Eurovision 2017: Portugal

I am going to type words that I have been dying to type since I started following the Eurovision Song Contest back in the 1990s.

Portugal has sent the best song to Eurovision this year.

Yes, seriously.   Portugal has sent the best song to the Eurovision this year.

Salvador Sobral  "Amar Pelos Dois"

Yeah, it sounds old fashioned

Yeah, he's got a weird stage presence.

Yeah it's in Portuguese.

Yet "Amor Pelos Dois" has done something that no other song has done this year--it made me stop what I was doing and actively listen to the song.   Sobral's performance of a simple love song is extremely effective and is one of honest emotion instead of manufactured spectacle.  

If the team in charge of staging this song is able to recreate the magic in the national final performance, Portugal could have the best placing they have ever had in any Eurovision Song Contest.

Wouldn't that be awesome?

Eurovision 2017: Azerbaijan

I am really snide when it comes to Azerbaijan's Eurovision songs, because they have used the Eurovision Song Contest as a tool of soft power.to promote themselves as a world power.

That stench of desperation has tainted my opinion of their entries--which boils down to "money can't buy you taste".   But this year, I have to set my cynicism aside.   I genuinely like the song that Azerbaijan is sending to Kyiv.

Dihaj   "Skeletons"

It is another one of those modern, radio-friendly numbers that sound like songs that are on the radio right now.   Because it sounds like something you already like, it's a no-brainer that people will vote for this.  And the Azerbaijani broadcaster will throw a little money at the staging to make this be something you won't forget.

So yeah, you'll see this in the final and for once I won't mind.

Eurovision 2017: Finland

Finland hasn't been one of the most successful Eurovision countries in the past few years, so listening to this year's entry was a surprise.

Norma John   "Blackbird"

The dark, moody song by the duo Norma John isn't like any other song in the contest.   Instead of tending towards the pop sensibilities of today, the son brings to mind the music of Eva Cassidy--not a name you necessarily associate with the Eurovision Song Contest.

Sadly, this song in another song that could easily not qualify, since there are more Eurovision fan friendly songs in the contest and that makes me sad, since it's one of my three favorite songs in the contest and I'd willingly spend a bit of money to vote for it.

Eurovision 2017: Montenegro

I love the Montenegrin Eurovision entries.   Montenegro is a country that has always been experimental when it comes to Eurovision and this year is no exception.

Slavko Kalezić   "Space"

We have a track that might have been played at the local gay bar back in 2009!

Kalezić's attempts to be sexy while singing this single entendre in music form is absolutely hilarious and I look forward to the "spectacle" that will be his live performance.  We haven't had a song that has pandered to the gay audience in this way in ages.

I don't think it will make it out of the semifinal, but it will be a fun three minutes.

Eurovision 2017: Belgium

When the Belgian broadcaster released "City Lights", the fan community went crazy.  I can understand the excitement. The song sounds modern and the video exudes cool.

Blanche   "City Lights"

However, I thought there was something off with the song, which I didn't understand until I heard it live.

Blanche  "City Lights (Live from London Eurovision Party 2017)*

Blanche was shoehorned into a song that is not suited for her and the live performance shows that.  The backing  track overwhelms her and her performing style deadens the energy of the song. 

 

RTBF, the Franco-Belgian broadcaster wanted a follow up to the big success of their entry two years ago--Loïc Nottet.

Loïc Nottet  "Rhythm Inside"   2015

It's understandable that the broadcaster went back to the same blueprint for this year's contest and chose "City Lights" as the song they wanted to send.

Now, take a listen to Blanche's audition song to The Voice Belgique, the singing program where Blanche got her start as a professional singer.  

Ellie Delvaux (a.k.a. Blanche)   "Daydreamer"

  

I'm sure the broadcaster was hoping for a singer that would give a cool vibe to the song--like Astrud Gilberto or Nico.     It doesn't work.   Blanche comes across as scared, not coolly confident.

I'm certain the broadcaster has plans for Blanche that will address this with the staging in Kyiv, but I can see Belgium being the shock non-qualifier from Semifinal One.

Eurovision 2017: Albania

Albania seems to be in a rut.   For the past four years, they have sent a woman with a huge voice singing a string heavy power ballad.

Albania has not had a good track record qualifying in recent years with women with huge voices singing power ballads and in a year where there are a lot of women with huge voices singing power ballads, this year's Albanian entrant has to find something to make herself memorable.

Lindita   "Bote"

Lindita   "World"

As you can see in both the original Albanian entry and the English revamp, Lindita has chosen to feature her ass.

Her ass is lovely, but when I'm more interested in her ass than her song, there's a problem.

He sex appeal is the way she'll make it into the Eurovision final, but I want Albania to stop sending this type of song to Eurovision.  Send another ethnic-influenced hair band!   Send a disco diva!   Stop the melodramatic ballads!

Eurovision 2017: Australia

This is Australia's third year in the Eurovision Song Contest and I think they're here to stay.  

Like Australia's other two entrants, Firebrace was selected internally by the Australian broadcaster SBS to represent them in Kyiv.   Like the other two entries, Firebrace has also one a major televised singing completion, in his case the 2016 edition of X Factor Australia.

Isaiah Firebrace   "Don't Come Easy"

There's no denying that Firebrace has a good voice (although he has a nasty case of  unnecessary melisma for no reason that comes from performing in singing competitions).     The song is structured to showcase his soulful voice.   In other words, the framework has been built to create a very competitive Eurovision performance.

I am looking forward to seeing how this is staged and the song should qualify for the final.