Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine 2½/5 Absolutely hated the song when it won in Ukraine but this country has an ability to always improve their entries afterwards and on top of that put on a spectacular show on stage in Eurovision. Makes it easy to just look and be wooed and not listen enough. The song is still nothing special and the singer is very average but with the whole package it will sure enough end up high in the final.
Well, yes, Russia won. That is true. But just look at the Ukraine and be amazed at how well they do in this contest. And rightly so. No other country comes up with such a breath-taking variety of styles and acts, and nobody does so consistently well. Three entries out of six has made Top 2 in the voting.
There is no country quite like the Ukraine, and when we gather what songs were the most commercially successful this year, I think we will have another strong showing from the Ukraine there.
The entries of Ukraine with placings:
2003 Oleksandr "Hasta la vista" 14/26
2004 Ruslana "Wild dance" 1/24
2005 Greenjolly "Razom nas bahato" 20/24
2006 Tina Karol "Show me your love" 7/24
2007 Verka Serduchka "Dancing lasha tumbai" 2/24
2008 Ani Lorak "Shady Lady" 2/25
I think we could all be heading to Odesa some time in the near future...
Ani Lorak - Shady Lady 5/5 Last year’s disco ball Verka is light years from sex-kitten Ani but I love them both and predict a similar result for this shady lady. What a show stomper, what an amazing voice, what a beautiful girl and what a cool choreography. I wonder how well Miss Perrelli sleeps at night knowing that Lorak is fighting for the same votes as her?! Let the cat-fight begin!
Congratulations, I have arrived I'm Ani Lorak and I'm shining so bright...
I watch the rehearsal video and rub my eyes and go Could it be, could it be is it true?
It is not a great thing to be everybody's pre-favourite, as those ones tend to lose. But last time everyone had the Ukraine as their number one, they won hands down. Could it be that we are heading back to Kyiv already next year?
There are a few more wrinkles still to iron it before this is perfect, mainly some tiny things voice-wise, but this is such a classy and goodlooking production.
And Ani Lorak is bubbly enough to charm the dead. If nothing radical happens, I think she will recieve flowers late Saturday evening on May 24th...
After an intense day at work, I have not seen a single rehearsal clip today, but some rather trustworthy sources keep feeding me with reports stating that the Swiss rehearsals was an impressively grand disaster of almost cosmic dimensions. I hear talk that not a single note was placed in its right spot and that the Meneguzzi voice cracked totally more than once.
This wasn't supposed to happen. I had him as my winner and now I don't know what to think. Most confusing.
But on the other hand, real professionals take the opportunity of singing badly during the first rehearsals to improve greatly when the cameras get switched on for real. Wonderful singers like Natalia Barbu and even the majestic Sopho Khalvashi broke their voices during the initial rehearsals in Helsinki, so why shouldn't Paolo? Andorras Gisela clearly held back as well. There is no point in doing your best when you are just practising angles.
Maybe I will have to end up agreeing with everyone else who seem to think Ani Lorak is the thing this year, and she will blow everyone else off stage. Could very well be. I still find the song too weak, but she is breathtakingly professional. And Kyiv was nice, wouldn't mind going back there. (Did I mention that I am definitely going next year...?)
Ani Lorak - Another Little Shot - Ukrainian NF 2005
The best country in Eurovision strikes again with full force. Or do they? The song is penned by Philipp Kirkorov and Karen Kavaleryan (neither of which are particularly Ukrainian) and is, seriously, a far cry from being the perfect song. A jaunty little disco number that proves to the world that Baccara are not yet forgotten, and that is about all it is to it. In its own right, the song deserves just a 3/5.
But then comes that tiny force of nature, known to mankind as Ani Lorak (even though she is Karolina in her passport), and blows the stage to bits and puts anyone in their right minds rather oblivious.
Ani could probably perform a medley of the worlds dullest tunes backwards and make that sound exciting. This little lady (shady or not) is the greatest asset of the Ukraine this year.
Not a winner, the chorus is too weak for that, but the Ukrainians could be heading for their fourth top five finish.
We now have all the 43 entries for Eurovision Song Contest 2008 ready. Sweden will no doubt run through the semi final and then get a good placing on the scoreboard in the final. Of that I am sure. But. And this is a big but. One problem spells the Ukraine. The beautiful Ani Lorak could very well be Ms Perrelli's biggest obstical to the Eurovision throne.
The songs are fairly similar in style. They have a dance rutine. They are both sung by female vocalists. The vocalists are both beautiful. They have almost the same kind of dress on (Verka certainly set a trend last year, hehe). They can both sing live. The words "hero" and "staying alive" shows up in both lyrics.
So I'm worried that they will split the votes between them and end up lower than they deserve. Ani Lorak definitely has the look and is a big star on the Russian market. Charlotte on the other hand has a history in this contest with having won the whole thing in 1999 and will get extra publicity because of that. The nightmare scenario would be if they are drawn to sing head to head in the final.
My prediction is that the Ukraine will get the votes from Eastern Europe and Sweden will score well from the Western countries. May the battle begin!
This is exactly why I wanted BWO to represent Sweden. Their song doesn't have a sound-a-like in any of the other entries this year. Plus, they would definitely score well all over Europe...
The Super Saturday left us with no less than eight new entries for Belgrade. And here they are, complete with Mr Becks' first impression.
Deep Zone & Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away - Bulgaria 2008 At first I don't understand much - a hard beat turns into some pseudo reggae before turning back into a dance track. And there, somewhere, I begin to see the point. This will work wonders in the clubs (maybe not only in Bulgaria), but that does not necessarily translate into ESC success. But best of luck to the Bulgarians DJ's. Thanks for trying, anyway.
Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca - Croatia 2008 Street musicians complete with a street bench and a loud old man and everything. Not without charm, but 100 % made for domestic consumption. Most people outside the Slavic sphere will get absolutely nothing out of this. Whatever happened to the pop music of Croatia? Will we never hear a pop chorus from them ever again?
Euroband - This is my life - Iceland 2008 Two fabulous singers make the most out of a rather weak song. Add some intense 90's beat, and there you have Euroband, trying to get Iceland into the final for the first time since 2004. Given the way the national selections are shaping, it would not be impossible for them to pass into the Saturday night show, but RUV will be spared the trouble of organising the international event also next year.
Dustin the Turkey - Irlande Douze Points - Ireland 2008 Ah, well. It won. That fact doesn't make me half as sad as the fact that many, seriously many, people seem to find it the funniest entry ever. Come back Scooch, all is forgiven. Not even Germany would have gone for this one in their saddest days of comedy back in the 90's.
Tamara Todevska, Adrian Gahxa & Vrcak - Vo ime na ljubovta - FYR Macedonia 2008 The only clip available on the net is this, somewhat out-of-tune, reprise rendering. Hard to say whether this will work or not, as it will probably be polished a bit before the ESC, but I really like FYR Macedonia's efforts of bringing less typical Eurovision sounds into the contest.
Ani Lorak - Shady Lady - Ukraine 2008 Baccara has really left their mark on large territories of this old continent, that is for sure. A more than OK disco song, competently belted out by Ani Lorak, who almost got to represent her country already back in 2005. Not bad at all, and probably a grower, but given the recent quirkyness and originality of the Ukraine, I had maybe hoped for a tiny bit more.
Nico & Vlad Mirita - Pe-o margine de lume - Romania 2008 I have no idea what song the backing singers think they are dancing to, but that slight criticism aside, I find myself liking this. Traditional, straight-forward pop ballad that could have made top three in Sanremo anytime during the late 80's. Very well sung, uncomplicated and appealing. Well done, Romania.
Isis Gee - For Life - Poland 2008 Big voice and big ballad from Poland who, for once, I think, got it right in their national final. Luckily, this is not just the stereotypical big ballad that just wants to show off some pretty vocal chords, but it is also quite engaging. The only thing I miss is a bigger bang by the end, but I would be surprised to see Poland miss the final this year.
Last night we got to see 8 new finalists. Some very disappointing, a few good ones and some disasters. Let's start with Iceland. They know how to pick a winner unlike some other islands. Not mentioning any names but a very green island.
Iceland 2008: Euroband - "This is my life" Even if the song is a bit too flirtatious with the early 90s-sound I still like it. And any song featuring Regina Òsk must be good. That's the law. Will be surprised if this doesn't go through the semi in Belgrade.
What a mess! What were they thinking? I haven't heard the other songs but was this really the best they could do? Disappointing.
Croatia 2008: Kraljevi ulice & 75 cents - "Romanca"
Eh....have the Croatians gone completely mad? The song in itself is quite traditional and not harmful but why bring in the local mafia with a Hugh Hefner-look-a-like to perform it? Now we might as well send Christer Sjögren off and they can battle it out in the Senior Eurovision - Live from a nursing home close to you!
Bulgaria 2008: Deep Zone & Balthazar - "DJ Take Me Away"
Hurrah!!! I really like this dance track! Way to go Bulgaria. You surprised me last year with a fantastic song and now you follow it up with another fresh dish. Thank you. And who can go wrong with a name like good ol' Balthazar?! Woho!
Ireland 2008: Dustin the Turkey - "Irlande Douze Pointe" I hope you are proud of yourself you stupid Irish! A screaming puppet is just what the Eurovision needs. This. Is. Not. Funny. The one and only thing in this whole mess that I actually like is the line about "Wogan's wig". But that's it. Unfortunately I don't expect the turkey to get the placing he deserves. People will vote and I will cry.
Poland 2008: Isis Gee - "For Life" Traditional ballad not unlike Dutch "My impossible dream" from 2005. Quite nice but American Isis was struggling with the high notes last night. Not a good sign. But compared with the bunch chosen yesterday this is among the best. Doesn't say much really but 2008 is looking more and more like a middle-of-the-road-year. Shame. Btw, Isis Gee has a twin in Swedish tv-presenter Linda Isaksson. "Like as berries" as we say in Sweden.
Romania 2008: Nico & Vlad Mirita - "Pe-o margine de lume" Strong good voices in a duet which brings back memories from "Tell me why". Other people have compared the song to one of my Italian favourites "Avrei voluto" (1989). Not quite guys, but not a bad song at all. It will definitely pick up votes across the scoreboard.
Ukraine 2008: Ani Lorak - "Shady Lady" Thank God for the Ukraine! At least there is one country you can always count on to deliver. It's finally superstar Ani Lorak's turn to take the stage in Eurovision with a smoking hit penned by Philip Kirkorov. Yes! Yes! Yes! I love it!
Now please have your say about these 8 new songs. Is it a stuffed turkey or a senior citizen with a stick for you?
For the people with strong nerves and a solide psyche, this weekend will offer loads of fun in Euroland. Before Saturday is over, we will have eight more entries to complete the line-up in Belgrade. So, when Saturday turns into Sunday, we will be able to judge a great deal better if this is a strong year or if it is all turning into mush, doom and gloom.
I must admit that I don't have complete overview of the contenders so far. I am totally unable to determine whether things look good or not, but I do have a sneaky feeling somewhere in my old bones that we could be looking at possibly the weakest load of entries since 2004. Some songs are good, far too many are just OK, and far too many are truly disastrous.
Hopefully, it will make less of a mess than in 2004 - if things work out as planned, most of the rubbish will stay in the semis, where they can't hurt ordinary, decent, tax-paying people.
So, get on with it Bulgaria, Croatia, Iceland, Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Romania and the Ukraine: give us your best shots. Will we see a winner coming from any of these?
Thank you, The Nicole, for trying to Ukrainify the Swedish final with "Razborka", but no matter how sincere your effort might have been, there can only be one Tina Karol in the world.
And she comes here. (I love her, by the way. As I love the Ukraine on the total - by far the most entertaining country in Eurovision these days.)
Tina Karol - Show Me Your Love - Ukraine 2006 7/24
