Happy Birthday

Don't worry - this is no self-indulgent podcast!

Yes, it is my birthday but as you will soon discover this is actually a veil to disguise the REAL reasoning and theme behind this podcast. There has been a lot of things happening behind the scenes in DVVH Towers and today I unveil one of this things happening this Eurovision year.

On the podcast you will hear an iconic Belgian entry, one of my favourite Fininsh entries (even if they look like they are dressed in their grannies' nighties) and a Luxembourgish super group. Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/happybirthday_20140928

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

Strictly Come Eurovision

To while away the hours until Eurovision season really kicks in, I'll be spending most of my weekends watching and critiquing the dancers and dances on BBC One's "Strictly Come Dancing".
I guess it is a bit like Eurovision, with the bizarre props and costumes, with possible costume changes, however all without the out of tune singing but also generally in English.

I leave you in this podcast with dance related songs, some more relevant than others, but also let you in on the songs that didn't quite make the mark...

Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/strictlycomeeurovision

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

Backing bands

Hello - I'm not dead !!!!

I am so sorry about the long length of time since the last podcast but as I explain I have had a lot on my plate over the last 2 months and finally I have a bit of time and space to myself to do a podcast.

This podcast has the theme of 'singers and their backing banks and through this I disclose to you one of my guilty pleasures, I talk through some of the down sides of having 'favourite' Eurovisions and if you can share any tips on how to write/draw an ampersand I would like to hear them!

Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/Backingbands

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

ESC Austria

Today's podcast is a very much potted history of Austria in Eurovision.

After their second win in Copenhagen it's time to look back and maybe find out why they have only won 2 times in in 47 attempts!

My own feelings on Austrian Eurovision entries is quite simple - they have had quite a few decent songs but for one reason or another they have never really quite done well enough and with that in mind it makes Conchita's win 2 months ago all the more remarkable.


Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/ESCAustria

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

2014 DVVH Awards!

I know it's late but it is finally here.

A combination of  intermittent work, bad timing and some quite horrid bouts of illness have prevented me from doing this podcast up 'til now - better later than never I say!

Here I take a tongue in cheek look at this year's contest and give out some deserved (and undeserved) award to this year's participants!

Categories this year include - the Sieneke award for Worst Prop, Most Annoying Dancing, the Invisibility award and Best Finger Point.... Can you guess my winners...?

Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/2014DVVHawards

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

2014 wrap up

Sorry about the delay to this podcast but life has been pretty full on since Eurovision plus as you will hear my voice is not as good as it should be !
In this podcast I take my eye over the grand final and talk about the good and bad of the show and how those who did well got extra marks and how those who did not so well may have missed the spot.

Next time I will be unveiling the Inaugural DVVH Eurovision Awards,
If you have an 'alternative' category or nominee get in touch on twitter and leave me a comment or suggestion. As you will hear I'm not being *that* serious about it....


Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/2014wrapup

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

Final Predictions

The two semis are done and dusted - all that is left to do is decide who on earth is going to win... and as you may have listened to my semi predictions - I'm not really good at this!!!! So as you will see I don't *really* predict anything...

I briefly recap the results of the semis (and talk about how hopless I am at predicting) and have a run down of the devised running order - which I think is quite, quite odd... which could cause some unusual results!

And of course I talk to you about the beer I will be drinking this Eurovision - I may not end Saturday night being happy with the result - but I will be merry!!!

Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/2014Finalpreview

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

Semi-final predictions

Well, this day DID have to come and as you hear the last 24 hours fretting over these predictions had given me quite the headache!

Therefore I had a plan - not 1... not 2... but 3 sets of predictions!

Firstly my own top 10 (based on a cumulative score for song, vocal performance and visual show)
Secondly the "Shite or Alright" top 10 (an amalgamation of  me, my husband the the esctips score)
Thirdly a mash up of the two with  a bit of gut feeling mixed in.

Even with so few songs in each, not an easy thing to do! And I dont think any of the 3 sets will be bang on!

I'll be back on Friday night to look at the songs in the final and make another bold prediction!

Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/2014Semipredictions

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

Rehearsals

Rehearsals have been up and running for the last week and clips and pictures have been popping up here, there and everywhere from them.

In this podcast I take a look at what's happened and talk through a some of the surprises (good and bad) shocks (good and bad) the outfits (good... but mainly bad) and the frankly ever-elongating list of entries that can only be described as a hot mess...

One song is too aggressive, another not aggressive enough...
One song is too monochrome, another is too colourful...
Many acts have no charisma, several need to let go a bit more but one act has turned into Hi-Di-Hi circa 1984 with Su Pollard on vocals... in black and white...
I tell many acts to get rid of their gimmicks (especially the meaningless dancers) and I have a slightly restrained rant about invisible backing singers. I am sure I will have a lot more to say about that issue once Eurovision is done and dusted...

In between songs courtesy of Steve Yabsley!

I'll be back tomorrow with my predictions (for my sins!)
 
Follow us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/DVVHolland
or like our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DVVHolland to find get the latest information about blogposts and podcasts or even have a look back at our old ones :o)

You can download or listen to it here https://archive.org/details/2014Rehearsals

Click here to listen to this podcast in your usual music player (M3U Playlist)

DVVHolland visits BBC Radio Bristol

A quick plug before all the Eurovision shenanigans really kicks up a fuss.

Last Friday, I visited BBC Radio Bristol's Steve Yabsley show to talk about all things Eurovision!

I will admit to being TERRIBLY nervous before going on air and I had so many facts, figures, names, faces and dates in my head I did go in a bit bunny in the headlights (hence why I debated if we'd won 5 times or 4 times!) Overall I had a lovely chat with my Yabsley and he seemed to enjoy it too!

I am going to slightly blow my own trumpet here so forgive me if I seem a bit self-indulgent.
It's not often I put myself forward to doing things like this. Behind the façade of the website, twitter and online forums I am really quite shy, unconfident and empty of self esteem. Most of the time I am being told how rubbish I am or how I'm not good enough or that I am a horrid person so I was really happy to have been invited to talk about something I am knowledgeable of and have a passion for... and I don't really have very many of those...
I just sometimes wish I could explain to you all what this passion means to me and that it is something that makes me whole, part of a community and gives me a direction for my happiness. This was a really big thing for me even if it seemed trivial and unimportant to those who knew about it.

It is available to listen to via the BBC iplayer and will be for the next few days here and I am on from about 31 mins onwards.

If you enjoyed me - tell me :)