Countries In Review: Bulgaria

Eurovision  is starting up again, so it's high time for me to take a look at the next country on my list--Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is one of the world's most important producers of rose oil.

As of right now, it's unknown if Bulgaria will be participating in next year's Eurovision Song
Contest.   Due to a combination of political and financial issues, the Bulgarian national broadcaster has not been able to finalize their participation in Vienna and has been given extra time by the European Broadcasting Union to make a decision on entering.

I would love to see Bulgaria back at Eurovision after a year's absence, but unlike other countries that have returned this year, I can certainly understand if the Bulgarians decided to opt out.  Unlike Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria has a rather dire  Eurovision record.

In the nine years Bulgaria sent a song to Eurovision, they only made it to the Eurovision finals once:

 Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov   "Water"  2007

Bulgaria hit the sweet spot in 2007--a pseudo-ethnic number in a year were pseudo-ethnic numbers were few and far between.  That, combined with Elitsa and Stoyan's obvious talents on percussion, got them to fifth place in Helsinki.

But other than that success, Bulgarian songs have died in the semifinals:

Sometimes, it's very obvious why they failed, such as Bulgaria's entry in 2009:

Krassimir Avramov   "Illusion"   2009

It's a train wreck of off-tune singing, bad costuming, strange dancing, and insane musical style mash ups.  It's like they threw all the cliches for Eurovision songs into a blender and came up with this song.  It's terrible, but it is amazingly so. 

Most countries have had this experience, sending a song that is completely off the wall and not being able to leave the semifinals.   However, Bulgaria has a problem in sending good songs with excellent performances that are stranded once votes come in from across Europe.

Poli Genova   "Na inat"   2011

Sofi Marinova    "Love Unlimited"  2012

In 2011 and 2012, Bulgaria sent two strong performers who gave superb performances yet failed to excite the voters.

This is where you have question the EBU's assertion that there is no "political" voting in Eurovision.   Unlike Bulgaria's neighbors, Bulgaria doesn't automatically receive points because of common cultural or musical ties.   That means it has to overcome a barrier that other countries rarely have to deal with.

It's not necessarily fair, but it is the nature of the contest.

I hope Bulgaria does return to Eurovision next year and I hope they are able to bring a song and performer that will blow us away.  After all, Austria won last year.

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And for the record, my personal ranking of Bulgaria's entrants:

1. “Na inat”   Poli Genova   2011

2.  “Love Unlimited”   Sofi Marinova   2012

3.   “Angel si ti”   Miro   2010   Shockingly good, but the white leather is laughable.

4.   “Let Me Cry”   Mariana Popova  2006   Very good singer, somewhat let down by the staging (and the weird guy with the bleached hair).

5.   “Water”   Elitsa & Stoyan   2007

6.   “Lorraine”   Kaffe   2005    I can't even talk about how bad the lyrics are...  Oh dear lord...

7.   “Samo shampioni”   Elitsa & Stoyan   2013   Never go back to Eurovision with the same basic song you sent before.  It's not going to be successful.

8.   “DJ. Take Me Away”   Deep Zone & Balthazar   2008   This was their follow up to Elitsa
& Stoyan?
9.  “Illusion”   Krassimir Avramov   2009