Countries in Review: Croatia part 2

Ain't Dubrovnik pretty?

I love writing about my favorite songs for any country, because these are songs I want you to take a listen to and my favorite five Croatian songs are definitely ones that you should take a listen to.

Let's get started!

5.   Magazin & Lidija Horvat-Dunjko   “Nostalgija”   1995    

You take one of the biggest bands from Croatia and put them together with an opera singer and you get this song.  It is undeniably weird and I find it absolutely entrancing.   It wasn't accessible enough to win the contest, but it placed a respectable sixth in 1995.  It also grabbed "douze points" from Malta, Spain, and Slovenia.

4.   E.N.I.   “Probudi me”   1997   

Girl power was big in 1997 and E.N.I. was the Croatian response to it.  Yes, this performance isn't the greatest and they are obviously a knockoff of the Spice Girls.  But it's good bubblegum pop and these ladies are able to pull of some dance moves in cantilevered shoes.

3.   Danijela Martinović   "Neka mi ne svane"   1998  

Yep, Martinović was the singer in Magazin.  She came back as a soloist with this dramatic number three years later and landed in fifth place.  She has a clear voice with a beautiful tone that really pulls you into the song.  Just not crazy about the costumes change and the sexy arms...

2.   Nina Badrić   “Nebo”   2012   

I love this song.  I love her performance.  But the staging and camera angles ruined the song and sabotaged the chances for "Nebo" to make the finals.   There was no need for the dancers.   The backup singers needed to be hidden and in a darker color and Badrić needed to not wear a sheet.  Had they kept the shots on Badrić and allowed people to connect with the song, this would have made the finals.

1.  Goran Karan   "Kad zaspu anđeli"  2000  

This is how a Balkan ballad needs to be performed.  Straightforward staging.   Flawless vocals.  Karan is attractive and knows how to work the stage and camera.   Wish they had gotten rid of the girl in a bag.  But it's 2000--everybody had a gimmick.

And there's my top five Croatian entries.

Rumors are circulating that Croatia will return to Eurovision in 2016, and like many people I hope those rumors are true.   The more I watch Eurovision, the more I love the music from the former Yugoslavia.   Having Croatia back means more music from a region I love.

Next up--Cyprus.

Eurovision 2015: Moldova

Epic Sax Guy rides again?

I always look forward to the Moldovan national final.  More than any country in Europe, Moldova brings a great mix of fun, quirk and raw talent to their Eurovision songs.   Moldovan entries are rarely safe and that makes watching the national final an entertaining watch.

O Melodie Pentru Europa's final took place on February 28th and the finals delivered some wacky entertainment.  Out of the sixteen songs in the final there were a lot of fun and interesting songs that would have gone over well in Vienna.

DoReDoS   "Maricica"

Mihaela Andrei   "About Love"

Sunstroke Project featuring Michael Ra   "Day After Day"

This is what I want to see from Moldova--songs that is fun, quirky, and something that will get my friends talking.   Any of them would have been a fun and worthy choice to send to Vienna.

Strangely, none of them did particularly well.  Instead Moldovans chose the lamest and most derivative song in the contest:

Eduard Romanyuta   "I Want Your Love"

Romanyuta has been trying to go to Eurovision for years, attempting to represent his native country of Ukraine three times.   However crossing the border to Moldova gave him the win and I don't understand why.  The song is drippy and outdated while the staging is horrible.  

I don't understand how this won, but I do know that it's not getting out of the semifinal.

This is the second year where Moldova hasn't chosen a good song to go to Eurovision.  I hope the Moldovan national broadcaster goes back to the drawing board.   I need more Eurovision songs like this:

Pasha Parfeny   "Lăutar"   Moldova   2012

Countries in Review: Bosnia/Herzegovina (part one)

Although it appears landlocked, Neum is Bosnia/Hezegovina's only coastal town.

It's always disappointing when a country decides to opt out of the Eurovision Song Contest, especially so when they decide not to participate for financial reasons.  Bosnia and Herzegovina haven't entered Eurovision since 2012 due to the cost of participation.

Before starting this blog, I probably would have said "good riddance", but using this blog to look in depth into Eurovision, I am genuinely disappointed that they don't enter.  I've learned to love music from the Balkan region, and not having a Bosnian entry in Eurovision makes this Eurovision lover sad.

But it's not going to stop me from ranking the previous Bosnian entries.

I have to say that most of the Bosnian entries are pretty serious in the "Balkan Ballad" style, like the very first entry Bosnia sent, back in 1993:



Fazla   "Sva bol svijeta"   1993

Although the song sounds quite dated--you can tell by the orchestration it's from the early 1990s, "Sva blo svijeta" is worth listening to because it is one of the few times where the politics of the time are overtly shown at Eurovision.  The Bosnian war was at its zenith in 1993, and Fazla was almost unable to get out of the country due to bombings.  Just listen to the applause from the audience at the beginning of the song--an ovation that may never be repeated.

But the same straightforward, dramatic presentation can be seen in the most recent Bosnian entry:

MayaSar   "Korake ti znam"   2012

It's a lovely romantic song that was negated by the strange styling.  I was put off by the long limp hair and the oversized black dress.  (Isn't it incredible how the most minor things can put down a perfectly decent song?)

Yet, the most memorable Bosnian entry is one that breaks that mold:

Deen   "In The Disco"  2004

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present you the gayest performance ever to grace the Eurovision stage.  (Yes, even gayer that Conchita Wurst.)  I jokingly say that this is the only song at Eurovision you can potentially get a sexually transmitted disease from.  It's so not to my taste, but I think the over the top performance is exactly why it was successful and is definitely memorable.   

6.   Maya Sar   "Korake ti znam"   2012  
7.   Alma & Dejan   "Ostani kraj mene"   1994   I do love duets where the people actually look like they enjoy being together.
8.   Alma Čardžić   "Goodbye"   1997   The first peppy sounding song that Bosnia sent.
9.   Nino Pršeš   "Hano"   2001   The presentation of the song just failed to live up to its promise.
10.   Fazla   "Sva bol svijeta"   1993
11.   Maria   "Rijeka bez imena"   2007   I like Maya Sar's take on this basic song better.
12.   Deen   "In The Disco"   2004
13.   Mija Martina   "Ne brini"   2003   This is a song that is much better in English..
14.   Amila Glamočak   "Za našu ljubav"   1996   She has a nice voice, but the song is dull.
15.   Dino & Beatrice   "Putnici"   1999   Pretentious.
16.   Laka   "Pokušaj"  2008   I have a feeling that this is a cultural thing.  I just dont get this.
17.   Feminem   "Call Me"   2005   ABBA did this much better. 
18.   Vukašin Brajić   "Thunder and Lightning"   2010   Don't bother.  It's horrible.

My top five Bosnian songs should be posted soon.

Eurovision 2013: Macedonia

If you've been a reader of my blog, you know that my favorite song in Eurovision last year.

 

Kaliopi  "Crno i belo"

 

So I was looking forward to hearing the selection of the Macedonian entry this year.

 

And I have to say that I was highly disappointed when I heard this song.

 

 

 

Esma and Lozano  "Pred da se razdeni"

 

He's a good singer.  She's a good singer.  But it feels like they're performing two different songs in two different places, and as my rule on duets, it fails completely, and I fully suspect it's not going to make it out of the semifinal--especially since it is third in the running order.

 

What is interesting is that "Pred da se razdemi" wasn't the original song choice for Macedonia.  At the original presentation on February 27th was this song.

 

 



 

Esma and Lozano  "Imperija"

 

"Imperija" was changed because the Macedonian public didn't like the song.  

 

I can't see what's so bad with it; in fact, the singers seem more cohesive in "Imperija".  If I knew how to speak Macedonian I might feel differently, but as an English speaker I don't see any point in the change.

 

All in all, I'm disappointed by Macedonia this year.  Maybe next year...

 





Eurovision 2013: Georgia

I cannot believe that I'm going to say this.  I really like the Georgian entry.

Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani   "Waterfall"

I'll be the first to admit that this is a very calculated choice by the Georgian broadcaster, GPB.   They got the composer of the winning entry from last year, Thomas G:son, and looked at the staging of the winner from two years ago and came up with this song.

Usually I would deride this sort of thing, but the choice of Tatishvili & Gelovani have something that Eurovision duets in previous years tend not to have--chemistry.

If you take a look back a prior years' duets, the singers feel like they're singing in different worlds. 

 

Chanée and N'evergreen   "In A Moment Like This"   Denmark   2010

 

 

Ell and Nikki   "Running Scared"   Azerbaijan   2011

 

 

Greta Salóme & Jónsi   "Never Forget"   Iceland   2012

You may feel differently, but I feel that there was no connection between the singers in the three songs I've posted above, while the Georgian entry has that connection.  It looks like the two actually like each other.  For me, that goes a long way to sell the song, since my idea of a good duet is set up by this song.

 

 

Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers   "Islands in the Stream"

 

Tatishvili and Gelovani are the singers who come closest to that level of chemistry that Parton and Rogers have.  That means I'm flying the flag for the Georgian entry, even though I tend to hate duets in Eurovision.

Eurovision 2013: France

Dear France 3,

We need to have a talk.  

I love what you send to the Eurovision Song Contest.

You gave me the anchor song when I do my marathon training.

 

Jessy Matador   "Allez Ola Olé"   2010

 

You've inspired my friends in a local burlesque troupe.

 

 

Anggun   "Echo  (You and I)"   2012

 

You've won my approval for taking the Eurovision with a big dose of humor:

 

 

Les Fatals Picards   "L'amour à la française"   1997

 

 

And last but not least, you made me fall in love with her.

 



 



Patricia Kaas   "Et s'il fallait le faire"   2009

 

But this year you chose to send this.

 



Amandine Bourgeois  "L'enfer et moi"

 

I've listened to it.  I've tried to embrace it.  I just can't.  This makes me sad. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul at Alaskans Like Eurovision 

Eurovision 2013: San Marino

I must confess that I find the idea of San Marino entering the Eurovision Song Contest to be something confounding.  San Marino, a country with a population of just over 30,000 people is willingly entering a contest that must suck up a lot of the budget of the San Marinese national broadcaster.

I'm certain because of the expense, the artist and song were selected internally:

Valentina Monetta   "Crisalide" 

 

You may recognize her from last year, because she performed the song San Marino presented last year

 

 

Valentina Monetta  "The Social Network Song"

 

Last year, I eviscerated both the song and the singer, but I'm happy that Monetta has been given a chance to sing a song that is more in her wheelhouse. 

 

She has a beautiful voice and this song allows her to showcase her vocal range.  And I like that. 

Yet I'm a bit confused by the structure of the song.  "Crisalide" starts out as a ballad, then in the last minute goes into a big dance number.  It's like two songs have been grafted together that have absolutely no business being grafted together...  I want it to work.  I want San Marino to make the final.  But I just don't see it moving forward to the final with this song. 

 





Countries In Review: Azerbaijan

It has been a couple of weeks since I last updated my journal, and in that time a lot of things have changed--including my residence.  That means that I have finally gotten back around to updating my Eurovision blog and I can continue with the next country in my review posts--Azerbaijan.

Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, is a leader in ambitious buildings like the planned Hotel Crescent

Azerbaijan is the newest country in the Eurovision Song Contest, first sending a song in 2008.  And in those five years, they have been they have been extremely successful, having placed no lower than eighth in the final contest.  It's a track record that most other countries would envy.

Personally, I've never been much of a fan of Azerbaijani entrants.  I've always found them to be more of a part of Azerbaijani international policy that actually being representative of their actual musical culture.

A case in point is the song that won the contest back in 2011:

Ell and Nikki  "Running Scared"  2011

I've made my opinion known in my introductory post to this series of blog posts, and I still consider it to be pretty horrible--which is only compounded by the fact that really only one person involved with the song was actually living in Azerbaijan at the time--Eldar Gasimov, the male singer in the duet.

But it did exactly what the Azerbaijani government wanted it to do.  It won the contest, brought Eurovision to the country, and the government used it to try to propel Azerbaijan onto the world stage and a place where large events could be held.

It still doesn't change the fact that I despise the song and cannot believe it beat out a group of much better songs to win the contest.

But it's not surprising.  They tried the same thing a few years previously and came in third with this song:

Aysel and Arash  "Always"  2009

This time the only Azerbaijani was the lovely Aysel.  Better song too.

Really the only song that doesn't come of completely prepackaged is the first song Azerbaijan sent to Eurovision

.

Elnur and Samir  "Day After Day"  2008

I will be the first to admit the staging is absolutely ridiculous; it's pretty self-evident how cheesy it is.  However, the song was written by two Azerbaijanis and feels more authentic than anything else they've sent afterwords.  So this one gets the vote for best Azerbaijani entry.

So from best to worst:

1.  Elnur and Samir   "Day After Day"  2008

2.  Sabina Babayeva   "When The Music Dies"  2012  The addition of  Alim Qasimov saved this one.

3.  Safura   "Drip Drop"   2010  If a song could try too hard, this would be the song.

4.  Aysel and Arash   "Always"  2009

5.  Ell and Nikki   "Running Scared"   2011

Yeah, I must admit I'm pretty savage on Azerbaijan Eurovision entrants.  But I have hope that now they have won the contest, proven that they are a country on par with the rest of Europe, they will pull back on the hyper-packaged songs and send music that is more reflective of their own musical culture. 

Alaska's Choice: 2012 Baku

Unlike most Eurovision fans, the 2012 Contest ended back on May 26th, when Sweden won for the fifth time with the following song:

Loreen  "Euphoria"

It is a worthy winner and although it's not my favorite, it is a worthy winner.  I still consider it a catchy (albeit somewhat generic) song, and the staging was masterfully done.  Instead of the traditional arena camerawork that typified the other songs, "Euphoria" was shot in closeup. 

With the focus on the closeups, the song felt like a throwback to earlier contests and at the same time seemed extremely fresh.  In other words it was distinct an memorable in a way that the other songs were not.

But like I've been doing with all the other years of the song contest, I decided to ask a group of Alaskans what they think.  It's an excuse for me to throw a party, get together with the people that are important in my life, and share one of my favorite things.  As the lovely Janet S. has said to me, Eurovision is my Super Bowl.

So while chowing down on homemade pizza and a Sacher torte, we decided our winner of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Instead of the lovely Loreen, the Alaskan group voted for this song:

Pasha Parfeny   "Lăutar"   Moldova

Moldovan entries always do well with my friends, and this year the combination of attractive singer, quirky song, and dancers in adorable outfits hit the sweet spot with most of the viewers at my party.  I don't blame them; I'm a fan of Moldovan songs as well.  But as you know, it didn't hit my sweet spot. 

I was more surprised by the song that came in second with the voting:

Kurt Calleja   "This Is The Night"  Malta

I think the this rated so well with the jury because of the group's dance moves, which I fully expect to see done by a couple of my friends in a burlesque show in the next couple of months. 

Italy, Sweden and Norway finished off our top five,--five choices that were very different than the rest of Europe.

Sadly, my favorite, Macedonia didn't fare well.  After the rest of the voting came through, Kaliopi came in seventh.    (I'm sad about that, but at least she would have gotten four points from our jury, which isn't something to sneeze at.)

The bottom included some surprises:  Spain, Albania, Denmark, Greece, and last and certainly least, Ireland.  (And I'm happy that the jury can recognize dreck when they see it.)

And now, time to look forward to 2013 and Sweden.

Or maybe December and Rotterdam. 

After the Final Impressions

Because my friends will be watching the Eurovision Song Contest after the fact, I've been asked not to post the winner on my blog.

Because of that, I'm not going to say who won or lost, but I will say the winner isn't one I particularly have quibbles about.  It's one of the better shows in recent years, and for that Azerbaijan should be proud.  They spent enough money on it.

However I am going to post up my personal picks for the best and worst song of the contest.  

The thing that surprises me more than anything else is the fact that the song I would have voted for was not the one I expected I would want to vote for.

Kaliopi   "Crno i Belo:  Macedonia

In my mind, Kaliopi had a great song, performed in flawlessly, and had the crowd on her side.  I wasn't crazy about the song at the beginning, butby the time of the final, she won me over.

I wasn't surprised by the song that I rated the worst.

Jedward  "Waterline"  Ireland

Unlike "Lipstick" the song from the previous year, which played off of their "talent", this song wasn't really written specifically for them, and it showed.  Pretty much all they had was their costumes, which the lovely Janet S. has summed up nicely with her appalled declaration "They're tin men!" combined with a stupid fountain that they get soaked in at the end.  

I'm all for gimmicks (the Buranovskiye Babushki charmed me as much as the last person), but really this song was a train wreck. 

And since I'm analyzing, I'm still sad that this song wasn't in the finals. 

Izabo  "Time"  Israel

They didn't give the best performance, but I'm going to go buy their CDs.  Which is what I'm sure Izabo was hoping to get out of their participation.

My Picks: Semifinal One

Well, tomorrow is the day when Eurovision begins in earnest, with semifinal one.

Sadly, I'm going to be stuck at my office, crunching numbers while Europe votes for their favorite songs.  So between projects I'll be furiously refreshing my web browser to find out the ten songs that will move on to the final.

And like most people who blog on the Eurovision Song Contest, I'm choosing my ten songs and we'll see how they do.

1.  Finland  "När jag blundar"  Pernilla Karlsson

This song in my favorite of all the songs in the contest this year; I would have never thought that a Swedish language song would be that way.  I hope that Ms. Karlsson will get enough jury votes to make it through to the final, because where it's placed, I don't think the viewing audience will vote for it.

2.  Austria  "Wiki mit dein Popo"  Trackshittaz

Although I can see why this song can offend people, I like it and hope it makes it to the final.  It has a crazy energy that no other song has this year, and that energy makes it one of my favorites.

3.  Israel  "Time"  Izabo

Out of all the songs in the contest, this is the song that has the seal of approval of the lovely Janet S., which means that it's going to delight the other people at my Eurovision viewing party.  Any Eurovision song that is accessible to my Gen X friends is A-OK in my book.

4.  Moldova "Lăutar"  Pasha Parfeny

Who doesn't love a little bit of Moldovan fun?


5.  Albania "Suus"  Rona Nishlu

I have to say this song has grown on me, but I doubt that this will  appeal to enough people who hear it for the first time to make it through.  It's just so dramatically different than anything else, having it in the finals will


6.  Russia  "Party for Everybody"  Buranovskiye Babushki

I love the idea of them more than I like the song, but they're sure to make it through to the final, but there's still


7.  Denmark  "Should've Known Better"  Soluna Somay

This is the song that I still think could potentially make it were it released by a known American artist like Kelly Clarkson.

8.  Greece  "Aphrodesiac"  Eleftheria Eleftheriou

It's Greece by the numbers, but it's still peppy and you can tap your feet to it.  That's good enough to catch the ears of most people.

9.  Iceland  "Never Forget"  Greta Salóme and Jónsi

 There is something to be said for a really decent pop song presented by two seasoned performers.   I just hope he's not wearing that stupid string tie.

10.  Romania  "Zaleilah"  Mandinga

This is the catchiest song in the semifinal and probably my guilty secret song, because it's not the type of song I go for.

The sad thing is that I'm certain one or more of the songs on my list are going to be dropped, and I'm suspecting the two weakest songs on my list are Finland and/or Albania.     One of them is going to get replaced by the "dynamic" duo from Ireland for certain, and a number of other songs could take out the other without any problem.

But we'll see tomorrow night.

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Romania

Finally, the last song in the contest to be reviewed, and it's Romania. 

Mandinga  "Zaleilah"

There really isn't much to say about this song other than this is a great little summer number.  It does exactly what it is supposed to do--make you want to get up and dance

The only way it could potentially fail is if the lead singer does one of two thing-lose her voice before the perfomance or wear something so tasteless that it puts off the voters, and I doubt that either would happen.

I suspect this will be a top five song, and it will also be top five at the Eurovision party I'm throwing in June.    However, I know that there will be comments on the band's name...

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Belarus

Just a few more days until the first semifinal and only two more songs to review.  And to begin the end of my reviews, Let's take a listen to the Belorussian entry.

Litesound  "We Are The Winners"

I have to say this is not the type of music I'm a fan of.  I like my rock to be a little more hardcore, not the pop rock that Litesound is performing.  But, if they performed the song this way, and thy got a good draw, I would think they had a chance to go through to the finals, since this sound is nowhere to be found elsewhere in the contest.

The funny thing is that this song wasn't the winner in the Belorussian national final.  When the voting was done at the national final, another song took the top spot.

Alyona Lanskaya  "All My Life"

But after accusations of vote fixing were bandied around, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, personally investigated, and discovered that the accusations were correct and "it had to be decided on the presidential level, but this was a matter of justice and it was his duty to stand up for justice".

I just find the fact that president of Belarus felt the need to step in and solve the problem of choosing a Eurovision winner...  It would be like Barack Obama determining the winner of America's Got Talent was the wrong one.  It seems a very trivial issues, and something that should be able to be solved without the head of government stepping in to solve the issue.

Yet who am I to judge on what's politically important?  I'm just a blogger living half a world away from Belarus...

 

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Spain

Well, rehearsals are taking place in Baku for the first and second semifinals, and I still haven't made my way through all of the songs. 

So here we go with Spain...

Pastora Soler  "Quédate Conmigo"

I don't particularly find this song compelling, and I can't quite put my finger on it.  It's a power ballad, and this is the only song that fills that place in this year's contest, and for that reason it ought to have legs. 

There is no denying that Ms. Soler is a good singer.  Her singing is technically amazing; she may be the best singer in the contest.   

Yet, I have to wonder if the song was the right choice for her to sing.  In her hands the song sounds rather soulless.  The song is about a woman begging her lover to come back, and there's absolutely none of that emotion in Ms. Soler's interpretation of the song.  And the lack of emotion is off-putting.

It makes me wish she had gone with something more uptempo.

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Greece

I have to admire the Greeks.  Even though their economy is in free fall, they are still willing to enter Eurovision. 

Eleftheria Eleftheriou  "Aprhodisiac"

It's a catchy little number, Ms. Eleftheriou is in complete control of the stage, and it's certain to do well enough to make the top half of the board in the finals.

The thing is, I don't expect the song to win, and that's another smart move on the Greek's part.  They've sent this basic song twice before.

Helena Paparizou  "My Number One"  2005

Kalomira  "Secret Combination"  2008

They came in first and second respectively, which means this type of song is very popular among Eurovision watchers.  But, in my opinion, it's just a little too generic to make it to the top.

However, come the night, I may be forced to eat my words on this one.



Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Moldova

I have to say I always look forward to Moldova's entry to Eurovision.  The have always set the standard for upbeat, slightly manic songs that are insanely catchy and a big hit with my friends.  A walk through Moldova's resent history will bring a smile to most Alaska Eurovision watchers.

So naturally, Moldova is one of those countries that I look forward to, because fun will be brought.

Pasha Parfeny  "Lautar"

It's fun, but a more subdued fun than previous years.  Parfeny doesn't have a fairy princess on a unicycle and he's not dressed up as a warrior princess and there's no Epic Sax Guy. 

 

But compared to the earnestness that seems to be a theme in most of the other songs this year, the bouncy beat is a breath of fresh air, and I'm looking forward to it making the finals and making my friends very happy.

(And on a fashion note, I love his pants a lot.  Were I younger and hipper, I think I'd attempt the look.) 

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Belgium

Well, I'm trying to make my way through the last of the Eurovision songs for this year before the first semifinals, and then next country on my list is Belgium. 

Iris  "Would You"

I'm usually a fan of retro numbers.  If done right, they're catchy and a breath of fresh air between songs that have a more modern touch. 

But the Belgian entry is a throwback to something that really didn't need a comeback--the 1990 Eurovision ballad.   I think this is best exemplified by Poland's entry in 1994. 



Edyta Górniak  "To nie ja"  Poland  1994

Ms. Górniak was very successful in the 1994 contest, coming in second.  However, to a modern ear, the song is definitely from the 1990s

I think the Belgians were trying for something that would sound timeless, but wound up coming up with a song that sounds immediately dated.  And that's the main reason that the song is not going to go anywhere in this year's contest.

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Estonia

Estonia has been one of my favorite countries at the Eurovision Song Contest, in the past few years, they've sent songs that have gone onto my favorites playlist on my iPod, so I was kind of looking forward to the Estonian entry.

Ott Lepland  "Kuula"

Although he gets major brownie points for singing in Estonian, his performance leaves me flat.  It's just a guy standing at a microphone, holding the stand like he's on a merry-go-round.  No matter how gorgeous the voice or how handsome the man singing the song, just standing there just isn't good enough.

Well, unless you're this person

Patricia Kaas  "Et s'il fallait le faire"  France  2009

All bow down to the greatness that is Patricia Kaas.

Sorry.  Got distracted for a minute...

However, I know a way that this dull staging can be changed, and Estonia can put some more people on the stage.  Just adapt this video and it's sure to be in the final.

"Kuula", interpreted by HOFF - the Haapsalu Horror And Fantasy Film Festival

A Eurovision song and zombies.  Yep.  I'm in.  And so would all my friends, the least of which is the lovely Janet S., who is a zombie fanatic. 

Zombies and Eurovision, two things that go surprisingly great together...

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: Israel

I can't review the Israeli entrant without telling you a story about the first person in the US that I started telling about my interest in the Eurovision Song Contest.

My passion for the Eurovision Song Contest began in the late 1990s, when I lived in the Emerald Isle as an exchange student, but I kept my passion to myself until the 2007 contest, when I finally decided to share my passion with my friends, starting with my best friend here in the Last Frontier to the joys of Eurovision.

My friend, who for anonymity's sake, will be referred to Janet S., was unimpressed with tangoing Norwegians, crooning Germans, or Turks bribing women with candy.  But she was all in when I showed her this song

Teapacks  "Push The Button"  2007

Yep, this little ditty about global thermonuclear war made the mysterious Janet S. a Eurovision fan.  Or at least yelling "Push The Button" on a regular basis...

So I had to send the Israeli song to her and get her opinion.

Izabo  "Time"

And she likes it.  She is grateful that she's not scared of clowns, but other than that its good.  But then she said, "If I like it, it has no chance to do well."

And I can't disagree with her.  I personally love the song, and I've listened to it numerous times, which is rare for me, a Eurovision fan.  But I wonder if Europeans will like the indie/college rock vibe of Izabo.  I hope they do, because I'd like it to get to the final and do well.  

 

Eurovision 2012 Entrants: San Marino

Do you wanna be more than just a friend?

Do you wanna play cybersex again?

If you wanna come to my house

Then click me with your mouse OK.  I realize I'm beating a dead horse with my review of the San Marinese entry, because pretty much everybody has had the same reaction the "The Social Network Song" and it's really the easiest song to criticize.  I mean, all you really need to do is read the lyrics at the beginning of the post to understand why.  I do not condone any song that uses the word "cybersex". And with an introduction like that, you're probably dying to hear the full song: Valentina Monetta  "The Social Network Song" Although the song's lyrics are really smutty, I have to say the music is catchy and that's because the music was written by Ralph Siegel, who is Germany's Mr. Eurovision,   Siegel is famous for composing nineteen songs that were performed at Eurovision, most famously this winner: Nicole  "Ein Bißchen Frieden"  Germany 1982 Yep, Nicole's song about peace is a long, long distance away from hooking up online. But vulgar lyrics aren't my big issue with the song, there have been some songs with vulgar lyrics before, and I can overlook it. Serebro  "Song #1"  Russia 2007 It's pretty awful, but I'm willing to forgive this.  And that's because the girls singing it are barely out of their teens.   It is sexist and ageist, but teenaged girls singing songs that are barely covered come ons are more acceptable than a more mature woman--especally a woman who has been tarted up to look like a teenager.  It's a shame really, because Monetta has a decent voice and is very attractive.  Had she been given a song that would fit with her image, she could have sold the song into the finals, but this song is definately not going there.