Americans just can’t stop the feeling when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest. Following Logo TV’s broadcasting deal with the EBU, The Fine Brothers are back after their “react” video from Stockholm. What will Kyiv have in store for their American adult viewers? Let’s find out…

American adults react to Eurovision 2017

As the narrator explains the Eurovision Song Contest to the American viewers, an excited Lotte squealed with excitement, “Oh cool, I love Eurovision!” But Ary didn’t even know what it was.

They began with Belgium’s “City Lights”. Scott and Emily compared Blanche’s vocals to Adele as the performance got underway. Sharon wasn’t impressed, but eventually admitted “she’s really good”. “This is the winner”, says Sam, while Lotte described it as “beautiful”.

The YouTubers then had their say on Sweden, and most of them were awestruck with Robin’s slick choreography. “He’s giving me some serious Bruno Mars vibes,” Lotte says.

Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov also made an impact — even if the YouTubers didn’t realise he’s only 17 years old. They had no idea about Epic Sax Guy’s history (or Internet meme), but they loved Moldova’s Sunstroke Project anyway. “That is the sassiest sax player I’ve ever seen,” Emily says.

Salvador Sobral had them tugging on their heartstrings. But after learning that Portugal had won this year’s contest, Ethan James was not impressed. “The worst one!” he said. Sam was also less than impressed: “Oh my gosh. If it stands out from the rest and that is not, he doesn’t sound to the rest.”

They were then shown a medley of performances from several other grand finalists. Italy’s ‘Occidentali’s Karma’ was “too cheesy” for Ethan’s liking. A few were impressed with the staging from Lucie Jones. And Scott jumped in with the OG3NE comparisons about Wilson Phillips.

Jacques Houdek provided the LOL moments, DiHaj left them baffled with the horse’s head, Ilinca’s yodelling left Scott mortified and the sloppy kiss shocked Ethan.

After a brief history lesson, the YouTubers were then asked about whether the US should join the Eurovision Song Contest. And most of them suggested America should steer clear and “let them have their thing.”

Another American is about to react

As most of y’all know, our editor William is an American transplant to Europe.

Last summer he showed his (geographically challenged) sister Eurovision for the first time, and she had us in stitches.

She’s headed to the UK next week and, owing to popular demand, we’ll be showing her highlights of this year’s Eurovision. Which acts from 2017 do we have to show her? And which acts from the past do you think would cause a stir? Let us know in the comments box below.

Visit our YouTube channel for more Eurovision videos

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Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

I kinda liked this more than from last year. They were involved in process and looked grabbed in at the end. However, would be good for to have some explanatory for non-english songs.

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

This video shows that many songs and acts could actually make it in America if they had the airplay.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  L'oiseau

Yeah, that’s the problem. There are 6 mega-corps that control over 90% of American radio and cinema and TV programming, and they aggressively “gatekeep” to prevent access to small acts independent of themselves. (To give a sense of scale: the gigantic Disney Empire is *one* of them, owning one of the four major national broadcasters, the major national cable sports channel, a few other cable channels, some music labels, several movie studios (including Pixar and Marvel and everything Star Wars), and mountains of copyrighted content over the past century.) It’s very hard to break through all that without first being… Read more »

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

That’s incredible… It is so ironic that everybody talks about free market, but then when it comes to music and culture so much protectionism is going on… It is said really…

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  L'oiseau

Very sad, yeah, and very frustrating to live under. I rabidly dislike piracy, but it can be a massive headache to access legitimate sources of non-US performances, given all the legal shenanigans the US multinationals throw up to entrench themselves. Two years running, pretty much have to go piecemeal through the authorized video feeds and video clips of various European national broadcasters, because Viacom and the EBU and Google/YouTube have blanket-banned all the Eurovision.tv live clips in the Americas. In the absence of vigorous anti-trust enforcement (or multiple national boundaries making it impossible to buy and enforce controlling-ownership stakes across… Read more »

Diogo
Diogo
6 years ago

Even by this video and its people’s votes, Portugal wins!

Lilo
Lilo
6 years ago

If talking about this year, the please show her stagings of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania and Sweden. I would love to see her reaction on those.

Ananas
Ananas
6 years ago

It was so cool! I’m a little bit disappointed that they didn’t even mentioned Epic Sax Guy but it was great! I would like to watch something like Teens/Adults/Youtubers React to The Weirdest/Most Controversial of Eurovision…
Some acts like:
– Poland 2014
– Ukraine 2009
– Georgia 2009
– Russia 2012
– Romania 2013
– Georgia 2014
– Ukraine 2007
– Finland 2006
– Iceland 2006
Etc.

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

That was fun!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

Adele? No. Blanche reminded me of Sade, by the way she stood on stage and by her voice.

Ivan
Ivan
6 years ago

After all what is American? Super Bowl acts, Lady Gaga jump, or Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake clothes ripping?
I wonder if an European shows an ESC act to an American or somebody else, without saying is an Eurovision act, say that is from an Australian show or something.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Ivan

“Australia” is increasingly “European” these days, as far as Song contests go 😉 To make it feel convincingly “American”, the only flashiness one could show would be Extremely-Expensive And Technically-Difficult flash (like Sweden 2015 and Russia 2016 and Belgium’s recent entries), and/or commercial-promotion songs with budgets in the millions and dozens of interchangeable backing dancers behind established superstars (like the Justin Timberlake interval act in 2016, or like the introduction of Riverdance back in the 1990s). The Gaga-jump was Extremely Expensive and Technically Difficult, like Russia 2016. The average Super Bowl halftime has literally *hundreds* of backing dancers performing in… Read more »

bbb
bbb
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

Azerbaijan staging was my favorite. After fans left Gabbani’s ape alone, now the horse is the new target.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  bbb

That horse was delightfully surreal. Added a seriously creepy vibe to the entire production. Perfectly eerie and unnerving in all the right ways.

Bogdan Honciuc
6 years ago

In 2012 I showed a Canadian friend the video of Loreen performing “Euphoria” in Baku. Her reaction? “This is the most European thing that I’ve ever seen.” XD

I wonder what she’d say about Francesco Gabbani and his so-called “monkey”

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago
Reply to  Bogdan Honciuc

That’s why north muricans need to stay away

Bogdan Honciuc
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

I wouldn’t say that. It’s a bit xenophobic, don’t you think? I believe that everyone should experience the beauty of Eurovision at least once, no matter how they react. Some of them might become converts immediately 🙂

Chris (frostyw)
Chris (frostyw)
6 years ago
Reply to  Bogdan Honciuc

Some of us are, after being invited to watch parties in 2016, even with the awful hosting from Logo last year. (This year was an improvement, but I still wish for the Graham Norton edition. :))

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

Please don’t lump us Canucks in with the Yanks. Merci. 😉

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

By the way, Celine Dion is “North Murican”…should she have “stayed away”? Get real.

Ivan
Ivan
6 years ago

Show Suzanne sexy men like Imri, Donny, Francesco, Robin, Douwe Bob, Jimmie, Kallay-Saunders, Dima Bilan, and show her Gunther with ”Love Yourself”, we want to know who is her type. Last year she said Sergey is too short and to gay for her. I’m curious who she might like.

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago

The video was enjoyable but looks so not natural!

Shona
Shona
6 years ago

Show her them Swedish Misters. And slavko and svala. The epic sax guy. And fusedmarc too perhaps, would love to see her opinion on it.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

Anthony Ko asked: “Which acts from 2017 do we HAVE to show her? And which acts from the past do you think would cause a stir?” I very strongly think it’s best to follow a pattern similar to last year, to set a regular structure year-after-year until the modern winners are all covered: one historical stand-out (winner or not), two modern-era winners and two alternate acts from the same years, and then the Top Four this year. Of those nine, each a different country represented only once apiece. For historical, since she’s seen Céline Dion, it would be good to… Read more »

Simba
Simba
6 years ago

I join the fans that want Suzanne reaction to all 42-43 songs.
William sister will have the most views and comments here.

Julian
Julian
6 years ago

US could buy the show if they think it is good business, but probably Saudi Arabia would beat them to that.

Simba
Simba
6 years ago

At 6 : 50 a guy says : ”I can’t go for flash if it’s a vocal competition”.
It’s not a vocal competition, it’s not a talent show, you can go for everything you like.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago
Reply to  Simba

Yeah, Scott put vocals above everything else and it looked like he was stressed to judge all stuff 🙂

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
6 years ago

I disgree with Blanche being Adele-like. She was more Lana Del Rey to me. But I’m glad FineBros showed them most of my favs(most of them made it to Top 5 anyways).

fastfoodmusiclover
fastfoodmusiclover
6 years ago

i always enjoy first-timers reactions to eurovision. good thing eurovision stays to form this year as it always did by providing some silly entries.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

I loved the reactions of the woman who had seen some Eurovision before, Lotte. She unabashedly loved *everything*, however serious or silly it may have been.

Episode
Episode
6 years ago

Looks so fake.

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago

Who gives a fk what muricans and trump think

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

Since this site is headed-up by a “murican”, one expects you to stop reading it, by that hateful logic.

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

He lives in EU. Do try to keep up

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

So do millions of “muricans”. Do try to get over your ignorant hatreds.

Felix
Felix
6 years ago

I think it’d be cool to see Suzanne pick her favourites from the Big 5, and also same for the top 5 🙂 (also maybe William could teach her some geography while she’s there haha)

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago

I felt like shouting at Scott, “it’s not a vocals competition!”. I guess some of them just couldn’t wrap their heads around that. The clue is in the title, though, “song” contest.

Sergio was my favorite.

Also, no, the US should most definitely not be allowed to compete. Especially, and I can’t stress this enough, if LOGO TV are involved in any way shape or form.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

That’s a monkey…it’s so European…what?????????????

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

It really is. It’s just not the kind of thing you ever see in American contests, while it’s the kind of delightful thing you see all the time in European contests (Russian man on skates, Polish butterchurn lady, Ukrainian man in a hampster wheel, Azerbaijani gent in a horse mask, and on and on and on).

Even an American novelty act in full-on “Yodel It!” mode would almost never do that, unless the song was literally “The Dancing Ape Song”. And if that happened, the performance would almost always crash straight to the bottom.

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Darth Thulhu

Shorter me: absolutely everything referenced during “Love Love Peace Peace” is “so European”, to an American audience. We’re way too self-conscious to do any of that in a “serious” competition.

catcm
catcm
6 years ago

Hi William, hi wiwibloggs, Thank you so much for the amazing coverage of Eurovision 2017 and for the daily updates! You are the best and watching you makes me very happy.. Your sister is so cool, William, and I would love to hear her opinion on all acts performed this year. The video would be long, but I guess most of us, the wiwis, would be here for it. I would love to hear her thoughts on Russia’s entry too. Even better, she should join you in Lisbon next year! Anyway, I love your work! Thank you for making beautiful… Read more »

Bella
Bella
6 years ago
Reply to  catcm

I second this. I don’t care how long the video is, I’ve got time! 😀

catcm
catcm
6 years ago
Reply to  Bella

Thanks, Bella! I have all time in the world for wiwibloggs. 🙂

Sophia Stedman
6 years ago
Reply to  catcm

I third this. If we’ve got time to watch a 40 minute semi final two review, we can watch an American react to all acts of Eurovision 2017

catcm
catcm
6 years ago
Reply to  Sophia Stedman

So true, Sophia! 😉

May
May
6 years ago
Reply to  catcm

Yes! Get her to comment on everything and take her to Lisbon next year!

catcm
catcm
6 years ago
Reply to  May

Yes, take her! It would be awesome to have another perspective on the contest. 🙂

Fowp
Fowp
6 years ago

Please show her the top 5 from this year

doluvic
doluvic
6 years ago

william don’t forget ALMA!! maybe american people could love her she is so chic and kind, and her french touch can be appreciated in the other side of Atlantic ocean. greetings from France.

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Yay the React channel did another Eurovision react video! Should be an annual thing. Next year, they should have the teens and college kids do it (last year was Youtubers). As an American who started following the contest only a few years ago (my first one is 2011 thanks to the suggestions of Tumblr friends and to this day is mad that Eric Saade didn’t win), I was like them when it comes to the contest. It was 2013 is when I start watching national finals like Melfest and Norway’s MGP. This year was the first time I made my… Read more »

Simba
Simba
6 years ago
Reply to  Americanvision

Congratulations for your baby, hope you will share the name with us, it’s so nice to see Americans that have a positive reaction to Eurovision. Usually Americans are very happy with their own music industry, and don’t care about Eurovision.
Eurovision was created in 1956 to bring Europe together, and it’s nothing else than that. It’s not a talent show, it’s a celebration.

adriana
adriana
6 years ago

Wow so much fun watching it.

ESCViking
ESCViking
6 years ago

William should show his sister City Lights, Blackbird, Yodel it

Peyton
Peyton
6 years ago

You should have your sister react to some old classics to see what she thinks about those 🙂
Songs such as – Tu te reconnaîtras, Poupée de cire, poupée de son, and Un banc, un arbre, une rue to name a few!
Also from this year you should definitely do Yodel It!

Sophia Stedman
6 years ago
Reply to  Peyton

You mean show her all of the winners from the little countries?

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I watched this video today and I was looking forward to a post! It was hilarious! I loved their reactions to acts like Italy, Sweden, Romania and Croatia. Ape, treadmills, canons, busy backdrop and a man singing like two! Belgium and Bulgaria were two acts most liked. As for Portugal, I was surprised the general reaction was positive. Several said “It’s beautiful”. They couldn’t understand a thing, but they liked it! There were people who didn’t like it, but that’s normal. I remember 1 in particular, when they told him that song won he said “The worst!” That video was… Read more »

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  AngieP

For all that two of the eight of them did not like Portugal, it still came out highest in their collective scoring: 32 (out of 40 possible) for Portugal, 29 for Moldova and Belgium, 28 for Bulgaria and Sweden. The Fine Bros do a good job at arranging diverse panels. Even when absolutely everyone is white, like this one, there’s a wide range of ages and tastes and preferences. Some want “just vocals” and “uniqueness”. Others want artistry. Others want to feel good. The end result of all of them at once is very much like the breadth of the… Read more »

bs10064
bs10064
6 years ago

The YouTube Channel ‘Watch Mojo’ also posted ‘Top 10 Eurovision Performances’ last week too.

Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago

Can’t wait for your sisters’ reaction!! Had me in stitches this year! Please definitely do Yodel It, Story of My life, City Lights, Space and Blackbird!

Sorry fir any typos, my phone is acting very weird atm.

Trocatroc
Trocatroc
6 years ago

Ha ha these guys are really funny 🙂

Salocin
Salocin
6 years ago

You should show your sister Belarus 2017, Romania 2017, Spain 2016, Armenia 2016, Iceland 2016 and Georgia 2015!

CharlieChan
CharlieChan
6 years ago

Please show your sister O’G3NE, Manel and Barei!!

Coolhand
Coolhand
6 years ago

Those weren’t youtubers, just regular adults

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Coolhand

All of their YouTube channels are listed in the description of the FBE video. They aren’t all super famous Tyler Oakley fame YouTubers, but they are definitely YouTubers! <3

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago

If anyone wants to see the reactions of slightly-more-famous YouTubers (including Tyler Oakley!), the same channel did their first Eurovision-reaction video last year, in relation to the 2016 contest, “YouTubers React to Eurovision”.

That had a panel of ten, two of whom were a Spaniard couple with large followings in Latin America. Of the eight Americans, three had heard of Eurovision but none had ever seen it.

(They didn’t do a Top Five, that year, but rather one semi-final sampler, the winner, and a handful of historic winners.)

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Bogdan Honciuc

Y’all are *on* *it*! Thanks for everything you do!