Sinead Mulvey & Black Daisy - Et Cetera 3/5 It feels fresh and welcomed after the opening from Croatia but there’s no spark in Sinead’s eyes (yet). Okay rock/pop sound by a girlband similar to Vanilla Ninja (Swi05) only they were better. No matter what I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the songwriters Jonas and Christina who happens to be my friends.
Dustin the Turkey - Irelande Douze Points 2/5 1 point is for the rather funny lyrics (“Terry Wogan’s wig”), the other for the big lady singers. Not that fuzzed about the puppet. I had rather seen the Fraggles on stage for nostalgic reasons. Dustin becomes too shouty live and should learn that less is more. Way too much going on on stage that it all just looks like a big mess. Or stew.
Maybe you are all bound to percieve me as a grey, dull, boring, fun-hating, twisted old-fashioned individual now, but this is really not the thing for me. This is, after all, the Eurovision Song Contest and not the Muppet Show.
Besides, no muppet ever looked as cheap and home-made as this piece of peasant poultry. He looks like a sock puppet severely wounded by moths.
I must admit that the song has its moments, and partially it is even funny, but on the whole it feels like material for a 20 second sketch on a half-witty BBC comedy show stretched out far too long for its own good.
And, seriously, what does Ireland have to complain about? They were the people almost beating the contest to death with their ballads and bagpipes in the 90's. They won seven times. What is their problem? And is it OUR fault they entered crappy songs for the last few years? Find a decent act instead of whining.
In the final? Yes, sadly enough a great deal of people will find this clever enough on a Tuesday night to send it into the top nine. But it could also be just too loud, too silly and too cheap a trick to work with the masses. Time will tell.
There is still too much focus on that silly plastic bird in the media. Annoying is what it is, and to counterbalancing the whole matter a bit, let me show you a clip of when Ireland were fun for real.
The Duskeys are adorable - they sing, they dance and the boy sing along with the lyrics designed for girls-only, and these silvery outfits are almost as striking as the yellow tight suits they used in Harrogate.
Long live the Duskeys!
The Duskeys - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - Ireland 1982 11/18
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?
After all rambling about that horrid bird, let me praise the Emerald Isle for a moment. They almost never did better than this, back in Madrid 1969. Far too spaced out and brilliant for the silly juries, but Muriel Day is nothing short of remarkable. Motown from Ireland, and I love it.
But that dress? Wouldn't that amount of legs on display send an Irish girl to prison back in those days?
Muriel Day - The Wages Of Love - Ireland 1969 =7/16
Thanks to the excellent link provided by Miss Posh (it is still there - scroll down a bit and click it) I had a listen to the six songs in competition in Ireland. The proud Republic of Ireland that won Eurovision more times than anyone else until the new times came and hit them on the head, tipped them over, stole their handbag and disappeared.
For many years, I had a blind fear when it came to Irish entries. I always thought they would win. Even when reason told me they would not stand a chance, I thought they would win. I thought the Irish would score heavily in 1999. And in 2001. Not until very recently did that fear wear off. Cause the Irish used to win with any old piece of folklore they would hiccup in front of us.
Don't be angry with me, dear Irish readers. Fear is a weird form of compliment. And many an Irish entry has been brilliant through the years. This time, however, the brilliance is long gone.
On one first, critical listening with quite bad sound quality, there is no potential winners there. Most of the songs are OK, but not winners. And then there is that annoying turkey.
Seriously, I can get jokes. I can even push myself to get jokes that are outside my circle - too see what get others laughing even if I don't find it funny myself. As for Dustin the Turkey? Nothing.
If that silly plastic poultry wins it (which he most probably does) then it will be a sad moment for Ireland. Whatever happened to dignity? And if you find this hilarious once you passed the age of 15 or so, then you are far too easily entertained. This, you see, is rubbish. There is no tune, it is not very funny, it is not provocative, it isn't even a new idea. Besides, Estonia already decided to flop with the same kind of fiasco, so you wouldn't even look original on the night.
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?
All six acts were previewed on Irish radio 1 earlier today. Click listen here! I'm listening right now and have only heard the scandi-schlager-boy so far. Great fun hearing the comments from the Irish fans and radio personallities in the studio.
In the last couple of weeks there has been a rumour about Ireland sending a turkey called Dustin to Eurovision. Since then Irish TV has confirmed that Dusty the Turkey WILL be one of the acts in their national final. My sources tell me that this character is so popular that he will win hands down on home ground. I have shaken my head and begged the mighty Eurovision God to spare us from more novelty acts this year. But then someone sent me this spoof from a radio show and suddenly I found myself in a giggles attack in front of the computer. If the real Dustin can come up with something equally witty and silly, I may have to surrender...
Douze points for Ireland (Eurovision spoof 2008)
...after all, I absolutely loved the same kind of parody the Irish did in an episode of 90s sitcom Father Ted. I laughed until I cried the first time I came across Father Ted's entry to "A song for Europe". Now it seems like reality is overshadowing fiction.
Father Ted - "My Lovely Horse" Fab preview video!!!
