Next Time - Nesto Shto Ke Ostane 2/5 Okay rock song shaped in the old Europe/Bon Jovi-school which Swedish rockers H.E.A.T also used for a mid-table placing in Melodifestivalen. The song sticks around because of the hooky chorus but absolutely nothing happens on stage. Likable but not vote-able. 9th country in or 1st to miss out on the final – as always for Macedonia…
For the first time since the introduction of semi finals in 2004, FYR Macedonia missed being in the final. Quite unfairly, if you ask me. "Let me love you" is a very likeable little pop ditty, modern and well-performed, in addition to Adrijan sporting possibly the coolest outfit of the year.
Tamara, Vrcak & Adrijan - Let Me Love You - FYR Macedonia 2008 10/19 in the semi
In one way, this could be a blessing in disguise, even if they wouldn't buy that themselves now. No country has managed to enrage the eurofans quite like FYR Macedonia, and that only because they have managed to make it through the semi every year. There must be some kind of cheating going on, they reason. Well, there hasn't been, and maybe the average fan will be easier on them in the future.
In my book, their entries have been fabulous every year (apart from 2005, when there was no end to the lack of talent during their three minutes on stage), and they well deserve their success. Next year, they will be back with new force and do better than before. Or so I hope, anyway.
Tose Proeski - Life - FYR Macedonia 2004 14/24
Karolina Goceva - Od nas zavisi - FYR Macedonia 2002 19/24
Tamara, Vrčak & Adrijan - Let Me Love You 3/5 “Let me love you” is one of those songs you like while you’re listening to it but afterwards instantly forget. Vast improvement from the national final when I didn’t rate it at all. There’s a touch of the good old “less is more” rule on stage but Tamara is a good singer and I just can’t sit completely still.
All the sad and bitter eurofans will curse and swear at this, but FYR Macedonia has really catapulted itself into a brilliant little ESC-nation, that managed to get themselves through to the final every time since the semis were introduced. Neighbour vote, cries the eurofans. Good acts, I say. (Well, the 2005 offering was dire, but apart from that...)
Also this year sees a very convincing act that is most likely to win a few votes before the show is over.
The only shadow in my mind is the change of language here. I'm not too sure about the english lyrics, and also the loss of melody in the chorus is a minus in my book. But the newly added violins are great, and the trio are most convincing anyway.
In the final? Yes, but more towards the end of the result than the top, I believe.
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
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?
