Macedonia: The Review

Macedonia this year have no doubt sent one of the most under-discussed song in this years song contest. No doubt that Crno I Belo is a reasonable song, but I just think that this is a very underwhelming entry from Macedonia. Kaliopi is a good singer too and Macedonia should be delighted to have her as a singer.

The song is a bit disjointed as a song. It starts as a normal ballad sort of song and this continues for about half of the song. This in my opinion is far to long, particularly after the ballad from Serbia. The song then bursts into a rock song. This in my opinion is far to different from the first part of the song. Therefore the song lacks any fluidity and consequently may be a total wash out on the night. In a tough year this just is not coming up to the mark.

Personally speaking I really dislike this entry. I think that it could not even be considered a "nice" entry. It is just one that is not at the standard that was required.

Verdict: Despite what some fans think (and I do respect your opinions), I feel that this just is not at the required standard and should have been left at home.


Grade: E-

Serbia: The Review

Before we begin today I know that the migration of Eurovision fans to the contest has begun, while this sadly I shall not be moving to as far (it's about 40 steps from my desk to the TV in the living room), I will be reporting from behind the lines from the home front. But for those who are travelling I wish all very safe journey's however you get to Baku.

Anyway in less pressing news, a couple of months back Serbia decided to send Zeljko Joksimovic to the Eurovison Song Contest on the basis that he is a very well known singer in the Balkans he also represented Serbia and Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 coming a very respectable second, an impressive start for a debuting country. There was much discussion about the sort of songthe Zeljko would bring to the contest. Would it be one which was a mirror image of the 2004 entry [which was really good back then]. 

There can be little doubt that Nije Ljubav Stvar is a great Balkan ballad. It builds slowly but rather well and finishes with a fairly large cresendo. The song no doubt is definitely going to get some extra coverage because it is Zeljko. The trouble is that this song is far to formulaic in comparison to the 2004 Lane Moje. There is a management concept that sometimes crops up that strikes me as I write this. Never do the same thing again.  In 2004 Balkan ballads were a new pure and fresh addition to the contest. Zeljko's really stood out too. This  year the same cannot quite be said again. Balkan ballads are now fairly normal in the contest, we would normally expect 2 or 3 of them per year. Zeljko has even brought the Luke Ming Flanagan look a like to the contest (as he did in 2004). 

This year Zeljko is in with about 4 other songs from the Balkans in a ballad heavy year. Given the Serbian starting position (first in semi 2), this is far from ideal. I'm not convinced that Serbia are going to do well enough in semi 2 in order to gain the momentum to do well enough in the final. While I don't think that getting to the semi-final will be a problem for Zeljko (he'll most likely do it on the back of massive Balkan support). But really this is not going make a Top 3 appearances.

Verdict: I think this is a reasonable Balkan ballad. However I do think that Serbia is not the best Balkan ballad is that amazing this year. That honour would fall to Slovenia. 

Grade: B-

It's Tina Turner - Or Is It?

Every year a couple of Eurovision acts come along that remind us of stars we know from outside of Eurovision. Sometimes these general resemblances start to err on the side of "that's a bit to close for comfort" and this year the award for doing this goes to Gaitana from Ukraine.

#NationalFinalMemes: I cannot go on further without mentioning that Ukraine held their national final at 10:30 in the morning (Irish Time; 13:30 Ukrainian Time). 10:30! - I wasn't even out of bed (actually I wasn't awake that day until 12:00).

So anyway Ukraine decided to send Gaitana with her song "Be My Guest". It's a strong song, it works really well but I'd say that it might be hard for the average Eurovision audience to take in. Without a doubt the song has some similarities with Tina Turner. These I think could actually go against Gaitana. I suspect that the voting public may over look her on the those grounds, but these are really concerns which should remain hidden until the final, really this song is strong enough to come about 6th-8th place in the semi final.

It's success in a very tough semi-final is dependent on the songs ability to attract votes from the pool of non-ballads votes in semi-final 2. The question of how the song will do is the songs ability to get votes from better countries songs running later in the draw. So I'm not convinced.

Verdict: This is a strange song. Anyhow it is what it is but it doesn't do it for me. I can't see this doing well but it is Ukraine after all so we shall never know.

Grade: C


P.S. For some strange reason I cannot get thinking fully linearly tonight. 

In Praise Of Country Music

While I try to plot out how to cover Eurovision fortnight 2012 next week and the week after, despite not knowing how many hours I have in the day, I shall continue to try to get all the reviews done as quick as I can. Anyhow while I originally set out to have all this stuff done before rehearsals started that seems increasingly likely that I won't have. Anyhow might be time to down a small medium large bottle of something and bang these out but anyhow here goes the Netherlands.

You might be forgiven in not remembering that the Netherlands in fact launched a new open style national final contrasting from their previous internal artist selection and public song mix. Anyone remember the giant suitcase. No? This is the problem, like Portugal despite changing the selection procedure they still have produced a fairly formulaic Dutch song.

And this is a great thing.

I am in the minority of fans who have liked most of Netherlands entries over the past five years. This year si no different. Joan Franka may have come from the most dull and deary national final you could think of this is a really nice and sweet country music song. It bounces along and really does draw you in. I'm not the biggest fan of Joan's outfit choice though and think that she should go with something more natural for Eurovision.

This has a couple of weaknesses: namely the song is too early in the running order to really make an impact on the voting public. I also think that despite the fan popularity of this song it is failing to make an impact in fan circles outside of the UK and Ireland. On the positive side I think this might make an impact outside the usual Eurovision fan voting public in the semi finals.

Verdict: This really is a great song. It's not one that makes me pick up the phone but really this is one I really am going to look forward to. Sadly though I cannot imagine this making it though to the final. Which is a real shame and will mean that thanks to Norway's unfortunate decision not to send Bobby Bare to the contest, there will once again be a final lacking in country music.


Grade: B+ 

OGAE Ireland Results

You'd be mad to suggest that Sweden is not going to win the OGAE pre-Eurovision vote, thats why I have not paid to much attention to the recent results. However the OGAE Ireland - the Irish branch have released theur votes. So I think that it is a very important to have a look at these as they are somewhat surprising votes.

12 - Sweden - No surprise there.
10 - Spain - It is a surprise to see Spain so far ahead in the vote but it is not surprising to see Spain in the Top 10.
8 - Germany - Definately the biggest surprise of this vote. I don't fully understand how they even got so high but anyhow, thats the result.
7 - France - Its surprising to see France so far up. However Augguns song is well liked in some regions.
6 - Iceland - I'm surprised to see this so far down the list as I thought that Iceland had a very appealing song for Irish listeners.
5 - Italy - Once again no big surprise but I expected the song to be ranked higher.
4 - Estonia - A surprise in the list but not shocking.
3 - Serbia - No surprise there.
2 - Norway - Still not shocking.
1 - Romania - A mild surprise, but not completely so. Irish fans do seem to like this song.

The big and almost shocking absence from the list is the UK. If Engender wants to score well, he will have to score well in Ireland.

Songs Of The Weekend

This weekend I'm off to a far and distant land where internet doesn't really exist. Anyhow, next weekend will see the rehearsals for Eurovision beginning in earnest. But for now I leave you with my two favourite songs from last year, from Denmark and Italy. In a very poor year these shone through and I think that they are living proof that the contest produces great music.

These always get a good few plays on the MP3 player [That's right I don't use Apple].

Real posts on will be back on Monday.

Maybe Just Leave It For The CD

After what was one of the longest and drawn out selection procedures there were so raised eyebrows when the national final was won by Sofi Marinova and her song Love Unlimited. Having not really come through in the earlier two rounds of the national final this was a surprise

.

When I first heard this song I thought that it was a bit generic and excessively "hard" pop music which I never really was that mad about. The notes hit by Sofia seemed a bit high for my likely too. That said this could be a nice one in a club. There can be little doubt that this actually is a great studio song. It ticks all of the right boxes. The problem is that live this just does work and stinks of a semi-finalist who will be going home earlier than they hoped.

This really is a shame as I never know what to make of Bulgaria at Eurovision, they somehow seem not to try hard enough. They are in the second semi-final and are after Ukraine. Ukraines entry might be a bit more accessible than Bulgarias but that is debatable.

Verdict: This song should never have been let leave the CD. I can't see this qualifing but it is possible that juries might like it as it is technically a good song. Personally, I am not a massive fan of the song but I can fully understand how you might like this.

Grade: D+