Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena 1½/5 What can I say; I strongly dislike the guy’s vibrato. I dislike it so much that I can’t even focus on the big Balkan feelings that I normally quite like. Nah, it all comes down to dullness in a pretty nice package on stage. Next!
Saw the 2007 Dora (Croatian national final) for the first time yesterday, and I think I will come back to the subject of Croatia soon, but I have to share this with someone with a real sweet tooth for the absurd...
Here you go, Posh! According to every rule in the universe, you should love this. For all the wrong reasons, but love is still love.
Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca 2/5 The melody is actually quite nice and the singer is competent but I have big issues with the shouty old Hugh Hefner look-a-like. He scares me when he starts poking that stick and I wouldn’t want to run in to him in a dark alley any day soon. Or night.
Today, twelve years ago, I attended my first Eurovision, in Oslo, Norway. Looking back on it now, I am extremely happy to have been there and seen it, the last dinosaur Eurovision ever held.
It is very much old school, the way the contest was in the 90's when people were mainly watching out of habit and nobody in the recording industry enthused particularly about the event. There is a huge orchestra that efficiently erases every single drop of originality and own profile of each entry, and most songs sent in more or less sopoforic ballads in an attempt not to stand out enough to annoy the judges and at least attract some sympathy points from some bored jury.
Compared to 1995, the level of songs were at least a few steps up. Quite a few of the songs are good ones, and had there been compilations issued back then, some of them could have become at least radio hits. Very few of the singers really shone on the night, however, and most of the ditties sound better on record.
The craziest entry, by far, was a violent gospel from Austria and the most modern effort, from Gina G of the UK, managed to get a new rule through - for the first time ever anyone could use a drum machine in the backing tracks. The following year, it would be up to every country how heavy backing tracks they wanted and if they wanted any orchestra at all.
NRK really wanted the show to look modern and hip, but made use of some visual gimmicks that look very dated today. Much fuss was made about the virtual reality-studio where the score board was animated, but the voting was like any old voting back then, complete with Irish victory and all.
It could come across as if I didn't like the 1996 contest at all, and I must admit that the total production isn't among my favourites. But it doesn't matter, it is the year that my dream came true, to see Eurovision up close and personal. And I got to interview Maja Blagdan and wave my handmade Estonian flags for "Kaelakee hääl". (If I had only known then that we had Kreisiraadio coming...)
Maarja-Liis Ilus & Ivo Linna - Kaelakee hääl - Estonia 1996 5/23
I had to lend an eye and an ear to the rehearsals of Croatia, as they are one of my top personal favourites this year. They also have a few things to work on, especially they should think about giving some sedatives to dear old 75 Cents.
In the rehearsal he got a bit screamy and carried away, just like in the Dora final, and I dig him more when he is relaxed and sounds a bit sorry, like he does in the clip.
But he is adorable in the interview... "Was wollen Sie?"
Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca - Croatia 2008
As I shaved this morning, it hit me that this song bears some vague ressemblance to an old, forgotten Eurosong, namely the Austrian entry of 1981 that nobody understood at the time. Too much dancing and weirdness, and too little focus on the song. Maybe Marty Brem should leap out of obscurity and attempt a comeback these days, when everybody brings ladders and books and dancers in a box?
What happened here? I must admit that when I first heard this song, I thought it was some kind of excerpt from some weird musical about an old man and his stick and decided it wouldn't stand a chance in the voting.
And then I read the lyrics and was absolutely taken by them, and when I heard the recorded version, I was sold. Now this is one of my top personal favourites of the year.
I don't expect it to win or anything, but I get both touched and moved and enthusiastic at the same time. Very engaging, indeed. The only slight problem is the old man himself, who got a bit carried away during the live performance and got a bit too shouty and loud and out of tune, and if they don't fine-tune him a bit, we could have a real Severina-moment on our hands here (strong entry ruined by a performer who totally overdid the whole thing and scared the viewers instead of charming them).
The song in itself is sweet and melancholic, and the bad conscience in a world where youth is everything and nobody values experience anymore.
In the final? Yes, I think this will convince more people than just me, as long as the old-timer behaves and keeps his shirt on.
Today is the day when Mr Becks reieves the official preview feed from the EBU, so I can study all the entries before we shoot the Swedish preview shows.
Ah, miss Posh, if you had still been here, we could eat something unhealthy and watch them all and cheer for the good and throw popcorn at the bad.
I am not really saying this make anyone jealous or so, just to assure you that there will be some sort of reaction coming your way soon. Some of the previews, that I already saw on YouTube, look really good. Croatia, Switzerland, Netherlands and Romania all made very good clips, that enhanced their entries further.
After some deep deliberation, the Belarus delegation has decided to re-style the musical arrangement of their entry for Belgrade. "Hasta la vista" stays the same, but the sound changed from pop to rock.
Is anyone else old enough to remember that Croatia did the same back in 2002, when Vesna Pisarovic saw her entry turn from solid pop hit into a dull pseudo rock number, as exciting as headache and only moderately successful at the ESC.
Belarus can do whatever they please, but I am not sure this was the way to go.
Vesna Pisarovic - Sasvim sigurna - Croatia 2002 NF 1/20
Vesna Pisarovic - Everything I Want - Croatia 2002 11/24
Ruslan Alehno - Hasta La Vista - Belarus 2008 New version - thanks to ESC Today
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?
Also the Lithuanians have selected and what is one to say? Of course Lithuania does not have much of a reputation to live up to. Croatia used to send in pop classics, stopped doing so and made me angry. Whatever Lithuania contributes, I watch with mild amusement. And sometimes it is really good.
Sometimes it is also really bad.
As for this year's offering, I can't make my mind up. Maybe it is brilliant. There is at least an attempt at doing a chorus, and I applaud that in this year of unsingable songs. The guy does obviously have a voice, but to me it seems he and the backing track are sometimes doing different songs.
In short - this could grow on me, or I could start detesting it. At least it awakes some kind of emotion in me, and I am not averse to that. Keep going, Lithuania!
Jeronimas Milius - Nomads In The Night - Lithuania 2008
