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Special Event: Live Stream: Semifinal 2 (2024 Eurovision Song Contest)

When today's acts were announced at the end of the first Semi, I realized what this year's trend-popularized-by-the-previous-winner is: singers with one name. Kinda boring! I was sort of hoping for more panini presses.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 11:48 AM on May 9, 2024

Sorry, I meant tanning beds, not panini presses, obviously!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:03 PM on May 9, 2024

Special Event: Special Event: Live Stream: Semifinal 1 (2024 Eurovision Song Contest)

Hooray! Looking forward to today's Semi. Thanks as always, PearlRose!

By the way, for my Eurovision baking this year, I've settled on kladdkaka, which looks absolutely decadent... in other words, perfect for Eurovision.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 9:07 AM on May 7, 2024

Ashwagandha: Switzerland is in Semifinal 2 on Thursday.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 11:25 AM on May 7, 2024

I was not expecting the show to open with "Fuego" :o
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:05 PM on May 7, 2024

Oh yeah, I love "SloMo". The whole opening was very good. I love seeing great non-winning songs come back in later shows.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:09 PM on May 7, 2024

Cyprus was okay, but it was missing something.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:18 PM on May 7, 2024

PearlRose, I thought the singer was the weakest part of Serbia's entry myself. It was pretty strong overall, though.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:22 PM on May 7, 2024

Lithuania was... really cool (and needs a seizure warning).
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:25 PM on May 7, 2024

Ireland: UM, WOW. Their entries are usually a bit more staid.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:30 PM on May 7, 2024

UK upping their game again, whoo! Sam Ryder giving them a taste of that top 10 life changed things for the better, perhaps.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:36 PM on May 7, 2024

Ukraine is a banger. Love the staging and the costumes, and the song is fantastic. My favorite so far.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:41 PM on May 7, 2024

The horse fits with the chess theme, I guess.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:45 PM on May 7, 2024

Speaking of horses, Croatia's like, "Hold my beer", as usual.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 12:48 PM on May 7, 2024

Germany singing his own echoey parts is a little weird.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:01 PM on May 7, 2024

FINLAND, WHAT
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:08 PM on May 7, 2024

Moldova's staging is very nice, though the big water droplets would've also been appropriate for Finland's (they remind me of mid-90s 3D graphics software).
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:15 PM on May 7, 2024

Sweden's staging is mind-blowingly good. Great song, too.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:19 PM on May 7, 2024

My top 5 out of the competing songs:

1. Ukraine
2. Lithuania
3. Croatia
4. Luxembourg
5. Serbia
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:42 PM on May 7, 2024

Okay, that Green Room reveal is cool.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:12 PM on May 7, 2024

My Ikea order's on the porch (thanks again, Sweden), so I should go take care of that. Until Thursday!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:20 PM on May 7, 2024

Movie: The Boy and the Heron

I've said this elsewhere, but Miyazaki will die at the drawing table.

Probably won't see this one in the theater, but looking forward to doing so sometime, in whatever format. The Wind Rises would've been an excellent Truly Final Miyazaki Film™, so I'm curious to see how this one compares.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 8:18 AM on December 9, 2023

The Boy and the Heron Opens at #1 in the U.S. With US$12 Million. This is the first time an original anime movie has topped the US box office. Congrats to Miyazaki-san and everyone at Ghibli!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 6:20 AM on December 11, 2023

Summer 2023 Anime Season

I love how instead of screenshots for the ANN reviews of The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today, they used... well, go see!

It feels weird saying this, but my most anticipated show this season has been Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon. Had heard awhile back that the light novels were surprisingly good for isekai, and tried the first volume of the manga adaptation recently, which was... surprisingly good for… [more]
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 4:14 PM on July 7, 2023

Special Event: Live Stream: The Grand Final (2023 Eurovision Song Contest)

Still floored by Loreen's voice (no pun intended).
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:00 PM on May 13, 2023

Really like Albania overall. Great song, striking staging. In my top ten for sure.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:05 PM on May 13, 2023

Okay, now Italy has the best Sad Boy Ballad. At least, I assume that's what that was.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:10 PM on May 13, 2023

Did anyone else notice that the piano had "ESTONIA" on the side?
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:13 PM on May 13, 2023

Everyone in this room is so ready for Finland.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:16 PM on May 13, 2023

There's so many good entries this year. I'm going to have a tough time predicting a winner.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:23 PM on May 13, 2023

Maybe all the Banana Wolves needed was a longboat.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:51 PM on May 13, 2023

I've been looking forward to Germany! Bring it!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:53 PM on May 13, 2023

I want Germany to win. I really do. And no, metal is not my thing at all.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 1:57 PM on May 13, 2023

Just realized that Israel is fulfilling the obligatory Celine Dion Slot this year (modernized, of course).
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:03 PM on May 13, 2023

Out of the male acts, Slovenia's is the most adorable.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:07 PM on May 13, 2023

The UK clearly channeling Terry Gilliam here. Not too shabby.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:15 PM on May 13, 2023

The bulk of my votes went to:
- Austria
- France
- Czechia
- Germany

With a few left over for:
- Portugal
- Albania
- Finland

So, so many good entries this year. Excited to see how the vote shakes out. I'm sure I won't be disappointed with whoever gets the crystal microphone.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:26 PM on May 13, 2023

Are these the first shirtless male backup dancers of the show? I haven't kept track.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 2:55 PM on May 13, 2023

They didn't mention Celine Dion :o
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:08 PM on May 13, 2023

Let's hope the audience vote sets things right.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:14 PM on May 13, 2023

Italy should not be doing this well this year.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:23 PM on May 13, 2023

I want Poland's hoodie.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:25 PM on May 13, 2023

Iceland wins.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:31 PM on May 13, 2023

Keith!!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:33 PM on May 13, 2023

Here we go, nailbiting time.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:49 PM on May 13, 2023

(No Loreen-related pun intended.)
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:49 PM on May 13, 2023

Just 16 points for Austria?!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:56 PM on May 13, 2023

Good job, Finland!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 3:58 PM on May 13, 2023

Welp, there it is. The nails have it.
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 4:02 PM on May 13, 2023

Thank you all again for a fun thread! And thanks to our host, PearlRose!
posted to FanFare by May Kasahara at 4:08 PM on May 13, 2023