Eurovision 2015: Czech Republic

This image pops up for "hair band meets Andrew Lloyd Webber". 

The Czech Republic is arguably the least successful country in Eurovision.

Before this year, the country competed onlythree times, from 2007 to 2009, and never got out of the semifinals.  In two of those three years, they came in dead last.

So it was a big surprise when the Czech national broadcaster ČT announced that they would be entering the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest and would be choosing their song internally.

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Markéta Irglová   "Let Me Fall In Love"

My Marketa Irglova dreams were dashed on January 31, when it was announced that Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta would be representing the Czech Republic with their song "Hope Never Dies". (Which is kind of  an "on the nose" title for the the Eurovisionally-beleaguered country.)

Marta Jandová & Václav Noid Bárta   "Hope Never Dies"

A baritone!  I love a baritone!

If we are talking about the sheer quality of the song, this year is the year the Czech Repblic will qualify for the final.   Jandová and Bárta are both seasoned performers and the hair band meets Andrew Lloyd Webber sound is musically interesting but not alienating to Eurovision lovers.

Plus Bárta is a baritone.  I love hearing a non-tenor singing a pop song.

Crash Test Dummies   "Afternoons and Coffeespoons"

In other words, I think the Czech Republic could actually get to the final, but everything is going to hinge on the performance.

Jandová and Bárta have to have the PERFECT performance during their semifinal performances to even have a chance to make it to Saturday night.  If anything goes wrong, they're doomed.  The Czech Republic doesn't have easy points to earn, so they have to be amazing to even get the attention of any other country.

I certainly hope the qualify, but even if they don't they're still going to be the most successful Czech Eurovision entrant.

Eurovision 2015: Lithuania

Monkey Business.  You can take down US presidential candidates and Eurovision hopefuls.

You have to feel sorry for Mia.

Mia   "This Time"

Mia was one of three finalists at "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka, the interminably long selection process Lithuania set up to choose both the singer and song to send to Vienna. She made it through six weeks of eliminations and had a good chance to win.

Then, after the winning song was chosen, somebody decided to pair up the other two contestants and make the winning song a duet.

Vaidas Baumila & Monika Linkytė   "This Time"

Poor girl didn't have a chance at all.

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As for the winning contestants, this is the best example of hopping on the coattails of Eurovision trends that we have at the contest.  This is a countrified schlager duet--it's as if last year's Dutch and Swedish entries cross pollinated.  It's a likely final qualifier and rather popular in the Eurovision fandom.

I personally hate it.  The chorus is catchy enough on one listen, which is perfect for casual Eurovision fans, but it's really hard to listen to over and over again.  It's skippable.

Vaidas and Monika were the right singers to send to the contest. I just wish they had a less annoying song.

Eurovision 2015: Hungary

When it comes to Eurovision, Hungary always seems to march to the beat to their own drum.  Over the past couple of years, they've had a lot of success with not following Eurovision trends, getting critical and popular support for their songs, with two consecutive top ten finishes..

The Hungarian national final took place back on February 28th, and it had the requisite mix of pop rock bands, dance tracks, and even a former Hungarian representitive.

Kati Wolf    "Ne engedj el"

But the winner continues a trend of interesting, idiosyncratic songs from Hungary:

Boggie  "Wars For Nothing"

Instead of a pop duet with a country feel or a dramatic ballad, Hungary has sent a message song.  Message songs were big during the late 80s and early 90s in Eurovision, but with the end of communism and breakup of Yugoslavia, they became a rarity.

So this profoundly antiwar song is an oddity and a welcome one at that.  "Wars For Nothing" stands out starkly from the rest of the songs in this years contest.    It gets major points from me on that fact alone.

Yet I don't see people actually going out of their way to vote for this song.   This is a song you respect but don't vote for.

I hope the jury vote will get Boggie into the final, but this could bet the first time since 2009 that we won't see a Hungarian song on Saturday night.

Eurovision 2015: Norway

Every year at Eurovision there is one song where I vigorously disagree with the rest of the Eurovision fan base, and this year Norway has sent that song.

Yep, a lead balloon.  A metaphor for the Norwegian entry.

Mørland & Debrah Scarlett   "A Monster Like Me"

For me, this is the worst song of the forty entries.  The twee vocals, the swoony strings, and the melodramatic staging are so repellent to me in visceral way.   I have only been able to watch the clip once all the way through.  Any other attempts cause me to cringe and switch to something else.

However, it ticks all the boxes for a top ten finish on the night of the finals, so "A Monster Like Me" is getting a lot of love from Eurovision fans.

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I personally wish that the Norwegians had chosen a different song, one that was upbeat and completely silly.

Staysman & Lazz   "En godt stekt pizza"

Country techno with rap.  It's kind of off the wall and insane but this song is the only song I've seen throughout the final that was silly and fun.   Eurovision needs to be silly and fun and I would have loved for this to go to Vienna.

But, serious we must be and we have another dramatic duet.  At least I know when I'm going to make myself a cup of coffee during the first semi final.

Eurovision 2015: Portugal

Portugal likes to stick with tradition when it comes to Eurovision and this year is no exception.  The 49th edition of Festival da Canção 2015 took place back in March, with six songs competing in the final on March 7th.

Portuguese Eurovision songs, more than any other country at Eurovision, reflect the national musical taste, particularly the fado.

Fado influenced songs are always popular in Festival da Canção, with this song by Teresa Radamanto being a perfect example of this genre.

Teresa Radamanto    "Um fado em Viena" 

Sadly, there's no cut of the performance on the night, but Radamanto was perfectly polished and professional.  The song was lovely and came in second.  It would not have done anything in Vienna, but it was lovely.

The Portuguese public decided to go a little bit more modern with their choice, selecting this song by a former contestant from The Voice Portugal.

Leonor Andrade   "Há um mar que nos separa"

It is different that the typical Portuguese Eurovision song, which is a pleasant surprise.  A song that has some rock influence is a refreshing change of pace from the typical fado/folk songs that have been sent from Portugal in recent years.

Unfortunately, I don't think that this song is going to make it to the final though.  The problem is Ms. Andrade is the wrong person to sing the song.  The song needs a singer with a rock voice, not the sweet pop interpretation the Andrade brings to it.

If Andrade had a gruffer voice and a bigger stage presence, this song could soar.   Instead, the song plods.  

Sadly, Portugal isn't going to get out of the semifinal again....  

Maybe next year...

Eurovision 2015: Greece

I'm not talking about this type of Greek.

Greece has been a powerhouse at the Eurovision Song Contest for the past 10 years--winning the contest back in 2005 and successfully making the finals every year since.

This year the Greek national final took place on March 4th with a two hour show from a concert hall in Athens,  Five acts competed to represent their country and a whole lot of former Eurovision contestants performed their songs.  (Seriously, the competition started an hour into the contest because they had so many former contestants on the bill.)

After years of sending high-octane dance numbers, Greece has send a straightforward ballad that features no traditional Greek instrumentation.   (It's rather shocking.)

Maria Elena Kyriakou   "One Last Breath"

Athough it's a rather middling affair with a "Bond theme" feeling reminiscent of last year's winner, it's quite easy to understand why Kyriakou won with a sweep of the jury and televote.   The other four songs had problems with either their composition or performance which made "One Last Breath" the obvious choice.

Thomai Apergi & Legend   "Jazz and Sirtaki"

Shaya Hansen   "Sunshine"

It also didn't hurt that Kyriakou is the winner of The Voice Greece, where she was a fan favorite being saved by the audience multiple times.   Eurosong 2015--60 Years of Music was hers to lose.

As for her chances...   Yeah, Greece is qualifying.  There's no question about that.   It's not likely to challenge for the win, but will place respectably enough.  Greece can't really afford Eurovision, so they sent the perfect song to give them a respectable result without forcing them into shelling out money they don't have.

Eurovision 2015: Belgium

I've been listening and thinking about the Belgian entry for a while now and I really don't know what I think about it after letting it settle for almost a month.

Take a listen.

Loïc Nottet   "Rhythm Inside"

The sound of "Rhythm Inside" is interesting.  It's very modern sounding and reminiscent of this huge international hit of last year.

Lorde  "Royals"

"Rhythm Inside" sounds great when coming through my stereo speakers, and I'm looking forward to blasting it when driving down the interstate later this year.  

However, I am not convinced that the Belgian team has an idea on how to present the song in a way that will appeal to voters.   The video for "Rhythm Inside" attempts to make Nottet moody and sexy.  The problem is Nottet comes across in the video about as moody and sexy as a Golden Retriever.  The effect is unintentionally hilarious.  

Belgium is another country that isn't a Eurovision powerhouse, and Nottet needs to be charming and charismatic, not failing at being sexy.   That charm and charisma is there.  You can see it at the end of the video when he smiles after attempting to look moody with water dripping all over him.  The "Blue Steel" look is dopey, but the smile draws you in.

If he can come across the TV during the semifinal as "himself" and not something the Belgian team is attempting to manufacture, he's sure to make the final.  If he doesn't, "Rhythm Inside" will be the quality song that gets left behind for something mediocre.  It happens every year...