Soraya - La Noche Es Para Mí 3/5 Originally sent in to the Greek final last year. Energetic performance that feels a bit “Dime”-esque, but is only a cardboard copy of that great song from 6 (!) years ago. Soraya looks like a mix between Laura Voutilainen and the blonde one from Steps. Perform last of all countries (25) which could mean a few extra points in the bag but no victory. The Big 4 are stepping up the game this year. I think it will pay off and hopefully none of them will be in the bottom for once.
Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el chiki chiki 3/5 Rodolfo earned himself an extra point because of his guitar. Check it out tomorrow! I am softening up to the Spanish dance feast for the simple reason that it works on stage. And when the only other choice is Latvia in the novelty act category in the final I back this one hands down. Perrea! Perrea!
Oh, Spain. On some superficial level deep down, I can understand that the countries in the semi can reduce themselves to cheap comedy, but Spain with a steady seat in the final?
Well, if you want to be kind, you could say this sounds remotely like Manu Chau, which would be a good thing. It doesn't really ridicule the contest, but is more a parody of any kind of silly summer dance marketed by the record companies. And the dancers are sort of sweet in their own little way.
But it doesn't really own the genius of Alf Poier or Verka Serduchka, does it? Even if I can find it a bit funny at first, before the three minutes are over, I find myself so bored my teeth hurts.
A possible winner? Yes. That is the worst thing about it. With a weak final or a bad draw towards the end, this could stand out for millions of people who would vote this into first place. But I hope it will be the flop it deserves to be.
Three countries held their national finals last night, and the outcome was somewhat varied.
Armenia managed to come up with by far the strongest contender out of these three. Domestic popstar Sirusho sang four songs in a national final that had to be staged in a tv-studio instead of in a theatre, due to the current political tension in the country. Out of the four songs, "Qele Qele" scored more than 86 % of the televotes, and that can't be described as anything less than impressive. The song is quite impressive in its own right as well, a happy, dancy little tune with ethnic undertones. A stronger version of Armenia's debut entry from 2006 if you so wish, and the catchy chorus in combination with one of the biggest and most active diaspora's in the world, there is no doubt in my mind that Armenia will be in the final. And rightly so - that is where Sirusho belongs.
Sirusho - Qele Qele - Armenia 2008
It seems a bit ironic that the national final in Spain carries the name "Salvémos Eurovisión" (Let's save Eurovision) when the winner has set out to do exactly the opposite. The winner is a silly little parody of... ehm... something, I am not really sure what. It could, if you feel nice and good at heart, be described as catchy and a distant cousin to some of the output of Manu Chau, but without any hint of warmth or humour. I don't think I ever saw a "humourous" ESC-entry that felt this cynical and constructed. But there is one really good thing about it: it is short.
Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el Chiki Chiki - Spain 2008
And then there is always Montenegro, whose only way was up after last year's complete crash and burn fiasco of Stevan Faddy. They bought a song from Grigor Koprov, one of the most loved composers of FYR Macedonia, having penned among other songs the FYR Macedonian entries of 1998 and 2007. I have a feeling that the old maestro may have seen Montenegro's request as easy money, since he didn't quite invest his complete soul in this new song. Stefan Filipovic seems to be nowhere near as full of himself as young Master Faddy, but it is always an alarming sign when a singer can't be bothered to learn how to mime his song properly before presenting it. Not great, not bad, only very dull. A song that will come and pass without anyone really noticing it. What a shame. I thought so much more of you, Montenegro.
Stefan Filipovic - Zauvijek volim te - Montenegro 2008
What a wonderful discovery! Somebody posted the english version of "Vivo cantando" on Youtube and I just need to share it with you all. Salomé at her best! Just when you thought this couldn't get any better...
