The Eurovision Song Contest

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sat May 20, 2006 11:26 am

Hi Lena and Harry---I lived fairly close to the White City Estate--just down the road at East Acton. Adam Faith actually came from Acton, again just down the road from me----but yet another coincidence---Adam Faith moved to a small place called Tudeley, which believe it or not, is just down the road from where I live now in Kent. Sadly, that is where Adam died , some time ago.

I am hoping to watch Eurovision--I have been very brave and put a bet on Brian Kennedy to win---but with the way the voting goes these days--who knows.

Marian
Mariana

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sat May 20, 2006 1:51 pm

Hi Marian, although my relatives moved from the area some years ago, one of my cousins was married in the nearby church, can't remember which one at the moment, and her Mother-in-Law lived along Westway, we used to take our son to the indoor bowling centre, and two of the regulars there were Ronnie Carroll and Millicent Martin who later parted of course.
Very sad about Adam Faith, apart from his music we enjoyed his series Love Hurts with Zoe Wannamaker.
The nearest we ever get to Kent now is Bromley to visit relatives.
Hope Brian Kennedy wins for you Marian. It could be the luck of the Irish yet again. You never know. :) : :)

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sat May 20, 2006 4:07 pm

Hi Lena and Harry---this is crazy---I used to live in Westway!! Just along from the bowling alley---although at that time it was the Savoy cinema--the church around the corner was St Aidans, where I was married for the first time. I moved away in 1968 to Welling, and in the late 70's moved to Paddock Wood in Kent, where I still am.. My sister stayed on In Westway with my mum for many years--eventually all those houses were knocked down to build a flyover, my sister moved to Ealing, so I never have reason to go back there now. I know I would not recognise it--they even got rid of White City Stadium!

Marian
Mariana

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ROBERT M.
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Post by ROBERT M. » Sat May 20, 2006 4:08 pm

Hello Mariana44, Lena and Harry, and Hilary and everyone, well that's filled one line up already.!! Mariana44, have you been following Adam Faith around.?? You must have been a really fanatical fan. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now I hope Brian Kennedy does well tonight in the Eurovision Song Contest as he has a brilliant voice. His voice is probably too good for this contest though. I definitely want him to win now for your sake Mariana44. Are you going to share your winning's with us.?? I doubt I will be watching tonight. The thing is, once you start watching the contest you seem to get hooked and cannot turn the TV over to another channel, can you.

When the Eurovision Song contest started in the 1950's, and for a few good years afterwards, the UK was represented by the top singer's of the day. Matt in 1964, Ronnie Carroll (can't remember the year), Sandie
Shaw in 1967, and Cliff in 1969 singing Congratulations, which I really liked, a really good catchy song. Guess where it finished -2nd- as usual. But nowadays they just pick anybody thats seems to be in the "musical fashion". It's certainly changed for THE WORSE.

My tears will fall now that your gone :(

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sat May 20, 2006 7:35 pm

Hi Robert---I think the truth is that Adam Faith was following ME around. :P

If I win with Brian Kennedy, I shall put some money aside to buy all of you a drink at the Fan Club Meeting.

A few names are down already--will you be making it Robert --a long way for you to travel!!

I am really looking forward to meeting up with some familiar names.

Marian
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ROBERT M.
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Post by ROBERT M. » Sat May 20, 2006 11:21 pm

Hello everyone. I did watch the end of the so called "Song Contest". But never again.!!!! Words fail me.!!!! What can you say about it nowadays.!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

While i'm here can I say it was sad news to hear of the demise of Freddie Garrity from 60's chart toppers Freddie and the Dreamers.

My tears will fall now that your gone :(

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sun May 21, 2006 12:10 am

Yes, Robert, another wasted evening, and after seeing the first sad entrants we even gave the uk half a chance.
Brian Kennedy seemed the only sane one there tonight, and judging by tonights loonies that scored ahead, that seemed his downfall.
Sorry about your bet Marion, :( another bookies day, but we'll see what we can do with the footie World Cup, :wink: :wink:

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Post by Jintygirl » Sun May 21, 2006 9:06 am

Morning all! A friend 'phoned me up as the contest started last night to ask if I was watching. 20 years ago we used to have a party on Eurovision night to have a good old laugh at all the entrants and the presentation. I don't know how laughable most of them were last night - I ended up doing other things, but I caught the voting and the winning entry. Marvellous. :? :? :lol: :lol:

But I caught most of that documentary the other night. Was excellent. But such a shame about the 1964 recording, or lack of it.

I don't know about getting rid of the contest - it's still entertaining, but for the wrong reasons. And I do get cross about everyone voting for their mates. Last year I did actually vote - for what I considered to be the best song - an Abba-ish sounding number from I can't remember what country - Estonia, possibly. But I felt like the only person in the world actually voting for the SONG!! It got nowhere of course. lol

V. sad about Freddie Garrity (never knew how to spell his name - have I got that right?)

Jinty
x

P.S. I always get upset when I see that corner patch of grass where the Savoy Cinema was - I never actually went in, but reaching that point on the Westway meant, as a child, that we were nearly home!

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sun May 21, 2006 10:15 am

Hi Jinty, plus everyone else--I had not realised how well known the Savoy Cinema at East Acton was!!!--are you saying it has now been pulled down?

My family used to go regularly every week--[no tv ], plus I used to go Saturday morning, then when I got older, Sunday afternnon, when they had a different film from the week.

Well, what can I say about Eurovision---as I want to be polite, I will not say much. I guess Brian Kennedy did not really have much of a chance, with the way the voting went, but the more I hear that song ,the more I like it--I would even buy it! As for the winning entry, I just could not believe it--if yesterday was April 1st, I wouyld think it was some huge April Fool's joke!!

I had not heard that Freddie Garrity had died---my husband loved all the 60's music, so I often listened to Freddie anfd the dreamers along with all the other 60's tunes.
Mariana

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ROBERT M.
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Post by ROBERT M. » Sun May 21, 2006 4:13 pm

Hello everyone. After yesterday's news about Freddie Garrity and the abysmal result at the Eurovision Song contest, thing's got a lot better this afternoon. If anyone was listening to the Russell Davies show on Radio 2, you will have heard him playing songs written by Sammy Cahn today. One of the songs was "Time After Time", and yes he played the "magical and emotional" version by Matt. Also Pick of the Pops is quite good from 1971.

My tears will fall now that your gone :(

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sun May 21, 2006 10:51 pm

Hello Everyone, we were sad to hear about Freddy Garrity too. It was probably less than a year ago when Ed Stewart interviewed him on his Sunday programme.
Another Anthony Newley song that we liked was Strawberry Fair.
We will be listening to some playback and have some catching up to do on todays Radio, but returning home from a trip today we actually came through Westway and yes Marian sadly the Savoy cinema that turned to an indoor bowling centre was demolished quite a few years ago. The story was that they were going to widen the road due to congestion and then ran out of money. They demolished all those houses and they have now been replaced with flats. :cry:

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Post by Jintygirl » Sun May 21, 2006 11:17 pm

Bad luck on your bet, btw, Mariana44.

But back to our totally off-topic bit (aren't we rebels, us Matt Monro fans?? :lol: ) I heard the same story as Lena and Harry about the road-widening bit. I actually met a couple, at Butlin's a few years ago, who had lived in one of those houses that were knocked down along there. They were paid quite handsomely and moved to Kent - popular county! :lol: You may like to know though that that junction is still called Savoy Circus.

I missed what Robert was listening to on Radio 2, but was pleased to see Lena and Harry mention Strawberry Fair by Anthony Newley. It was played on Sounds of the Sixties a few months back and I don't think I've managed to get his version out of my head for more than a few days at a time! It's a classic.

Now that's the sort of thing that should have won the Eurovision Song Contest...(phew! managed to get back on topic after all!!! :lol: :lol: )

Jinty
x

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ROBERT M.
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Post by ROBERT M. » Sun May 21, 2006 11:55 pm

Hello Jintygirl, Lena and Harry and all. Talking of being (off topic), shouldn't "Strawberry Fair", have gone onto the new game page - Your All Time Favourite Songs - as "Why" was mentioned there ?? :D :D

Lena and Harry, are you sure Freddie Garrity was interviewed by Ed Stewart. I cannot remember an interview with Freddie. I thought Ed just played requests and great music on his show ??

My tears will fall now that your gone :(

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Hilary
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Post by Hilary » Mon May 22, 2006 10:54 am

Hi Lena and Harry, Robert, Marian, Jintygirl and everyone else as well!!

My grandparents watched Eurovision on Saturday night.
We called around to see them later in the evening and we had the great pleasure of sitting through the voting and hearing the winning song at the end!!

I do find it very difficult to put into words what we actually saw last Saturday night. The winning song, (sorry still didn't catch the name of the group!) were dressed up and wearing very scary face masks!!
Maybe they were too ashamed too show their faces :wink:

If their singing career isn't successful for them why don't they offer their services to the producers of "Doctor Who" as they certainly would be scary enough for the show!! :wink:

Listening to Radio 2 yesterday morning and Michael Parkinson said that he also couldn't believe what he saw as well.
I think that it is very sad that the BBC still allow this annual show to be shown on their network. If I were the controller of BBC 1 TV then I think that I would probably have gone into hiding by now!!!

Best Wishes,

Hilary :)
Hilary

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Mon May 22, 2006 11:01 am

Hi Hilary and all--I think I must have been in some kind of stupor on Saturday night, as I actually watched Eurovision from beginning to end. Why ???

I really do not know.

I just agree with all your comments---just awful. Except for Brian Kennedy.

Marian
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