Posh on Russia

Anastasia Prihodko – Mamo 1½/5
LED screens of a suffering Anastasia who ages into an old woman while the uninspiring songstress is screaming her heart out live on stage. A very dull song designed not to let Russia win again. We’re looking at Mother Russia’s worst result in many, many years here. Not even the neighbours can save this one.

And over in the eastern parts

Russia and Estonia chose entries last night.


Russia 2009. Anastasia Prihodko - "Mamo"

Not as spectacular and modern as I had expected from Russia but it could grow if the performance changes for the better during the weeks to come.


Estonia 2009. Urban Symphony - "Rändajad"

I feel sorry for my favourite Laura and her Destiny which only reached 3rd place. But Rändajad was probably my second favourite with the Enya inspired sound. Could work quite well in Eurovision. I wonder what the other fiddle-country this year, Slovenia, think of this?

Dima Bilan 2006

Russia 2006: Dima Bilan - Never Let You Go

100 times better! Don't you agree?

Winners and Losers

The show looked fantastic on TV last night and I didn't feel bitter at all not being present in Belgrade. Honest. It brought me back to my childhood and how much I longed for Eurovision every year and how exciting it was to see the numbers for the first time. I haven't seen ESC home on a sofa since 1999 when I was still in school.

I'm pleased to say that I predicted 7-8 of the songs that finally made it to the top 10. Hurrah for me! But I am not happy at all with the winner. The song in itself is ok but Dima Bilan was too much this time around and I can easily pick 10 songs that are better suited as a winner. On the other hand I say congratulations to Russia as they have tried really hard to win this contest ever since they started participating. Just a shame that it wasn't with one of their stronger entries. I've been to Moscow and it is an amazing city and I'm sure they will make a splendid show next year. It's itching in my fingers to work with the contest next year again and re-visit Moscow. Their schwerma is worth the trip alone! :)

Then Sweden. What happened? Charlotte Perrelli made a flawless performance and is not to blame for the result. Neither is "the Eastern bloc" that the Swedes will try to say. Why? Because "the Western bloc" didn't vote either. Not even our Nordic neighbours gave high points. Only 12 points from Malta, much thanks to the Schlagerboys' participation in a Maltese tv-show where they begged everyone to vote Sweden. Go Schlagerboys! Thank you.

The only explanation I have for the 18th place is that Ani Lorak nicked the "pop song with strong female singer in silver dress with a dance routine"-votes and that the rest of the voters simply didn't like the old Scandischlagersound anymore and thought it sounded dated. Anyone with other explanations?

The popularity of Charlotte Perrelli in Sweden won't fade because of this though. Of that I am fairly sure. Everybody loves her here and rightly so.

Congratulations, I guess

Russia is the winner, and given how hard they tried to make it in the past, it must be a big relief for them to finally come out on top. Just too bad that they did just like Estonia and Yugoslavia: to win it with one of their less convincing acts.

Only two years back, I loved Dima Bilan. He was so sweet and convincing, and there was a heart beating steadily behind his stage show in Athens. But somewhere down the line, he got a bit too fond of himself and that is never a great thing in the long run.

"Believe" is an OK song, and as a song maybe a deserved winner. But it makes me a bit sad to see Europe buy something as cheesy and overloaded as the stage act that went along with it.

"Chef, the food we made is not very tasty!" - Then pour ketchup over it!
"It is still not tasty!" - Then cover it in mayonnaise! And if that is not enough, pour on chocolate sauce. Everyone loves chocolate sauce. Well, it seems everyone does.

So, congratulations Russia. I am happy you won. I just wish you had done it with another act.

Semi 1: not too bad, eh?

I can hardly remember what countries I predicted beforehand, but we did predictions also after seeing the entries on telly, and then I had a new bunch of songs.

The ones I thought
Israel, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Greece.
Not too inaccurate, I must say. I had two things wrong and eight countries right. I am particularly happy about Ireland and Estonia losing out, proving there are still things such as sensibility, taste and fairness in the world.
I feel genuinely sorry for the Netherlands - this time they really deserved going through. And I wonder if Andorran television is beginning to have second thoughts about entering the ESC.

But the finalists!

ISRAEL
Fantastic to have them through, as Boaz sang very sweetly and the song is enchanting. Also good to see that being drawn as #2 doesn't automatically stop you.

AZERBAIJAN
They did well live, but I thought the cocktail would prove a bit too much for the average viewer. It seems the average viewer is capable of more than I thought.

NORWAY
I got really nervous about Norway as they were in the last envelope. For a while, I thought they had failed and was prepared to cry bitter tears. Maria was brilliant and sang really well.

POLAND
There is something about Isis Gee that is a bit scary: especially the teeth and the drop of sweat that came off her during the song. But she sang like a marvel and the song is truly worthy of a place in the final. Most probably the choice of the jury, though.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
The stars of the night! Wonderful, brilliant, wacko, hysterical and very, very good. They can still win it!

ARMENIA
A video went around Youtube of Friday night's rehearsal, where Sirusho sang quite flatly all the way through. Tonight she sounded a lot better, and danced with more gusto. But it feels like the director of the show is not her best friend - lousy camera work on this one.

FINLAND
What happened here? Finland in the final for the third year running? I don't understand a thing, but it is good for the domestic ratings. I am contented. But I hope Teräsbetoni won't do too well, for the sake of next year's national final.

ROMANIA
Classy and good, but I had hoped for something more. Even more drama and prettier clothes. But still, surely a contender for Saturday night.

RUSSIA
I don't think the stage show really worked. Frenetic, too many things happening, too much acting. I just get bored and distracted, but it was expected that people would like this.

GREECE
Just like Armenia, the director seemed not to be too keen on this one and missed the big trick with the book. Wouldn't surprise me if it was tonight's winner, though. Better vocal performance than the Greek final suggested.

Now it is time to head for bed, more analysis to follow tomorrow...

Posh on Russia

Dima Bilan - Believe 3½/5
Ok, one more time: Less is more! So they got rid of the ladder but there is still a skater on stage and a singer who is playing the role of a drama queen to put it mildly. The Russian package in 2006 was awesome but 2008 the same team overdo it on the verge of looking desperate. Not a pretty quality. Less. IS. More.

Becks on Russia

Dima Bilan - Believe 3/5

In 2006, this boy was my big favourite before, during and after ESC. "Never Let You Go" was a tiny masterpiece of a song with a very clever arrangement and a totally brilliant performance. So what can I say about his second attempt at the big time? Disappointing, unfortunately.

Not that the song would be bad or anything, it isn't. But it is a very standardised version of something that is very present in the charts, nothing more and nothing less. Ah yes, with bad English. Whatever happened there?

Rumours that the song was produced by Timbaland proved to be wrong as well, and what is left is a heartfelt soul ballad without that tiny little extra needed. But, as I said, the charts are full of similar songs, and they have been for years. Maybe this will break through to loads of viewers out there.

I had just hoped for a bit more from Team Bilan.

In the final?
Yes, Dima is a big name and he will sparkle on the night. He will be in the final, but the big question is how far he will get there. Very high or very low, is my guess.

Three more songs

The line-up for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest is almost complete as three more countries selected their entries last night.

I followed the national final of Russia streamed over the internet, as that one seemed the most interesting to me. Impeccably produced, and with an impressive variety of singers and styles, it can't be denied that 27 songs in one evening is a bit much. However, the professional jury and the televoters agreed completely that Dima Bilan should have a second try after his second place back in 2006. The song is slick and well-produced (but is this version really produced by Timbaland? I exercise my right to be doubtful), but to my ears it sounds very similar to Georgia, but the Georgians have more of a hook in their chorus. By the general standards of 2008 not bad, but I had expected more from Russia. And from Dima.



Dima Bilan - Believing - Russia 2008

Last year, when Andrej Babic represented his third different country as composer, we all joked and wondered what country he would write for next year. Ah well, Portugal fell for it. "Senhora do Mar" is really Babic by the numbers, and it usually works well enough to make it into the final and then be 15th or so there. Which, of course, would be a great progress for Portugal, who has not made a top ten finish since the heyday of Lúcia Moniz back in 1996.



Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do Mar - Portugal 2008

And then there is Belgium... Let me state one thing very clearly here: I hate songs in made-up languages. Making up languages is a pastime of children, stoned poets and over-ambitious lingustic professors in the 19th century. What makes it so hard to find a suitable lyric in an existing language? It just makes the whole thing ridiculous to me. As for the song? Well, it would have been a Eurovision smash hit. Back in 1956. The ways of the Flemings are mysterious to me. And the worst thing? I could be wrong and everyone will love this. I pull my blanket over my head and ignore that possibility for the time being.



Ishtar - O julissi na jalini - Belgium 2008

Dima rides again?

Rumor has it that Dima Bilan is eager to enter the 2008 Russian NF and try to fight for another trip as Russian representative at Eurovision. It seems it all comes down to whether his management would let him or not.

I can understand his management if they have doubts - after a smashing second place in Athens 2006, it is easy to believe that the only way is down. Unless young master Bilan laid his hands on a real masterpiece of a song, that is.

Not that it always helps. In 2005, Bilan had a great entry for the Russian final, but had to content himself with a second place. But hey - no pain, no gain. And if you don't dare trying again, you can never win.

And I certainly wouldn't mind a repeat play of him on the ESC stage...



Dima Bilan - Not That Simple - Russia 2005 NF
2/10



Dima Bilan - Never Let You Go - Russia 2006
2/24