Sunday, May 5, 2013

Eurovision 2013: Bulgaria

Bulgaria is an anomaly in Eurovision.  While surrounded by Eurovision powerhouse nations of Greece, Turkey, and Ukraine, Bulgaria has only qualified once for the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Their only success in Eurovision came back in 2007 with this song.

 
Elitsa and Stoyan   "Voda"  2007
 
The percussionists did quite well, coming in fifth in Helsinki.
 

So after a number of years without any success, it makes perfect sense that the Bulgarian national broadcaster went back to the same well and asked Elitsa and Stoyan to represent their country.
 
In the Bulgarian national final, Elitsa and Stoyan performed three different songs and a split jury/public vote selected the winner.
 
Two songs tied for first, and since public vote trumps the jury vote, this song was selected to go to Malmö.
 
 
 
Elitsa and Stoyan   "Kismet"
 
 
However, due to a copyright issue on "Kismet". the song was withdrawn and replaced with the song that came in first with the jury.
 
 
 
Elitsa and Stoyan   "Samo Shampioni"
 
 
I hate to be cynical here, but I feel like the copyright reasons wasn't the true reason for the song to be withdrawn.   "Kismet" is a pretty song, but it is not close to duplicating the song the did so well in 2007.  "Kismet" focuses more on the harmonies of Elitsa and her backup singers not the percussion.  "Samo Shampioni" does.  In fact, "Samo Shampioni feels very much like a retread of "Voda".  
 
But even with the rather unforeseen change in songs, the Bulgaria has a good chance to qualify this year.  They're placed at the end of the first half of semifinal two, and their sound is very different than anything else being sent this year.  They're also in a semifinal that doesn't have as many obvious qualifying songs.  I would say only Finland, Greece, and Georgia are sure qualifiers from the second semifinal.  That means Bulgaria may be able to sneak in.
 
I personally can't wait to see where they land come result time.
 



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