His nation staged one of the biggest — and in the eyes of many, one of the best — editions of the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2009.

And on Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Ukraine’s handling of Eurovision 2017 was less than impressive, as he fielded a question at the Belt and Road International Economic Forum in Beijing.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that Russia’s decision to withdraw from this year’s contest was right and proper, and made it clear he has no regrets.

“As for Eurovision, those who wanted to watch it could do so online.”

“I believe that our agencies involved in that process did the right thing when they refused to take part in it, because, from my point of view, the current authorities in Kiev are unable to host events of this kind.”

His strong words came as he batted off suggestions that Russia may fear China’s surging economy. As he said: “Russia is not a country that is afraid of anything.”

Despite one rather unfortunate streaker during the grand final, Ukraine’s handling of the show was generally considered quite smooth and glitch free.

Sure, the hosts may have been robotic at times, but the performances flowed from one to the next and the producers managed to give each act a distinct visual and emotional identity.

Working with the resources they had, organisers created a stage that frequently looked stunning — hello Miss Lucie Jones — and rehearsals and press conferences ran on time.

To say that Ukraine is unable to stage an event of this kind seems to fly in the face of facts. Eurovision 2017 has come and gone, and any and all crises were averted. Given that this took place at a time the country is at war, organisers should be applauded.

In the months leading to Eurovision 2017, Ukraine’s state broadcaster was besieged with controversy, including the resignation of its general director; the resignation of 21 members of its organising committee; and intervention from the country’s anti-monopoly authority over a lack of transparency in the awarding of tenders for ticket sales.

But by far the biggest controversy — at least measured in newspaper inches — stemmed from Russia’s withdrawal from the contest after Ukraine banned Russian singer Yulia Samoylova from entering the country owing to her 2015 performance in Crimea.

Rather than competing in the contest, Julia returned to Crimea to perform at a Victory Day commemoration, which honoured those who lost their lives in the fight against Nazi Germany during World War II.

Speaking to journalists, she called the opportunity to perform in Crimea a “great honour” and said it was “exciting” to perform on Victory Day.

Despite Channel One promising she will represent Russia in 2018, Samoylova chose to avoid mentioning Eurovision directly.

She told the thousands in the crowd: “”It is a great honour for me to perform here on May 9, and I will try and share this joy with you.”

Read more Russia Eurovision news

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Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago

Shut up, Vladimira Putina! Nobody likes your sorry tyrant’s ass!

Fun or ban?
Fun or ban?
6 years ago

Maybe I should remind Mr Putin about 2014 Winter Olimpics in Sochi!!! This monster makes me sick. Peace for Ukraine. Love from Romania!

Lazarevfan
Lazarevfan
6 years ago

well I agree with him/
We only get hate from fans of this ‘civilized contest’ online & irl.
‘Fair’ juries downvote us.
The most comments I read ‘God forbig Russia wins’, ‘they are homophobes’ ‘poor Ukraine’ etc etc etc
SO obv no one wants to see us in this contest so we should withdraw forever. Let you celebrate russophobia in your warm civilized company.

the audience even booed Kris who only live here & even not russian by blood.
nuff said

Carian
Carian
6 years ago
Reply to  Lazarevfan

Bratya! Don’t give up, don’t let Europe get to you – Germanic nations are just plain pathetic. I love Russia, I love your entries, I love even V. Putin, though I may disagree with him about gays, otherwise, I have no objections against him nor you nor Russia winnig 🙂 With luv from Slovenia!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Ukraine did a fine work. Could have it been better? Sure. But they did the best they could do and I praise that action.
Moscow 2009 wasn’t the best Eurovision ever I still remember those drunk hosts during the semi-finals.
Petra is great? of course she is. But Petra every year is also boring. Let’s give an opportunity to other countries.

Massa
Massa
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Portuguese people know as nobody to talk english… Language is not a problem… And MEO Arena in Lisbon and places next to, are the best in the world to a international event… As WORLD EXPO 98, and EURO 2004 Football, and EMA MTV Awards 2005, and others international events, we will do the best Eurovision ever.

Fritz
Fritz
6 years ago

Country is at war? At war with its people (as they claim), at war which is biggest business of the ruling party. The worst ever Esc, so glad i have skipped it since so many years

Anton
Anton
6 years ago
Reply to  Fritz

If you skipped it then how do you know it was the worst?

Lev
Lev
6 years ago
Reply to  Anton

12 points to Anton!

Strato Incendus
Strato Incendus
6 years ago
Reply to  Anton

Yeah, these people are everywhere… “ESC sucks, that’s why I haven’t been watching it for years”… because otherwise, God forbid, they might have to adapt their viewpoint to new incoming information! 😛 A question to all of Europe, is it just my subjective impression or are these types of haters most common in those countries who like to play the “nobody likes us”-game? That means first of all the Big Five, because they tend to get abysmal places, but also Russia and – until recently – Portugal. The only difference is: For the Big Five, the “nobody likes us”-game is… Read more »

Leecol
Leecol
6 years ago

I have no complaints about this years show and congratulate Ukraine.

Jojo
Jojo
6 years ago

I actually think Ukraine did a good job with the show, I liked the stage more than last year’s ugly square stage and the hosts were o.k., I think Petra and Mans were more natural and funnier but they were certainly better and the three stiff, unfunny robots who hosted in 2015. I think the show was overall pretty good.

Ukraine was clearly able to successfully host the event so Putin shouldn’t be talking, the contest is over anyway so I don’t see why he has to continue complaining about Ukraine.

Jojo
Jojo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jojo

*than the three stiff, unfunny robots

Likki
Likki
6 years ago

Ukraine did a really poor show and took Eurovision prestige way down.

Fritz
Fritz
6 years ago
Reply to  Likki

Exactly!

Magistr
Magistr
6 years ago

As ukrainian I want to say now to wiwibloggs fans that most of you during this year were arrogant and haughty talking about Ukraine. Even more: most of you are pretty limited and uneducated persons “bring Mans and Petra back, I miss Sweden, I want to see them every year “… As for me, they were interesting only one time during “Love love peace peace” interval act. Esc 2013 with Petra was very cheap and “nothing special”.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

Sweden 2013 was ALL KINDS of openly political, while trying very hard to pretend that it wasn’t. Vastly inferior to the hosting scripts in 2016. Petra+Mans had vastly better banter and chemistry and subject matter than Petra did in 2013. (I also think Finland’s 2013 entry suffered for all of it, because rather than just being a political-ish message at the end of one song in an otherwise neutral contest, the overall event was already saturated with the cultural politics of the Nordic Left from top to bottom, making many viewers/jurors roll their eyes and say “nope!” at yet another… Read more »

Fritz
Fritz
6 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

Ukraine is a big fraud on esc

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

Ukraine did well, don’t worry. I agree, Malmo 2013 was nothing special.
Btw, Mans isn’t funny and he missed several lines last year.
I think we should focus on more positive things instead of complaining about minor issues.

Magistr
Magistr
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Also we should remember biggest mess of ESC-2016: Justin Timberlake, it was biggest attack on eurovision spirit in the whole esc history. Im glad that in our show interval acts were produced by ukrainian team, we had alternative music to show contrast with participants, and we didnt use the simpliest way involving so-called “international star”.

ella
ella
6 years ago

IMO his comments were about Ukraine not being able to temporary lift a ban to Julia…not about organisation of the event itself.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  ella

His comments were vintage Putin: vague enough and backhanded enough to be about anything and everything the listener might want it to be about. There’s “plausible deniability” on all the worst possible interpretations … but there’s also plenty of room to entertain all those worst-possible-interpretations.

Dude is an Ascended Saiyan Master of passive-aggression.

Magistr
Magistr
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

exactly! he just show the direction and now his propaganda mashine will start to do all dirty work – we will see “not bad, but less impressive’ thesis everywhere… at the same I think our contest was organized on higher level than he expected, is he decided to comment it personally

Raphh
Raphh
6 years ago

I’m sock of the fact that, in too many countries, people from the government are making public statements about what’s supposed to be an apolitical event. But unfortunately, it will never change 🙁
And Kyiv 2017 wasn’t any worse than Vienna 2015, where they lost communication to the spokesperson 3 times (remember “Suzy, where are you ?” )

Raphh
Raphh
6 years ago
Reply to  Raphh

*sick

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Raphh

Vienna 2015 is deep down in the bottom of the barrel of “bad Eurovision hostings this century”. Saying that someone did better than Vienna 2015 is cursing-with-faint-praise.

Ern
Ern
6 years ago

A bit off topic.

I do NOT like some of the new “special effects” they’ve added to Eurovision.

Examples of this include the bird in Armenia’s performance, the singing illustration during Norway’s performance, and the purple lightning during Bulgaria’s performance. We saw some of this last year too, most notably at the end of Spain’s performance with the split-screen.

Also, some of the editing they use now is very dizzying.

I liked how it used to be few years ago, where the entire performance was contained within the live stage show.

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

I was wondering: are people still thinking the stage looked small?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

It didn’t “look” small on the TV. But it was smaller than previous year’s stages (because the venue was smaller). So that’s understandable.

good
good
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

The stage was too big, Alma and Slavko looked like ants. Everybody who was alone on stage looked like an ant.

Skimur
Skimur
6 years ago

Who cares about this moron’s words? I bet he did not even watch the contest. It’s silly to judge what you have no idea about. For me, the quality of organization of the 2017 is second best after the 2016.

Lolol
Lolol
6 years ago

I liked the overall production this year. Positive: – Functional stage, looked good on TV (the venue itself as well); – Smooth transitions, not like 2015, when you looked at the logo for 10 seconds; – Nice, clear graphics; – The presenters itself were quite decent; – Semi-final 2 opening act and flag parade were impressive. Negative: – During the semi-finals, the atmosphere felt a little flat on TV (rarely loud cheering e.g.) – I preferred 2016 postcards, because 2017’s lacked coherence. Some artist shot it in the native country, as others just recorded it at the preview parties. There… Read more »

Amor A
Amor A
6 years ago
Reply to  Lolol

I actually preferred this year’s post cards. I liked the pre stage and getting ready to go on stage freeze frame parts. I also really liked how we got to get to know the contestants more via YouTube.

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago

We already saw the same belligerence from Russia in reaction to countless Russian sportsmen failing doping tests

Svetoslav
Svetoslav
6 years ago

Well it just goes to show that even a communistic leader or a dictator ( not sure in which category to put Putin ) can tell the truth sometimes.

Zizi
Zizi
6 years ago
Reply to  Svetoslav

SMOOTH = Nazi greeting with Lithuanian spokesperson + Estonia’s mic off 3 seconds + inappropriate interval acts, especially Ruslana + biggest difference between jury/televote points ever … what should’ve happened to consider it not smooth?

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago
Reply to  Zizi

“biggest difference between jury/televote points ever”
Can you give me a source for this information?

quince
quince
6 years ago
Reply to  Svetoslav

fascist de facto dictator, you meant. 🙂

PP
PP
6 years ago

From 2010 to 2017. Best stage 2014 than 2011, 2016 Worst stage fo me 2013 than 2010. Best presenters 2011 (Anke and other was best in recent decade of contest), than 2014 (only I don t like why presenter didn t try to told public in hall to stop booing for Russia (and one of male presenter was so happy when public booing for Russia in voting ). 3 woman host from 2015 , in early begging of voting tell the public in hall to stop to that and they stopped that . Worst host for me 2013 and 2016.… Read more »

Aqua Azure
Aqua Azure
6 years ago

I am tired of this. The contest is over, everybody is back home and has moved on but no, Russia has to stick to the grudge and President (Presisent??!!??) Putin has to make sure nobody starts feeling comfortable without Russia’s there… His invovlement is so inappropriate and also clearly shows the political bullying that happens behind scenes to make sure Russia’s friends vote as ordered. We will not have a fair contest as long as the likes of Putin use implicit and explicit threats to dominate the competition. Money is not everything (Russia seems to fail to grasp this truth)… Read more »

Darren
Darren
6 years ago

First of all I’ve nothing against Russia’s participation but did anyone else notice the fact that the Top 10 was far more fair this year than previously? Every country (with the exception of maybe Australia) deserved to be there. Especially the Top 5. Usually Russia would be in the top 3 places with a really undeserving song.

Come back to ESC if they want, but personally, I think more deserving countries stood an actual chance without Russia hogging the limelight. Maybe they should take an extra year off and come back in 2019?

ESC84
ESC84
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Excuse me? Sweden deserve in Top 10?

Ern
Ern
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Not just Australia. Blanche from Belgium also did NOT deserve a place in the top 10, much less top 5. Sure her song was good, but the overall performance was very stiff and unimpressive.

The other 8 songs I can respect as worthy of the top 10.

Personally, if I were ranking the songs, my top 10 would have looked different, but it’s not just about me.

Darren
Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ern

My point is, Russia would have been in the Top 10, undeservedly so, just because it was Russia. Bulgaria probably wouldn’t have come second, or Moldova 3rd. Portugal probably wouldn’t even have won. Also, Denmark, or Belarus wouldn’t have qualified if Russia had of been participating in Semi 2, even though Yulia deserved to stay in the semis.

zoolander
zoolander
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I am also glad that Belarus got the spotlight this year which would not happen with Russia in the contest. Belarus actually managed to show us more of Russian (slavic) culture than Russia itself has been able to, because it is so obsessed with being 1st everywhere.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Eurovision is just a toxic pile of waste and has worsened with more countries joining. Russia is still having a go and England embarrassed themselves by one of their politicians making racist comments about Ireland over it and also Lucie Jones herself and even Innocent Smoothies having to get a jibe in. I repeat, toxic waste and I think the original purpose is long and truly gone, it is a backstabbing sea of political hatred and dirty tactics and bribery and cheating and it should be shut down.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

So you’re saying it really IS just like the Olympics? 😉

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

That’s not true lol Russia didn’t finish top 10 in 2010 and 2011 when they didn’t deserve it at all. They even finished 11th in 2009 when they had one of the best songs.

Darren
Darren
6 years ago

@Polegend
Russia finished in the Top 10 in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 when they really didn’t deserve it!

If any other countries had entered the contest with the same songs that Russia did in 2013, 2014 and 2016 they probably wouldn’t have qualified….or else finish at the bottom half of the scoreboard in the final.

jj
jj
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I’m sure if Sweden had done Russia’s 2016 song, with a good-looking guy, they’d have ended in the top 3 too.

Aqua Azure
Aqua Azure
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

When Putin gets involved in Eurovision, of course Russia will score high. There is an implicit threat there. Also they have probably a ministry or two invovled i the planning of ESC, not to speak of the unlimited budget. Not having their overbearing presence this year was refreshing. They still did their best to politicize whatever could be politicized (like Kristian’s participation), and made sure to let us all know that they were sending Julia to Crimea again, but this was still much better than usual.

Dalida
Dalida
6 years ago

I just hope Ukraine never again hosts the contest

Julie
Julie
6 years ago

Lol interesting. Not completely agreeing with him, but he sort of has a point. (Note: I watched this on Logo, and this is only the second Eurovision I’ve seen. Keep in mind that my only point of reference/comparison is the 2016 show.) The show itself might have proceeded more or less smoothly, but the road to it – as the article pointed out – was mired in controversy. And that road wasn’t pretty, filled as it was with frustration, potential corruption, and divisiveness (Ukraine’s refusal to extend Yulia a 2 week grace period when it was fully in their power… Read more »

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Julie

I have watched over 20 editions of Eurovision and I have to tell you that 2016 was the best edition ever. So comparing 2017 to 2016 is really unfair.

Ukraine improved on their hosting from when they hosted in 2005. They also hosted far better than Russia ever did.

Bonn
Bonn
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

you are just a hater

Julie
Julie
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Why is not fair to compare the 2017 and 2016 shows, and yet it is fair to compare a 2017 show with a 2009 show? I haven’t seen the 2009 one, so I can’t agree or disagree with your view, but at least there should be some consistency here. It’s kind of an odd statement to say that you can compare some shows and not others (who would be the arbitrator of that?) In my opinion, all editions are fair game to compare with each other. Moreover, in my actual description of the 2017 show, I described the events that… Read more »

Justin K.
Justin K.
6 years ago
Reply to  Julie

I think Mark neglected to mention that Sweden hosts Melodifestivalen, which is basically a mini-Eurovision for six weeks a year to choose their own candidate. That, in addition to their recent hosting in Malmo 2013, gave them an experienced edge in hosting in Stockholm 2016. Plus, with Sweden being considered a “Western” country (and essentially advising almost every edition of Eurovision post-2013), they didn’t exactly have the same diplomatic nor logistical struggles as Ukraine did. (I also agree that the 2016 edition is probably one of the best Eurovisions in terms of the show itself, and any comparison to it… Read more »

Nika
Nika
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

“Ukraine improved on their hosting from when they hosted in 2005. They also hosted far better than Russia ever did.”
Russia EVER did??? What did you really mean?

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Strongly disagree that Ukraine improved on 2005. Go back and watch the same countries in Kyiv 2005. While the LEDs are less impressive, the overall staging in 2005 is vastly superior, and there are fewer camera/microphone glitches. Also strongly disagree that Ukraine did better than Moscow 2009. Say what one will about Putin’s endless reign in government, but Moscow 2009 permanently raised the bar on staging quality, postcard exuberance, and technical effects for Eurovision, really only being fully equalled by Copenhagen 2014. The host staging assistance for Estonia 2009 is night-and-day different from what was available for Estonia 2017, as… Read more »

ESC84
ESC84
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Stage:2014>2009>2010>2016>2011=2012=2013=2015=2017

James
James
6 years ago

This year really let me down after the impeccable show in Sweden last year. It felt more like a national final than the actual contest. Postcards were hastily put together and in some cases blatantly copied from Eurovision TV Ads (I’m looking at you Australia). Graphics looked like an amatuer Eurovision YouTuber had made them in paintbrush or Google Drawings and those hosts really missed the mark such as Timur talking AT the contestants in the green room or the awkward banter between hosts at the start. Ukraine did the best they could with the resources they had but they… Read more »

Rhingo
Rhingo
6 years ago

Despite the good show I am still inclined to think of Ukraine handling of the show as bad. Technically the show was done well, except a couple of mishaps such as Estonia or that the random ass able to get on stage (I am actually glad that that happened but still shows bad security). What bothered me was the unwritten rule – nothing Russian is allowed in here! For example Julia being banned, Greece and Bulgaria getting sabotaged and only Bulgaria getting two points from Ukrainian televote, while Armenia and Greece none, etc. Those three are practically the only countries… Read more »

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago

William Adams got completely fooled by the russian wheelchair

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

He tries to be objective (as much as possible) and politically correct.

Alexander
Alexander
6 years ago

Agreed.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

First of all, there was no need for the Ukrainian authorities to ban Yulia from competing. Secondly, President Putin’s statement about Russia’s withdrawal is absolutely unnecessary, and actually kinda devastating among the viewing public. Russian singers shouldn’t be banned from competing! 🙁

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago

I was there and I can say that the contest was organized very well indeed!!! I have nothing to complain about! Congratulations to Ukraine!

Amor A
Amor A
6 years ago

I liked Eurovision 2017 especially the stage. Also the comment about the host being three white men. How many non white people are famous in the Ukraine and can host? This is a serious question as I would like I know. I give Ukraine credit for doing something no one has ever done before. By the way I wonder how many people would care about Julia being banned if she wasn’t disabled. Also she is representing Russia next year.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago
Reply to  Amor A

Speaking of non-white – at least they have one black host on tv music channel, and… Gaytana 🙂 Yet bunch of crimean-tatars.

Mil
Mil
6 years ago
Reply to  Zebb

Hosts speaking English on an appropriate level are rare here, regardless male or female. And yes, we are predominantly white, this is a fact. There is one female non-white host but I am not sure if her English is ok. Actually, hosts were chosen by EBU!!!

Amor A
Amor A
6 years ago
Reply to  Mil

The hosts were chosen by the EBU? I didn’t know that. Are you sure? If that’s true, Ukraine shouldn’t get blamed that much for anything hosting wise. Also I don’t get why people are fawning over Petra and Mans hosting the only thing that wowed me was ye love love peace moment.

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  Zebb

Crimean tatars belong to the one of the subgroups of big europeoid race therefore they are just white.

Princess Peregrine
Princess Peregrine
6 years ago

Really enjoyed the show but please… no more terrible hosts. Look to 2016 and 1998 for inspiration please.

James
James
6 years ago

What about in 2007 or 2011? They were great hosts!

MS
MS
6 years ago

I think it skold be a teme whith persons from diffrent countries that allways hels out whith some part of the event. By using people whit experiens it goes eastier and gets cheeper!

MS
MS
6 years ago

In sweden there was a joke about this year we selebrate diversity! Therefore there are three white men in same age as hosts!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

I think it’s fair to say that Eurovision 2017 went surprisingly well, considering all of the circumstances. Credit to the organisers and to the city of Kyiv for doing a great job. However, in principal, the ESC should not be located in a country that’s in conflict – that’s the main reason I could not support this year’s event in person.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

You sound like me. I’ve been saying that all along. The problems that Ukraine had were obviously attributed to the distractions coming from their skirmish with Russia. If not for the war (which forced them to withdraw from 2015), things might have gone more smoothly. I wonder if the low opinions of how Kyiv handled the contest are due in part to the anticlimactic outcome, with Portugal pretty much having their way before the televote results were revealed. Kyiv gets a B+ from me.

Lev
Lev
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Mark,

I was actually in Kyiv for the Grand Final, walked all over the city before that, from Maidan to Botanic Garden.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised (given the expectations) – there was no hint of a war anywhere, and people everywhere were polite and helpful.

Considering the jokes and the ass, I’d give Ukraine A-.

Lev
Lev
6 years ago
Reply to  Lev

*Mask (not Mark), sorry!

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
6 years ago

Jelly much? Ukraine was better than Russia

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

Am I the only one who thinks the hosting was half decent? And I’m not just saying that because Volva’s hot. Obviously it wasn’t as good as Petra and Mans but we lived through the horror that was Baku 2012.

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago
Reply to  azaad

They weren’t as bad as 2012 or 2015, but not as good as 2011, 2013, 2014 or 2016.

Racal
Racal
6 years ago
Reply to  azaad

It may not have been the best but they still managed to do it (which therefore fully contradicts the statements mentioned in this article).

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  azaad

Kyiv 2017 was thoroughly adequate.

It’s “not on the left side of the board” as far as hostings go in the 21st century, but it is “quite high on the right side of the board”, beating out a lot of really flawed presentations.

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

#salty

Pepito
Pepito
6 years ago

Question: are the dates for the ESC 2018 in Lisbon known yet? Trying to book hotels here.

Adriana
Adriana
6 years ago
Reply to  Pepito

Not yet.

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago

Considering the issues they faced, the fact that Eurovision 2017 ended up being better than 2009 says a lot.

Alexanderized
Alexanderized
6 years ago
Reply to  mad-professor

I don’t think it’s appropriate to compare two shows with 8 years between them.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Alexanderized

It’s a fair enough comparison, just like it is to compare videos of Kyiv 2005.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  mad-professor

It’s far from “a fact” that it was better, and quite close to “a fact” that the reverse is true. Compare the two sets of postcards. Compare the number and impact of technical glitches. Compare the staging support provided by the host for the same countries each year (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, France, Moldova, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, et cetera). Compare winner and near-winner staging (Norway 2009 v Portugal 2017, Turkey 2009 v Italy 2017, Iceland 2009 v Bulgaria 2017, and so on). Kyiv 2017 was adequate, but I vastly prefer 80% of the official videos to what went up on the… Read more »

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

I’d just love to have heard Putin screaming, “Let’s do it!!”, before offering up his Eurovision critique.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

Let’s do THIS! 🙂

Italiaforever
Italiaforever
6 years ago

Robotic hosts, poor text scripting, horrible interval acts. Nice stage but not thanks to Ukrainian television

S@g@
S@g@
6 years ago

Dear EBU, please keep Russia away from the Eurovision Songcontest
and say Welcome back to Luxembourg and Monaco.

Zizi
Zizi
6 years ago
Reply to  S@g@

Dear S@g@. please f’ck off

Milan2007
Milan2007
6 years ago

Bloody liar.

Alexander
Alexander
6 years ago

As a Russian citizen myself, I’m quite surprised he said something like that. Yes, there were a few shortcomings during the show (sound, hosts…) and A LOT of chaos before the show, but in the end everything went quite smoothly. I personally think it is not okay when a country in a state of war hosts ESC instead of focusing on its inner issues, but that’s for Ukrainians to decide really what they want. Overall, I as a regular ESC viewer was quite pleased.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Don’t do this to Yulia, I need her dance anthem next year

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

Why do people keep slagging the hosts? The hosts did a great job – they were funny!

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

They pretended. Trouble for me was pronounciation and of course it’s been quite boring to have two male guys. However, it was expected after last year that bar won’t be beaten.

Racal
Racal
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

They look like nice guys but to me they were not funny AT ALL, their jokes were heavy af and sounded overprepared and overrehearsed.

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

I think that ESC 2017 was pretty well organised… we’ve seen worse Eurovisions.

Oscayi Tareyn
Oscayi Tareyn
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Yes I agree Esc 2017 was a very good edition!

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

While I found the stage to be “meh” unless the contestants brought their own prop efforts, and while I found the announcers wooden, and while I found the months of delays in naming venues and systems to be exasperating, the actual Hosting Job was done professionally.

While the staging/hosting efforts are nowhere near my Top Five for this century, they’re also safely clear of the Bottom Five.

Oscayi Tareyn
Oscayi Tareyn
6 years ago

Maybe Russia will sit out another year?

Leecol
Leecol
6 years ago
Reply to  Oscayi Tareyn

Or 10

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

Oh, Vlad. You predictable scamp! Never change.