Eurovision 2015: Albania

The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest starts in less than a week, so it's time to finish taking a look at the last songs in the contest.

Albania chose their winner through Festivali i Këngës, an Albanian broadcast that is now in its fifty-third year.   This contest takes place over a three day period on Christmas weekend.   The winning artist and song are sent to represent Albania at Eurovision and this year, Albania selected this song.

Elhaida Dani    "Diell"

The winning song is a power ballad that features Dani's vocal prowess and utilizes the live orchestra that is a fixture of Festivali i Këngës.   Dani gives a performance that is worthy of going to Vienna.

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However, "Diell" isn't the song that Dani will be singing on stage in Vienna.  

Festivali i Këngës doesn't have many of the restrictions that Eurovision has, so songs are typically shortened and rearranged before they take the stage, and this year due to an "unchangable personal reason"  the author of "Diell" decided to withdraw his song after FiK.   This means a new song was chosen internally for Dani to perform.

Elhaida Dani   "I'm Alive"

It's really a smart move.   Instead of cutting down the original song, which is more than a minute too long, this new song is withing the time limit.   It's also in English and structured to highlight Dani's singing range.

For the first time in years, Albania is going to make the finals!   

Eurovision 2015: Israel

Israel has had a terrible Eurovision track record over the past few years.  Having been a powerhouse nation in prior decades, the 2010s have seen Israel miss the final for the past four years.

IBA, the Israeli broadcaster, is hoping to change that by sending the winner of the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa to Vienna.

Nadav Gued   "Golden Boy"

In a year of drowsy ballads, this dance number with a feel of the souk about it is doing to stand out.  There's nothing else that sounds remotely like this in the contest--a Justin Timberlake song--and that's in Israel's favor.

However, for Nadav to qualify for the contest, it's going to depend on the performance.   Right now, "Golden Boy" isn't special enough to overcome the lack of friendly neighbor countries on the song alone.   

But if Gued can loosen up and let out his inner Timberlake and the Israeli team can come up with a visually appealing stage show for the viewers, this can make it to the finals.

Eurovision 2015: Denmark

And now I'm finishing up the last of the Scandinavian entries this year--the Danish entry.

DR, the Danish broadcaster set a high bar this year, wanting to "have the ten strongest songs ever in the history of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix".   That's a pretty strong statement, especially from a country that won the Eurovision Song Contest just two years ago.

So here's the winning song.

Anti Social Media   "The Way You Are"

Instead of having a crazy, anarchic energy you would expect from a band called Anti Social Media, there is a flatness to the performance that is highly disappointing.

They're paying homage to the British Invasion bands with their song and sound, but they're doing so without the energy that made The Beatles or even The Monkees fun and popular.

The Monkees   "Daydream Believer"

"They Way You Are" feels very much like it should be the b-side to "Daydream Believer", doesn't it?

It's not a strong entry, and unless they pull out the stops, I can't see this being an easy qualifier.

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Yet for all of my apathy for the song, after going back through Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, I would have voted for it.  Out of the ten songs presented, it was the best song.  

All the other songs presented went into one of two camps, illustrated by the entries by Sara Sukurani and World Of Girls

Sara Sukurani   "Love Me Love Me"

World of Girls   "Summer Without You"

"Love Me Love Me" is a song that was successful in the contest ten years previously, while "Summer Without You" was deliberately strange to the point of alienation.

If the songs that were presented in this year's Danish final were the strongest ever, I would have to worry about the quality of prior years.

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In other words, you made the best choice you could, but better luck next year.

Eurovision 2015: Azerbaijan

It's really difficult for me to sit and write about the Azerbaijani entry because of my own personal bias against the country.  The naked ambition the Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television has shown since their debut in 2008 is offputting.  

Expect a fire motif from Azerbaijan

Because of their tactical choices (and being from a former Soviet state with a common musical tradition as a number of other Eurovision participating countries) Azerbaijan has been the most successful country at Eurovision, having never failed to make the final since their debut.

Azerbaijan isn't going to fail this year either:

Elnur Hüseynov   "Hour of the Wolf"

In a year of ballads (and there are a lot of them), this is one of the strongest entries.  Like most years, the Azerbaijani song has been written by a truckload of Swedes (who are know for penning many successful Eurovision songs.)    The song is dramatic and generic, which means it's going to do well.

It also doesn't hurt that Hüseynov has done Eurovision before, back in 2008

Elnur and Samir   "Day After Day"   2008

Insane and kind of fun, right?

As for my opinion on the "Hour of the Wolf", I'm lukewarm.   Although the song is well written and the performance is solid, there's nothing extraordinary about the song that makes me love it.   There are no risks taken in "Hour of the Wolf" and it shows.

That said, if Azerbaijan gets the staging right (and trust they will) and Hüseynov doesn't oversing the song (which is more than likely), expect another top 10 result for Azerbaijan.

Hooray?

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

Eurovision 2015: Germany

The format for Unser Song für Österreich is one of the most confusing setups that I have seen in Eurovision.

Let's see if I can explain this:

1. 1213 amateurs submitted songs to the German National Broadcaster.
2. Ten artists were selected to compete for one "wildcard" spot in the final.
3. The winner of the wildcard joined seven established artists in the final.
4. Each of the eight artists performed a song.  Four were eliminated.
5. The four remaining artists performed another song.   The eight songs were ranked and the top two (from differing artists) continued on.
6. The final two songs were performed again.  The most popular song and artist wins.

I'm not trying to watch all of those things and choose my favorite, so I'm just going to take a look at the winning song.

Andreas Kümmert   "Heart of Stone"

Interesting, it's the German version of Darius Rucker.  Self assured, different, and perfectly nice.  Not going to challenge but not an embarrassment either.

But wait, there's a surprise!

Kümmert decides he doesn't want to go to Eurovision.

So why did he compete in the first place?   It's really confusing to me.  If you don't want to do Eurovision, don't enter the contest.

So here's the song going to Vienna.

Ann Sophie   "Black Smoke"

I flat out love "Black Smoke".  It's getting heavy rotation in my musical library and I'm going to be purchasing Ann Sophie's first CD when it gets released.   

It's challenging Maraaya and "Here For You" as my favorite Eurovision song this year.

Eurovision 2015: Romania

In a year of perfectly bland and safe national finals, finally a country gave a Eurovision WTF moment.    I have been hoping for one of these all season.

Super Trooper    "Secret Place"

God bless you Romania.

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Selecția Națională 2015 took place on March 8th with twelve songs presented.  Like many other countries, the Romanians had a variety style format, so there's a song everybody is likely to enjoy.

Blue Noise   "Love Won't Run Away"

Luminița Anghel  "A Million Stars"

Aurelian Temișan feat. Alexa   "Chica Latina"

I do realize I use enjoy rather loosely, but the Romanian broadcaster knew how to put on a show and I can appreciate that.

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However, after hearing the first song performed, it was obvious that it would be the winner.

Voltaj   "De la capăt"

Voltaj is a well known band in Romania--they've released nine albums and won international music awards.  

The staging and camera work were polished and professional something missing from many of the other performances.

And the song is also really moving.  It's an extension of work the band is doing to give support to children whose parents live and work outside the country--the song can be read as a message of love to a child living far away.

It couldn't lose, and I can't disagree.  This was the right choice.