Dustin the Turkey to rep. Ireland @ Eurovision

Subject: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 08:22 AM

Well, it's official, folks. Dustin the Turkey has been elected as Ireland's representative at the Eurovision semi-finals in Belgrade. In the immortal words of Dana, "The people have spoken." More here:

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0223/eurosong.html

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 08:34 AM

Well Bonnie lass, I watched it, and I sort of wish I hadn't. Good luck to the Ould Bubbly Jock anyway.

Giok

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Folkiedave
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 08:59 AM

Britain has been represented by a few turkeys in its time. How can this possibly be ther first? :-)

Dave

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 09:00 AM

Ahh, but y'see - he's going to be renamed a Duck -

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Shaneo
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 10:21 AM

Goes to show the respect this song competition has, or lack of.
Anyway the turkey has only reached the semi final.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 10:27 AM

Yes, but that's an external event. Ireland has given her final choice as to who goes forward. Anyway, I agree with you - it's a fair good indication of attitude. The pretty runner-up in the red dress handled it well, I thought. Coming second to a turkey... !!!

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: AnCailínÉireannach
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 11:49 AM

Lets face it this song contest isnt about songs anymore. Its about performance, entertainment and putting on a show. While I find it ridiculous and hilarious at the same time, he really is nothing worse than what we have sent to represent us in the last 4 years. Last place last year...things can only get better I suppose. I honestly believe he will come out of the semi's

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: KeithofChester
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 11:56 AM

Definitely rooted in the tradition of Ding Ding a Dong the Eurovision song.

Possibly the first Eurovision song ever to mention the "war" word that everyone else in Eurovision has been doing their best to avoid for the best part of 50 years.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: BanjoRay
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 12:15 PM

I expect he'll get stuffed....
Ray

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 12:15 PM

I just don't get it...... But, despite my genetics, family traditions, and learning.... it appears that at my core I am still an ignorant Yank with no ability to understand humour...... I just don't get it...

Le gach dea-mhéin,

Mick

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 12:23 PM

It's kinda like Ryan Seacrest.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Shaneo
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 12:29 PM

Big Mick, you have to live here to understand how much Ireland has changed in the last few years. This feckin turkey thing says a lot.
The vast majoeity of people I've spoken to support a turkey at eurovision, ''Sure it's only a bit of craic'' is the attitude.

Here is the song

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 12:34 PM

Ryan Seacrest? Say no more.

This from MSN. OK, team, and the next challenge for Dustin The Turkey iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzz...

US: Eva Mendes, Posh Spice and Ryan Seacrest on Victoria's Secret's What Is Sexy list for 2008
Victoria's Secret executives and designers voted, and ... Victoria Beckham joins such stars as Eva Mendes, Josh Holloway, and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest on on the lingerie company's 2008 What Is Sexy? list... The team of executives and designers who compiled the list looked for attributes such as "passion and humor and style and charisma"

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,Skarpi at work
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 12:53 PM

hehehehe he´ll get 12 points from Iceland

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,RWM
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 01:23 PM

It will either be 'well done'... or he'll get a basting.

: - /


Robert

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: ard mhacha
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 03:02 PM

At long last Ireland is giving this bloody awful event serious thought.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Gulliver
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 04:16 PM

As Shaneo said, many (most?) people here in Ireland don't care whether or not Dustin (who has been on the go for years, and has made records with Joe Dolan, Bob Geldorf and many others) represents the country at the song contest. But there was a huge backlash from singers and their agents when it was announced a few weeks ago that Dustin had made it to the sing-off. Their point was that genuine hard-working singers were being done out of a chance to sing at the competition. I would suggest that most people in the music/artistic community would be against this travesty. I don't like it, but not because of Dustin, it's just an awful song (I thought the same of last year's entry).

Don

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Micca
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 04:25 PM

Nothing about that farrago of Kitsch and Gloss but no substance would surprise me about the Eurovision, but a few years ago one of thet shortlist that I sincerly hoped yould be picked as the UK entry was (and I kid you not!!!) "Yodelling in the canyon of love" and NO ONE seemed to notice or think there might be a double entendre there!!

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Fergie
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 09:34 PM

Eurovision has become a joke, it ceased being a SONG contest years ago. The main reason it is no longer a serious contest is because the points awarded by the seperate nations are determined by public phone-in voting and the agenda and motivation adopted by the voting public in each nation has rarely got anything to do with the quality of the song.
Dustin's entertaining entry to the contest treats it with the respect and reverence it deserves. I hope he wins the stupid thing. Up Dustin, GO ON YE GUD TING.
Fergus

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: banjoman
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 07:23 AM

I hope the turkey wins if only to prove what a farce this so called "song contest" really is.
The only country, in my recollection, to ever try to present songs which reflected their national tradition was Norway, and look how they fared. I remember them having a song some years ago about a sprite haunting a sauna which scored"Nil Pointe" and was generally ridiculed by most observers. I shall make a point of watching this years epic if only to see the Turkey finally bring the whole thing to its welcome and sorry end.
(I last watched when Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson won it (too long ago to remember the date)

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Mr Happy
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 07:41 AM

Well they already had this onehttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8linZiGYSeE, a surefire winner if ever there was one!

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 07:51 AM

Re Fergie's post above: True - also the tactical (i.e. politically-motivated) block-voting trend at higher levels has rendered the whole concept pretty meaningless by now. Even if the music were consistently first rate, this contest has got so little to DO with music these days that you just think "what's the point?"

Still, I'm sorry for all the serious artists who have worked so hard for this bit of public exposure, because whatever else, appearing on the EV means that performers do get a crack at the world stage, regardless of their final score. A former winner complained that Dustin's victory was "putting the two fingers up to all Irish singers and songwriters". Well, no. It's putting the two fingers up to the Eurovision. But divil the applicants we'll see next year, I bet. I can understand his anger because our singers and songwriters do lose out. I can't help looking back a bit wistfully to some excellent past contributions by Ireland. Anyone remember watching Riverdance when it first aired and was really something new, to be proud of? There were some good songs too, and without the exposure that EV brought them they would never have found the large-scale success they did. Glen Hansard has just won the Oscar. His song was just as good yesterday as it is today, but its commercial value has now shot up a zillion percent.

I hope also that this gesture is seen for what it is, on the night, and that we don't just become a laughingstock. But: if it IS, the statement this choice of entrant makes will hardly sit well with the Eurovision folks; and they'll probably try to put it down to being-a-bad-sport-because-we-lost.

But if we lost due (at least partly) to block-voting and mutual-backscratching on a national scale...? Which is where I came in...

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 07:54 AM

Ireland are desperate not to win it again, if you win you are next years host country.

We ought to get Hangus the Hartlepool monkey to represent England.

If the trend continues, it just could be fun to see it.

eric

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 08:21 AM

What Eric the Red forgot to say is.. "if you win (the so called song contest)you are next years host country" which Ireland HAVE done a few times recently and it has cost them a FORTUNE staging the event, which is not a money spinner as International Events usually can be.Ireland / Dublin lost a fortune on each occasion.The turkey is great craic, and if it changes to a Duck it will be good quaic. The Irish are exercising their own sort of judgement and humour on this over-hyped ridiculous "occasion" and subject it to a wonderful piss-take.
Don't forget , last Year the entered with a good Folk Group - Dervish and came last - can you blame the Irish for saying FECK -IT !!!!

PS Banjoman - If my memory serves me correctly (on the ould black and white TV ) Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson sang " Sing little birdie - sing your song " how appropriate for this thread
Cheers Betsy

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 09:12 AM

Isn't it great to know that our compulsory television licence tax continues to fund this annual dross fest (and that whacky old Auntie in the UK pays more into this fiasco than most other entrants). It really is time to exit Eurovision (... and axe the television licence). As standards get increasingly worse and voting ever more political we're encouraged to embrace Eurovision as ironic, camp, harmless fun. This is a distraction from the fact it costs so much and that the money could better be spent on presenting music with at least some redeeming qualities.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 09:25 AM

I agree with you Mike exactly and I am as pissed-off as you have expressed. Maybe that's the difference between us and the Irish - their way is far better as their's doesn't express the same annoyance and the don't get pissed-off .They turned it into a joke at which we can all laugh, and gave it their ownsense of value.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 11:02 AM

Well, whatever else, Eurovision seems to have become a permanent fixture, to be derided, discussed, enjoyed, whatever, on an annual basis.

I concur with Bonnie Shaljean's comments above.

Two issues were mentioned by Pat Kenny this morning: Contestants have to be 16 or over to participate--can Dustin prove that he's over 16? On the flight, will he have a seat in the cabin, or be relegated to the hold?

Don

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Fergie
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 11:31 AM

He can get there under his own steam. Turkeys can fly, it wouldn't take a feather out of him. Go on ye gud ting!

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 08:21 PM

All this - putting up a turkey of a song to ensure not winning and having to pay for this circus next year - was anticipated in Father Ted a few years ago. But "My Lovely Horse" was a much more enjoyable song for all that...

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,Connacht Rambler
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 03:55 PM

After their humiliation of Dervish last year, all Eurovision deserves is a turkey!

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,Geraint, Wales.
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:13 AM

It's a bloody masterpiece.

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: melodeonboy
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:16 AM

If Turkey's to represent Ireland, who's going to represent Turkey????

Subject: RE: Turkey to represent Ireland @ Eurovision
From: Hollowfox
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 04:52 PM

Ankara and Dublin...hmmm...musically interesting....

Subject: Dustin the Turkey
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 06:35 PM

Absolutely brilliant - first Michael Flatley and then this!

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Ernest
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 02:52 AM

So Flatley will be roasted for Thanksgiving?

;0)
Ernest

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 03:01 AM

Aint it the truth, Ireland has got a wonderful sense of humour and a great way of bringing things down to the lowest level ie. The Whore In The Sewer [ Anna Livia ] and The Tart With The Cart [ Molly Malone ] well known sculptures in Dublin.

Dustin deserves to win.

eric

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 03:35 AM

I'm told that the Hoo-er in the Sewer is no longer there, they got some silly millennium spike instead.

Anyhoo....

I suppose it cuts through all the middle-men and all voting for various crap that the UK is being submitted to at the moment... at least Ireland KNOW they've entered a turkey.

And to be pedantic - Michael Flatley was never a contestant. The original 'Riverdance' was a one-off thing composed and choreographed to fill in those boring 15 minutes whilst people across Europe try to remember the name of the countries they border and have promised not to invade if they vote for them.

LTS

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 03:46 AM

Was the Whore In The Sewer the same sculpture as the Floozie In The Jacuzzi (which was how I heard it)? Also don't forget The Hags With The Bags.

In Cobh we have The Runt In The Punt [substitute less polite word for "runt" if there are no little children present].

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 05:56 AM

Yeah same one Bonnie, Anna Livia, but who is the Hags With The Bags ? and the Runt In The Punt ?

eric

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 06:26 AM

The Hags With The Bags is a statue/sculpture of two ladies sitting on a bench with their shopping carry-alls - one of those "human-interest" pieces, I guess. Not sure if it's still there because I've only seen photos. The Runt In The Punt is a metal-scupture in the waterfront park in Cobh of a fisherman in a boat. Trouble is, now everything gets a clever rhyming name.

Hate to think of what they'll come up with when they turn their attentions to Venus...

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: TheSnail
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 07:07 AM

Shouldn't it be Bastin' the Turkey?

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 08:25 AM

Not always rhyming, I seem to remember it was someone from Dublin who gave the late great Luciano Pavarotti the name ' Fat Lucy '

eric

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 08:45 AM

We met Dustin on our honeymoon in Dublin with Zig and Zag!

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: The PA
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:27 AM

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi is a sculpture on the steps outside Birmingham Town Hall.

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 05:50 AM

Hmmm, wonder who got there first, her or Anna Livia?

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 05:53 AM

Hags with Bags is beside the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin.

Regards

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: GUEST,patty o'dawes
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 04:25 PM

I'm told that the Hoo-er in the Sewer is no longer there, they got some silly millennium spike instead.

Or as we know it...the stiffey by the Liffey or the stilletto in the ghetto!

Subject: BS: Dustin the Turkey
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Mar 08 - 07:13 PM

He's bound to win it!

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey
From: Declan
Date: 10 Mar 08 - 08:14 PM

Dustin has to get the semi final first before he can compete in the competition itself.

Last year we sent Dervish to sing a turkey, this year we're sending a turkey to sing gibberish.

If anyone took the contest seriously they'd be upset about this, but it has long since descended into the realm of farce.

So we'll wish Dustin all the best. As he'd say himself Go on ya good ting! And the begrudgers can get stuffed.

Subject: BS: Fowel Play
From: Strupag
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 06:30 AM

Oh Dear!
I have recently had a thread withdrawn. I suggested that "Dustin the Turkey should win" and assumed that everybody in the world would know that I was refering to Ireland's latest superstar.
Lets quote from Wikipedia:-

"Dustin the Turkey is a popular Irish television puppet and star of RTÉ's The Den since 1990. A "turkey vulture" with a strong Dublin accent, Dustin joined the show with puppets Zig and Zag but remained with the show after their 1993 departure. He also outlasted four human co-hosts: Ian Dempsey, Ray D'Arcy, Damien McCaul and Francis Boylan Jr., making him the longest serving member of the on-screen cast of The Den and one of Irish popular culture's iconic figures. He is voiced by Johnny Morrison, brother of Ciaran. (Who voiced one of Zig and Zag. Their other brother Joe voices Soky.)

Dustin was introduced as a character when one of the puppets, Zag, who was trying to join the upper classes, entered a golf tournament with Tony Fenton the 2fm DJ and came last. The prize was a Christmas Turkey, and a chance to meet movie star Dustin Hoffman. It transpired however, that the turkey shared the name of the movie star and was not only still alive, but had a Dublin accent and his own building company. Zig and Zag intended to eat Dustin for Christmas dinner, and only changed their minds when a frequent visitor to the show, artist and children's novelist Don Conroy, provided his taxonomical opinion that Dustin was, in fact a cross between a turkey and a vulture, and therefore unsuitable for human or Zogling consumption (Zig and Zag are aliens from the planet Zog). He makes appearances outside of The Den, including an annual appearance on The Late Late Show Toy Show special at Christmas where he makes fun of the show's regular host Pat Kenny, as he did with the previous host, Gay Byrne. More recently he has turned his attention to the many other Irish television personalities, including Eddie Hobbs, Ryan Tubridy and Derek Mooney. Dustin has been tamed down in recent years[citation needed], though on occasion he continues to create remarks of ridicule about various Irish celebrities and the services provided by RTÉ. Also as a builder he conforms to stereotype, going on continual tea breaks, and indicating that he is prepared to do dodgy deals with anybody, including certain politicians. Uniquely in Irish public life, he has not received any reprimand or 'gagging request'. As a 'Dub' he is also prepared to lump all people west of Finglas, Lucan and Tallaght as 'Culchies', even when wishing them happy birthday. Insults targeted at County Leitrim came particularly thick and fast (especially when The Den was co-presented by Leitrim man Francis Boylan Jr.) He has however never insulted anybody under the age of 14 on any occasion. In September 2005, after 15 years, Dustin 'left' The Den and got his own show, DDN (Dustin's Daily News)[1]

Dustin is a very popular character in Irish Media and is now the irish hopeful to win the Eurovision Song Contest in Serbia later on this year."

Now if you think that is amazing here is his list of musical hits:-

Singles
The Christmas No. 1 (Zig and Zag feat. Dustin the Turkey)
Spanish Lady (feat. Ronnie Drew and The Saw Doctors)
Numb
Rat Trap (with Bob Geldof)
Christmas Tree
Good Lookin' Woman (with Joe Dolan)
Fairytale of New York (with Dervla Kirwan)
32 Counties
Christmas in Dublin
Sweet Caroline
Patricia the Stripper (with Chris de Burgh)
True Christmas
Fields of Athenry
Harrell is a Lonely Dustin
Irelande Douze Pointe

Albums
Not Just A Pretty Face
Dustin: Unplucked
Faith Of Our Feathers
Poultry In Motion
Dustin's Greatest Hits
Bling When You're Minging

His Eurosong 2008 entry is "Irelande Douze Pointe"

I think he might win!

Andy

Subject: RE: BS: Fowel Play
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 07:58 AM

reading his bio & discography, he's a cert

Subject: RE: BS: Fowel Play
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 08:10 AM

My daughter grew up w/Dustin in the Faith of our Feathers era.

No one holds a candle to The Turk (as he was fondly known 'round our environs).

May the best turkey win the Eurosong.

Subject: RE: BS: Fowel Play
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 08:15 AM

There have been so many already.

Subject: RE: BS: Fowel Play
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 08:20 AM

And sadly, it is often the worst turkey of the bunch that wins.

Subject: RE: Dustin theTurkey to rep. Ireland @ Eurovision
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 12:20 PM

Could we not have Paudge and Rodge as a backing group?

Re, Rhyming Statues, there's an attenuated bronze figure of WBYeats in Sligo, known as "The Wank by the Bank".

Subject: RE: Dustin the Turkey to rep. Ireland @ Eurovision
From: GUEST,strad
Date: 11 Mar 08 - 06:12 PM

In the UK we have an Irish turkey mc'ing this waste of tv time every year!