends here over the years and I wouldn't be without them!

     

    Viva The Book Club Forum! <3

    Your Top 10 books!

    in Book Blogs - Discuss your reading!

    Posted

    This is really tough, but I'll give it a try! In no particular order, my top ten books are:

    • The Stand by Stephen King
    • The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis (with the exception of A Horse and His Boy - I'm not keen on that one)
    • The Plucker: An Illustrated Novel by Brom
    • The Sacred Art of Stealing by Christopher Brookmyre
    • Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
    • Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
    • The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
    • Ronia, The Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren
    • A Room With A View by E M Forster
    • The Princess Bride by William Golding

    Health and Fitness

    in General Chat

    Posted

    Non-scales victory: A few weeks ago, I bought some new leggings - I tried them on and they fit perfectly. They then got left in the bag and pretty much forgotten about. Today, I found the bag and took them out, thinking to wear them.

     

    They are too big!

     

    I didn't think it was possible for leggings to be so loose that they start falling down!

     

    Not only are they loose around the waist, but they're a little saggy around the knees too.

     

    I am happy!

     

    Foreign Films

    in Music / TV / Films

    Posted

    I'm rather fond of movies not in the English language. Over the years, I've probably seem quite a few more than just these, but here are the ones off the top of my head that I've seen:
     

    1. Les Valseuses (1974) - French - dark comedy starring Gerard Depardieu, Patrick Dewaere, Miou-Miou and Jeanne Moreau
    2. Ringu (1998) - Japanese - creepy horror, later remade as Ring for the American audience, but far better in the original language!
    3. La Fille Sur Le Pont (1998) - French - romantic dramedy starring Vanessa Paradis and Daniel Auteuil
    4. Harry, Un Ami Qui Vous Veut du Bien - (2000) - French - creepy psychological thriller starring Laurent Lucas, Sergi López and Mathilde Seigner
    5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - Mandarin - fantasy starring Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang
    6. Plein Soleil (1960) - French - original and best version of The Talented Mr Ripley, starring Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet and Marie Laforêt
    7. Oldboy (2003) - Korean - violent action thriller starring Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu and Hye-jeong Kang - far better than the 2013 remake!
    8. The Raid: Redemption (2011) - Indonesian - violent crime thriller starring Iko Uwais, Ananda George and Ray Sahetapy - absolutely stunning!
    9. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) - Finnish/English - brilliant horror about the REAL Santa Claus starring Jorma Tommila, Peeter Jakobi and Onni Tommila
    10. Trollhunter (2010) - Norwegian - fun horror starring Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg and Knut Nærum
    11. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009) - Swedish/English - rare exception where I preferred the remake - I found this quite dull. Starring Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace and Ewa Fröling
    12. Låt den Rätte Komma In (2008) - Swedish - remade as Let the Right One In, which was marginally better than the original. Starring Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson and Per Ragnar
    13. Night Watch (2004) - Russian / German - dark vampire fantasy thriller starring Konstantin Khabenskiy, Vladimir Menshov and Mariya Poroshina
    14. Babettes Gæstebud (1987) - Danish/Swedish/French - Oscar-winning period drama starring Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer and Birgitte Federspiel
    15. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - Spanish - fantasy horror starring Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil and Sergi López

    Eurovision!

    in Music / TV / Films

    Posted

    The UK has hosted in the past when nations who couldn't afford to host won the competition. Nice that someone else will get those duties this time if Australia wins it. I'm against tactical/political voting, but fully concede it is a fact of Eurovision, so maybe with Australia in the mix, the UK might get a few extra friendly points this year. ;)

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