Eurovision 2014: San Marino

After a couple of the big guns at Eurovision, now it's time to review the minnow in Eurovison--San Marino.

San Marino has sent Valentina Monetta for the third year and I must confess that I love the fact she's back the third time.  Although her songs have been lackluster, I like the fact that she keeps trying.  (I do love an underdog.)

Valentina Monetta  "Forse (Maybe)"

Sadly, this is the weakest song that she has sung.  It's instantly forgettable.  I can't say anything more than that.   It's sad that after three years, the writers haven't tailored a song to her pop/jazz talents and plunked her with a ballad that sounds like it came from the late 1980s.

It's a big disappointment.

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. 

 





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.