Totallympics Open International Song Contest 2020

[dcro 10,210]

kungshamra71: "It's Just a Matter of How It Sounds"

 

 

Portugal's entries are like a box of chocolate - you never know what you're gonna get. From fado to death metal and electronic scores, we have heard it all. In terms of voting, meanwhile, Portugal and its leading juror kungshamra71 proudly represent the radical anti-establishment. Only 40% of champions have scored any points from them...

 

Q: How do you go about evaluating TISC entries? Do you use a specific system when picking out your Top 12?

A: I always start listening to all the songs and assign them a number, from 1 to 12 (with half points sometimes). This does not mean I assign every possible point to a song, in fact, I think only once or twice I did assign 11 or 12 points to a song in whole TISC history. 

 

Then, after having those points assigned, I order them and hear again the songs that are tied, to properly order then on my ranking. With the whole ranking done, the top 12 get the 12 points, obviously. 

 

Q: And what about the maximum 12 points? Can you recognize it immediately? Or do you take a certain amount of time before deciding on it?

A: It depends. I think usually there are some songs that I hear and I can say "ok, this will be probably my top!" like in the annual edition of 2016 where I heard the French, Tunisia and Algerian ones and I knew immediately they would be my top 3.

 

Usually, the editions where I find the quality of the songs not that good are the more difficult ones to give the 12, but never too much time.

 

Q: Do you have a favorite music genre? Is there any genre you would like to hear more of on the TISC stage?

A: I kind of like a bit of all genre, but my favorite I think it would be epic instrumental music and soundtracks (huge fan of Hans Zimmer and Two Steps From Hell). Also like American country music, which is unusual, I guess haha.

 

I don't feel the need for any particular genre on TISC, to be honest, I like mostly all types of music, it's just a matter of "how it sounds" to me.

 

Q: How important are lyrics to you?

A: Not much. Unless I can understand them and they are dumb enough for me to not being able to like the music without thinking about the lyrics, I don't give too much importance to lyrics.

 

Q: And finally... How can we get 12 points from kungshamra71?

A: Not sure, I think I'm a bit unpredictable. I like traditional stuff, things that bring something different to what I have already listened. Well unless Germany decides to send Hans Zimmer, I think I would be giving the 12 points after 10 seconds of listening to the music.

 

If kungshamra71's musical preferences still feel like a jigsaw puzzle - maybe this will help. The resident Portuguese juror has outlined the following entries as favorites during the most recent TISC editions...

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more user interviews to come, as we count down to TOISC 2020...

[dcro 10,210]

Bohemia: "It's Really Just About a Feeling"

 

 

France is a battleground nation in many ways. From the fact that the winning songs may or may not get points from them, to the fact that the French votes are comprised of two very different judging ideals. As one half of the French panel, Bohemia has accumulated extensive judging experience and has lead France to numerous notable results, including three bronze medals, several team honors and the coveted Music'thlon gold medal...

 

Q: How do you go about evaluating TISC entries? Do you use a specific system when picking out your Top 12?

A: I give all the songs a first listen and give them "notes", either +, =+, =, =- or -. After the first listen, I immediately eliminate the songs that got =- and - and then I listen to the rest at least 2 or 3 more times to make a decision. So as you can see, I don't have a very efficient system, but it works for me and I don't really want to change it.

 

Q: And what about the maximum 12 points? Can you recognize it immediately? Or do you take a certain amount of time before deciding on it?

A: It really depends. Sometimes I hear a song and I'll know the first time that it will get my 12. Other times I will have some clear favorites without knowing which one is better, and that's when it gets difficult to choose. I'll have to listen to those few songs again and again and again to try to see if one stands out more.

 

Q: Do you have a favorite music genre? Is there any genre you would like to hear more of on the TISC stage?

A: This is a question I always dread. I don't really know, indie and pop-rock I guess? And as a genre I would like to hear more, I think that I get to hear my favorite genres quite a lot already, so it's cool.

 

Q: How important are lyrics to you?

A: The first thing I notice in a song is general rhythm and the instruments that are used. The lyrics are not the most important thing for me (unless they are really stupid, then it will probably make me dislike the song).

 

Q: And finally... How can we get 12 points from Bohemia?

A: Good question. It's really just about the feeling I get when I listen to the song. If it gives me chills (mostly because of the music), then it could get 12 points from me.

 

If Bohemia's musical preferences still feel like a jigsaw puzzle - maybe this will help. Our resident Irish juror has outlined the following entries as favorites during the most recent editions...

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more user interviews to come, as we count down to TOISC 2020...

[dcro 10,210]

  titicow: "Indie Songs Have My Attention"

 

 

When TISC started, Brazil recorded a shaky start to their campaign, with only one Top 10 result achieved during the first seven editions. But the wait turned out to be worth it. Four consecutive Top 6 placings came next, as well as the distinct honor of being the Jubilee hosts.

 

While often overlooked in vinipereira's favor, titicow is himself a long-term member of the Brazilian judging panel and TISC family in general. This interview therefore gives us an opportunity for a closer examination...

 

Q: How do you go about evaluating TISC entries? Do you use a specific system when picking out your Top 12?

A: Usually I only use the playlist order to select about 20 songs, then If necessary I listen again so I can be sure this is my Top 12.

 

Q: And what about the maximum 12 points? Can you recognize it immediately? Or do you take a certain amount of time before deciding on it?

A: Every competition I have a clear winner. Most of the time, I recognize 3 or 4 songs that I already enjoyed before and give them a high score.

 

Q: Do you have a favorite music genre? Is there any genre you would like to hear more of on the TISC stage?

A: Indie songs usually have my attention, but I'm always open to listen to different songs, especially not the mainstream ones.

 

Q: How important are lyrics to you?

A: To be fair not at all.

 

Q: And finally... How can we get 12 points from titicow?

A: A lovely melody and an exciting arrangement will be enough.

 

If titicow's musical preferences still feel like a jigsaw puzzle - maybe this will help. Our resident Brazilian juror has outlined the following entries as favorites during the most recent editions...

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more user interviews to come, as we count down to TOISC 2020...

[dcro 10,210]

Hard to find more indie songs than In Camera and Bankende Hjerter.

 

[heywoodu 15,135]

Boy, did I underestimate how nerve-wracking the act of sending templates to the juries is  

 

The gut-wrenching fear of accidentally sending someone else's templates and/or (the worst option) accidentally sending the whole scoreboard up to that point  

[OlympicIRL 5,532]

Saturday arrives, you are ready for another TISC extravaganza, the banter is plenty, the drinks are flowing, but there is a spectre of that most terrifying demon haunting us. No, no, no, silly @heywoodu, I am not talking about olives. I am not even referring to those Antarctic fiends that we love to hate. No this is a nightmare that is much more terrifying... the dreaded "nul points".

Not until we receive those first comforting points can we truly breathe a sigh of relief and settle into the contest.

 

 

So what happens if you find yourself in that lonely position on Saturday where you are alone at the foot of the table with a duck egg for company? Juries come and juries go but no points have fallen in your basket. Well, fear no more, I have the very post for you to banish those demons so bookmark this post and share with your friends at their time of need. Indeed, if things go badly on Saturday then yes, please please send me this link

 

 

Reasons to be cheerful 1, 2, 3:

 

1. No nation has ever officially finished with nul points at TISC. Every single one of the 508 songs which officially participated in the contest has scored points from a national jury. We have yet to leave anyone behind. Lebanon looks away
2. The song which was the last to score points in the contest has NEVER finished in last place in the final rankings!
3. Songs which were the last to score points can and have gone on to achieve great feats such as receiving 12 pointers and even finishing in the top 10 in the overall ranking. Romania's 8th place finish at TISC Open 2019 is testament to that.

 

 

If that isn't enough to keep your head up then let's look specifically at this edition, TISC Open 2020 for more reasons to be hopeful.

 

TISC is littered with superheroes, ready to save those nations who look doomed to a fate of nul points. Let's take a look at the list of "Lois and Clark"s of years gone by.....

 

 

	Jury #	Superhero	Damsel(s) in Distress
TISC Open 2013	19	Poland	Slovakia
TISC Annual 2014	10	Montenegro	BUL  GUY IND MAR
TISC Open 2014	21	Azerbaijan	Bulgaria
TISC Annual 2015	16	Netherlands	Czech Republic
TISC Open 2015	24	Romania	Azerbaijan
TISC Annual 2016	14	Spain	Kazakhstan
TISC Open 2016	6	Czech Republic	Italy  Poland
TISC Annual 2017	12	Moldova	India  Russia
TISC Open 2017	17	Slovakia	Algeria
TISC Annual 2018	15	Algeria	Azerbaijan
TISC Open 2018	13	Egypt	Tunisia
TISC Annual 2019	17	Argentina	India
TISC Open 2019	7	Malta	Moldova Romania Tunisia
TISC Annual 2020	11	Tunisia	Kazakhstan
TISC Open 2020	?	?	?

 

 

So the first 2 sessions have concluded, 14 juries have cast their votes but your song is still out in the cold on zero points? Well as we learned earlier, in as many as half of the contests to date, at least 1 song has been waiting longer than 14 juries to receive their very first points. So no reason to panic just yet.

 

 

But naturally, your demons are growing by now, you are convinced you will be the exception to the rule? Well the middle order is packed full of proven superheroes to help pick you up and get you on your feet:

 

Slovakia (Jury #14)

 

Tunisia (Jury #16)

 

Romania (Jury #17)

 

Argentina (Jury #18)

 

Netherlands (Jury #22)

 

Not to mention the votes of (Jury #21) which is usually a bonanza for the lower-ranked songs.

 

 

If after this batch of heroes have been dispatched and you are still in peril, then remember, Azerbaijan did not receive their first score until the 24th jury at TISC Open 2015 and better still they did not even finish last. And guess who we have voting in jury position #24? Yes it's New Zealand . If you are on zero points then you are surely in with a chance of arousing the attention of @Wanderer's radar.

 

Ok, so is it time to panic after the 24th jury has passed and you are still on the brink of zero points? The next pair of superheroes will be dispatched:

 

Egypt (Jury #26)

Czech Republic (Jury #30)

 

 

Ok so things are beginning to look bleak but there is still 5 juries to go! 5 more chances to catch the eye of a potential new hero. And to cap it all we have a proven superhero in Malta to round out the voting in a final attempt to save your blushes.

 

 

 

So, we have run out of superheroes, run out of juries and if you have come this far then we have failed you and that would be a TISC first. And if that happens we will be there to give you a hug (socially distanced of course), and remind you that we are there to pick you up and carry you on to the next TISC adventure.

 

 

[dcro 10,210]

10 minutes ago, OlympicIRL said:

Songs which were the last to score points can and have gone on to achieve great feats such as receiving 12 pointers and even finishing in the top 10 in the overall ranking. Romania's 8th place finish at TISC Open 2019 is testament to that.

And that's Romania being weird again.

[OlympicIRL 5,532]

1 hour ago, heywoodu said:

Boy, did I underestimate how nerve-wracking the act of sending templates to the juries is  

 

The gut-wrenching fear of accidentally sending someone else's templates and/or (the worst option) accidentally sending the whole scoreboard up to that point  

 

Yep, that is so true. A panic only matched by those juries who had the honour of delivering a one-by-one vote finale who are destroyed by nerves in case they accidentally post the whole thing

[dcro 10,210]

Just to add a little more reassuring perspective...

 

508/508 scored points

507/508 scored points from at least two juries (99.8%)

503/508 scored points from at least three juries (99.0%)

[rybak 3,217]

3 minutes ago, dcro said:

Just to add a little more reassuring perspective...

 

508/508 scored points

507/508 scored points from at least two juries (99.8%)

503/508 scored points from at least three juries (99.0%)

Which song and when get points from just one jury?