Eurovision 2015 Finalists

OK, so we've waded through the semi-finals together, but there's still more.
Several countries progress straight to the final - these are the so-called "Big Five" contributors to the Eurovision budget, plus the host, and for this year only*, Australia, who have been invited as a special guest to participate in this 60th Eurovision Song Contest.

(*if they win, and odds suggest this is quite possible, then they will co-host next year with another European country, so there will be no Sydney 2016).

So... who are these Final 7?

Australia

I'm led to believe Oz is all excited about this opportunity, and whilst names like Kylie were bandied about for a bit, they've gone for Australian Idol Guy Sebastian (whose name I thoroughly approve of) with this anthemic song that makes its message clear: WE WANT TO COME BACK. Forget geography, this song is a refreshing change of pace that channels Bruno Mars and stands out. Perhaps that's why its being courted as a potential winner...

Genre of music:  Funk-Jazz
How much of this can I remember? The chorus stays with you and you want to dance along
Better than last year's entry? It's their best ever... (no really, it is) Best lyric: "Let's do tonight again"
Current reviews: "The track is bouncy and warm with lashings of smooth brass and an addictive "woah-ooh-ooh" refrain that will have Europeans waving their flags." (DigitalSpy)
Will I be listening to this in a year? Hell yes!
Anyone fanciable? He's my kinda Guy (*groans*)

Arbitrary Eurovision style score:  10
 

Italy

This is also being touted as a potential winner and I've been trying to like it. The fact I can't suggests it will do well (I often back the losers!), but it's great to have a song in a non-English language do well. The trio sing their vaguely operatic song to a video recreating famous love scenes from films like... er Back to the Future? Anyway, they're easy on the eye with voices like syrup, and this will sound great in the arena for sure.

Genre of music: Popera
How much of this can I remember? "Grand-ay amorrrrrr-ray!"
Better than last year's entry? I prefer last year's song La Mia Citta. Best lyric: "Tu sei il mio unico grande amore.../You’re my unique great love…"
Current reviews: "Grande Amore has the same classy, dramatic orchestral arrangement while benefitting from layer-upon-layer of spine-tingling moments. The lads even make the low-key moments dramatic!" (ESCtips)
Will I be listening to this in a year? Not for me
Anyone fanciable? Here they are. They are definitely Italian.

Arbitrary Eurovision style score:   8

Austria

So the hosts are up next and how do you follow bearded lady extraordinaire Conchita. Apparently with three bearded men. The Makemakes sing this mid-tempo song that doesn't capture the glory of its predecessor, and sets the tone of the melancholic theme of the year; although the lyrics are fairly positive the tone isn't
Genre of music: Blues
How much of this can I remember? It's not a stand out
Better than last year's entry? Obv not Best lyric: "You’re a lesson that I love learning, So any time that you’ve got a yearning"
Current reviews: "The piano-led track broods into a swaying soft-rock number that hears Dodo's vocals crackle in just the right places." (DigitalSpy)
Will I be listening to this in a year? Nope.
Anyone fanciable? Hmm, if I'm in the right mood and they're in the right light...

Arbitrary Eurovision style score:   5

Spain

Spain made a really big deal about their selection of popular singer (and girlfriend of Manchester United goalie David de Gea). She sings about the "Dawn" and features as a fierce tigress in her promo video. Spanish sounds great in powerful songs like this, and she's proved her ability to command the stage with this. It's one of the better power ballads this year

Genre of music: Pop
How much of this can I remember? You'll all be "EEEieEEO"-ing before the end.
Better than last year's entry? It's hard to choose between this and magnificent Ruth Lorenzo. Best lyric: "Mi corazón, Me susurró, A mí no vuelvas sin su amor/My heart, He whispered, To me do not come back without your love"
Current reviews: "Amanecer is a dramatic 3-minutes, but it’s difficult to isolate a particular passage that stands out and leaves a lasting impression." (ESCtips)
Will I be listening to this in a year? Yes!
Anyone fanciable? Edurne is front runner to win the unofficial Eurovision Top Model crown, and her man ain't bad either. What beautiful babies they'll have...

Arbitrary Eurovision style score:   10

France

France obligingly enter year on year, although often with a sense that their heart isn't in it, even more lackadaisical than the UK in their choice of entry. Lisa, however, sings quite a poignant war-related song that resonates even if you don't parle Français. It won't win, and may not trouble the top of the scoreboard, but perhaps it should, as more than any other song, it embodies the very reason Eurovision started 60 years ago. Bonne chance a la France.

Genre of music: Power ballad
How much of this can I remember? I actually realise I know more than I think every time I listen
Better than last year's entry? It's a better quality entry than TwinTwin but not quite as fun.
Best lyric: "Je ne suis qu'une blessure
Un cœur sans armure/I am but a wound, A heart without an armour"

Current reviews: "N'oubliez pas is an honourable ode to the men and women who served in past wars. It's a delicate track that hits a deep resonance with Eurovision's 60th anniversary, considering the competition was created to reunite a war-torn continent." (Digital Spy) Will I be listening to this in a year? I think I will actually
Anyone fanciable? Her stylist does a good job.

Arbitrary Eurovision style score:  8 

Germany

Awkward. Ann Sophie is representing germany after the entrant selected by the public turned down the chance in a live show after he "won". No matter, this song borrows from Germany's most recent winner Lena to sing a pop song with quirk. yet again, it borrows from this year's unoffical brief that songs be about difficult break-ups/misery/melancholia, though manages to be upbeat for the most part.

Genre of music: Soul-pop
How much of this can I remember? I could step in for one of the backing singers.
Better than last year's entry? This is better than too-quirky Elaiza. Best lyric: "And when you call me baby, what's that supposed to mean
I don't know who you are, how long can we pretend"
Current reviews: "Co-written by English chart topper Ella Eyre, “Black Smoke” would have been the perfect UK entry for the likes of Duffy or The Noisettes. Britain’s loss is Germany’s gain. After last year’s misfire, the land of Lena has upped its game with this sassy stomper of a tune. Retro without feeling dated, it injects some much needed attitude into the 2015 contest. " (Wiwibloggs) Will I be listening to this in a year? I won't skip it... but I won;t skip to it either.
Anyone fanciable? meh
Arbitrary Eurovision style score:  5

United Kingdom 

Lastly, its our own entry. This was trumpted to a big fanfare... joke. It was revealed hidden on BBC Red Button. I think someone realised that this wasn;'t the amazing idea they thought it was and decided to hide it away. To be fair, it is original, in a style not seen before and does manage to be very British, evoking the Charleston with some fun lyrics and even some scat singing.

The performers are competent, but Electro Velvet are unlikely to last beyond Vienna, having been packaged for this event. When will the UK look at what the rest of the entrants do and start picking from great existing acts, whether upcoming or established?

Depending on how many ballads of melancholy sandwich this entry in the running order will largely determine how it does - if positioned well it will be remembered as the fun entry that stopped you slitting your wrists. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Genre of music: Electroswing (no, really this is a thing apparently)
How much of this can I remember? It's an earworm alright, but leaves an aftertaste you can't decide if you like.
Better than last year's entry? No. Molly was a good departure from the OAPs of UK, this feels a step back.
Best lyric: "Don’t go out in the pouring rain, You might get wet I’d be upset"
Current reviews: "It’s an interesting, postmodern approach to Charleston and the melody is fun and catchy, but the uneven delivery and the ridiculous lyrics are off-putting. Moreover, the chemistry between the two singers is wanting. " (Wiwibloggs)Will I be listening to this in a year? Probably yes
Anyone fanciable? Judge for yourself

Arbitrary Eurovision style score:  6

Reviews

Digital Spy
Wiwibloggs
ESCtips

Ok, so there we go, all the entries reviewed. So which are my favourites? It's hard for me to order, but my play counts suggest the following top 10:

1. Slovenia (of course)
2. Sweden
3. Latvia
4. Armenia
5. Azerbaijan
6. Belgium
7. Romania
8. Spain
9. Serbia
10. Belarus 

 
Let's see what happens in Vienna, see you there? 

The Quirky

Germany/Deutschland – "Taken by a stranger" – Lena

Lena won Eurovision 2010 and wanted to return to “defend her title”. Yeah whatever, I think she wanted to show off this amazing song that in no way will win, but will definitely be on my playlist for time to come. It’s a little Bjork-like, but not quite so weird, with a haunting melody and clever but sometimes-crazy lyrics.

Here's last year's winning entry by Lena:

Finland/Suomi – "Da Da Dam" – Paradise Oskar

This sweet guitar song is all about Peter, who wants to save the environment, though I’m not quite sure how singing “dad a dum” does that, but I know he’s not coming back until the planet is saved. It’s quite charming and bizarre at the same time

http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/contestants/2010/finland.shtml

Estonia/Eesti – "Rockefellar Street" - Getter Jaani

This is cute in the most part, though the chorus is a bit weak, though the sense of disappointment is probably because the verses and stage presence are actually pretty good. Not a winner, but not a toilet break song either.

Belarus/Беларусь – "I Love Belarus" – Anastasia Vinnikova

This is delightfully mental, from the title right through the tinging little Belarussian xylophone or whatever it is. You clearly will be singing along by the end, and that’s when you realise just how creepy that is, given that Belarus is the USSR’s last bastion and is a nation ruled autocratically by the power of fear. Perhaps it’s a subversive metaphor for the mind control that the KGB (which still exist in Belarus) wish to exert over their populace?

Eurovision 2011

Okay, so it’s time for my traditional rundown of this year’s Eurovision entries. 

The Grand Final of Eurovision 2011 is due to be staged in Düsseldorf, Germany on the 14^th of May, and there are a whopping 43 entrants this year, with the return of San Marino, Austria, Hungary and Italy (who return after a 14 year gap).

As the biggest funders of the contest, the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany automatically qualify for the Final, leaving twenty places for the remaining 38 countries, who’ll be decided from two semi-finals in the preceding week. One of my biggest sadnesses about Eurovision is that some gems, both musical and comedy, are often confined to these semi-finals, so do take a look.

I’ve gone with my gut and reviewed these songs after just one listen to try and get an idea of how they’ll stand up on the actual night.

In the past I’ve gone for the chronological or alphabetical approach; this time I’ve decided to group the songs of a similar style together, and I’ll blog each “category” together. Hopefully, I’ll finish not feeling too shell-shocked, and we’ll round off with a blog about which songs I came back to listen to.

The BBC site is great if you find yourself getting sucked into Eurovision world, and if you totally fall in, ESC Today has all the latest news, as well as unintentionally hilarious interviews conducted in awkward English.