So here are my favourite songs appearing in the second Semi...
Semi-Final 2 - Thursday 22nd May
01 - Iceland: Eurobandið "This Is My Life"
Once you've listened to this you'll probably understand why I keep playing it on YouTube. The singers are really good and I love this Europop shit. Iceland never do very well at Eurovision so I'd like this one to at least break the Final.
02 - Sweden: Charlotte Perrelli "Hero"
After a year out, we're back to the great Swedish pop choon, with wind machines aplenty. Take a look at Charlotte's face - it's hard to believe she's a real person - it's like someone shrink-wrapped her head in plastic.
04 - Ukraine: Ani Lorak "Shady Lady"
This starts off a bit weird but it's a grower. Ukraine produce a great song year upon year. Oh, and she's got a great pair of lungs on her too...
08 - Czech Republic: Tereza Kerndlová "Have Some Fun"
This song appears to be about a casual shag and includes the great lyrics "If you wanna have some fun then don't run" and "I just wanna be your friend for fun fun fun".
09 - Belarus: Ruslan Alekhno "Hasta La Vista"
I kept waiting for this song to be crap but it's actually pretty good. There's something odd about this guy to look at though...
12 - Bulgaria: Deep Zone & Balthazar "DJ, Take Me Away"
This is quite surprising really, it doesn't sound like a Eurovision song at all, it's like a song you'd hear in a club, not be sure of at first, but then keep singing for days after.
14 - Georgia: Diana Ghurtskaia "Peace Will Come"
With a title like that, she's sure appealing to all those warring nations. But it's actually not as sickly as you initially imagine it's going to be.
My favourite bit is when you think she's started sining in Georgian, but its still in (unitelligble) English.
16 - Malta: Morena "Vodka"
This song is totally bonkers, you wonder what it must have beaten to become Malta's entry. Having said that, it's kinda engaging, and has the brilliant lyric "Vodka is the secret word", so the NHS probably won't be hiring her for their cut binge-drinking campaign any time soon.
And so there we go. And what, might you be thinking, are the UK sending to Eurovision? We're sending a binman who lost, i.e. DID NOT HAVE, The X-Factor.
Here is his video.
You might think I've put the wrong link, as Andy Abraham appears to have no rhythm and indeed looks rather bored throughout. Why isn't he looking at the camera? Why isn't he tapping his feet in time?
But it's too late now, this is what the British public are sending to beat all these great entries. Good luck Andy.
Monday 24 March 2008
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
No, not Christmas... it's coming round to that time of year where odd English translations are celebrated, national costumes ridiculed and maps of Europe consulted as people ask "Where the hell are San Marino, Azerbaijan and Belarus?"
Yes, you've guessed it, the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest is less than 2 months away, and now that all the 43 participating countries have selected their entries, I've been scouring YouTube to see what there is to look forward to... and also where I can have my toilet breaks.
The Contest has changed a little this year - there are now two Semi-Finals on the 2oth and 22nd of May, followed by the Final on Saturday 24th May. And it's all coming from Beograd/Belgrade in Serbia - yes that country on the news all the time at the moment due to Kosovo's little declaration of independance... should make for a calm show huh?
There has been an underlying fear in my mind this year as the Contest has traditionally been held the week before Medical School Finals. Luckily though, the Contest is after my dreaded exams, meaning it's pretty likely our living room will be filled to bursting again this year.
10 countries from each Semi will go through to the final, and so I'm going to show you some of my favourites from each... let's see if my preferences match with those of the totally non-politically biased views of Europe.
Semi-Final 1 - Tuesday 20th May
02 - Israel: Bo'az Ma'uda "The Fire In Your Eyes"
Okay, so perhaps I like this cos Bo'az himself is a pretty picture... I definitely don't think Hebrew lends itself to singing very much.
07 - Azerbaijan: Elnur & Samir "Day After Day"
I always like the new countries' entries, they really go for it. And so here is the Azeri song, which could not be more camp if it tried really - a devil and a bleach-blond angel singing something or other to rock music, it's just brilliant.
08 - Slovenia: Rebeka Dremelj "Vrag naj vazme" (To Hell With It)
As Slovenia is my favourite country in the world, I have to like this song even if it is a bit duff. Well, it's not all bad, but it's safe to say Eurovision 2009 won't be in Ljubljana.
10 - Poland: Isis Gee "For Life"
Well after a quick break during Norway's typically nice entry (read: dull), here is what I think could be a winner actually. This song reminds me of Shiri Maymon (Israel) a few years ago, it's a really beautiful ballad sung by a blond with a good pair of lungs on her (read: a cracking rack). This is quite possibly my favourite song this year.
11 - Ireland: Dustin the Turkey "Irelande Douze Pointes"
This joke entry featuring a turkey puppet (where else but Eurovision?!) is actually alright - I like the name check of all the countries at the end especially.
12 - Andorra: Gisela "Casanova"
Andorra have never made the final... this probbaly won't turn the tide but it is delightfully europop with a ridiculous beat... it sounds like a Cascada album track.
14 - Armenia: Sirusho "Qele Qele"
I think I have a weakness for these Transcaucasian countries.
18 - Russia: Dima Bilan "Believe"
This hottie came 2nd in the Contest in 2006, and whilst this song isn't as good, this guy is an artist in his own right - it's the equivalent of the UK sending someone like Justin Timberlake to Belgrade.
And shockingly, I don't actually like Greece's entry this year... but maybe I'm smarting cos they didn't choose the far hotter Kostas Martakis...
Well, that's the first Semi-Final... and as you can see I like a fair few in it! Which is a bit gutting as it's the Semi-Final the UK doesn't have a vote in (we only get to vote in the second semi on Thursday).
My run-down of the Second Semi-Final in the next blog...
Yes, you've guessed it, the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest is less than 2 months away, and now that all the 43 participating countries have selected their entries, I've been scouring YouTube to see what there is to look forward to... and also where I can have my toilet breaks.
The Contest has changed a little this year - there are now two Semi-Finals on the 2oth and 22nd of May, followed by the Final on Saturday 24th May. And it's all coming from Beograd/Belgrade in Serbia - yes that country on the news all the time at the moment due to Kosovo's little declaration of independance... should make for a calm show huh?
There has been an underlying fear in my mind this year as the Contest has traditionally been held the week before Medical School Finals. Luckily though, the Contest is after my dreaded exams, meaning it's pretty likely our living room will be filled to bursting again this year.
10 countries from each Semi will go through to the final, and so I'm going to show you some of my favourites from each... let's see if my preferences match with those of the totally non-politically biased views of Europe.
Semi-Final 1 - Tuesday 20th May
02 - Israel: Bo'az Ma'uda "The Fire In Your Eyes"
Okay, so perhaps I like this cos Bo'az himself is a pretty picture... I definitely don't think Hebrew lends itself to singing very much.
07 - Azerbaijan: Elnur & Samir "Day After Day"
I always like the new countries' entries, they really go for it. And so here is the Azeri song, which could not be more camp if it tried really - a devil and a bleach-blond angel singing something or other to rock music, it's just brilliant.
08 - Slovenia: Rebeka Dremelj "Vrag naj vazme" (To Hell With It)
As Slovenia is my favourite country in the world, I have to like this song even if it is a bit duff. Well, it's not all bad, but it's safe to say Eurovision 2009 won't be in Ljubljana.
10 - Poland: Isis Gee "For Life"
Well after a quick break during Norway's typically nice entry (read: dull), here is what I think could be a winner actually. This song reminds me of Shiri Maymon (Israel) a few years ago, it's a really beautiful ballad sung by a blond with a good pair of lungs on her (read: a cracking rack). This is quite possibly my favourite song this year.
11 - Ireland: Dustin the Turkey "Irelande Douze Pointes"
This joke entry featuring a turkey puppet (where else but Eurovision?!) is actually alright - I like the name check of all the countries at the end especially.
12 - Andorra: Gisela "Casanova"
Andorra have never made the final... this probbaly won't turn the tide but it is delightfully europop with a ridiculous beat... it sounds like a Cascada album track.
14 - Armenia: Sirusho "Qele Qele"
I think I have a weakness for these Transcaucasian countries.
18 - Russia: Dima Bilan "Believe"
This hottie came 2nd in the Contest in 2006, and whilst this song isn't as good, this guy is an artist in his own right - it's the equivalent of the UK sending someone like Justin Timberlake to Belgrade.
And shockingly, I don't actually like Greece's entry this year... but maybe I'm smarting cos they didn't choose the far hotter Kostas Martakis...
Well, that's the first Semi-Final... and as you can see I like a fair few in it! Which is a bit gutting as it's the Semi-Final the UK doesn't have a vote in (we only get to vote in the second semi on Thursday).
My run-down of the Second Semi-Final in the next blog...
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