The Fine Brothers are famed for their “react” video series on YouTube. Over the years they’ve had kids, teens, elders and YouTubers react to a whole range of topics from Donald Trump to Furby. And today it was the turn of Eurovision, with some of the world’s biggest YouTube stars dishing out their opinions on our beloved contest. What did they think?
YouTubers react to Eurovision
The group of mostly American content creators were first introduced to the contest via a recap of the second semi-final from 2016. Several were already familiar with the competition, but not Tyler Oakley — “I’ve never experienced this in my life. All I know is it’s very gay”. Another asks if it’s “country idol” while someone else compares it to the Olympics except for singing.
Of course, they also shared their thoughts on the singers. Michal Szpak is “like Prince, but the Thor version”, Kaliopi is “very passionate”, Poli Genova’s “got moves” and Laura Tesoro receives a “yaas, qween” from Tyler.
Next they were shown a clip of Jamala’s “1944”, this year’s winner. As with Eurovision fans she received a mixed response. Philip DeFranco asks “is this supposed to be good?”, but Lana “get’s why she won”. They all agree that Jamala can sing. We can’t help but think that the reception might have been even warmer if the Fine Brothers had shown Jamala’s grand final performance rather than the version from the Ukrainian national final.
The YouTubers were also treated to a montage of some of Eurovision’s best known winners. Lys Assia is branded “sweet” — possibly for the first time in years — while ABBA draw gasps of pleasant surprise. Jon Cozart unwittingly labels Celine Dion the “Celine Dion” of her day.
After all the clips, the YouTubers are asked a series of questions dealing with everything from politics to Eurovision haters. Their most interesting responses are to the question on whether the United States should join. Veronica & Vanessa Merrell feel left out, whereas MatPat worries that allowing the whole world to enter would “water down” the concept. Meanwhile, Tyler unabashedly declares that the Americans “would probably run it”, but “to deny us the opportunity to ruin it is rude”.
This is just the latest instance of Eurovision popping up in American popular culture. Last summer another famous YouTube channel WatchMojo featured the top ten Eurovision songs of all time. And earlier this month, the contest was broadcast live in America for the first time ever .
What do you think of the YouTubers’ reactions? And what are your thoughts on Eurovision’s growing popularity in the United States? Let us know in the comments below.
The People’s Couch (Gogglebox US) had an episode featuring Eurovision 2016. You guy should check it out.
I wouldn’t mind the US to participate if it was backed sincere and honest by one of their broadcast companies. It doesn’t need to big and popular in the US and I don’t think it will ever be. The fear American music will dominate the contest is silly. America has a few mega stars and non of them will ever participate in ESC, but what is there behind them? How many Europeans have a grasp about various local American artists? Possibly if you into some special genre perhaps but otherwise? I think Eurovision could be a chance for US artists… Read more »
@Jonas, if you don’t know by now, then you won’t know even if I’d explain it to you in ABC language.
https://www.change.org/p/european-broadcasting-union-open-the-eurovision-song-contest-to-the-us
This is my petition to open the Grand Final to US viewers that didn’t have the chance to watch it on LogoTV. Please sign if you agree.
@Alex
Exactly!!!! Totally for the lgbt community but I don’t understand why people who have no idea about the contest instantly link it only to that community. Lgbt are a big fan-base for sure but theyre not the only group in this contest. Its great that ESC is a forum for acceptance/tolerance but as a straight fan I would like it to move from being associated solely with one group. Why does it need to be linked to the gay community solely, by many people??
As an American, I think it’s GREAT that America is starting to notice Eurovision, since the contest gives names and faces to many countries that the average american knows nothing about, like Latvia, FYR Macedonia, or Albania. However, I don’t think America should participate in the contest, or too many countries outside of Europe and areas close to Europe as possible. As much as I would love to see a more global representation of world cultures represented, adding countries to the contest would make it more difficult for those already involved to stay. Slovakia left the competition after a series… Read more »
Sadly, I don’t think the US will be invited to participate because the ESC just isn’t very popular or well known here. It might be better that way though, since we would have a pretty good chance of winning often and making everyone mad (I mean, people all over the world listen to American music and we are considered as having the world’s biggest music industry with many world famous musical artists). Actually, now I that I say it I think we should participate lol. I wish their was a global song contest, since obviously their is a lot of… Read more »
Regarding Tyler Oakley,before I continue I have nothing against the lbgt community and the people from it that like eurovision like I do but now that that’s out of the way, how on earth did he come to the conclusion that eurovision is predominantly gay from hearing just two songs from an event he knows nothing about
I’m finding it kinda funny that those “YouTubers”, most of whom I don’t even know, except for Tyler (who had actually cool and kind reactions), are now suddenly EXPERTS in music. “Is this supposed to be good?” “I don’t see it”. Blah blah, there was plenty of fuss around Ukraine winning ESC2016, but NOBODY who’s sane would say that it’s unbearable.
ewwww cancer
as an american, a lot of us do know what the contest is (especially in Washington DC) even if we generally think of it as something along the lines of “Europe’s Next Gay Idol!!!1!111!”
most of these people are probably faking surprise :/
Sorry no to America. It is not like Australia who have history with the ESC. Letting USA join is unexplainable bad… Unjustifiable in many ways. Sorry. 🙁
“. It’s ok to let all the eastern countries be part of Eurovision, when we all know what that means,” No…we don’t all know “what that means”. Please tell us. Also, the fact that the contest may not be popular in the US (who cares? It’s America’s loss) doesn’t mean that they won’t be participating. It just means I’ll resent it all the more. LogoTV have one foot in the door with their own commentator’s box, all they have to do now is stump up a fee and they’re in. The general American public have nothing to do with it.… Read more »
Some of you guys are so conservative and fuddy-duddy. It’s ok to let all the eastern countries be part of Eurovision, when we all know what that means, but it’s not ok to invite a country like the US with the biggest music industry and no real connections within their population to any European country. At least they’d be voting fairly.
I would be more than happy to have the US compete, so should that happen, welcome guys!
I don’t care if us American participate or not, just unblock it on YouTube so we can watch! I rather watch it with no commentary than the clowns we had on Logo!
(And for the record, I watched the whole thing on SVT’s online stream while heading home from vacation in the Caribbean).
Eurovision, Asiavision, Americavision (America meaning from Canada to Brazil or so) .. and the Winners (Top 5 or something) compete against each other in a Great (World) Final. I’d find that exciting.
Btw, there’s a proof that Tyler Oakley (the one on the cover photo) tweeted the same “what’s Eurovision” three years in a row, just to prove himself “trendy” or whatever. He knows what’s Eurovision and that dramatic stupidity of his on the video is one big great stupidity.
That would be a fantastic show to watch if artists from different continents could participate together. Just imagine the scale. But I wish Eurovision would stay for European countries only. Like in sports there are national, european and world championships. Each event has its own value. Or maybe artists from other parts of the world could be invited to the European event as guests. They could perform there but couldn’t be part of voting.
Well the Yanks joining has not gone down well in certain groups…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1640367806185048/
No United States to Eurovision. Eurovision is supposed to bring Europe together and we have even Australia on board now…wrong direction. Remember where it started!
OK, one more time:
THERE IS NO GROWING POPULARITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
2014 (featuring Conchita Wurst) got a lot more mainstream media coverage than this year did. And the ratings for the Logo TV broadcast this year were catastrophic. (52,000 viewers TOTAL, in the entire country. By comparison, that Fine Brothers video has over 800,000 views as of this writing.)
Everybody CHILL. We aren’t going to mess with your Contest.
I’m surprised Americans didn’t know about it. With their zillions of channels I thought one of them would be showing it. They have a lot of Europeans in their country too, just like Australia. I just love music so that is where my love for eurovision comes from. I love finding out out what is popular in other countries and I love when they sing in their own language. My mum who lived in Japan till her 30s said eurovision was popular there and she was the one who introduced me to it. I don’t think it’s a bad thing… Read more »
Your queen Margaret may want revenge after “meltdown” http://eurovoix.com/2016/05/29/poland-margaret-not-rule-eurovision-2017-participation/
We could go even bigger and invite the whole universe(sarcastic)
I love living the living life!
And no worries, the U.S. will NOT enter the contest anytime soon. Jon Ola Sand even said it himself. I don’t get why people think it will (and I’m American). Sand and I are fully aware the contest is not huge, not recognized, MOST don’t know it exists even with these recent mentions the 2016 content, it’s not attracting new views.
Plus Eurovision freaking blocked YT in the U.S. No growth there.
@oooops,
what a great idea, I’d like 3 participants for each part of the world, it’s amaaaazing idea, but it can ruin the concept of eurovision, chances would be even smaller, so a lot of european people will stop watching this contest
If America wants to compete then they’re just gonna have to watch and wait for 30 years just like how Australia had to wait.
We could do like with Australia. Invite them for one or two years, and then inspire them to do a similar contest in America, both north and south. We could do the same with Africa, and then invite them for a world vision, where every competitions’ winner, runner up and 2nd runner up could compete for the win in worldvision. For example, if the first edition was in 2015, Europe would have been represented by Måns Zelmerlöw, Polina Gagarina and Il Volo.
I don’t think we’ll see the US soon, but I’m expecting Canada to get the next ‘wild card’
Oh I watch that channel a lot, socthis should be interesting.
seeing people reacting to conchita always gets me. 😀
i kinda wish thefinebros would ask more hard-hitting questions like how jamala robbed sergey and dami.
Iam sorry USA but I will be so annoyed if the EBU let the US Compete at next years eurovision because just like they all said, they will ruin it and then treat it like a joke. Sorry Americans but no. (In my opinion)
Well, before 1984 there was 1981 and the return of the très charmant Jean-Claude Pascal for Luxembourg…
C’es peut-être pas l’Amérique
Mais l’Amérique, ce n’est pas tout
J’ai dans le cœur une musique
Et cette musique pour moi c’est beaucoup….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBUAz479m48
BTW, Americans already have a history in the ESC, think of the beautiful French based songstress from the US, Jean Manson. She competed for Luxembourg in 1979 with “J’ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBwgHieRoE0
Eurovision has NO place in American popular culture. It’s a non-issue. Nobody knows about it. This year, Logos TV aired it, but the viewing figures were pitiful (50,000 people, where the US population is over 300 million). Plus, due to the Youtube block, NOBODY in the US can view the performances. This will not help spread the word about Eurovision. It will take a great deal of time before Eurovision becomes popular here, if at all. Plus, the US culture is moving more towards a heavy South American influence. They’re not going to all of a sudden start watching European… Read more »
Now that is the reason why Tyler Oakley kept on tweeting “what is Eurovision?” per year like an idiot. Just watch the damn contest on Youtube or at the official website ffs.
Azaad, I guess they have even more than 5 countries to get support. think Israel, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia… you’ve got the idea 🙂 my opinion: this year Australia attracted voices of countries who didn’t wanted to praise Russia or Ukraine, if next year Aussies will be coupled with top notch US song, we can actually see broken neighbor voting in some parts of the globe, because people will start to mix political views and sympathy with music contest again. anti-Russian coalition will more likely upvote US I’m actually curious to see US in the contest. It will help to show… Read more »
How come you guys haven’t posted Stephen Colbert’s Eurovision song?
usa would make much more sense than russia. russia is ruining the ESC (just like they do with everything) by acting like they are entitled to win, trying to impose in the festival their domestic bigotry (wanting to ban rainbow flags, which had been present without problem even before russia joined) , insulting artists from other countries, making news for ripping passports when israel singer was in a promo trip, and creating a overall ugly political enviroment (although they cynically say ‘they’re not guilty’). they would be better in their ‘voice of eurasia’ with iran, uzbekistan, etc. usa could be… Read more »
Guys, chill. The USA won’t join anytime soon. Australia only joined after 40 years of broadcasting, so maybe the USA will join in time for the 100th anniversary…besides to join your country’s population need to know more than 5 other countries participating. 😉
I am having a felling the focus point will be shifted if US joined, just like X Factor and American idol. You are watching the reaction of judges and interval act but not the participant.
Notts, it’s been highlighted in updated map of Europe 🙂 http://media.tumblr.com/c92a2a9edb206b8bfb741ef916ff7a33/tumblr_inline_njkmc4Vqbf1s4i5le.png we’re talking about Eurovision – a contest for European countries (as it was before). Were you can accept Israel (as an exception) and some countries from Caucacus-Eurasia (such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia) there’s clearly something wrong with Australia who is 9 hours ahead of us. if it’s been accepted, why we can’t accept US and to be 9 hours ahead of them? 🙂 if to look into history of US, it’s been created by people from Europe. not so long ago. many of them still have relatives in Europe.… Read more »
They showed Jamala’s NF performance and a the second semi final recap, because those videos weren’t from-blocked. Maybe the Viacom deal with the EBU is paying for some of the debt for other countries, making a deal with the devil
” after Australia we can’t reject any one, that would be a discrimination. ”
@Oxana – could you please elaborate on that? I don’t get it tbh.
I am really happy with the FinesBros video. I think they diffenitly shined a bright light on the contest even if they got some facts wrong. I hope that this will increase American interests and hopefully we will have it broadcasted on more channels and have the videos no longer geo-blocked in America.
Are you all angry over the fact they show and recognize ESC in USA? You can’t stop people from watching it. You can watch it for free on Eurovision site, worldwide.
That doesn’t mean they will ever be invited or take part in the contest. It’s the same way when we watch American Idol and similar shows. We watch it cause we enjoy it but that doesn’t mean we will be part of it.
This was just a fun little video to see what some Americans think of it.
So lets make it “worldvision” song contast that is the best :):) i wonder who will vote for who….
OR,
good idea at the end of your comment. looking forward for them to leave this blog for good 🙂
Notts, why is that? if you don’t like what I’m saying it does not mean I have to rethink it. US welcomed to ESC (as long as we already have Australia who almost won this year, it does not matter if we’ll invite US, China, Thailand, Brasil or put here any country). I’m not going to be a hypocrite and just will put it straight – after Australia we can’t reject any one, that would be a discrimination. Like it or not, US can ask for invitation and easily will get one from EBU and hosting country. Therefore it’s useless… Read more »
7.21 Lol This guy is shocked obviously! His reaction when he has seen Conchita!
Oxana again u writing nonssense!!! The only country that put on the table unrelevent things is Ukraine that won only becouse if politic song!!! And you are the one who started writing here unrelevent things… U olways write about how much u hate russia so i thought its music blog and not politics, as a israeli i feel sorry for all of the russains here that u attack every single day and i say israeli becouse i too dint agree with putin about a lot of things but its not a reasen to insult every russain that wright here…wiwi- im… Read more »
The ESC is already branded as GAY in the USA on all counts. So sad.
And don’t EVER let USA compete, nor China. NOBODY ELSE. It will be pathetic.