The ballads (duets)

Ah the Eurovision duet. A rare beast. It's hard not to be cheesy, but there have been some really good ones (2010's "Playing with Fire", 2008's "Day after Day") mixed in with the disasters (anyone remember Malta's "On Again...Off Again" in 2004?!).
The last duo to win were the Olsen Brothers from Denmark in 2000, and so with the recent trend of solo women winning, maybe it's time for a pair to win again?

Azerbaijan/Azərbaycan – "Running Scared" - Ell & Nikki

This duet is moving, catchy and one of the more (UK) chart worthy entries this year, which continues Azerbaijan’s impressive line-up of songs in their Eurovision infancy. The song is crying out for a wind machine based performance. If the chemistry between the two on stage holds up, this might place well, though prob lacks that something to actually win.

Slovakia/Slovensko - "I’m Still Alive" – TWiiNS

The video for this is bizarre, with clips of Slovakia’s football and ice hockey “victories”, footage of the revolution and then clips of people dispersed from their homes by the Danube flooding, topped off by the birth of a baby. Is this song making out to be an anthem for Slovakia? Or surviving against the odds? Would you believe that it's produced by the someone who lists Timbaland, Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake as their clientele? It’s just plain nuts, confirmed by lyrics such as “When your road’s not too wide, then trust the heart never lies”.

The ballads (boys)

So first up are the ballads, and there's a shedload, so we'll start with the boys. 

Just as a note, the last solo male ballad to win was Russia's Dima Bilan in 2008, with the lovely "Believe". You might also remember him as the slightly too-skinny one with a mullet that pulled a ballerina out of a piano, in 2006. Dima was Russia's biggest pop star, (and still is), so had that going for him vote wise. Will any of 2011's boy ballads match up to his standard...?

 

 

Denmark/Danmark – "A New Tomorrow" – A Friend in London

“Come on boys, come on girls” this choon begins, encouraging you to wave your hands in the air. The lyrics are pretty good and the guitars churn out a memorable rhythm in the background, which make this, all in all, a good entry that would make for a charming, end-of-the-night pub singalong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGVZktHLZhk

 

 

Italy/Italia – "Madness of Love" – Raphael Gualazzi

This piano jazz mixes Italian and English, is charming and bit Michael Bublé (in a good way). “Someone hit me and I fell into your heart, my dear” is a lovely syrupy line in the middle, followed by a full on trumpet section. Not really one to sing a long too, but lovely for a summer drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0Ih3q4PSE 

 

 

Netherlands/Nederland – "Never Alone" - 3JS

What is it with Holland and manbands for Eurovision? This guitar ballad is a bit earnest and laden so heavy with clichés that it begins to drag at the 2 minute mark. The final line which comes straight from Amsterdam’s red light district, “at the sweet end of your trail”, is brilliant though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlneiG2bGuE

 

 

 

France – "Sognu" – Amaury Vassili

France’s entry is the classy operatic-but-not-annoying-with-it “Sognu”. Who knows what it’s about but in the video he wanders about a lot carrying a handbag and does a lot of meaningful staring. It’s apparently the early bookie’s favourite to win. It's sung in Corsican. We’ll see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEb7hRo-Qyk

So 4 down, 39 to go. Bear with me, I promise it gets better.