Saturday 30 April 2011

Georgia Porgia, Pudding and Pie....

Well I don't know about you, but I'll be nipping up from viewing Semi One a week on Tuesday and helping myself to some pudding or pie, and more than likely another port and lemon too.

Have a listen to this:



Maybe you like it? I'm afraid I can't say that I do! It's not *bad* but just a bit too unmemorable and a bit too noisy for me, and as for the rap, oy, oy oy...

Georgia have yet to enthuse me at Eurovision to be honest, they debuted in 2007 with a truly awful banshee wailer of a song, they sent a Peace Anthem a year later, sung by a girl what was blind and rather than want to vomit as I did, the rest of Europe sent her into the final!! In 2009, they wanted to send a not-at-all-political song to their good "friends" in Russia called "We don't wanna Put In" (yes, I know), and last year they sent a song so unmemorable, the only thing I can remember about it is the fitty fitsters that were dancing along with her (they got their chests out and weren't wearing any shoes, not that I pay any attention to that kind of thing)!!!

So given the fact that I've spent more time talking about other Georgian songs than their entry this year, my summary is sadly not positive:

Danpoints out of a hundred: Oh, about seven!!
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: Difficult to call - Georgia have a good track record in getting out of the final, this could be the one that sees them going home early though!!
Would be better sung by: Frankly, anyone!! Maybe my old mum would sing it better...
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: "Now this is the first year Georgia are in the contest, and I can't see it doing well". (He *never* got the hang of new countries entering Eurovision!!!

They've been practising!! :-)))

Blue appeared on a prime-time ITV show last night to perform "I Can", and gave their best vocal performance yet - hurrah!!

Lee seems to be a bit more in control of his upper range, and when the sparkly fountain thing came down behind them, I had one of those Winning Moment Thoughts!!!

See what you think - small interview with the lads afterwards too:

Friday 29 April 2011

Just too cute!! Like a cute Swiss Button!!!

Plucky Switzerland, they *do* try...

2008 saw them send the not entirely un-attractive Paolo Meneguzzi with a nice enough song that he kind of stuffed up on the night, 2009 saw them send the not entirely attractive Lovebugs with a nice enough song that they stuffed up on the night and in 2010, well, you get the picture....

This year sees Switzerland try to reach the final for the first time since 2006 with a nice enough song that hopefully Anna Rossinelli will perform very well indeed for it is a lovely gentle yet catchy tune! And she's only gone and done herself a proper professional video and everything!!!:



Oooh, but melikes this! I can just hear it on Radio 2 as Ken Bruce's song of the week or something, it's got a very contemporary vibe to it in a female-singersongwritery kind of way, hasn't it? Hasn't it?

Anna has performed this song well in all the live performances of the song that I've seen on Tinternet, so I can only keep everything crossed that she will do well for Switzerland with this in a week or so's time! In summary then:

Danpoints out of a hundred: 77
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: Oh, I would love it to! However, my head is saying no, it's on early in the draw, and Switzerland can't seem to do well lately.... I've got everything crossed that Anna will buck the trend though as this deserves to be in the final in my opinion!
Would be better sung by: I'd love to hear Lys Assia sing this - she won the first Eurovision ever, you know (and get's wheeled out every year like a museum exhibit for everyone to point/laugh at)!!
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: "Now this *should* do well, and not a cuckoo clock in sight!".

Oooooh, get you! :-)))

Following last year's effort of a guy sounding like Mr Bean singing about some dolly bird and "looking at her photo" (which was actually a picture of her drawn with a biro), Russia are BACK! Yay!!

This year, I think Russia won't be needing to threaten to cut off any gas lines to get votes though as they are sending something really rather splendid! Have a look and listen at this:



So obviously, Alex is pwetty. Very pwetty, so pwetty in fact that he's dropped the "w" and got into some petty bitchfests with this year's other pwettyboy that will be singing for Sweden. They're totally choreographed for publicity of course, but I can't help but love the fact that they'll be laying banana skins around for each other to trip the other up in Dusseldorf!

But, more than that, there's the music of course, and I love, Love, LOVE this!!! A catchy pop song that's written and/or produced by the Swedish chappy that writes all Lady Gaga's hits, and it's got a fair smattering of "oh-oh-oh"s that can be chanted alongside Alexey's pwetty voice.

He's made a bit of a fuss over gays hitting on him or something, although I'm sure he's realised by now that Dusseldorf will be a gay club for most of the first two weeks in May, and you know what they say about those who protest too much (hahaha, I wish!). But then he KISSES GIRLS!! EVEN WHEN HE SINGS!!! So he must be straight, ok? :-)

So, the scores on the doors for Russia:

Danpoints out of a hundred: 83
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: One of the golden rules of Modern Eurovision is that Russia ALWAYS QUALIFY. They qualified to the final last year with a man who had bad facial hair and a dirty turquoise scarf, for chrissakes!!!
Would be better sung by: Eric Saaaaaaaade the Swedish guy, having crashed onto the stage after one too many Smirnoff Ices, and bitchslapped Alex with a cry of "Ha! Got you!!"
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: Something about Mother Russia cutting off gas (oops, just like me), and "keep an eye on the pretty girls in the front row of the audience!".

Been on an impromptu-ish holiday!!

Eeeks, so I went on a visit to my brother in the gorgeous Lake District in northern England, which means the reviews have stalled, but they will kick back in with two more tonight, and four, yes friends, four of this year's Eurovision songs reviewed tomorrow!!!

I may even kick in with more than that, as the rehearsals for semi 1 start in Germany on Sunday! O mein gott!!!

More to follow, I promise! :))))

Saturday 23 April 2011

Oh, Oh, Oh, it's Magic(al)!!! Serbia in great song shocker!

Serbia and I have had a tricky Eurovision relationship in the past... I knew "Molitva" would win as soon as I heard it, but then when they sent a comedy song about a pair of shoes in 2009 I don't think I was the only person in Europe to be suprised that they didn't qualify to the final!

This year Serbia are sending this, and I LOVE IT!!!!:



It's going to be sung in Serbian on the night, and there is some debate in Fandom as to whether it should be performed in Dusseldorf in Serbian or English, but I wanted to share this rather wonderful English language version video with you! It's got fabulous backing singers with some groovy moves! It's got a chorus catchier than the flu! And most of all a singer that can really sing, hoorah!

Serbia held a rather bizarre national final when three members of a family each entered a song, but from now on, it's all about Nina. The song was performed with a real 60s vibe to it when it was selected in Belgrade, and I hope they keep it that way for the Eurovision contest itself. It's my winner so far!!!

Danpoints out of a hundred: 78
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: Oh it should do!! Serbia qualify to the final more often than not, and it's a catchy pop song! Come on and vote for it, Europe!!
Would be better sung by: Duffy, Dusty, or other good female singers starting with D. Except Dido.
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: "If they go for bounce, pizazz, and short skirts, it's gonna win!!"

Hey there you with the sad face, come up to my place and live it...ohhh....

So we crash on with the first semi final in this years Eurovision, and it's Turkey's turn at song number five!

But, but, it's time for a Traditional Turkish Ethnopop song this year and they give us rock!!! I submit my evidence:

2007: Ethnopop - you remember the wee small chappy being revealed from a big quality street wrapper with the song "Shake it up Sekerim", or whatever it was, right?

2008: Turkish Rock - Mor ve Otesi sang the rock song "Deli" about their favourite place to buy a spot of lunch.

2009: Ethnopop - Hadise took my favourite song of the year, "Dum Tek Tek" to Moscow and shook her tush like the Turkish Beyonce she is!

2010: Turkish Rock - ManGa rocked Oslo with silver robot woman, sparks, epilepsy-inducing flashing lights and, oh yes, geetars!

So there was I, looking forward to a bit of ethnopop from Turkey this year, and this is what I get!!! (well, what we all get tbh):



Where's the bellydancing, flowing fabrics and bongos???

Having said that, I do like a bit of Turkrock, and this is a solid entry from Turkey. A fair bit of a grower though and I can't see a lot of people loving this from the outset. However it's Turkey and they always do well, so a Top 10 finish is likely.

Danpoints out of a hundred: 70
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: It's Turkey and so it's bound to...
Would be better sung by: ManGa or Mor ve Otesi I guess!! :)
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: "It's during a song like that that you really notice the set, don't you?"

Sunday 17 April 2011

Emmy sings for Armenia, but no awards in sight sadly!

So we crash on with our look at this years Eurovision tunes with this years entry from Armenia...

Now this will get it's share of the votes, just you wait and see. The performer, Emmy is not only a big star in Armenia, but wikipedia says that she is a star in Russia and Turkey too, so it must be true! Emmy is one of a number of acts in this years contest that have tried to represent their country at ESC before, she came second in Armenia last year with a song that was endorsed by Ricky Martin if you please! This year, with no such endorsement, she got the ticket to Dusseldorf, make of that what you will :)))

So, to the actual song:



Hmmm, there's not a lot to it really, is there? IMO, it's a weak attempt at the Ethnic Pop Song, which often does well at Eurovision, and in it's favour, I do find myself singing "Boom Boom Chaka Chaka" at random moments of the day, but then I have heard the song approximately 326 times by now.

It's difficult to see it winning, but you never know!

Danpoints out of a hundred: 52
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: It's bound to - Armenia always qualify as far as I can recall. As to whether it deserves to, that's a different matter...
Would be better sung by: Boom Boom Chaka Chaka Khan of course!
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: "A whiff of the souk!"

Thursday 14 April 2011

Third up in Semi One... Review - Albania 2011 - "Feel The Passion"

Oh it's a bit manic and scary.

Albania are all or nothing as far as I am concerned, they are the ultimate hit or miss nation of Eurosong.

When they get it right, they present moments of Eurovision Gold, from the “I'm queeeeeeen of the wooooooorld of maaaaaake believe” in “Image of you” or the dancing dwarves and scary sequin gimp-mask-guy of “Carry me in your dreams” to the scene-stealing backing singer-mommas of “It's all about you” from last year.

However, when they get it wrong, it can be shocking, and they end up sending something like this:



Oh dear Albania.

There are some small nuggets in this, firstly while Aurela is clearly as mad as a bucket of frogs, she comes across in interviews at least as A Loveable Diva. In an interview over on esctoday.com I loved her quote: “My name is Aurela Gaçe and I love my face!”. Not sure how this will come across on the telly when she is performing in the first semi though!!

Also, the video has had a wee bit of money spent on it, it's just a shame that the song itself is such a mess... To me it's just a three minute dirge, sorry Aurela. I can't help but be scared that she'll visit me in the small hours and put a bat up my nightdress if she ever read this... So on to the summary!!

Danpoints out of a hundred: 24
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: With an early draw and better and more memorable songs around either side of it, I don't think so...
Would be better sung by: Aurela herself has said that when she wears black hair, people think she is Liza Minelli!! Now there's a version of “Feel the Passion” I'd like to hear!
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: “Does her own hair, and wearing something her mother made out of a pair of curtains...”

London Eurovision Party - the excitement mounts!!




This weekend in London is all about this year's London Eurovision Party! Held at the Shadow Lounge in the heart of Soho on Sunday evening, six of this years Eurovison artists have confirmed attendance, Poli Genova from Bulgaria, Glen Vella from Malta, Hotel FM from Romania, Raphael Gualazzi from Italy, Anna Rossinelli from Switzerland and the one I would most love to have a glass of something sparkly with, Senit from San Marino!

And I've just seen that Dame Emily Reed who was narrowly beaten by Jemini in the UK National Final in 2003 will be there!!! Oh my days, she is *bound* to sing "Help Me" - I might actually cry!

I wish I could be there, family commitments are keeping me from attending, but that should not keep you!

For more information, and to buy tickets for the event, go to

www.londoneurovision.com

On Season Rocks!!! :)))

Something smashing before the reviews start today...

How exciting!! Oh, it's truly lovely to have an entry in Eurovision that is having more than £3.50 spent on promoting it!! Those lovely boys in Blue have only gone and done another, *second*, video for their UK Eurovision entry, "I Can"!!


As if the video that was sent to the EBU with Our Boys prancing around a London rooftop waving Union Jacks with "I Can" being written in the skies in other languages wasn't enough, we now get this!!!:



Reasons why it's better?: You did see the bit when they got all wet at the end, right? Poor little The Anthony still keeps his top on though, bless...

Oooh, the more time passes the more I dare to dream that the UK are gonna do it this year!!

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Second the best? Again, no... Review - Norway 2011 - "Haba Haba"

The curse of performing second is well known in Eurovision circles. "No song has ever one from the second position, you know", "If you sing second in the Eurovision then it will rain for forty days and forty nights", "Plagues of locusts and black boils be unleashed upon ye if ye is to be the second act to step upon a Eurovision stage"...

Well, I might be exaggerating a *tad*, but every year when the draw takes place, under the auspices of the EBU, for the order of performance in the ESC, you can actually hear a whole nation sigh if and when they are drawn to perform second...

Such is the fate that this year befalls plucky Norway, as they perform second in this years First Eurovision Semi Final.

Yes, Norway, who went from breaking all records two years ago with the mammoth winner "Fairytale", to, um, not doing quite so well last year, despite hosting the thing.

This year, Norway fielded, to my ears, a below-par selection of tunes for their national final, which led to a sizeable victory for Stella Mwangi, and the distinctly un-Scandinavian sounding "Haba Haba". I like to think that if Bobbysocks had of been born in Nairobi, they would have sounded like this:



Good things about this are:

It's got an introduction which grabs the attention. I can see the crowd cheering and clapping along to this right from the outset.
It's got a catchy chorus in a language that no country in Europe speaks (not as an official language anyway), which is a great leveller.
It's got that "ethnic percussion" feel to it that does well at Eurovision, like Greece's winner from 2005, or Armenia's "Apricot Stone" from last year.

On the downside, there are concerns over Stella's live vocal which is a wee bit flat at times - apparently they have changed the music to suit her voice since the national final performance above. Also, *whispers*, it's got the position of doom!! More than anything though, personally, I just don't like it!! I've never liked Ladysmith Black Mumbazo or any African-style chanting music, so I can't say that I'm taken with this I'm afraid...

Danpoints out of a hundred: 50
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: I think it's catchy enough to, so I'm saying yes!
Would be better sung by: I *so* want to say Tor Endresen! :)) But it would get more Danpoints if it was sung by those smashing Charmed girls, hehehe!
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: Predictably, something like: "It's the Lion King! At Eurovision!" Then at the end he would say: "A whiff of the souk, there...."

First the worst? Not entirely! Review - Poland 2011 - "Jestem"

So Poland perform first in Semi Final One this year, then! The land that gave us Chopin has yet to taste big success on the Eurovision stage, the closest the got to winning the whole shebang was when with their debut in 1994, which was a big Mariah-esque stomping ballad.

This year they are not entering a big Mariah-esque stomping ballad, and instead the Polish nation are favouring this. It's kind of a Polish pop tune! Have a listen to this:



So, the good things about this are:

It has the potential to have a cracking dance routine.
Viewers will be able to televote from the start of the songs being performed, so maybe all of Europe will fall in love with this and vote for it from the start! Ahum, or not....
It's not bad as an show-opener....
Erm....

Unfortunately, there's not a lot more positive that I can say about this... It's a bit repetitive (ok, a lot repetitive!!), I have seen her perform with some VERY dodgy live vocals when singing this, and it just plods along, really...

Also, I think it would come across so much better in English, and rather bizarrely two different English-language versions have been recorded since this song was chosen as the Polish entry! And still the Polish Powers That Be have decreed that the song will be sung in Polish. Such a shame as the first English version, “First Class Ticket to Heaven”, rocked!! I can't find it anywhere on You Tube right now, but you can listen to it here: http://uploading.com/files/cam4fccd/2011%2B-%2BPoland%2B-%2BMagdalena%2BTul%2B-%2BFirst%2Bclass%2Bticket%2Bto%2Bheaven%2B%2528English%2Bversion%2529.mp3/

So, all in all the official classification for Song Number One, “Jestem” sung by Magdalena Tul for Poland is as follows:

Danpoints out of a hundred: 57
Is it getting out of the Semi Final?: I think so, but only just, Poland don't have a great history of qualifying from the semis...!
Would be better being sung by: Edyta Gorniak probably, although a version by that gargly voiced chappy off of Ich Troje would be something to behold!
What Would Terry Wogan Say?: Something about walloping great eejits throwing themselves around the stage, I imagine, if the national final performance is anything to go by...

Oh Dear!! Where did the last year go??

Hmmmm, so that didn't happen the way I intended it! All of a sudden, it's 13 April 2011!! OH DEAR!

So the plan is to squirrel away a shite load of cash so that I can report on all things Eurovision, and national-finally for you in 2012, in the mean time we need to look ahead to what is the rapidly approaching 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

I'll be reviewing a song or two a day, and so in this spirit, you can expect a review from me of the Polish entry before the day is out, hooray!

Oh, and I guess I need to promote this blog in other more established ESC sites/blogs, so I'm off to do a bit of that too!

Catch you later, Dan x