Orcs and Elves compete in Song Contest - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-20-2006, 04:38 PM

Did some of the European members watch the Eurovision Song Contest this evening? I had read preview reports about the various groups, and one that was frequently shown on pictures was the Finnish heavy metal group Lordi. Visually, it sticks out from the rest; my reaction was spontaneous - they look like orcs!

Well, our earth isn't Middle-earth - guess who won?! There's no accounting for tastes, and their song entry for Finland, "Hard Rock Hallelujah", took first place by popular telephone voting all over Europe. And the German commentator who hosted the post-contest show on TV said exactly what I had thought - "Orcs won the Eurovision Song Contest!"

The Norwegian entry had Elves - not costumed as such, just some pretty girls singing and playing Hardanger fiddles (which reminded me of some of Howard Shore's LotR film music). But their song was titled "Alvedansen", which means something like "Elves dancing". Alas, the Elves did not manage to collect very many points...

Isn't it interesting that both of these countries are Scandinavian? It's obvious that the legends that formed the background for Tolkien's works are still active in Nordic regions!

Lalaith · 05-21-2006, 07:49 AM

I was very happy for our Finnish Downer contingent last night...despite having been in the contest almost from the beginning, Finland have never been given douze pointes before, let alone won.
The Orcs were very funny, (definitely Uruk-hai rather than Misty Mountain goblin) although I do find metal a rather boring music form.
Alvedansen does indeed mean Elf Dance, it was rather a sweet song I thought.

But it's true that if you did a Venn diagram involving heavy (death/black/thrash/whatever) metal, Tolkien and Scandinavia, there would be a rather big subset in the middle....

Bêthberry · 05-21-2006, 10:00 AM

Oh, lordi! Indeed, Esty, there's no accounting for taste. There's orcs everywhere these days.

I will do some web searching to see if I can catch a few songs of those groups just to see what you are talking about. Seems like some Icelandic elves (Sigur Ros) would have made a welcome addition!

davem · 05-21-2006, 11:21 AM

Watch all the entries here: http://profend.com/teenage-life/entries.html

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-21-2006, 11:36 AM

I only caught the end, so I only caught the winners performing their reprise.

Great costumes. Terrible, hackneyed 80s-style metal song.

If that is sufficient to win Eurovision, I dread to think what the other entries were like ...

Bring back Abba ...

Mithalwen · 05-21-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Bring back Abba ...

Or John Shuttleworth and Europigeon..... I only saw clips on News 24 but I can't help thinking that the Orcs were more wholesome than the UK entry....

05-20-2006, 04:38 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Orcs and Elves compete in Song Contest Did some of the European members watch the Eurovision Song Contest this evening? I had read preview reports about the various groups, and one that was frequently shown on pictures was the Finnish heavy metal group Lordi. Visually, it sticks out from the rest; my reaction was spontaneous - they look like orcs! Well, our earth isn't Middle-earth - guess who won?! There's no accounting for tastes, and their song entry for Finland, "Hard Rock Hallelujah", took first place by popular telephone voting all over Europe. And the German commentator who hosted the post-contest show on TV said exactly what I had thought - "Orcs won the Eurovision Song Contest!" The Norwegian entry had Elves - not costumed as such, just some pretty girls singing and playing Hardanger fiddles (which reminded me of some of Howard Shore's LotR film music). But their song was titled "Alvedansen", which means something like "Elves dancing". Alas, the Elves did not manage to collect very many points... Isn't it interesting that both of these countries are Scandinavian? It's obvious that the legends that formed the background for Tolkien's works are still active in Nordic regions! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

05-21-2006, 07:49 AM	#2
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	I was very happy for our Finnish Downer contingent last night...despite having been in the contest almost from the beginning, Finland have never been given douze pointes before, let alone won. The Orcs were very funny, (definitely Uruk-hai rather than Misty Mountain goblin) although I do find metal a rather boring music form. Alvedansen does indeed mean Elf Dance, it was rather a sweet song I thought. But it's true that if you did a Venn diagram involving heavy (death/black/thrash/whatever) metal, Tolkien and Scandinavia, there would be a rather big subset in the middle.... __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

05-21-2006, 10:00 AM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Oh, lordi! Indeed, Esty, there's no accounting for taste. There's orcs everywhere these days. I will do some web searching to see if I can catch a few songs of those groups just to see what you are talking about. Seems like some Icelandic elves (Sigur Ros) would have made a welcome addition! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

05-21-2006, 11:21 AM	#4
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Watch all the entries here: http://profend.com/teenage-life/entries.html __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects." Last edited by davem; 05-21-2006 at 11:25 AM.

05-21-2006, 11:36 AM	#5
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	I only caught the end, so I only caught the winners performing their reprise. Great costumes. Terrible, hackneyed 80s-style metal song. If that is sufficient to win Eurovision, I dread to think what the other entries were like ... Bring back Abba ... __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

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